I'm packing for tomorrows trip (1085 miles to Florida) and having never owned a car before I was going into it dreading the trunk space and preparing coverings for the rear seats to fit luggage and stuff. Holy crap, I was 5 min into actually starting to move things into the trunk when I realized how large the trunk actually is!

Now it's not huge or even close to what I'm used to (full size trucks and SUVs that can hold basically anything plus more) but I was not expecting to be able to fit all my stuff into it without issue and a little space leftover. I'm visiting family and they naturally want some car work done while I'm there so I'm brining some trays out of my smaller toolbox and my backup scan tool and some electric tools. I fully expected those items to take up most of the space but it barely took 1/3 if not less, I easily also fit a case of ammo, three rifles, range bag, four duffles of clothes and stuff, and other odds and ends I thought would have to go on the rear seats. I'm blown away since most cars I work on have dinky little trunks that can't hold half as much if you tried really hard unlike this one just taking it all no issues. Hinge system is also genius and it didn't register till now how it's setup to take zero away from the cargo area, much nicer than how it's normally done on a car. Very impressed at how useable the 430 is for a car, so far I'm not missing much vs my old daily in terms of practicality and space.

Here is a picture of the first two layers when I first realized the space level is way higher than I thought it was. Here's to hoping the trip goes well and the car performs without drama.

https://imgur.com/a/TwnkkpF

 

Nice. Even though it may be unlikely you shop much at Harbor Freight. It does have this, if I may recommend adding it to you packing ...

 

Thanks, I actually do shop there for certain tools. Snap on stuff is great but some stuff just doesn't make sense to buy from them, their ratchets and specialty sockets/swivels and extensions are without equal and can take insane abuse without a hint of stress but the non-impact stuff and generic tools are better served by kobalt/dewalt/any Taiwanese tool maker since the quality is actually good. I mean don't expect it to hold up to 4x the sane force level (snap on 3/8 drive can literally take 200+lb ft and not break) but it's quite better than Chinesium stuff.

The set you see is my cheap stuff that is a combo of the three brands, harbor freight carries some Taiwan made stuff that holds up, so about 1/3 the store is actually useful while the rest breaks on attempted use lol.

 

Where in Florida are you heading to? I am leaving to Key West in couple of hours.

 

Lakeland, I ended up not going all last night due to a stupid crash that add two and change hours to the trip.

On a a side note car does really well on the interstate but rough pavement has a lot of shock at times. Still undecided if it's better ride than my other cars.

 

Speaking of Toyotas with large trunks, just took a Camry rental on a 1200 mi. journey (had to use 2 free days expiring 12/31). It's amazing how "tight" new cars are (new meaning low miles, not 2020 per se). Not a single rattle and it too has a pretty sizeable trunk where 2 humungous suitcases both fit and then some. Getting 41 mpg does su** lol

Even the steering is fine where the Altima has zero feel. In trying to find something wrong with it, well, it does have solid discs in the rear which to me is 1994 technology. The coolant is actually at the low mark cold--if this is 10 yr. coolant, wth are they doing at the factory and through the delivery process? Zero chance the car has a blown head gasket at under 3k on the odometer. My buddy emailed me a link where a 2019 with you guessed it 35,000 miles, is $14,999. Sometimes I wonder why people can't be humble and buy a used 2019 Camry LE for $14,999? I mean spend that $14,999, and aren't you set for 15 years?

If not mistaken the LS430 has 108 cu. ft. which even flagship cars often do not have (except the S class). A new LS is something like 99 (looks and feels like a Mazda 6). Ditto having my wife's SUV, we're used to 115 cu. ft. cargo which means swallows everything unless you want plywood (imho most suitable with a pickup). LS seems that it was a great car sans handling, showing its age today (let the fine wine responses begin!).

edit 115 cu ft is 2 rear rows folded down whereas 108 cu ft LS430 is passenger area

 

Didn't know we can carry Rifle to interstate ? I guess depends on where we going ?

 

Most places you can, only the east coast is stupid in terms of restrictions but if you have something that's allowed there just place it in the trunk with a lock and it's fine. Other states like the ones I went through don't even require anything past it being unloaded and in a case

 

Be nice my favorite Pittsburg long extended flex ratchet is from Harbor frieght for all ya'll too snobs lol
But I was driving by the Pawn/guns & ammo shop recently and stopped in for fun and found this gem for $50.

And this looks good in anyone's trunk lol

 

Dude. That's a solid as hell find, nice! (I'll pay ya $76 for em lol!)