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Thanks Paul. The car came with Michelin sp3+ tires. It is a California car that is straight with an interior that is like new. It goes, it stops and it turns, but the suspension is worn out. I am thinking about coil overs. It will take some money to fix the suspension. I paid 12k so there should be a little room to get er in shape.

I knew when I bought my 2006 430 sc that it was not a car known for a good suspension. On rough roads the car lurches around and the rear end feels sloppy on the road, moving laterally. If the wheel alignment is off that would explain the loss of control. Maybe the struts or shocks are worn at 96k miles. I have heard of people having this same issue, especially before 2006. Some report that these cars are difficult to keep in alignment. Some people suggest coil over shocks to improve the handling. Anyone have experience with handling problems and how to fix them? The car feels stable on smooth roads, but on rough pavement the car is all over the place. Help.

I just bought a 2006 430 for $12k with 96 k miles. It needs a timing belt. Your car might be worth less. Look at the national market on a web page.

I just bought a 2006 430. The interior is black leather. The inside of the trunk is light tan which I guess could be called ecru.

Lexus claims that the service life for the 430 engine is 300,000 miles with normal maintenance. Usually it is the interior and electronics that start to go bad, lights, buzzers, and some of the myriad of compicated stuff that makes a Lexus so much fun to own. Mechanically you have a good chance to make it to 275,000 miles or more. It is the other stuff that might convince you to sell it.

Michelin sp3+ are rated for snow and 185 mph.

I just bought a similar car minus the Pebble Beach moniker. This is my second Lexus. There are 6 other ones in the family. These cars last. The maintenance is straight forward. They are not expensive cars to own and you do not need to have all your service work done by a dealer. Find a good mechanic by word of mouth. You have had good luck with Hondas. A Lexus is a better made Toyota. 200,000 miles is nothing for these cars. You have to do the maintenance and it is best to use premium lubricants and coolants as per Lexus specs. My 430 has 96k miles, but It is obvious the car was well cared for. Yours is probably even better. Relax and join the winning team.

Usually means a failing catalytic converter.

It is part of the Japanese aesthetic exemplified by Lexus. They want everything to look like it belongs in its place. The old term is "sanitary."

Lexi run in the family. Dad has 3, mu uncle has 3 and I have 2. I learned about the 430 sc because my Mom had one. She has passed by the 2002 has around 29 k miles in Really Red.

I have a 2006 with factory bronze colored wheels and they are awful. I suggest after market wheels. Then you can find something modern that you like that helps the appearance of the car. Mine is silver so I am going with chrome wheels.

I have been looking at lots of them recently and just bought a 2006. Your color combination is not that common and should command a small premium. Somewhere around 17-18k.

You can get replacements from most good auto parts stores. Hand them one of yours you want to replace.

91 octane or more if you can find it.

Dash boards are expensive to replace. I live at 5,000 feet Nevada so I use a cover. Then there is no glare.

I like Naval Air's post. I do not doubt any of the reported results on this thread. I made some modifications on my Ford F-350 diesel and have gotten 24 mpg out of a one ton truck. What is not talked about much in addition to lubricants, spark plugs and air cleaners is driving style. I shift the auto trans with my right foot by letting up on the fuel. The faster you accelerate the more important that is. Watching the tach is something many people don't do enough of especially in the mountains. I like to accelerate slowly much of the time and slow down well in advance of stop lights. Using cruise control helps on the highway. All of these things contribute greatly to better mileage. I have owned a 2005 ES 330 for only a short time. The first thing I have done is change out the Denso AC with a K and N and immediately noticed better performance. Next comes syn oil in the crankcase and trans. Then sp plugs. These seem like the logical order to proceed. Thanks for relaying your experiences.

Sometimes a sp wire gets replaced wrong and changes the firing order.

Sun damage and UV are the worst. I live in Nevada at 5,000 feet and always use a dash cover, and a windshield shade. Park in the shade when you can. I used to do leather work and had horses and mules for many years with all of that leather tack. There are two issues with leather in dry climates: keeping it clean, and keeping life in the leather and keeping it from drying out. Most Lexus owners are good about keeping their upholstery clean. I have decided not to do any eating in mine. Use leather products made from animals. Lexol is good but may darken your leather slightly. I found a product called Voodoo Leather Conditioner which has lanolin and other animal based products. All of the name brand leather seat products are probably okay if you check the label and find animal products. It is better to do some light applications twice a year than a heavy coat once in awhile.

Luxury and performance are often matched up in the same package but not always. Cadillacs, and Packards for instance were big cruisers. They could go fast on a highway but were never designed to be performance cars. My Lexus ES 330 is not a performance car in my opinion. You can define it any way you want.

We went from raw fish to Big Mac's, candy, and Wal-Mart. That is very depressing. Goodbye.

I like Midwesterner's answer. Luxury goes beyond what you expect. It is sumptuous with thoughts given to aesthetics. It is defined by comfort and ease.

I am a new Lexus owner but my relatives have 5 of them. The Japanese aesthetic is apparent in the design and execution of these cars. I went to a modern Japanese restaurant yesterday because after driving the car, it just seemed like the thing to do. I am now intrigued by this thought process of how to design a car. Mindfulness, planning for the future, being comfortable, etc. are concepts worth pursuing. It is easy to become too esoteric about it.

I used to know a S Korean architect. When we had a tough day he would suggest we go out for some sake and sashimi. It made us feel better and I always felt smart the next day. I will not be doing any eating in my Lexus. The Japanese aesthetic applies to a lot of things and it is apparent in these cars. I am interested in doing some more reading on the subject.

I just bought a 2005 Es 330 that came with 18 inch rims and 45 series tires. They are Michelins and V rated. The car will go around curves pretty well for a luxury car, because there is little squirm in the tires. On crummy pavement there is a more bumpy ride. This reminds me of a conversation I had with my Dad who has owned some great cars. At 90 he still drives a Lexus SC 430. His question is "what are you trying to do with the car?"

Think long term if you have a nice car and change it;