Faults:

Nothing, but I’ve only owned it for a month.

General Comments:

I purchased the car from a small used car dealer in the central NJ area for a good price. The vehicle when purchased needed lower control arm bushings and brakes front/rear.

Other than the issues mentioned above, there is nothing and I mean absolutely nothing wrong with this car that is 15 years old and well over 200K miles.

It starts runs shifts and rides better than anything I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned plenty of cars through out the years.

The smell of the interior is filled with a rich leather/wood combination. Kinda like an older Bentley or Rolls :)

My car is I believe the level below the ultra luxury, so I don’t have park sensors or a rear window shade. It does have the MARK LEVINSON 6 disc stereo navigation (works great), moonroof and chrome 17 inch Lexus wheels, which are absolutely stunning.

The reason I decided to write this review is simply because I’m amazed by how well this car has aged. Nothing from the era can even come close. You couldn’t even own a 2002 S500 or BMW 745 due to how terribly they were built and designed.

If you're in the market for an older luxury vehicle for well under $5000, I highly recommend the 2001-06 LS430. You won’t be disappointed after a test drive.

Faults:

O2 (lambda) sensor failed.

Front parking sensor failed.

Steering wheel height adjustment motor failed.

Mirror folding is acting up occasionally in cold weather.

Door locks are sometimes noisy in cold weather.

General Comments:

A true car of superlatives! Some observations:

- The quietest and most comfortable car I have ever sat in almost every way imaginable.

- By far the best AC system I've ever experienced. I've never seen a system that keeps the windows clear, even in automatic mode, during Finnish winters.

- Incredible highway performance. The adaptive electronic throttle makes it feel like a 400 hp car during light-throttle, high-speed maneuvers.

There are small touches in the car that speak of careful engineering everywhere, which I really appreciate, such as slowly and graciously dimming puddle lamps, subtle amber ambient lighting, windshield wiper blade parking area water heater, lowest-in-class drag coefficient (0.25), and velvet cushions between the front seats and the center console.

The air suspension soaks up bumps beautifully, and there is almost no shudder or rebound, even in the sharpest of bumps.

The ultra reliable 3UZ-FE V8 engine is not only incredibly reliable and surprisingly economical, but also whisper-quiet. The only noise you'll ever hear of the engine is a pleasant rumble during hard acceleration.

The car is very reliable and well built! At nearly ten years old, it's still running like new.

The powerplant + transmission combination is by far the best I've ever experienced.

The heated + cooled front seats are excellent.

Mark Levinson audio sounds fantastic. Aftermarket iPod integration is a breeze thanks to Vaistech.

Factory sunroof is virtually wind noise free at speeds up to 60 mph.

HID low beams are amazing!

The navigation system is very easy to use and useful, despite its age.

There is always room for improvement, however. The styling is understated, bland even. The center steering feel is a bit vague at high speeds, and the high profile makes the car sensitive to crosswinds. Traction and stability control system is not up-to-par with best European rivals, such as Mercedes and BMW. A two ton rear wheel drive car is not the best choice for careless winter driving.