I had a 2002 LS430 UL that I drove for twelve years. I bought it as a CPO when it was four years old. It was silver and black with rosewoood. It was an amazing car other than suspension issues that Lexus did not take care of during warranty. I ended up converting the suspension, which was an improvement. The fit and finish, reliability, and comfort on the 430 is amazing. I have never had a car with such good leather (semi-analine). It was also cheap to keep. After twelve years I wanted something different, and I had always wanted a Porsche Cayenne diesel. It's totally different, and I really enjoy driving it. I don't enjoy the high maintenance expense. The interior finish is no comparison. I recently looked at the Lexus SUV's (I have somebody that is wanting my diesel and offering me a good price), but none of the Lexus SUV's appeal to me from a design point of view. I kept my LS in pristine condition, so when I sold it , it looked like a new car. If you have a nice LS430 and not tired of it, keep driving it. They are great.

 

Hey man, you can still find really good examples if you wanna get back in a 430; just keep your eyes peeled! I bought my first Lexus last year: it's an '04 that was single owner, dealer maintained, and absolutely mint on the inside. I spent 8 months hunting and used this awesome forum for feedback and as a sounding board. I love my LS430 and I'm loving the community on this board!

 

I came from a 10’ cayenne turbo, granted it was the only other non Toyota product me and my wife have owned in the last 10 years - and while I loved the cayenne, it was not as comfortable, not reliable (it left me stranded when the composite coolant pipes separated from the engine (actually held by adhesive from the factory, face slap). In addition to that, I had a cat go out among little other things (mirrors stopped working, electrical nuances with the key fob and radio). My wife hated the cayenne but she loves “grandma cars” some come forth the LS. Overall the ls430 I feel like is a car that was built for a world that doesn’t exist anymore. It’s a big boat with a dinosaur engine in it that’s plush (not sporty) that can’t be experienced with anything built today. I hope we can keep it for a long time

 

I think of it as the "Land Cruiser of the paved road world".

 

See that's my issue! I have a nice 2005 LS and after 11 years simply want something different. I also looked at the Lexus RX 350 and while nice, just didn't get me very interested.

Now that the Porsche diesel has worn out its welcome, what is your next replacement going to be ?

 

I own it 4 years already and I still decided to keep it at least 2 years more. Just can't find anything similar not even in the double price range. I reupholstered the interior to alcantara headliner with saddle seats and will re-paint it to the brand new condition. It's an amazing car.

 

Be patient and keep your eyes peeled. Lots of "cream puffs" out there, and they pop up now and then. Cars.com, Auto Trader, Ebay, Craigslist, and if you have the time, hit all the Lexus dealer websites in an acceptable radius from you.

 

I saw the RX mentioned. We have an 09 RX350 in addition to an 04 LS. The RX is a great SUV and I like it a lot but I'm always surprised how much smoother and quieter the LS is compared to it, which says a lot about the old LS as the RX is a pretty solid vehicle, it's not like it's some kind of econobox. The LS just eats up those highway miles. These days, I would kind of like a 4runner but I don't think I can part with my LS yet.

 

I was very close to purchasing a 4runner until I test drove one. I had a Ram 1500 crew cab at the time. The 4 runner made my ram 1500 feel like my LS. LOL. I'm sure the 4 Runner is nice if you off road often. I don't understand how all these middle age women and soccer mom can daily there 4 Runners. 3/4 of the 4 runners I see on the road is driven by these women. The 4 Runner compared to my Ram: slow, worse mpg, less room, rough ride.

 

Yeah, I agree. I drove my LS to test drive a 3rd gen 4runner and the 4runner did not even feel like a real car when I drove it. It seemed like a toy, so noisy and unrefined. I was so happy to get back in my LS! I felt at the time that it was not a fair comparison with unibody vs body-on-frame construction, but your comparison to another body-on-frame trucks is interesting. I could never go from DDing an LS to a 4runner, but maybe I could add one to the stable for fun. What's crazy is the prices on 4runners are nuts and given the same model year and miles, a 4runner is worth a lot more than a LS, which retailed for twice price originally. The LS430 is an incredible bargain right now.