Newbie Looking To Buy An Ls430

[luxcar]

I am a newbie and am looking to buy LS430 (2002 or up). I currently own a 2002 Infiniti Q45.

I need help with the following

1. Is Ultra as reliable as others? Or should I stay away from air susp.

2. What should I expect in terms of maintenance cost per year?

3. Does air suspension rides better than regular in terms of ride quality? Or is it nearly the same.

4. At 65k mi, what will be needed to put the car back in top notch condition.

I am more interested in ride quality than handling. For other cars its better to stay away from first year. Is it the same for 2001 LS430?

[jainla]

I am a newbie and am looking to buy LS430 (2002 or up). I currently own a 2002 Infiniti Q45.

Welcome to the club.

1. Is Ultra as reliable as others? Or should I stay away from air susp.

There is nothing intrinsically more or less reliable about the Ultra vs. other models; they are the same basic car with just more add-ons. The Ultra models have a LOT more toys which can break; but they don't often do. The parts are expensive for some of these toys; but you can shop around online and on ebay.

I was told by the dealer that the Air Suspension components on the LS430 should last between 100-150k miles; but your mileage may vary and they are expensive to replace. The dealer told me when I bought my car that he's not seen any problems on an LS430 UL with less than 150k miles; but again anything can happen. I guess it depends on how long you plan to keep the car and how many miles you drive; there are kits that are available to convert the air spring cars to conventional coil springs if you choose to go that route.

The only other possible gotcha could be the laser sensor for the cruise control (which some other trim levels also have). It can break if a rock hits it and requires about $1800 in parts and labor to fix so make sure yours is working.

However if you are considering a UL model do your homework. In addition to the standard items test ALL of the electrical gizmos to make sure they work (this will take time). Also if you can get the dealer to go a CPO inspection it's worth it; you'll get a list of what they would fix to certify the car a Lexus CPO car and give it the warranty (not sure if they have this in Canada or not). The dealer will know the car better than anybody and tell you what would need to be fixed and an estimate of what they would charge you to fix it.

2. What should I expect in terms of maintenance cost per year?

Depends on how much you drive. The typical A service (every 6,000 miles) which is a glorified oil change costs about $100 at my dealer in California; but I'm sure an independent shop would charge half that. Then there are brakes; tires etc. The tires for this car seem to be more expensive than your average tire. Aside from normal maintenance I've had no unforseen expenses (except for a nasty scratch that was probably my fault). The B service is every 30,000 miles (I think) and is a complete fluid and filter change (about $300 down here) but again an independent could do much better.

3. Does air suspension rides better than regular in terms of ride quality? Or is it nearly the same.

You'd have to drive it. I drove both LS430's at a Taste of Lexus event a few years back (if you search this forum you might find the post) and the difference is small but noticeable. The Air ride cars I've driven actually feel a little firmer than the standard coil sprung cars; but the air ride is 'smarter' than the standard coil spring suspension. I suspect tire choice is the bigger variable; my UL has a pretty firm ride but the tires I have are known for riding firm (and noisy).

4. At 65k mi, what will be needed to put the car back in top notch condition.

There are no major mechanical gotchas at this stage; but again it will depend on the particular car you are considering. Make sure the 60,000 mile service was done (or they pay for it). Also see if you can get a record that the car's had regular oil changes; however the UZ series engine is almost indestructible. In these engines the big service item remains the timing belt at 90,000 miles but it sounds like this won't apply to you.

In 2 years of ownership I've had zero problems with my UL car but I drive it less than 8,000 miles a year. I think a bulb in the high mounted stoplight burned out; and the dealer talked me into cleaning out filters and the fuel injection system (I'm sure this was probably overkill) but aside from that nothing major has happened.

I am more interested in ride quality than handling. For other cars its better to stay away from first year. Is it the same for 2001 LS430?

There are a couple little issues in some '01 models; mostly a noisy windscreen gasket and some other squeeks and rattles that are covered by TSB's that you can download off the Toyota service website. There was also a recall for a noisy steering column; the dealer should be able to tell you if this applies to your car or not. Also in some cars the striker plate for the trunk had to be adjusted. But no show stoppers; some '04 cars were recalled for a transmission replacement. Mine is a late model '01 car so it seems to be free of those issues; if you call the dealer and give them the VIN they can tell you when the car was made and when it was first in-service.

[SW03ES]

Personally? I'd skip the air suspension. The LS rides so well as it is, no need to add anything on especially components that will require replacement at some point. The rest of the toys are really in the back seat, and if you don't sit back there who cares...

[wyum]

I am a newbie and am looking to buy LS430 (2002 or up). I currently own a 2002 Infiniti Q45.

I need help with the following

1. Is Ultra as reliable as others? Or should I stay away from air susp.

2. What should I expect in terms of maintenance cost per year?

3. Does air suspension rides better than regular in terms of ride quality? Or is it nearly the same.

4. At 65k mi, what will be needed to put the car back in top notch condition.

I am more interested in ride quality than handling. For other cars its better to stay away from first year. Is it the same for 2001 LS430?

I am currently driving a 2001 LS 430 Ultra which I bought new in '01. I have been driving it regularly for almost 7 years and I've had to buy one new set of tires, one battery one brake light bulb and last week I did a full brake job. I've changed the oil and filter regularly every 5k miles or so. I had a few small fixes under warranty like a problem with the radio and another time I updated the GPS. Only one out of warranty expense set me back $450 and that was to replace the oxygen sensor. I guess I got a good car. It rides comfortable like my living room couch and although I'm itching for a 2008, I'd be happy to ride this one for several more years. My buggy only has 55k miles on her as I am out-of-town 4-5 months a year.

Not much can compare with the comfort and reliability of this car as far as I am concerned. My next car will be another LS.

-Bill

[luxcar]

Thanks al lot.

I was looking at a 2002 Ultra but might look at some other cars as I driver 12 - 15k per year and am planning to keep the car for about 5 years.

I am a newbie and am looking to buy LS430 (2002 or up). I currently own a 2002 Infiniti Q45.

Welcome to the club.

1. Is Ultra as reliable as others? Or should I stay away from air susp.

There is nothing intrinsically more or less reliable about the Ultra vs. other models; they are the same basic car with just more add-ons. The Ultra models have a LOT more toys which can break; but they don't often do. The parts are expensive for some of these toys; but you can shop around online and on ebay.

I was told by the dealer that the Air Suspension components on the LS430 should last between 100-150k miles; but your mileage may vary and they are expensive to replace. The dealer told me when I bought my car that he's not seen any problems on an LS430 UL with less than 150k miles; but again anything can happen. I guess it depends on how long you plan to keep the car and how many miles you drive; there are kits that are available to convert the air spring cars to conventional coil springs if you choose to go that route.

The only other possible gotcha could be the laser sensor for the cruise control (which some other trim levels also have). It can break if a rock hits it and requires about $1800 in parts and labor to fix so make sure yours is working.

However if you are considering a UL model do your homework. In addition to the standard items test ALL of the electrical gizmos to make sure they work (this will take time). Also if you can get the dealer to go a CPO inspection it's worth it; you'll get a list of what they would fix to certify the car a Lexus CPO car and give it the warranty (not sure if they have this in Canada or not). The dealer will know the car better than anybody and tell you what would need to be fixed and an estimate of what they would charge you to fix it.

2. What should I expect in terms of maintenance cost per year?

Depends on how much you drive. The typical A service (every 6,000 miles) which is a glorified oil change costs about $100 at my dealer in California; but I'm sure an independent shop would charge half that. Then there are brakes; tires etc. The tires for this car seem to be more expensive than your average tire. Aside from normal maintenance I've had no unforseen expenses (except for a nasty scratch that was probably my fault). The B service is every 30,000 miles (I think) and is a complete fluid and filter change (about $300 down here) but again an independent could do much better.

3. Does air suspension rides better than regular in terms of ride quality? Or is it nearly the same.

You'd have to drive it. I drove both LS430's at a Taste of Lexus event a few years back (if you search this forum you might find the post) and the difference is small but noticeable. The Air ride cars I've driven actually feel a little firmer than the standard coil sprung cars; but the air ride is 'smarter' than the standard coil spring suspension. I suspect tire choice is the bigger variable; my UL has a pretty firm ride but the tires I have are known for riding firm (and noisy).

4. At 65k mi, what will be needed to put the car back in top notch condition.

There are no major mechanical gotchas at this stage; but again it will depend on the particular car you are considering. Make sure the 60,000 mile service was done (or they pay for it). Also see if you can get a record that the car's had regular oil changes; however the UZ series engine is almost indestructible. In these engines the big service item remains the timing belt at 90,000 miles but it sounds like this won't apply to you.

In 2 years of ownership I've had zero problems with my UL car but I drive it less than 8,000 miles a year. I think a bulb in the high mounted stoplight burned out; and the dealer talked me into cleaning out filters and the fuel injection system (I'm sure this was probably overkill) but aside from that nothing major has happened.

I am more interested in ride quality than handling. For other cars its better to stay away from first year. Is it the same for 2001 LS430?

There are a couple little issues in some '01 models; mostly a noisy windscreen gasket and some other squeeks and rattles that are covered by TSB's that you can download off the Toyota service website. There was also a recall for a noisy steering column; the dealer should be able to tell you if this applies to your car or not. Also in some cars the striker plate for the trunk had to be adjusted. But no show stoppers; some '04 cars were recalled for a transmission replacement. Mine is a late model '01 car so it seems to be free of those issues; if you call the dealer and give them the VIN they can tell you when the car was made and when it was first in-service.

[jainla]

You might want to look for an '02 or '03 with the Custom Luxury package; it includes almost all of the UL goodies minus the rear suspension and power rear seats. The big options you'll want is the Navigation/Mark Levinson package; which was also available those years.

Thanks al lot.

I was looking at a 2002 Ultra but might look at some other cars as I driver 12 - 15k per year and am planning to keep the car for about 5 years.

I am a newbie and am looking to buy LS430 (2002 or up). I currently own a 2002 Infiniti Q45.

Welcome to the club.

1. Is Ultra as reliable as others? Or should I stay away from air susp.

There is nothing intrinsically more or less reliable about the Ultra vs. other models; they are the same basic car with just more add-ons. The Ultra models have a LOT more toys which can break; but they don't often do. The parts are expensive for some of these toys; but you can shop around online and on ebay.

I was told by the dealer that the Air Suspension components on the LS430 should last between 100-150k miles; but your mileage may vary and they are expensive to replace. The dealer told me when I bought my car that he's not seen any problems on an LS430 UL with less than 150k miles; but again anything can happen. I guess it depends on how long you plan to keep the car and how many miles you drive; there are kits that are available to convert the air spring cars to conventional coil springs if you choose to go that route.

The only other possible gotcha could be the laser sensor for the cruise control (which some other trim levels also have). It can break if a rock hits it and requires about $1800 in parts and labor to fix so make sure yours is working.

However if you are considering a UL model do your homework. In addition to the standard items test ALL of the electrical gizmos to make sure they work (this will take time). Also if you can get the dealer to go a CPO inspection it's worth it; you'll get a list of what they would fix to certify the car a Lexus CPO car and give it the warranty (not sure if they have this in Canada or not). The dealer will know the car better than anybody and tell you what would need to be fixed and an estimate of what they would charge you to fix it.

2. What should I expect in terms of maintenance cost per year?

Depends on how much you drive. The typical A service (every 6,000 miles) which is a glorified oil change costs about $100 at my dealer in California; but I'm sure an independent shop would charge half that. Then there are brakes; tires etc. The tires for this car seem to be more expensive than your average tire. Aside from normal maintenance I've had no unforseen expenses (except for a nasty scratch that was probably my fault). The B service is every 30,000 miles (I think) and is a complete fluid and filter change (about $300 down here) but again an independent could do much better.

3. Does air suspension rides better than regular in terms of ride quality? Or is it nearly the same.

You'd have to drive it. I drove both LS430's at a Taste of Lexus event a few years back (if you search this forum you might find the post) and the difference is small but noticeable. The Air ride cars I've driven actually feel a little firmer than the standard coil sprung cars; but the air ride is 'smarter' than the standard coil spring suspension. I suspect tire choice is the bigger variable; my UL has a pretty firm ride but the tires I have are known for riding firm (and noisy).

4. At 65k mi, what will be needed to put the car back in top notch condition.

There are no major mechanical gotchas at this stage; but again it will depend on the particular car you are considering. Make sure the 60,000 mile service was done (or they pay for it). Also see if you can get a record that the car's had regular oil changes; however the UZ series engine is almost indestructible. In these engines the big service item remains the timing belt at 90,000 miles but it sounds like this won't apply to you.

In 2 years of ownership I've had zero problems with my UL car but I drive it less than 8,000 miles a year. I think a bulb in the high mounted stoplight burned out; and the dealer talked me into cleaning out filters and the fuel injection system (I'm sure this was probably overkill) but aside from that nothing major has happened.

I am more interested in ride quality than handling. For other cars its better to stay away from first year. Is it the same for 2001 LS430?

There are a couple little issues in some '01 models; mostly a noisy windscreen gasket and some other squeeks and rattles that are covered by TSB's that you can download off the Toyota service website. There was also a recall for a noisy steering column; the dealer should be able to tell you if this applies to your car or not. Also in some cars the striker plate for the trunk had to be adjusted. But no show stoppers; some '04 cars were recalled for a transmission replacement. Mine is a late model '01 car so it seems to be free of those issues; if you call the dealer and give them the VIN they can tell you when the car was made and when it was first in-service.

[Greg H]

Hello Luxcar ....eh!

I just got an LS430 Ultra for my wife - impressive. And the importing is very easy for Lexus into Canada.

1) see www.carburner.com ( found this one day after I imported ...so I updated some data on lewiston bridge ...as you can in a Wiki )

2) if you buy a car with less than 50,000 miles you can buy an extended warranty - we got the platinum version --it is run by Lexus Financial ( 800-448-1505 ). You can buy up to total of 7 years coverage and 100,000 bumper to bumper warranty ( minus wear items ). The CPO warranty is NOT transferable - that is worth approx $900 back on upgrade to extended warranty

3) forget the air ride -- it is the vibrating reclining heated-cooled rear seats that blow away your friends on the Ultra

Here are some things I found helpful --see attachments.

I tracked a bunch of cars ( we worked on the 2005-2006 range ) and found the biggest factor was mileage - the $11,000 upgrade for the Ultra doesn't command that much extra for the price. BUT - in the end -- we paid MORE and bought from a Lexus dealer ... but still way less than in Canada. the red line is typical 2005 and the green line is typical 2006 model pricing --some where of questionable title that are way off the value line. If the deal is TOO good to be true - it might just be that.

The PDF of the prices is handy to get a feel for the extra items in the models

Enjoy your car when you get it ...:-) ..... eh

Now - to get that dollar back to 1.10 again ...:-0

Greg

2004_LS_specs___prices.pdf

[luxcar]

Thanks,

I am also planning to buy it from us. I have imported one car before but that was my personal car while moving to Canada.

Did you drive your new car into Canada? If yes, how did you get temporary plates and insurance?

Hello Luxcar ....eh!

I just got an LS430 Ultra for my wife - impressive. And the importing is very easy for Lexus into Canada.

1) see www.carburner.com ( found this one day after I imported ...so I updated some data on lewiston bridge ...as you can in a Wiki )

2) if you buy a car with less than 50,000 miles you can buy an extended warranty - we got the platinum version --it is run by Lexus Financial ( 800-448-1505 ). You can buy up to total of 7 years coverage and 100,000 bumper to bumper warranty ( minus wear items ). The CPO warranty is NOT transferable - that is worth approx $900 back on upgrade to extended warranty

3) forget the air ride -- it is the vibrating reclining heated-cooled rear seats that blow away your friends on the Ultra

Here are some things I found helpful --see attachments.

I tracked a bunch of cars ( we worked on the 2005-2006 range ) and found the biggest factor was mileage - the $11,000 upgrade for the Ultra doesn't command that much extra for the price. BUT - in the end -- we paid MORE and bought from a Lexus dealer ... but still way less than in Canada. the red line is typical 2005 and the green line is typical 2006 model pricing --some where of questionable title that are way off the value line. If the deal is TOO good to be true - it might just be that.

The PDF of the prices is handy to get a feel for the extra items in the models

Enjoy your car when you get it ...:-) ..... eh

Now - to get that dollar back to 1.10 again ...:-0

Greg

[Greg H]

I am also planning to buy it from us. I have imported one car before but that was my personal car while moving to Canada. Did you drive your new car into Canada? If yes, how did you get temporary plates and insurance?

Hello

New York state is one of the easier states to deal with - they charge less than $100 for temp tag for 30 day temp license. Did you read www.carburner.com ???

Make sure you cal your insurance agent = you will need a LETTER from them stating you have insurance for the vehicle -= and you need a pick slip for the car itself to prove insurance.

First time is ...well ...interesting ...then afterward you will want to buy a car a month ...:-)

Save big ...lets get the Cdn dollar back up just a bit...

Greg H

[luxcar]

Thanks again,

I did read carburner. Its an excellent resource for Canadians looking to buy in US.

luxcar.

I am also planning to buy it from us. I have imported one car before but that was my personal car while moving to Canada. Did you drive your new car into Canada? If yes, how did you get temporary plates and insurance?

Hello

New York state is one of the easier states to deal with - they charge less than $100 for temp tag for 30 day temp license. Did you read www.carburner.com ???

Make sure you cal your insurance agent = you will need a LETTER from them stating you have insurance for the vehicle -= and you need a pick slip for the car itself to prove insurance.

First time is ...well ...interesting ...then afterward you will want to buy a car a month ...:-)

Save big ...lets get the Cdn dollar back up just a bit...

Greg H

[Ezgoin]

I am a newbie and am looking to buy LS430 (2002 or up). I currently own a 2002 Infiniti Q45.

I need help with the following

1. Is Ultra as reliable as others? Or should I stay away from air susp.

2. What should I expect in terms of maintenance cost per year?

3. Does air suspension rides better than regular in terms of ride quality? Or is it nearly the same.

4. At 65k mi, what will be needed to put the car back in top notch condition.

I am more interested in ride quality than handling. For other cars its better to stay away from first year. Is it the same for 2001 LS430?

I bought my wife a 2002 Ultra Luxury about 18 moths ago. She said she wanted a nice luxury car, and the LS-430 UL is about the nicest luxury car you will ever find. It had 34K on it when we bought it, and it now has about 45K. Most of the miles were from a few trips from Washington state to Reno Nevada, and a trip from Wahington to Yosimite National Park. The ride from the air suspension is unmatched as far as I'm concerned, even though there are some old concrete roads that seem to send a bit of a shutter through the car at times. The laser cruise control is the ultimate for long distance road trips. I drove almost all the way to Reno without doing anything except steering. Even when driving through some of the small towns along the way, the laser cruise took care of all the slowing down and speeding up required. It has a couple flaws, in that somtimes on narrower than usual roads, it will pickup a lane divider and think it's a vehicle in front of you, or a truck in the adjacent lane, and think it's in front of you, causing the car to decelerate. The deceleration isn't always as smooth as it should be either, but all in all, I love the laser cruise.

I have had to replace a battery in the car, but in the time I've had it, that's the only thing that It's needed. We don't have any kids at home any more, so all of the frills in the back seat are mostly for bragging rights, and to impress our friends when we go out to dinner :-), but, I absolutely love the car, and still look forward to driving it any chance I get.

I drive a 99 SC-300, and, while it is a nice car, the LS makes the SC feel like a Corolla!

Good Luck, and welcome to the world of Lexus!