Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

I'm looking at an 04 LS430 UL myself. I'm kind of testing the waters right now to see what the market will pay. Here is a link to my classifieds ad. Mine has a brand new suspension. Anyway, check it out.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=701910

LScowboyLS

Agreed!! - I hate those girly-looking LS430's - when the time comes to get something newer than a 2000 - I am going to temporarily defect over to an Infiniti M45, say around the 2006-8 model, and then later come back to LS460, skipping the first two years and the valve train issue and jump back in with a 2009 or 2010

Now if I had a wife, I think an LS430 would be the finest choice money can buy, incredible car, just not masculine at all!

Legender

Mccrimmon... I agree with you... I couldn't decide either... and after I got the 430, I found a creampuff '98 400 that I use as my preferred driver... but the 430 was so solid and had the additional creature comforts that I just kept it also. The looks can grow on you after a while, but the thing is with the 98-2000 model years; the looks don't have to grow on you. They have appeal right from the start.

Do the research, make your list of what's important to have and your gut will tell you which on to get. If the decision to buy is too hard, then walk away. Should always be a no brainer... then you know you'll be happy in the long run. It's worked for me. Good luck.

Kansas

Well ... as one who has a normally high testosterone level, a wife and who is confident of my masculinity, I would have to say that the early LS430 is one of my favorites for its softer exterior lines and cushy ride on standard 16 inch wheels and tires. As much as I like the 01-03 LS430, if I was buying an older car, the only LS430 I would consider would be an 04-06 LS430 with the Custom Luxury package and the PCS option. PCS was available as an option on the LS430 Ultra Luxury and Custom Luxury and we won't be buying any more cars without it.

I have no experience with the M45 but I sure HATED the M35 we rented for 10 days in 2007 while on vacation - rode like a truck (yes, I checked the tire pressure) on standard 17" tires. I commented about it in this thread from 2007: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...the-ls400.html

YoshiMan

Well we are on this topic, what is this Valve train issue you speak of? is it on the 1UR-FSE?

mccrimmon

iTrader: (2)

Legend - great advice!
Kansas - I've never driven a car with the pre-collision but I've heard good things about it. Is it an option on all new models now, special order?
Cowboy - I'm also interested in what the valve train problem on the 460's are. I haven't done much research on the 460's but they look really sweet!

LScowboyLS

The LS460 had the first serious problem on an LS model since it's introduction in 1990, as far as any serious problem showing up in the first 10 years.

There was an issue with the valves, a serious deep down in the engine issue, affecting all 2007 and 2008 models. Most recalls and/or TSB's on cars involve a fairly simple fix that the dealership can knock out in a few minutes, and is an easy repair that many folks could do under their shade tree, but this required very invasive engine surgery and it went beyond what I would want any mechanic to have to attempt on a brand new car, the repairs got done, but the engine will never be the same on those cars in my opinion. This is something that I wouldn't even want the Lexus engineers in Tahara doing to my new car, and certainly not typical American dealership mechanics, of which the ones at Lexus dealerships are far better than most, but still, it is just not good. The 1UR-FSE valvetrain is just too complex and tight tolerances for anything short of robotic assembly, if you want the legendary LS durability and quietness.

This was the only black mark in the LS's 24 years of production, a very sad day indeed!

The great news is, the 2009 and newer models are back to good as gold! - yay!

YoshiMan

Yikes, that's a hell of a complicated engine too...

AZGirl

I own a 99 LS400. Hands down, the best car I have ever owned. I have nearly 160K miles on it and it's still the smoothest, quietest car--and it's still beautiful to me. I recently test-drove a brand new top-of-the-line Camry and was appalled by the noise. Guess it has spoiled me. Getting ready to do a 150K service and I'm figuring for what is costs to make everything right I will save about 5 months' worth of very modest car payments. Plan to keep it--that is a golden year!