TallTimber

I'm 6'6" but a lot of it is covered by my 36" Inseam Pants. I bought a New '04 LS430 last May. One of the Reasons I got it was the excellent Headroom and Legroom, compared with other Cars. I understand your Problem. A lot of cars don't have enough room Headwise and/or Legwise for me. I have the Seat as Low as it will go and the Seat "extended" for support under my Thighs. I raise the front only, anytime I'm going to be driving for longer than about twenty minutes for better support. I've been marveling at the amount of Headroom this car has. I don't even need to tilt the Backrest as much as the last couple of cars I had. I also have the Seat as far back as it will go. If you don't, that may be part of the Problem. A lot of cars have the Seat Track placed in such a way that the Seat will raise as it goes forward. I first looked at a Lexus in early 1993. I couldn't find a way to adjust the Seat where I had enough Headroom. I inquired about ordering one without a Sun-Roof. I got a lot of reluctance and was told it would take a minimum of Six Months and some other Equipment I didn't want that I would need to take. I forget what it was, but I ended up buying something else. I don't know if I've been any help. I suggest you visit the Dealer again and try a lot of different Seat Adjustments.

I bought my '04 LS430 in May. I only have 4,000 miles on it, but I haven't had ANY of the problems you guys are talking about. I also haven't received any notice of a Recall. Is it ALL '04s or just certain Serial Numbers?

Actually, Goldplater John's suggestion makes a lot of sense, unless you don't have any Friends you trust that much. I'm not sure when this practice began, but my '04 LS430 has a Trunk Release INSIDE the Trunk, so it wouldn't be strictly a Matter of Trust.

It's difficult for me to make Comparisons between My '04 LS430 and My Last Mercedes. In all Fairness, we're talking about an '04 and an '86. I haven't driven or even ridden in a newer Model M-B. I just felt that was an Extravagence I should give up. I drove Lincolns and Cadillacs, but I couldn't shake the feeling I was "Punishing" myself. Even at my Age (72), I appreciate Acceleration and "Handling" as well as anyone. It's probably a "Residue" from my Hot-Rodding Days and Three Years of driving in Dirt-Track Stock-Car Races in the Early 1950s. Those Cad V-8s had plenty of power, but I just dont care much for Front-Wheel Drive. Our Grandchildren have kept us tied down, to some extent, since I got the Lexus. The farthest I've driven is to Louisville and Back a few Times. 110 Miles each Way. The boys are out of School next week, and we're going down to the Smoky Mountains for 5 Days. 250 Miles. We had planned to take the boys to Pensacola Beach, FL like we did last October, but we changed our minds. Guess Why. So far, I'm very favorably impressed with the Lexus. With the Engine's High Torque and the Six-Speed Transmission, it's "ready" anytime I am. And it does it SO smoothly and quietly. It's also got the best Front-Seat Headroom and Legroom of any Car I've driven, for quite a few Years. It's also got a Larger Trunk than Most. Believe me when I say that even BIG Cars don't have as much Room as the Smaller Cars had 40 and 50 Years ago.

My '04 LS430 is the Custom Luxury. I did not, under any circumstances, want all those Back-Seat Gadgets. I think y'all will agree when I explain that we have two orphaned Grandsons living with us, a sixth-grader and a second-grader. I can't get them to quit turning the Interior Lights and other Switches on and off. I sure don't want them able to over-ride the Radio Controls and the Climate Control, etc. There's another Feature you didn't mention on the Custom and the Luxury. Those Automatick Door-Closers. I hope they're not Trouble just waiting to happen, but I don't need to worry about the boys getting out and not closing the doors all the way. With these newer Almost Air-Tight Cars, you often don't get the doors closed all the way on the First Try, but it happens EVERY Time with those Things.

To be completely Honest, I've forgotten what the Electrical Problem turned out to be. It was still under Warranty. Actually, it happened again and had to be fixed again. It might have been the rheostat, but I thought it was something a bit more complicated. I put a lot more miles on the other two and had an Identical eventual problem with each. The Water Pump. It gives no warning and doesn't start with a slight leak. Just all of a sudden, it shoots a Stream of Coolant about the size of a Pencil. Turning the engine off doesn't stop it. Pump Replacement is the ONLY solution. I agree with your comments on the "Looks" of the '84, to some Extent. I think the Refinements on the '86 made it Better Looking, though it was Subtle. The Trim along the Bottom of the Doors looked "Nicer". The Headlights on the US Version were better looking. The Retractable Bumpers were better Integrated. The Alloy Whelels were Much Better Looking. The Interior was MUCH Nicer. The Seat Upholstery was Redesigned. The Steering Wheel looked Nicer. I'm pretty sure I had an Airbag on the '86. Can't remember about the '84. They weren't quite as Expensive as you said. I believe I'm remembering Correctly that the '80 was about $35,000, the '84 about $45,000, and the '86 about $55,000. I haven't looked closely at the Rear Window of a New Mercedes. Back then, they had the Best Looking (in my opinion) Rear Window Defoggers I've ever seen. They are almost Invisible and you have to look at just the proper angle or you can't see them at all. They appeared to be "printed" on the Inner Layer instead of the Black Wires imbedded in the Glass. They worked just as efficiently.

My last three Cars before I Retired were a 1980 450 SEL, an '84 500 SEL, and an '86 560 SEL, all purchased New. I liked all Three of them a LOT. I did have some Electrical Problems with the '84 and that's why I didn't keep it as Long as the other Two. I drove it to Florida in Early January (getting dark early) and the Dash Lights weren't working. I used a Small Flashlight to Set the Cruise Control and to check the Fuel Gauge. Doesn't EVERYONE do that with an almost-new Mercedes? I'll make a Comment about the Hard Seats. Yes, they FEEL Hard. However, I drove that '86 560 (with my wife) from Bowling Green, KY to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. From there to Yellowstone Park in Wyoming. To Salt Lake City. To Denver. And finally to Colorado Springs for a Trade Association Meeting. From there, we came straight home through Nebraska. We were PRAISING those FIRM Seats. It's the same Principle as sleeping on a Firm Mattress instead of a Soft One. You get up feeling Good instead of with a Backache, etc. We figured we felt better after a 500 Mile Drive than we would have after 350 Miles in a Cadillac or Lincoln.

I use the "Middle" Grade of Gasoline in my '04 LS430. It works fine. When the Gasoline Prices first went up and up, I was driving a Cadillac that was Specified "Premium Fuel Only". I asked the Dealership Service Manager what would happen if I used something other than Premium. He said a lot of People were using the "Middle" Grade with no Problems. The Car Automatically adjusts the Timing and there's no Real Problem UNLESS you're getting Preignition (Pinging). There MAY be a slight loss of Power but, if that's True with either the Cadillac of the Lexus, it's not obvious. I was also VERY pleased with the "Mileage" on BOTH Cars. Loss of Power? The '04 Lexus has SIX Forward Speeds. The Engine also has a LOT of Torque. I can't even imagine a situation where I would need MORE Power. Even if I hadn't put Most of my Hot-Rodding Mentality behind me, LONG ago, I would be more than pleased with the Quick Acceleration of the Lexus, and it does it SO Smoothly and SO Quietly.

I retired in September of 1993. Before that, I was President of a SMALL Mfg. Company making Construction Equipment. My last three Cars before Retirement were all Mercedes S Class. I decided I couldn't continue that and "punished" myself by driving a Lincoln and a couple of Cadillacs until I wised up in May of this Year. That's when I traded for an '04 Lexus LS430. I like just about everything about it except for the fact that we haven't been able to get away long enough to take a trip more than 110 miles away. We will make a Trip, in about three weeks, to a spot 250 miles away. I'm looking forward to it. Front Seat Headroom and Legroom are Important to me. I'm 6'6" and weigh 235 lbs. plus I have Arthritis and can't "fold up" like I did when I was younger. I was born in 1932. You do the Math. I'm also impressed with the size of the Trunk.

Thanks. My last three Cars before I retired were Mercedes S Class. The last one was purchased New in 1986. They all had "Factory" Fog Lights that would work with Parking Lights OR Head Lights. The Switch for Head Lights and Parking Lights, on all three was a Rotating Switch. For Fog Lights, the Switch was pulled out. If you turned the other Lights off, the Fog Lights would also be turned off.

I'm wondering why anyone would pay so much money for a car, if the ONLY thing that concerned them was the way it looks.

For what it's worth, you can turn the Running Lights "On" and "Off" on my wife's '02 Toyota Camry. It can not be done on my '04 LS430. I'm not the least bit interested in disabling the Running Lights on my Lexus, but I sure wish I could turn the Fog Lights on with the Parking Lights instead of ONLY with the Headlights. Does anyone know if that can be done? I live 110 Miles from my Dealer. I do plan to ask them about those Fog Lights, when I take it in for the 5,000 Miles Service.

In May of this year, I purchased a New LS430. It's Mercury Metallic with Black Leather. It looks just like the pictures in the Brochure. As far as I know, there are no pictures of my specific Auto. So far, no problems of any kind. I'm as happy as I hoped I would be.

I bought an '04 LS430 in May. I have not noticed the "Lag", but haven't looked for it. In fact, the first I've heard of it was a few minutes ago, while reading this Thread. I've always taken pride in being a "Smooth Driver" so that may be the reason. So far, I like the car VERY much. :D