Johnhav430

my buddy is shopping for a used car for his daughter who has started driving, imho the LS430 is too much car for a teenager, although I realize times have changed. He is looking at Kias and Hyundais, 2007 Sonatas, but is hesitant about some motor recalls. I thought there were headlight washers from the pics but could be wrong.

That's been my dilemma my entire driving career since buying the 1998 Maxima new. If one cares for the vehicle and it's above average, insurance doesn't pay such that the vehicle can be replaced. And, even on a 2006 LS430, it's bordering on robbery what is charged for comp/collision (it costs more in 2017, to insure, than a brand new 335i did in 2007, with a perfect driving record and being 10 years older as a driver, with the car being 1/4 the value).

edit: There is a button directly to the left of the heated/cooled seats *****, that should be for the headlight washers, ML and below do not have such a switch

Johnhav430

Speaking of which, to illustrate how serious of a matter it is (not to be a debbie downer), my buddy's sister and niece were killed by the latter, who was drunk, in Alhambra, CA, about 12 years ago. The daughter had just gotten accepted to UC Berkeley. There is something to be said about being unscathed or ok physically after an accident.

Scootymad

Well thank you for deciphering what my car is meant to be then. It ain't ML because it has all the toys inside, minus the ML radio and satnav, but it ain't UL because its missing air suspension (thank God for that). CL it is then

caverman

How is it too much car? The way I look at it I'm budgeting between $8k - $10k for a car, much less than that you are more apt to get a POS. In then next year or so my LS will only be worth about $9k retail, trade in even worse. The car has plenty of safety features as see here where in a fairly big accident they walked away uninjured. Now, what I don't like it that they can cram a 3 - 4 extra teenagers in the car and it's a little big of a car but not as big a some of the trucks and SUVs people drive around here. In addition, my son has been a reasonable amount of seat time in my LS. He has been permit driving with me for right at a year and he is either driving my LS or a Honda pilot which isn't a small car either.

Now, if I didn't already have a LS I'm not sure I would go buy him a '04 -'06 model. I would probably go for a cheaper one with higher miles like a '01 - '03 just for the money factor. I was actually thinking about finding something like an '05 GS300 for about $6k. Now, just because I already have an LS (which I'm not absolutely in love with like my '04), I'm thinking of handing this one down and buying a '10 - '12 LS460L.

Bob04

No pics and 150K miles, but I think this is a white with saddle interior. $9000

http://www.suburbancollection.com/us...25fdd4b16d.htm

Bob04

Another one.
2004 LS430 Ultra Luxury 87K miles. $17,500.

http://www.2040-cars.com/Lexus/LS/20...ntrols-866284/

Bob04

The last one, the UL, is near Atlanta.

greg s

I had found this one, however, it is basically the same price that I paid 3 years ago but mine had less miles at the time. Unless I was magically given that much for my loss, it's probably a no-go.

jimbosr1

i think $17500 is a pipe dream on that car.says its a auction so he will take less.good luck in your search.

Bob04

I could easily see it selling for $15K being a UL with a rare color combo.

Kira X

iTrader: (24)

That impact looked incredible! I am glad to see that you're alive and that you all made it out okay. The damage looks brutal. I guess the LS430 really is a tank and I can see why it was voted as the safest car to own back in the day.

Good luck with your search for a saddle interior. They are the hardest to find. Even black interior LS' are hard to find. I see LS430's everywhere in my area and at the local Lexus dealerships and have never seen a saddle interior. I've only seen maybe five black interiors. It's crazy considering how common the LS430 still is.

If you end up getting the LS460 I'm sure you will enjoy it. I would recommend getting one as new as possible. The techs at my dealership hate dealing with them but I hear 2010 and up is the way to go.

greg s

Couple more pics from the tow yard. You can see how the interior was deformed some. Upon closer inspection, the exterior trunk on the driver's side was basically touching the rear seats. I'm very thankful we weren't hurt. My 8 yr old son was sitting behind me so he would have not fared well.

Still nothing on the van driver either... looks like this one is going under my uninsured coverage.

Daspyda

iTrader: (1)

I wonder if you've spoken w/your insurance company about buying your vehicle, and using the interior from that? Or, negotiating something with the salvage yard?

And, getting the front cup holder for the guy who gave you this excellent suggestion...

caverman

True. It may not be worth all the hassle but maybe you could buy the interior and switch it out with another LS. The rear seats may have to go through a recover but maybe the front seats and console could be a direct swap. Door panels might be replaceable as well, if nothing else maybe switch out the door panel inserts.

ericwudi08

This one looks really promising