CD Article: Lexus LS430, 2001-2006

[CD_Editor]

Used Car Review:

Bulletproof reliability and real world prices that are often lower than Red Book values mean this big Lexus would be our recommendation for a used full-size luxury sedan," says Chris Chase.
"There just isn't a huge market for used luxury sedans," he says. "That puts a fair number of well-maintained, low-kilometre luxury cars like the LS430 out there."      More...

[Demosthenes X]

We had a 1996 Lexus LS400 for years, and it was a great car throughout that time.  Very smooth, well executed, and it even looked good.  We also had a 2002 Infiniti Q45, and imo the Lexus was just a better vehicle.  For anyone looking for a luxury sedan, look no further.

[Bullet Blue]

How about it rrocket? 

[BJB]

The Lexus LS series is a great car (although I find the styling to be incredibly boring), it should last forever and be luxurious for the driver (who is no doubt an older person) - it's a great car and does what it is supposed to do

[jww]

The Lexus LS series is a great car (although I find the styling to be incredibly boring), it should last forever and be luxurious for the driver (who is no doubt an older person) - it's a great car and does what it is supposed to do

Ditto.
 

[a4_tom]

One of my uncles just traded in his 1991 LS400 for a 06 ES350. As boring as LS does, its a very reliable luxury "appliance".

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The LS is the best Lexus for what it does, bar none. Very pure in what we've come to define Lexus as. Super reliable, quiet, comfy, roomy, polished, lotsa features, power, etc. Didn't have the certain je ne sais quoi, but always impressed me the most.

Man, Lexus can make some bonehead choices tho. When I worked there I remember the alloy wheels coming up. We had a sample of the polished chrome ones (like in the article) because we weren't decided on which wheels to offer, and the concensus around the office was that they were giant pie plates and very gaudy. While admittedly, they are quite 'loud' for the car, without them I felt the LS was ultra boring in appearance and didn't look rich enough for the price... it needed some luxurious touch to set it off, which the wheels brought, and at the time GM wasn't yet equipping all their cars with them so they were rather unique (save for the Lincoln Continental, etc).

Instead, the office preferred what was on our prototype unit. This dull, flat painted (nearly painted steel looking) unit with only small cut-outs in the wheel along the edges made the car look undertired http://images.autobytel.com/LXUC/190118/iPL1012_1.jpg  Luckily a few of us objected to it being the be all end all, and it instead wound up being only the base offering, with these a little better finished ones offered http://www.edmunds.com/media/roadtests/roadtest/01.lexus.ls430/01.lexus.ls430.wheel.175.jpg in the mid range, and the chromies on the top end Ultra Premium    At least at that point it looked like you spent $100Gs on the car.

Oh, and as far as I'm concerned Lexus Certified Used is a bit of a sham - well, not the idea, but the implementation of the 'inspection' more than anything - much like other manufacturer's certified programs. Additional warranty coverage is really the big benefit, but some certified programs don't even come with that. If it weren't for additional warranty on CPO, I'd be looking for a well-kept private sale example.

All that said, Lexus is becoming more focused and a force in the luxury arena moreso in Canada now than before. I would certainly put the LS at the very top of my list if looking for a pre-owned luxury car.

[MKII]

Maybe a nice car, but I can never get over the fact it copies Mercedes styling to a point of needing to see the badge just to make sure it is not a Mercedes. Pitiful IMO. Another characterless car trying to be Germanic.