ReggieT

Thought I had my mind made up on a 2004-2006 LS430.
Yet, after a month of snooping around I'm seeing some decent deals on 2009-2010 LS 460's.
Does the LS460 L all come with adaptive air suspension or is it an option?
What about maintenance cost between these 04/06 LS 430's and the 2009/2010 460's?
My main concern is the wind noise and interior size...I'm on the burley side about 6'4 & 275!

Thanks guys,
Reg

Dave144239

The air suspension is an option on the L models, but most of them seem to have it. I found two in my area that didn't have it, but I didn't buy those cars for other reasons.

Maintenance costs shouldn't be too different. You don't have a timing belt to change on the 460, so that helps.

Can't help with interior size - I'm 150 lbs, so for me, it's big

UZ214

My 2011 ls460 has been more reliable than the 2006 ls430 I had, on the 430 at 95k I had to replace structs, one wheel bearing and one of the mark mark levinson speaker...the 460 with approaching 120k is basically all maintenance items apart from the sunroof rubber seal . (Lexus covered the cost.). I have regular suspension on the 460.

There isn't wind noise on the 460s, the engine can feel louder and I think its more louder then 430. The 430 was more smoother , but if I was you I would pick up a 460 more updated.

FatherTo1

I purchased a 2006 LS 430 in 2016 with only 48K miles. A year later, I replaced it with a 2013 LS 460 (the 430 went to my Dad). Both models are incredibly reliable and my Dad maintains the 430 meticulously. It still catches my eye when I see him driving it around. That said, for all the silky smoothness of the 430 and its quiet refinement, it was soulless, and I felt 20 years older every time I climbed in and wrapped my fingers around the thin steering wheel. I still think the 430 is an amazing car and extremely comfortable and yes, smoother and quieter engine than the 460. The 460 doesn't have that sound of "ripping silk" when you floor it but it is still the LS I prefer. Initially, I was looking at 2007-2010 460s after the 430. Given your choices again, I would go with the 2010 460 (make sure you get one past the VIN where the new control arms were introduced). 2009 introduced, I think, seat memory on the passenger side and also increased available trunk space when equipped with the rear seat upgrade package. 2010 received some cosmetic upgrades on the exterior (taillights, side mirror turn signals) but, more importantly, introduced redesigned control arms midway through the model year (see attached PDF).

SW17LS

All of this continued comparing the LS430 to the LS460 is silly. The LS430 is rapidly becoming ancient now, the youngest ones are now 13 years old, the oldest ones are 18 years old. "Is the LS460 better", its a decade plus newer depending on the year, so yeah...its better.

Any difference in maintenance costs at this point will be a wash even if the LS430 were "more reliable", because components just deteriorate because of physical age. Just look in the 430 forums, there are all kinds of threads now about age related component failures.

In terms of size, the SWB LS460 is slightly smaller than the LS430 inside, the LWB LS460L is larger. Wind noise is a non issue on later cars, and if you have the issue its easily addressed using the write-ups here.

You have to ask yourself, how long are you going to own it? A 2004 LS430 is already 14-15 years old. In 3 years it will be 17-18 years old. It'll be old enough to vote. A 2006 LS430 will be old enough to get a drivers license and drive itself. In 5 years a 2004 LS430 will be eligible for a Maryland historic tag! These are very old cars.

I would chose an LS460 just because its a much newer car.

electro992

We have a 04 430 and a 09 460. Both purchased new and dealer maintained. The 430 has over twice the miles of the 460 but it is holding up better. The 460 has had many problems: air struts, control arms, brake actuator, hesitation after oil changes, to name a few. The 430 by comparison has been problem free despite nearing 200k miles. Like others have mentioned the 430 is smoother and quieter. Lexus changed their design goals a bit between the generations. Same experience between our LX470 and LX570.

No question the 460 is a more modern vehicle and the 430s are getting very old. If the 430 was still in production and we could buy a new one today, would absolutely choose it over the 460. However an immaculate 430 is probably a rare find these days, so the 460 is probably a safer bet, and is by no means a bad car.

Mbodall

Definitely less rare than you think. There are examples posted pretty often in the LS430 forum, mostly by new owners posting cars they've just purchased. It astonishes me how many still exist that have well under 100k miles and look like they just rolled out of the showroom in regards to interior and exterior condition. Usually these immaculate 430s are owned by older folks that kept the car in a garage their whole life and only drove a few thousand miles a year, hence the condition. Granted, these aren't super common, but they aren't super uncommon either.

SW17LS

No matter how immaculate, I would have no interest in daily driving a 430 today. I'd rather have a 460, even a newer ES. They're just archaic, in this day and age I want modern navigation, I want bluetooth audio, I want app connectivity, I want more modern safety features, on and on.

Mbodall

To each his own. I only use crowdsourced navigation on my phone, already have BT audio, have no need to app connectivity, and have just about all the safety features that 460s have, with the exception of blind-spot monitoring and PCS. I just prefer a smoother, slightly more reliable (arguable, I know), and more solid feeling (also arguable/personal preference/perception)... not to mention the smaller car payment

SW17LS

Then why did you chose an LS430 with the sport suspension on 18" wheels? Thats a firmer car than an LS460 for sure.

Mbodall

I meant engine, transmission, and isolation-wise. Also, the sport suspension itself is only 10% more firm than the stock suspension.

Doublebase

SW17LS

But then you have the added firmness of the 18" wheels. My Dad had an 04 LS430 on 17s and the air suspension. When I was looking at CPO LS430s in 2010 before I got my 10 ES350 I drove a bunch of them and I was really surprised how much firmer the 430 rides on the 18s. The 460s are a little firmer than a 430 in general, but an LS460 on 18s is softer riding than an LS430 on 18s. My LS460L with air suspension and 19s rides notably softer than the LS430s I drove on 18s and coil suspension.

As for the engine and transmission, I haven't driven many older LS460s but I had a 15 and I now have a 17. My 15 was a little louder and not quite as smooth as a 430, but my 17 is every bit as smooth and quiet. Don't know if it was because my 15 was AWD and my 17 is RWD, or if they made some sort of adjustment to the engine, or if its just some engines are smoother and quieter than others...

R Z

As with most anything, to each their own. Some people are going to swear by their 430's others will tell you the 460 is the way to go. For me, it was a no brainer. I felt like an old man driving my 430. I never had a love affair with it and only bought it as a quick step in getting the 460. Sure it has an interesting look to it, especially, my black with the 5 star wheels. But, it always felt like a pass through car for me. As for maintenance, I've been lucky so far with my 08. And even if I do have some work done, I'd much rather have it done on my 460 than still driving my 430. Nothing against the 430 for all you drivers, but for me, it just wasn't the car for me.

SW17LS

Thats exactly how I felt about the 430. Having had the 400, 430 and 460 the 430 was my least favorite.