LS - 3rd Gen (2001-2006) Discussion topics related to the flagship Lexus LS430

Road trip

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Old 04-15-19, 04:06 AM
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charliecla
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Default Road trip

Just turned 65,000 miles on trip to the mountains yesterday. 2004 LS 430.

Last edited by charliecla; 04-15-19 at 04:08 AM. Reason: Addition
Old 04-15-19, 04:31 AM
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Jabberwock
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That's pretty low miles, not even broken in - have fun.
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Old 04-15-19, 04:55 AM
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ebxgsxr
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nice. wish my mileage was that low, lol.
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Old 04-15-19, 05:52 AM
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Johnhav430
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I do wish my mileage were that low too! However, imho time is the enemy, not mileage, since there is a general belief that our cars can do 300k pretty easily. What's the likelihood of my car being at 115k, reaching it? Do I have enough "time" to get there? @ 12k/yr? It would take roughly 15 years to get to 300k, does anyone think this car will be worth fixing in 2034? lol

Kinda like, "A Bronx Tale," where nothing is worse than wasted talent. Nothing is worse than our cars sitting as garage queens--they could end up junked at 20-25 y.o. with 80k because they're not worth fixing! Let's not let that happen and rack up the miles!!

p.s. the other factor is the rising cost of premium. At some point 19 mpg is a PITA....when everyone else is doing 31+
Old 04-15-19, 06:18 AM
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very good point. didn't think of it that way.
Old 04-15-19, 07:36 AM
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charliecla
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Thanks guys! It's a ML Model with Sport suspension that I bought in 2006. A Friend of mine bought it from me in 2015 when I got a 2010 LS460 Sport model. He approached me in 2017 about buying the 460 and I traded him back for my 2004 LS430. Really glad to have it back. It's not going anywhere!
Old 04-15-19, 09:28 AM
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Sounds like, for you.. the 430 wins out over the 460. Care to elaborate?
Old 04-15-19, 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Johnhav430
I do wish my mileage were that low too! However, imho time is the enemy, not mileage, since there is a general belief that our cars can do 300k pretty easily. What's the likelihood of my car being at 115k, reaching it? Do I have enough "time" to get there? @ 12k/yr? It would take roughly 15 years to get to 300k, does anyone think this car will be worth fixing in 2034? lol

Kinda like, "A Bronx Tale," where nothing is worse than wasted talent. Nothing is worse than our cars sitting as garage queens--they could end up junked at 20-25 y.o. with 80k because they're not worth fixing! Let's not let that happen and rack up the miles!!

p.s. the other factor is the rising cost of premium. At some point 19 mpg is a PITA....when everyone else is doing 31+
+1.

I also look at it from safety point of view. One of the main reason I let go my trusty 95 Avalon 240K miles because it only has 2 airbags. No side airbags for anyone. Headlights are getting cloudy and even at its best, they are not HID, which is a big difference in term of what I can see at night. I have no doubt that the car will keep running to 300K easily with regular maintenance but my family's safety is the priority.
Old 04-16-19, 04:12 AM
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charliecla
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Originally Posted by Legender
Sounds like, for you.. the 430 wins out over the 460. Care to elaborate?
I have several friends who have knowledge of reliability issues with 460s and very expensive $$ repairs. Have had several 430s and they seem to be more reliable than the 460. I enjoyed driving the 460, but we leave the 430 at a 2nd home and the economics also came into play. When the 460 had 11,000 miles had a issue with the RF Suspension that would have been a $1900 repair if not for warranty.
Old 04-16-19, 05:33 AM
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Johnhav430
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Originally Posted by BCT
+1.

I also look at it from safety point of view. One of the main reason I let go my trusty 95 Avalon 240K miles because it only has 2 airbags. No side airbags for anyone. Headlights are getting cloudy and even at its best, they are not HID, which is a big difference in term of what I can see at night. I have no doubt that the car will keep running to 300K easily with regular maintenance but my family's safety is the priority.
The thing that annoys me on my 1998 Maxima is rust. So it was disappointing to actually see there is a rust issue (dunno if it's hit/miss) with the LS430. I don't know why Japan seems to be not as good with that as the Germans. (My Maxima's brochure showed the unibody being dipped in a bath, I think it was bunk) The Germans, you often have a mint body even in the northeast, but mechanical issues. The Japanese, the opposite. My Maxima had its lower radiator support collapse at 9 y.o., a common issue. Thank goodness a forum member fixed it for $130, instead of the $1800 that a body shop wanted (Nobody wants to spend that on something that should last for life).

With my car having spent 8 years in FLA, hoping that helps it (some claim even worse ocean air but I say no).
Old 04-16-19, 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Johnhav430
The thing that annoys me on my 1998 Maxima is rust. So it was disappointing to actually see there is a rust issue (dunno if it's hit/miss) with the LS430. I don't know why Japan seems to be not as good with that as the Germans. (My Maxima's brochure showed the unibody being dipped in a bath, I think it was bunk) The Germans, you often have a mint body even in the northeast, but mechanical issues. The Japanese, the opposite. My Maxima had its lower radiator support collapse at 9 y.o., a common issue. Thank goodness a forum member fixed it for $130, instead of the $1800 that a body shop wanted (Nobody wants to spend that on something that should last for life).

With my car having spent 8 years in FLA, hoping that helps it (some claim even worse ocean air but I say no).
I have to agree re: rust. I never own BMW or Mercedes, but have friends who owns them and it seems that those cars are less prone to rust problem. I sprayed the under side of my Land Cruiser with couple cans of Fluid Film per year. I see my LS also has some surface rust on some parts, so those get sprayed with FF as well. I had a Sequoia which was recalled due to frame rust a few years ago. A buddy of mine has a Tacoma with the same problem. It is crazy to see some of these truck frame can have big holes from rust.
Old 04-17-19, 10:53 AM
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Landcruisers here is WI are just horrific. The extra body cladding, the step bumpers show big holes after awhile. even like the 460's with the extra wheel flares etc just trpas for dirt moisture.

My LS's have been pretty rust free at least viewed from the outside, we use brine road salt galore. 65k great job car looks sweet
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