2004 Lexus LS 430 4.3 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

A quality vehicle that can now be had for an affordable price

Faults:

Sub woofer has never worked (a common fault).

Laser cruise control has an alignment fault and doesn't work.

Rain sensing wiper function doesn't work.

General Comments:

Faults listed as above. The premium Mark Levinson stereo is nice, but the sub woofer is a common fault and very expensive to replace.

The laser (dynamic) cruise control is also a great feature when it is working properly. It will even apply the brakes if you get too close to the car in front. Mine developed an alignment fault soon after I purchased the car. I took it to Lexus and they had to contact Japan for any info on the laser system. It would appear that the laser system was only used for one year before they went to radar, which was apparently more reliable.

The rain sensing wipers have never worked, but the car has a pretty intelligent intermittent feature that varies the wipe, so I have never worried about getting the rain sensing function looked at.

Overall I do really like this car, it performs very well and is not bad on fuel. There are too many features to list, and a lot of them are not obvious unless you are made aware of them. A few features worthy of mention are self closing doors, auto dimming mirrors, "smart key" keyless entry (puddle lights and interior light illuminate as you approach the car at night) - just touch the door handle and the car unlocks, full electric seats (heated and cooled) and steering column electrically adjustable up and down and in and out, all with 3 memory positions. The list goes on and on. On the safety side there are 10 airbags.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st April, 2015

3rd Apr 2015, 01:49

This car set the benchmark for quality for its class when new, and will often outlast its predominantly German rivals while giving less trouble, provided it has not been tarted up by idiot hoons who insist on chopping and lowering the suspension, fitting idiotically wide and massive diameter rims, and a non-stock exhaust that spoils what this car was so renowned for - outstanding refinement.

A really good ride if you don't mind the bland, anonymous styling, and a chassis set up more for comfort than dynamics.

2004 Lexus LS 430 4.3 from North America

Summary:

The sensible choice over its german counterparts

Faults:

Adaptive headlight sensor needs replacing.

General Comments:

My LS430 has the sport tuned suspension 'sport package', modern luxury package and smart access. Mercury metallic paint.

The '04 facelift turned the LS430 into a great looking luxury cruiser. It looks better than than any S Class Mercedes, especially the interior. This is the car Mercedes should have made; the only drawback would have been its reliability would have plummeted if they did. This car's engine, transmission and ride are so smooth it's unbelievable. 0-60 in 5.9 seconds is also very respectable. I'm averaging 27 miles per gallon when travelling highway with the A/C on. About 22 MPG in mixed city driving. Not bad for a full size luxury sedan.

This car seems to have enough features to fill out a phone book. There are so many 'hidden' features about this car that it reminds me of my old 90s model S Class Mercedes; it seems to surprise you every so often with neat features. I could sit here and write about all the features. Speaking of the 90's S class, the design is a nod to one of the greatest exterior designs on a luxury car of all time.

Some will argue the LS430 isn't fun to drive. To them I say drive the sport package, turn on the ECT power button and put it into manual shift mode. It turns into a monster.

Now I've always been a Mercedes guy. I still like Mercedes a lot. Brand and emblems aside, the quietness, power, styling, features and comfort have placed this car in a category of its own. The reliability and ease of working on things on this car have made it possibly the best luxury car to own long term.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th September, 2014

2nd Apr 2016, 16:09

YES! I have the same car with Euro tuned suspension. I purchased it a couple years ago with 70K on it. It now has 86K and the only problems I've had were an O2 sensor that was very inexpensive to fix by my local mechanic, and the Nav DVD unit in the trunk has quit. We never used it anyway, preferring to use a simple, cheap Garmin unit on the windshield. MUCH easier to program and can be done with the car in motion, unlike the Lex system.

The car is plenty fast, quiet, comfortable, and handles great with that Euro suspension. BEST car I've ever owned in 50+ years of driving!

14th Jun 2016, 16:35

God bless it!

6th Aug 2016, 02:50

These have got to be the greatest car ever built. Even today, years later, many are still running on original parts. Even things like starters and alternators are original on cars with over 200,000 miles. Super smooth and plush. These cars are the best deals on the market, even being 10+ years old.

7th Aug 2016, 16:33

Automobiles are not just about sensible. It's also about exhilaration, refinement, amenities, handling, performance and true pride of ownership. That's where the extra zeroes in the price of a European model comes into play. Buy 2 and drop one off for occasional maintenance. Enjoy life vs being all practical. You often are missing out on what's really fun.