Buying a used flagship sedan is often a mixture of sublime and scary, but what if you could buy one with all of the excellence and none of the crazy maintenance headaches? The Lexus LS 430 isn’t just a world-beating flagship luxury sedan, it’s one you’d still want to own today and keep until the end of time. It might not have the most striking image, but it’s just so exquisitely engineered that if you were to buy one, you’d have a hard time getting bored of it.
Best of all, unlike nearly all of its competition, it’s reliable. Not just reliable for a luxury car, reliable period. It’s not significantly more taxing on the pocketbook than a Toyota Camry, but it’s not just another midsize sedan, it’s a genuine slice of the good life. How’s that for ownership appeal?
Welcome back to Beige Cars You’re Sleeping On, a weekly series in which we raise the profile of some quiet greats. We’re talking vehicles that are secretly awesome, but go unsung because of either a boring image or the lack of an image altogether.
Launched for the 2001 model year, the Lexus LS 430 was almost entirely new compared to its predecessor, and it showed. We’re talking about benefits like two inches more rear legroom, a drag coefficient of just 0.25, titanium silica-coated water-repellent auto-dimming side mirrors, cooled front seats, laser-guided adaptive cruise control, and passenger-sensing solar-detecting multi-zone automatic climate control with automatically oscillating center dashboard HVAC vents. We’re talking about a car so thoughtful and so advanced, it’s easy to picture German engineers screaming, crying, and throwing up at their desks when this was unveiled on the auto show floor.
Under the hood sat a 4.3-liter quad-cam V8 which made exactly the same 290 horsepower as the old four-liter V8, but made peak torque at 3,400 rpm, a full 600 rpm lower in the rev range. It’s a buttercream-smooth unit, and it meant Lexus claimed a zero-to-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds. Let me tell you, it’ll take you there in absolute serenity, with the sort of unbothered yet relentless acceleration normally reserved for passenger jets. In fact, the loudest thing on the car was the available Mark Levinson sound system.
See, Harman International didn’t acquire Mark Levinson until after the LS 430 was launched, so the nine-speaker sound system was all Mark Levinson, from the drivers to the 24-bit floating point digital sound processor. Even against today’s high-end branded audio systems, this one still holds up, with faithful, detailed recreation of sound. Sure, the imaging isn’t seamless, but as far as factory-installed systems go, this one’s a listener’s delight.
Mind you, it’s not like the Germans didn’t try to beat Lexus. After the automaker put the LS 430 on sale, BMW launched a new 7 Series, Audi gave the world a new A8, Jaguar put its big XJ sedan on a new aluminum platform, Mercedes-Benz made improvements to the S-Class, and Volkswagen gave the world the Phaeton. It still wasn’t enough, because even nearly at the end of its product cycle, the LS 430 vanquished the lot in a Car And Driver comparison test. It isn’t a sporty car in the slightest, but the magazine summed up the appeal of the big Lexus well:
If you just walked up and asked, we’d say this is not a Car and Driver sort of car. But like gravity, the Lexus kept pulling on us. It’s so confident. It does so many things beautifully. It’s like the salesman who never quits, and finally, you find yourself agreeing with him.
From seats that are the perfect blend of comfortable and supportive for every body type under the sun, to the impressively deep paint, to the wondrous array of thoughtful amenities, Lexus just nailed everything on this car. It’s cushy without being too isolating, tracks dead-ahead like a bloodhound on a mission, gets impressive real-world highway fuel economy, and has all the space you could realistically ask for.
Oh, and because it’s a Golden Era Lexus, it’ll never actually break on you. Sure, a side marker might go out, or the subwoofer foam might deteriorate, but that’s about it. So long as you change the timing belt according to the recommended interval, change the oil periodically, and keep up on rust protection, the LS 430 will provide mile after mile of sublime comfort until the sun collapses in on itself.
Best of all, the LS 430 kept getting better throughout its life. A 2004 facelift gave it a more assertive face, radar-guided cruise control, knee airbags, and a six-speed automatic transmission that’s smoother than most modern eight-speeds and surprisingly quick. By the end of its life, it was still one of the finest luxury sedans ever made, to the point where it felt like even Lexus couldn’t do it again.
So, what about the LS 460 that came after? Didn’t it use the chain-driven 1UR-FSE V8? Why yes it did, but it also ushered in new complexity and pain points for the LS nameplate. On the minor end, front upper control arm bushings are short-lived. On the more major end, air suspension and therefore air suspension problems became far more common, and then there’s that little issue with an excessively complex braking system. See, the LS 460 featured an early non-hybrid implementation of electronically assisted brakes, and Toyota didn’t quite get the brake actuator right on the first go. A new brake actuator costs $1,223.49 from Lexus, and can only be sourced through the automaker. Not ideal for long-term ownership. Plus, the LS 460 just wasn’t as nice to drive as the LS 430. The odd brake arrangement led to an unnatural pedal feel, and the air suspension calibration was on the queasy side, a shock considering the magic carpet ride of the LS 430’s standard coil-sprung suspension.
These days, you can buy a nice LS 430 for the price of a used Honda Civic. This 2005 model year example with just 74,500 miles on the clock recently hammered on Cars & Bids for $16,250. Not only has it spent its entire life registered outside the rust belt, it’s specced in a gorgeous combination of Black Cherry Pearl over airy beige leather.
Want a higher spec? No problem. This 2004 model with 140,600 miles on the clock recently sold on Cars & Bids for $11,200, and it has the coveted Ultra Luxury package. Sure, this does add air suspension which adds a bit of complexity, but it also adds massaging, climate-controlled, power-reclining rear seats, a UV-based deodorizer, soft-close doors, and the ultimate feature, a fridge. It’s also a California car since new, so its underbody is spotless.
Now, is the price of a gently used Honda Civic somewhat expensive for a 20-year-old sedan? Sure, but the Lexus LS 430 is also one of the best luxury cars of the 21st century, with the right combination of engineering excellence, cosseting toys, and incredible reliability that so long as you defend it from road salt, it could be the last car you ever need. Can you really put a price on forever?
(Photo credits: Lexus, Cars & Bids)
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We’ve had our 2003 base for going on ten years now. It was purchased from the original owner in a tony suburb in the Bay Area, and the first thing we did with it was to take it on a 3600 mile road trip to Texas. It was trouble-free. It had the first timing belt replacement 2 years before we bought it, and records showed it got new struts all around by its 10th birthday, so we were good to go for awhile. it had 63K at the time of purchase.
This week It just turned over 133K. So far in those ten years it has needed an oxygen sensor, 2 batteries with a third new one two weeks ago, two sets of tires, a timing belt and water pump & idlers, (all replaced with Aisin parts two years ago), a serpentine belt just because, a thermostat, a radiator, a set of plugs that didn’t really look that bad, front and rear rotors and brake pads, and that’s it. I’ve done all the work myself and I’m not a service tech.
It still needs an interior left rear door latch and a new lock actuator for the right front door, the $6.00 Mabuchi motor just came in for that repair. It also needs a subwoofer and the front speakers, which will arrive in a couple of days. It also needs a lead screw to get the telescope steering back to working again.
We just completed another trip to San Antonio two weeks ago, and it returned a real world mileage of about 26.5 at the posted 75 – 80 MPH speeds across Texas on I-10.
It’s been a very satisfying car to drive, it’s in its element on the open highway where it really gobbles up the miles. For that use case, I would look for a well maintained example and keep up the maintenance that a quality car deserves. We’ve been very happy with ours, and having other Toyota products from those golden years, such as a 2001 Avalon, also an amazing car, you can’t go wrong. No transmission, ABS braking or driveline issues whatever. And the nav system still works as clunky as it is, though I haven’t attempted an update.
interior parts availability such as latches and such may be problematic in the years to come, I was informed by a dealer in Scottsdale that I got the last right rear latch assy in that color in the country. Cables and such still seem to be available though, and Ebay sellers have quite a selection too.
Having owned one, I would suggest the 1st gen. Hyundai XG300! Very solidly built. Full leather interior, a stout V6 providing more than enough power for passing and a respectable 135 top speed. Mileage around 24 city, 29 highway. Best of all, should you find one in decent condition, your price to buy in would be in the $2000 range!
I believe you immediately. I’ve never trusted the build quality of the 100,000 mile warranty crowd but that’s such an obscure take it just HAS to be true!
It really exists and it does pay out. My XG was recalled for a transmission issue and it was replaced at no cost to me at 35K miles. Only issue I had with the car in over 120K miles, when I gave it to my son who added another 30K miles before crashing it in a winter storm in Wichita, KS.
I’ve thought of these a number of times as I love the idea of them—especially when I was doing 40-50k miles per year—but the mileage is terrible (if not unexpected) and the styling inside and out is just so damn bland. If it came as a coupe or had the massage seats in the front, though . . .
My daily is an 04 LS430 much the same as your lead shot but with a few battle scars.
Had 3 and a bit years and all it’s had is breaks, tyres and fluids. Passed it’s MOTS with no advisers and the only thing that’s broke is the reversing camera which I’m too lazy to fix.
It cost me £1800 and has just gone over 200K.
I think you’ll struggle to find a better car than that let alone one that cools your ass in the summer.
Yes it’s boring to look at from the outside but that’s not the bit I can see.
What kind of mileage do you get with it? I’d love one, but the thought of what I’d pay going round the doors in an LS puts me off…
About 16 around town and about 26 on motorway runs. Not great but it’s appreciating and all the repairs I’ve done cost Toyota money. Did discs and pads on all 4 corners for less than £400.
Ooooh, that’s too rich for my blood, sadly. Shame, as I love lexuses and I would have liked to move up a class from an IS.
You could have titled this “The S Class that Toyota got right.”
I’m not a Toyota/Lexus fan. And the first thing I have a problem with is that “how can we make it look like a Taurus but more boring” styling. It’s a blessing you don’t have to see the outside from the inside. Read. About. The. Transmission. Before. Buying. One. And then when you read about how they have a habit of spilling their internals on the highway, Google how much it costs to rebuild or replace one. If you can buy one under $10k in good shape and set $6,000-8000 aside for the inevitable tranny carnage, it might be worth it because the rebuild kits upgrade the failure prone components. Former Toyota tech, glad to meetcha.
The LS 430 is a great car but you can’t get it in a station wagon so I wouldn’t call it perfect.
As a wagon with a 6 speed manual, and we’re really talking!
But if you want a supremely wonderful car that will last forever, this is certainly the way to go.
I think you’d do well with the LS460 too but there is something about the 430 that does feel more “peak” Lexus.
Friend’s parents had new blue/beige 04 LS430 and GX470 when I was 14. When I think of luxury (as opposed to status), the LS nailed it. Quiet, soft, powerful, cooled seats for mid-Atlantic humidity – seriously comfortable. My impression was that the extra money went toward extra content.
My grandma was driving an 04 Vanden Plas and honestly that felt more like a car worth spending money on if wool carpets, Connolly leather, and classic design were your thing. It had more presence, more of a status symbol likely, and to me seemed worth the markup (price is not a factor when shopping these but I drive a VW so…). The Jag – despite being a Ford – felt somewhat exotic. Like a British Quattroporte almost. Grandma would have probably preferred a Maser but nearest dealership was 2hrs away.
I think that used, the leather in the Lexus won’t impress like it did new – thin but supple and high perceived quality. Paint will likely continue to impress, and I can’t imagine the interiors wear out too much.
That said, reliability aside, I’d probably bet on an elderly driven Vanden Plas or Qporte living up to the original experience a bit more. 2nd/3rd house cars sitting in a climate controlled garage in Hilton Head with 10k miles can probably deliver that original magic. I think a similarly treated Lexus is the way to go, but suspect that there are fewer that lived such a life
ive owned two ls430’s. 2001&2004. the 2004 was a tad nicer comparing the leather and ride feel. such great cars. “accidentally” hitting 90mph can feel like 40mph compared to most cars. also great in the snow for a v8 rwd! i was driving in a snow storm on 4season tires and i just put it in “snow mode” and it just kept on truckinnn’ – the LS twas ever thus!
That generation LS is fantastic. I used to be a valet in college when it came out and among all the luxury cars I drove the LS truly tried to impress. The leather was the softest, the wood was immaculate and the ride quality was completely isolated. I understood immediately why “smart money” buys them.
Some people dream about cars they can never afford. I prefer to search cars.com for cars that I could buy but have no justifiable reason or space to. This is the second one on that list I’ve read about here.
This is a beautiful car but really what stops me is the leather seats. I honestly think everyone has been brainwashed into thinking they’re… good. Leather seats are horrible. I would rather find a similar vintage, low spec Avalon with cloth.
one of my dear old (96 years old)neighbors has an original 1990 with 35k miles on it. We drive it once a month when I take her shopping. I give it an Italian tune up every time I drive it. ( it is still ok to mention Italian tune up when everyone is so pc and big babies?) any hooos, that car still drives like a silk lined glove. Looks brand new. She’s leaving it to me in her will. Probably going to be a bigger return than my crappy 401k
No Italian I’ve ever met would find the association to be anything but a point of pride.
What’s an Italian tune up?
WOT to “blow out the carbon”.
WOT?
Wide Open Throttle
Ahh I see thank you
aka exploring the redline.
Haha
ArticleOTY. (sorry Beyonce)
Styling, inside and out, by someone who used to design dentist chairs. The shapes and colours on these are just so…Toyota of the time.
I daily a 1999 LS400 with 190k miles. My father in law dailies a 2014 LS460 with 80k miles, and I have driven it many times (probably about 1,000 miles total). We both agree that mine is smoother and more comfortable, and his better handling and more spacious. I’d love to drive an LS430 to compare
A gently used Civic or an old LS in impeccable shape?
That’s a tough one. Cars have come a long way in the last 20 years and many of the luxury features can be had on the right Civic. And the Civic is likely going to have a lower TCO due to fuel economy and (the reality of any older car) not having to deal with little things by virtue of the car’s age.
I think I’d choose the Lexus though. It’s still an incredibly nice car in ways that a late model Civic could never be. And I’ll still have confidence that it’s not gonna leave me stranded.
The only thing that’s kept me from buying an LS430 is the fear of making my 300SDL redundant. I have no use for two land yachts and the Lecus would end up used more while the other sits.
That being said, if anything ever happens to the Benz, I know where I’ll look first for my next luxobarge.
> unlike nearly all of its competition, it’s reliable. Not just reliable for a luxury car, reliable period
But
> So long as you change the timing belt according to the recommended interval,
Did you sneak this article past David?
Even the most reliable cars require maintenance, or they’ll go wrong.
It’s a reference to a recent hot take by David where he stated a vehicle with a belt instead of a chain cannot be reliable.
https://www.theautopian.com/if-your-car-has-a-timing-belt-its-not-really-reliable/
Right at this very moment I’m sitting in a 2011 LS460. I have no experience with the 430, but the 460 is pretty nice to a point. Some of the luxury is ridiculous overkill. I mean, I don’t think any car needs three separate methods of shifting gears (fully automatic; manual up-and-down via the console shifter if you shove it into the far left detent; and flappy paddles up on the wheel), and the 119+ knobs, switches, dials, pedals, buttons, and levers accessible from the driver’s seat alone (not counting the touchscreen!) strike me as quite a few more than I’ll ever use in any foreseeable circumstance. But it’s the same age as our Honda Odyssey, and wow does Honda beat Lexus when it comes to UI comfort and utility. For one thing, the touchscreen interface on the Lexus is incredibly dumb and unresponsive and recalcitrant and counterintuitive compared to the Honda, and it can’t do as much either. Its map interface is incomprehensible. And you can only have two registered Bluetooth music sources at a time on the Lexus; the Honda accepts six. And reregistering on the Lexus takes several minutes every time.
Anyway. It’s fast, though a gas hog, and comfy, though annoying to deal with on the touchscreen. Maybe the 430 has a better interface. I hope so.
Hated having to replace the brake wear sensors. And now the tire pressure sensors have reached their life’s end as well. Really not looking forward to spending a bunch of money just to make that light go out on the dash.
I’ve never in any instance felt like there were too many buttons.
Too many buttons made me feel like I needed to learn more.
This is the way.
Could buttons and switches be better integrated*? Absolutely. But nothing feels more in control than having physical buttons, knobs, and toggles to do the task we want without having to navigate a touch screen with layers that is absolutely distracting.
*Ex. Separate heated and cooled seat buttons that could be a simple toggle switch for up:down heat:cool (one manufacturer does this but can’t place it).
Toyota’s simple cruise stalk of the aughts. VW’s exterior lighting knob+buttons. Honda’s wiper stalk and sun/moon roof toggle+vent button. We reached pinnacle design in all of these buttons across all manufacturers yet no one put them together in the ultimate driver focused machine and skipped to touchscreens. Remember Honda ditching the volume knob?
Also , any normal PRNDL arrangement for a shifter vs. buttons (this had made people doing 3-point U-turns 3x slower, fact.)
I do like having lots of buttons and switches and stuff. But seriously: this is *in addition* to the touchscreen. And 119 was an undercount; I found a few more when I looked again in daylight hours. But despite all those, the HVAC controls that determine which vents the air blows through (defrost vs face vs floor vs combination) plus fan speed plus whether or not the AC compressor is engaged? That’s a touchscreen situation on the LS460, not buttons, knobs, or dials. I get when the GPS controls are on the touchscreen; to a lesser extent I’m okay with audio controls being there. But HVAC? On a car with over 119 physical controls within driver’s reach? Someone at Lexus needed a refresher course in prioritizing UI elements.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, technology isn’t luxury. I hate all the touchscreens in “luxury” vehicles. For me it really detracts from the driving experience. I found in the M2.40 that if I refused to change xm stations or mess with the screen for other features, I absolutely loved the car, but once my easily distracted brain wanted to see what features the screen offered, I was doomed to a poor driving experience.
I haven’t driven a 430, but I put 700+ miles on my 2017 LS460 (last year of the V8) today and it was fantastic as always. Mine does not have the air suspension as that was an option and my control arms were replaced courtesy of the CPO warranty, so I’m good to go for a while. It’s a beautifully built car and second to none as an interstate cruiser. Oh, and that V8 makes the sweet sound of angels singing whenever my right foot is down. Which occurs at every available opportunity.
Oof. Now that is good car
We have one as a summer cruiser. Stupidly smooth powertrain and ride. Love the way its lazy V8 delivers power
Shhh i was already having a hard enough time trying to get one in good shape in my favorite spec as it is ;-;
The LS is also the best luxury car that you get to destroy in the Street Fighter 2 bonus stage.