hi, everyone ,im sorry for this topic, but i need some help
i just get a 2011 ls460 for my wife about one month ago, it is 90/100 good, the engine is so smooth, the noise level is so low( only complain is if the hwy is under construction, the tire noise is still loud as hell)
ride isnt as soft as i thought, maybe my exception is so high, it is better than my toyota for sure ,but i can still feel the bump,mine is non-air,but i do test drive the air one,i dont feel much difference.

now, i am in market again for myself, i has to choose between 99 ls400 and 03 ls430
if i only care about the noise, as low as possible, and ride comfort, as soft as possible. i wish somebody has experience can give me some idea
which one should i choose>?
i am concerned about the repair cost about the air struct, with all the hyper saying how good is the air suspension, why i cant feel a difference? is the air on ls400 reliable? the one im looking at is 99., about 120000KM, first owner, i am afraid even if the milage is low, but with 21 years, the air struct is dying anyway

and for a good example of 99 ls400 and 03 ls430, which one will has a lower ownership cost?
thanks in advance for any suggestion!
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For low tyre noise (in an already quiet car) the 400 is quietest.
This is because it runs on 15" or 16" wheels and has narrower taller tyres. (1990-92 =205/60-15, 1993-2000 = 225/60-16)
The early 430s ran on 17" wheels and the later models on 18" (2000-03 = 225/55-17, 2004-06 = 245/45-18)
The narrower taller tyres are also the most forgiving over rough roads, but they don't handle as well.
An 04-06 LS430 feels more planted and controllable in the twisties than any of the earlier models.

However, the 430 has better sound insulation so your best bet may be the early 430 with 17" wheels.

I'll leave others to comment on the LS430 air suspension vs coil suspension as over here we only ever had the air suspension in our LS430s.
The LS400 was factory supplied with coil suspension for all years.

Your best bet would be to test drive a few and use a Noise Level app on your phone to measure the noise.
They are all pretty quiet. :-)

 

Uh, the '01 - '03 LS430 also came with 16" wheels. They also have a little more power and have more sound insulation.

 

The 3rd gen is really soft, like from another era. It does .73g on the skidpad which is like a 1970's car. It had to be on purpose because the car is overengineered. Like others have described, the experience is like driving a mattress out of your bedroom, or a sofa out of your living room, onto the road. It's not an autocross moment for sure. But soft is not to be mistaken with loose or sloppy, it's just sorta from a bygone era, so as the expression goes, so don't delay, act now, supplies are running out...

 

That made me laugh, Yea...dont buy a ls430 if you want a sports car. Id chose the ls430 over the 400. But really it depends how clean and well maintained both are.

 

A CL or UL 430 will be quieter due to the upgraded glass and more sound deadening and if you equip it with 16s and a known silent tire it's very good.

Alternatively you could do what I did and use a sport tire and have a way louder than normal experience but very high road holding and steering feel. Oh and chip the hell out of the wheel wells since the tires love to pick up and throw anything you drive over.

 

To add to that, you want to avoid any of the LS400’s that came with the air suspension option, unless its already been converted to coils.

 

is it possible to put 16inch ls wheels on a 04-06 ls430??

 

Qualify the conversion with use of OEM springs and rubber isolators

 

Yes, they should fit just fin