Already back in a LS430 after just 2 months!
#1
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Well I couldn't stay away from an LS430 very long. I sold my 04 LS430 CL a few months ago and have missed ever since. Went out and bought a C5 corvette and was disgusted with it a week later. Not a good idea to go from a high end luxury car to a crappy GM product with plastic interior! lol
A few weeks ago I was walking out of a local restaurant and a super clean Flint Mica LS430 parked right next to me. I asked the owner if he was looking to sell it and it just so happens he was thinking about trading it in this month. It is a 04 ML Flint Mica with Ecru interior. It has the ML sound and Navigation. It is spotless and has been garaged kept with only 80k miles. Original owner who had it serviced at Lexus from day one. I ended up striking a deal with him and picked it up this week. I still find it hard to believe how nice these cars ride.
I took a few pictures yesterday.
![](https://i68.tinypic.com/akbd36.jpg)
A few weeks ago I was walking out of a local restaurant and a super clean Flint Mica LS430 parked right next to me. I asked the owner if he was looking to sell it and it just so happens he was thinking about trading it in this month. It is a 04 ML Flint Mica with Ecru interior. It has the ML sound and Navigation. It is spotless and has been garaged kept with only 80k miles. Original owner who had it serviced at Lexus from day one. I ended up striking a deal with him and picked it up this week. I still find it hard to believe how nice these cars ride.
I took a few pictures yesterday.
![](https://i68.tinypic.com/akbd36.jpg)
![](https://i68.tinypic.com/1qflfr.jpg)
Last edited by lexusdog; 10-14-16 at 08:27 AM.
#2
Lexus Fanatic
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congrats! Let me know what you plan on doing service-wise, because mine is at 82k, and I just got it 2 wks. ago....they changed the oil, so I figure I'll wait maybe 3k (I know it can go much further) and replace it myself with synthetic...I already have 7 WIX oil filters for it LOL and 3 WIX air filters, but I pulled the air filter and it's brand new...
#3
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congrats! Let me know what you plan on doing service-wise, because mine is at 82k, and I just got it 2 wks. ago....they changed the oil, so I figure I'll wait maybe 3k (I know it can go much further) and replace it myself with synthetic...I already have 7 WIX oil filters for it LOL and 3 WIX air filters, but I pulled the air filter and it's brand new...
#4
Lexus Fanatic
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Congrats on your new ride. This car came with a stack of maintenance records so I wont be doing to much to it anytime soon. It had the t-belt and water pump done at 70k miles. For you, you should do your t-belt and water pump in the 90-100k range. But see if your local Toyota dealership can do it at a cheaper rate than Lexus. Other then that, the cabin air filter and rotating the tires are all that you need to do with your mileage. Good luck with it!
The weirdest thing is I went to the Toyota dealer to get some of those push pins under the hood, and the Toyota dealer said they don't have them? lol Went to Lexus and he charged me 95 cents ea., which I think is list....I broke them myself, they were all in place when I got the car...
edit: survey (indie) says....$775. Not bad, right? I wonder how much more for the 3 seals, I didn't ask about that....
Last edited by Johnhav430; 10-14-16 at 10:25 AM.
#5
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i hear you on the cheap a$$ interior on the c5.i had a 04 corvette and the interior was a big disappointment.
i was going to buy a c6 but bought a 93 sc400 and havent looked back.once you own a lexus its hard to go back to cars with a crappy interior.
i was going to buy a c6 but bought a 93 sc400 and havent looked back.once you own a lexus its hard to go back to cars with a crappy interior.
#6
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LOL is a Corvette one of the standard "alternatives" to an LS? We also see the "regret I sold my LS" story. Have a very nice 04 Cypress Pearl ML Sports. It is a slightly firmer "luxury sports" but not quite the same "plush" experience as my recently sold 01 Base. That was simple reliable ultra smooth. Lexus really nailed it when you can relax and drive an ultra quiet big sedan w one finger on the steering wheel. It's been a whole week but am checking Craigs/CarGurus/Autotrader. LOL anyone have an 01-03 Base (light interior) that they want to sell? Somewhere in Nor CA. Less than 100k.
#7
Lexus Fanatic
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This reminds me of when I was a little kid, I remember (though nothing on the web substantiates) that multiple Indy race car drivers preferred the Mercedes Benz 500 SEC as a personal car. Meaning they like driving luxurious cars, not necessarily sports cars, in their spare time.
I love driving my BMW 335i, I don't think too many cars feel quite like it (the steering is perfect). But when I did that 150 mile commute (took 4 hours) through 4 major traffic backups in the NYC metro area, the LS430 really shined. Not joking....there is something about it. I can't believe these cars can be had < $15k. Lots of nice cars can be had used for < $15k, but you can't afford to drive them and they're not reliable (Audi A8's and BMW 7's)...here's to the LS!
I love driving my BMW 335i, I don't think too many cars feel quite like it (the steering is perfect). But when I did that 150 mile commute (took 4 hours) through 4 major traffic backups in the NYC metro area, the LS430 really shined. Not joking....there is something about it. I can't believe these cars can be had < $15k. Lots of nice cars can be had used for < $15k, but you can't afford to drive them and they're not reliable (Audi A8's and BMW 7's)...here's to the LS!
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#8
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This reminds me of when I was a little kid, I remember (though nothing on the web substantiates) that multiple Indy race car drivers preferred the Mercedes Benz 500 SEC as a personal car. Meaning they like driving luxurious cars, not necessarily sports cars, in their spare time.
I love driving my BMW 335i, I don't think too many cars feel quite like it (the steering is perfect). But when I did that 150 mile commute (took 4 hours) through 4 major traffic backups in the NYC metro area, the LS430 really shined. Not joking....there is something about it. I can't believe these cars can be had < $15k. Lots of nice cars can be had used for < $15k, but you can't afford to drive them and they're not reliable (Audi A8's and BMW 7's)...here's to the LS!![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
I love driving my BMW 335i, I don't think too many cars feel quite like it (the steering is perfect). But when I did that 150 mile commute (took 4 hours) through 4 major traffic backups in the NYC metro area, the LS430 really shined. Not joking....there is something about it. I can't believe these cars can be had < $15k. Lots of nice cars can be had used for < $15k, but you can't afford to drive them and they're not reliable (Audi A8's and BMW 7's)...here's to the LS!
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#9
Intermediate
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LOL is a Corvette one of the standard "alternatives" to an LS? We also see the "regret I sold my LS" story. Have a very nice 04 Cypress Pearl ML Sports. It is a slightly firmer "luxury sports" but not quite the same "plush" experience as my recently sold 01 Base. That was simple reliable ultra smooth. Lexus really nailed it when you can relax and drive an ultra quiet big sedan w one finger on the steering wheel. It's been a whole week but am checking Craigs/CarGurus/Autotrader. LOL anyone have an 01-03 Base (light interior) that they want to sell? Somewhere in Nor CA. Less than 100k.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/5809688801.html
Not a base car though.
#10
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Thanks! I put in a Denso cabin air filter also last Sun....ok, I just bit the bullet--I called a Japanese indie to quote the timing belt and water pump--they are going to call back. (since I do see comments on the website, I'm going to ask if they install customer parts)
The weirdest thing is I went to the Toyota dealer to get some of those push pins under the hood, and the Toyota dealer said they don't have them? lol Went to Lexus and he charged me 95 cents ea., which I think is list....I broke them myself, they were all in place when I got the car...
edit: survey (indie) says....$775. Not bad, right? I wonder how much more for the 3 seals, I didn't ask about that....
The weirdest thing is I went to the Toyota dealer to get some of those push pins under the hood, and the Toyota dealer said they don't have them? lol Went to Lexus and he charged me 95 cents ea., which I think is list....I broke them myself, they were all in place when I got the car...
edit: survey (indie) says....$775. Not bad, right? I wonder how much more for the 3 seals, I didn't ask about that....
#12
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LOL is a Corvette one of the standard "alternatives" to an LS? We also see the "regret I sold my LS" story. Have a very nice 04 Cypress Pearl ML Sports. It is a slightly firmer "luxury sports" but not quite the same "plush" experience as my recently sold 01 Base. That was simple reliable ultra smooth. Lexus really nailed it when you can relax and drive an ultra quiet big sedan w one finger on the steering wheel. It's been a whole week but am checking Craigs/CarGurus/Autotrader. LOL anyone have an 01-03 Base (light interior) that they want to sell? Somewhere in Nor CA. Less than 100k.
It certainly is hard to live without an LS for very long. Good luck with your search!
#14
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The new ones have a much better interior and look great but lord are they expensive. Also very difficult to get out of... lol I about had to crawl out of the darn thing. I miss my 430 but not enough to get another. I'm going to wait a bit longer and pick up a 13+ 460.
#15
Lexus Fanatic
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There are some other issues early 460's have too with engine hesitation due to valve noise triggering the knock sensors as well as brake actuators and ML amp failures. But at least Lexus extended the warranty for the actuators. They are great cars but the early models are definitely not as reliable as the 430.
Last edited by Lavrishevo; 10-14-16 at 03:09 PM.