Well, here I am talking about a 2004 LS 430 I've purchased last week. This all started, ( the purchasing process), the week before when I've decided that I was tired of seeing dust accumulate on my 2002 SC 430 in the garage. It had only 12,000 miles on it over a 2 year period!! Don't get me wrong, it was a very good car with out any problems. It's just hard to do any traveling in it with the rest of the family. So, my task was set forth in front of me.
Having all kinds of sporty cars all my driving life, '70 Porsche 914-6, '90 Honda Prelude, '94 Toyota Twin Turbo Supra, '91 Porsche 911 Carrera 2, '94 Dodge Viper, 2000 Honda S-2000 and lastly my 2002 Lexus SC 430, and all kinds of "performance 4-doored cars" what do I exchange for????
My first thought, I need a 4 doored car more than a 2 seater or a 2 seater without a real backseat. I was really leaning to the German vehicles. I like the German handling characteristics in their automobiles. But, no one has the fit and finish as the Japanese do.. My car, I thought I was going to trade for, was a BMW M-5. Than, I stumbled upon this article on the web:
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?se...article_id=7359
HMMMM...... Wow! Lexus gets 1st Place!!
Now I started to look more closely at the LS430.. Wait a minute! It's an old man's car, right!?? Well, I see that they redesigned the car a little with dual exhauts and a sport suspension with 18 inch wheels!! Top it off with a 0-60 in 5.9 secs, due to a new six-speed transmission which makes it faster than my 2002 SC 430.
So, I get one as simple as that. It's a great performance/luxury car that would make any one proud!! My only complaint was the 245/45/18 Bridgestone Summer tires on it. The tires made it feel as rough as a Corvette!! I changed those tires for a set of Michelin Pilot A/S tires and Viola an Ultrasmooth quiet serious performer!!! Stock Bridgestone tires:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...el=Turanza+ER30
replaced to Michelin tires:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...lot+Sport+A%2FS
Lexus wake-up and replace all your Bridgestone tires to the Michelins. It makes All the difference in the world!! It rides like the way it was made for, but with better handling characteristics..
So, is the 2004 Lexus LS 430 an " Old Man's Car"?? Maybe, or I'm a 39 year-old who has finally wisened up ahead of my years!!! It's not just for the 50-55 year old men anymore....
:D