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@@jamesleate So James I'm no lover of these design wise, I'm actually a Jagman but very interested in why you think this is "Utter Toss" 😂 I'm not being facetious, I'm genuinely interested in your opinion Thankyou
@@jamesleate a few of the reasons why it can be called the best ever is that it is way better built and smoother than the competitors. Also helps that this car is essentially bullet proof and insanely reliable. The model that follows this is as smooth, as well built, looks miles better but isn't as reliable. I know, I had one. All that makes it the best car ever on an objective point of view. May not look good or have the best badge appeal but those are subjective.
I vividly recall about 22 years ago, getting a taxi ride in an early, high milage LS and my wife and I being stunned at just how smooth and quiet it was. It was like being in an anechoic chamber. The fact that I still remember this "short taxi ride" all these years later is (I think) telling.
@trevorsmith7753 Gloucestershire, England. I did say it was an early high milage LS so could have been 10+ years old by the time we had a taxi ride in one.
The first gen was great in its day but this video is full of incorrect facts. And the reality is Toyota soon lost their mojo after the first gen LS. They dropped the Supra and MR2 and made increasingly boring transportation appliances devoid of any soul or excitement including the LS430 wrongly raved about in this video. Best car ever? Really?
I can attest to the great Lexus dealer experience back in 2008 when I owned an LS460. I brought my car in for a recall and I was given a GS450h as a courtesy car for the day. When I came back at the end of the day, they had not only done the recall, but valeted the car, filled the tank with fuel and gave me a bottle of champagne for the inconvenience.
today, you will get a coffee , scratched interior (if the work is done inside the car) and a call after the visit , to see if you were happy. Forgot to mention that you will get the lowest spec UX250 as a courtesy car , and you have to fill up what you've used in terms of fuel.
My experiences and those of my friends with our local Lexus dealer's service has not been nearly so favorable. Now I avoid them completely. However, like you, I would use them for warranty work, of course.
@@yeshwantdasari2075 I liked the then 2007 GS450h, but a couple of things counted against it. The boot was absolutely tiny. The ride was unusually brittle, probably due to the run flat tyres. A big change from the wafty LS.
Proud owner of a Lexus because of the attention to detail and perfectionism of Toyota engineers. An LS430 in the States with 100K miles will cost you approx.15K on the East Coast. (ok I overstated a little :)
@@toms_garage Because outside the UK, Lexus is seen like UK people see BMW, you won't believe till you see it. Especially in the US, Africa and the Middle East
@@BMWBuilds I guess that depends on you definition of cheap. I'd say that if something can go hundreds and hundreds of thousands of miles with mimimal maintenance... that doesn't scream "cheap" to me :)
@@odin5188I never understood the British attitude towards Lexus. Personally speaking if I won the lottery tomorrow my first stop would be a lexus dealer.
A couple of years ago you tested an LS430, James. A blue one I believe. Based on your and High Peak Autos reviews I splurged and bought a 2005 LS430 with only 92,000 kilometres on it. It has simply been the best car I have ever owned. For a daily driver and a Grand Tourer in the country it simply can’t be beaten. My Series 3 V12 Jaguar is now being prepared for sale. A car that I have loved for years, but it’s time for someone else to enjoy that amazing car. I will be keeping my LS430 for a long time. Thankyou for another excellent review James.
I've had a 2006 Lexus LS430 as a daily since I was 19 and it hasn't missed a beat once, averages 19-20 MPG around town and even up to 32 MPG on a decent run and is surprisingly quick off the line. Love it.
What a lovely old thing that is. I remember Chris Goffey on Top Gear putting a glass of water on the engine of the LS 400, a Mercedes a BMW and a Jag. Barley a tremble from the Lexus, no idea why people don’t talk about the brilliance of that V8 more. Excellent video!
I drove 2,500 miles across America last week in my 2001 LS 430. I averaged 25 mpg and had zero issues. The car was comfortable and had ample power in any situation. Amazing machines.
Phenomenal piece of engineering. Trainspotters notes - the power seats and power windows have 'smart motors' where they decelerate at the limits of their travel in order to enhance the luxury feel and refinement - particularly noticeable where the door glass is closed - amazing attention to detail. Another customer service story from the US - an early LS400 customer needed roadside assistance in Arizona but recovery was over 4 hours away. Lexus sent a helicopter to collect the customer and forwarded him to his destination while they took care of the car.
Windows and seats that "decelerate"?? - Helicopter maintenance?? Some people are simply congenital liars and haven't yet run for office with the Democrat Party. GTF outta here.
Great video. James you nailed it. I have a 2003 Lexus L430 Ultra with 53K on the clock. I own several cars that are much newer. The Lexus LS is the best car ever made regardless of price. I've owned my car for 7 years and have had zero problems with it. Here is a couple of factoids. First, the 4.3 3UZ-FE is so good it was actually certified for small aircraft use. Second, the coefficient of the LS430 is 0.25. That in itself is remarkable considering this car is 20 years old. Only now you are getting EV's with a coefficient of 0.20. This just gives you an idea how well engineered the LS430 was. In the development of the LS series Toyota left no stone unturned. Back then no one even thought about purchasing a luxury Japanese car sold in the same category as the high end German cars. That means Toyota had one shot and they knew it. They had to build a car better then any other luxury sedan in the world and they pulled it off. By the way, The LS series cars are the true Lexus and not rebadged Toyotas which is really not a bad thing. Toyota makes good cars. The LS to this day is only been built in one plant. The Tahara Plant in Japan. Only the best and most experience workers are hand picked to work there. Cheers!!!!
I just bought an LS400 a few days ago. I don't need it -- I have a pile of cars already -- and it wasn't even a particularly nice example, but it was very cheap and they drive so nicely that I just wanted to have one for a while. They are absolutely one of the best cars ever made, and one of the best bargains out there right now.
I think you are 100% spot on here. It is baffling why anyone would buy an expensive, troublesome, German car, when there is Lexus. I remember the first time I laid eyes on an LS400 in 1989, and I thought, "I guess that's what Mercedes has been TRYING to do all this time.
These cars are AMAZING, a neighbour down my mums road had a LS400. Everytime I would purposely walk past just to glimpse it. He was washing the car once and saw me, he remarked that he would see me and saw me take a second look or stop just to gaze at it. He offered me a ride and I was also shocked at the smoothness of the engine and everything around, the steering was effortless the controls were so sensitive but old-school. It was perfection to say the least how a 1991 car in 2012 can be like a NEW car from top to bottom.
Jay, I agree with everything you said about the Lexus LS430. I prefer the facelifted version of this particular one, made from 2003 onwards. The engines on these are legendary. I drove a 1998 LS 400 with 212,000 miles some years ago - on the same original gearbox and engine! That car was smoother than 2014 S Class and Range Rover Equivalents. How could a car whose origins go back to 1989 be smoother and more refined than luxury cars made in 2014? Amazing cars and I will buy an LS430 one day. Great review as always.
I’m currently running a 2016 GS300h. Compared to the BMW and Mercedes equivalents it is a little dull but the built quality is exceptional, refinement superlative and on a recent 200 mile run from Cardiff to London it averaged 55mpg which seems unbelievable for a 1.8 ton luxobarge. But as a long-suffering BMW owner the best bit is knowing that it will work whenever I need it.
Amazing review. It matches my owner experience of my 2003 LS430. It is my daily driver and all maintenance has been done at the dealership. It is really satisfying to see all those stamps in the original maintenance booklet. Additionally, it is a really rare care in my country, where only 28 LS430 have been sold (I live in Brazil) . Unmatched exclusivity, reliability and comfort. I cant ask more than that, can I? Oh! And as a side note feature, those large side door boots were sized to fit one bottle of fine wine each. You know, that Ritz Carlton and first class British airlines experience at fullest!
As a former LS400 owner I can attest to the reliability of these vehicles. Rear wheel drive V8 is definitely a plus. A few cars later I now own a 23 year old V6 Toyota Avalon that has an engine that is as quiet as the Lexus was. Can't beat Toyota/Lexus for the way their products are engineered.
I reviewed one of these on my channel too and it blew me away how incredibly well engineered it was. The amount of things I just never would have thought to engineer into a car that they had not only done, but done incredibly well. Genuinely a brilliant car
I had a 2001 model , the most luxurious car I’ve ever had ,so smooth and every time I picked it up from Lexus it was valeted and washed ,loved that car thanks
Great video Jay. I worked in the early 90s for a boss whos father used import these from the USA. The standard of fit and finish and equipment was off the charts considering what he paid for them even after the costs of importation.
Cool car and when launched Norwegian carpress walked tru a gigantic buildings where there was a MB S-Class and BMW 7 series and they asked Lexus why and they replied that they had pulled them to atoms, analized them put them together and made something better.. Great video as always!
I have a 1995 LS400. It had been sitting outdoors, not started for nearly 10 years. I put a new battery in it and it started up straight away as if it just rolled out of the factory. Because of this, I have no interest in ever buying a BMW, Audi or Mercedes ever again. These cars are fantastic and if you like these kinds of cars, you should absolutely get one before prices go crazy.
Lexus don`t outsource for any parts. Every part and component is made under Lexus (Toyota) roof. This gives you a bullet proof build quality that just doesn`t break, unlike it`s German and all other competitors. Lexus have made the competition raise their own bar but still cannot match this level of quality, durability and reliability. If you are in the market for luxury without the ongoing expenses then one of these is the car for you Jay. Great video.
It's more that they are generally a major stake holder in their suppliers - for example, they use Denso ignition components - Denso is ostensibly an independent company - but they are majority owned by Toyota. Same with the transmissions - Aisen Warner - again, Aisen is an independent company, but Toyota are the majority owner. It's not always the case though - Toyota often use Yamaha for design expertise (though not manufacturing) - and of course there is the new Supra debacle where they badge-engineered a BMW shitbox into a Toyota.
A lot of people are unaware that all the timber fittings for Lexus were manufactured by Yamaha - a company that, for many years, has created high-end musical instruments with exceptional finishes.
I think you give the best and most honest review of this car out of all others on RU-vid. I have an ‘06 LS 430 and have 135k miles on the odometer; no rattles no vibrations no odd noise and no issues over the years other than regular maintenance. Few reviews understand the intent of this car and find this car boring and slow. It is quite a fine car. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, knowledge and passion for automobiles on this channel!
When shopping for my second LS I selected a 2004 430 without any options, no adjustable suspension, fancy stereo or nav as those are the more unreliable parts of an otherwise uber reliable vehicle. A much overlooked result of the time and money spent in design is the thought they put into making every part on these vehicles not only of the best materials but also easy to access and repair. Many of these vehicles have been dealer only serviced and the online Lexus service history provided me with a 100% record of all maintenance done in the 18 years before my purchase. For me, a DIYer, those factors are just as important as the powerful, quiet and smooth driving experience. It is a joy to work on.
My wife has had a 2004 LS430 for 16 years. Biggest maintenance item has been timing belt replacement. At 140,000 miles, two small repairs - drivers mirror and the level sensors for the adaptive headlights. No air suspension and no obsolete navigation system. Mark Levison stereo is brilliant. Still a fabulous ride!
Family and friends loved our LS400 - she was a keeper - until unexpected catastrophic hose delamination resulted in a blown head the temperature gauge shot up from normal to red in the space of 5 seconds, and that was the end of that, eleven months into ownership. We were all gutted!
@@bazosmarek7981 The internet loves exaggerating...both ways. Say you're buying a Lexus and everybody says it will never break, say you're buying a BMW and everybody says it'll spend more time in the shop than on the road. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.
Bought my 98 LS400 5 years ago, had two bent rods, and one of them blew up on me on the second year of ownership, damaged block, engine was dead. 1 year in storage and another at the dealership, but now I got a completely rebuilt engine with a new block and enjoying it every day. Yeah, things break. But they get fixed.
Lowly CT owner here. Same experience at Steven Eagell in Ipswich. Treated like one of the family when I just needed some under bonnet clips after buying the car from a fairly back-street dealer in Leeds on 94,000 miles. The push pin clips were I think less than £1 each too! Fantastic service.
My dad had is LS400 for 21 years, I have driven the LS430 and now drive an IS 250. Lexus are superbly built cars which I can depend on their reliability. They are so smooth and refined. I'm a Lexus fan forever!
I had two, they were fabulous cars. Took one to 300k then gave to son who unfortunately wrecked it, the other got stolen at 270k miles. Drive a 460 now, best made cars on the planet
I was in the market for a car a couple of months ago, and I was seriously considering one of these. When I took into consideration road tax, insurance and mpg, I had to think again, given that I'm a pensioner with a fixed income. There is no denying that they are fabulous cars with amazing reliability and supreme comfort, but I had to pick a car with low running costs and insurance, good mpg and not a run of the mill car. I instead bought a Honda CR-Z with full service history/paperwork/invoices and 58k on the clock in very good condition (it still has the original dealership numberplates). A totally different car, but one that has turned out to be quite fun to drive, whilst costing you bugger all to run.
Had my CRZ for 8 years and now 115,000 miles. A few times considered a change but with full service history and a recent health report from Honda with nothing to do on it, It's another 12 months for me. Averages 45mpg on short runs and 55mpg on longer and can embarrass a few cars from 20-40 in sport.
I had an 01 GS430 and what an amazing car. Had it for around 4 years and it had 0 issues, well, apart from it put the passengers to sleep as it was so fantastically comfortable. Not an engaging drive but probably the beat commuter Ive ever had
Yeah this sounds familiar to me. I took my 2015 GS450h on a roadtrip not too long ago, and after about 3 minutes of doing 250km/h everyone was asleep. When they did wake up a bit later (and we had nearly reached Poland by this time) they were saying 'wow, how fast are you going, like 180?' probably because they could still talk without raising their voices and the car felt as planted as most other cars do at half the speed.
You are so CORRECT Best automobile ever! Buy a nice used one and you are set for life! A buddy of mine has a second year LS with 390,000 miles on it and it runs superbly with no rattles or squeaks, and it uses no oil at all! A perfect car. Not showroom fresh anymore with some small creases on the leather, and a few paint chips as well, but no faded body panels at all.
I inherited my late father's 2001 LS 430 in late 2012 with 189k on the clock and it's has been my daily here in NYC ever since. It's up the 235k now and it has turned me into a Lexus/Toyota fanatic. Just do the fluid changes and the PMs when called for and you're golden. Once in a blue moon you might need to replace a major component like the VVT solenoids but nothing that left me on the side of the road. Just keep a good mechanic or your local Lexus dealership. Just think a 22 year old car that is just contemporary as anything on the road today with 235k on odometer and the valve covers has never been cracked open. There are still quite a lot of LS400s and LS430 here on a the streets of New York City and the Northeast US today.
Not a truer word has been said. Had 2001 a few years ago and have rued the day I ever sold it. Magnificent way to travel. Mine was a Republic of Ireland car, which had a few less niceties, was imported to Northern Ireland. 90k plus miles, bought for £1200 and sold it for £1500. Miss it sorely.
Sooo happy to see this classic P4P king of a car reviewed! Years ago I visited my Japanese relatives in northern Japan (Yamagata). I’m waiting at the train station when my uncle rolls up in a Celsior. I got in and thought I was on the NG Enterprise. Not that it was so futuristic, but the leather and wood and individual climate controls! The quality! I struggled to have polite conversation with my uncle because I had to concentrate to understand his Tohoku-ben accent while not whooping like an idiot at his luxe ride. RIP to my baller uncle who passed a few years ago.
this car changed my perspective on what a luxury car should be. nothing can top the LS430. not even the w140 S class. or the w221 or any german. nothing. i bought my LS when i was 19 and although the british roads are full of bumps and are painful to drive on (especially london) the Ls just dials down your surroundings and you feel good driving it. surprisingly nimble and great turning circle. best riding suspension so far unless youre in a citroen. and as quiet as a coffin. lexus now and lexus till the end.
Thank you Jay! This is one of the best reviews of the best car I’ve ever seen/heard, totally agree with every word. I used to have a white 1992 LS400 bought used in 1999 with 125,000 miles in Denver, sold it in 2007 with 250,000 miles, still felt brand new. Very reliable, dependable, always serviced at low cost at great Lexus dealer. It was fantastic in Colorado winters with 4 snow tires/tyres. I’d buy one again in a heartbeat.
I had an LS400 for a while. Terrible on fuel but a magnificent car. Unbelievable bargain. Good to hear they are still affordable as I thought the VIP scene would add the 'tax'.
@@michaeljose8122 the main issue was back then I did 50 miles per day commuting for work. It would cost £100 to fill up and I'd cane through that in a week. So £20 to do 50 miles.
I changed from a 735 to an LS 400 after one overtook me on the M5 on my way back to Nottingham from the south, took traffic to let me get close enough to see what it was, fortunately Sytner Nottingham had a washington cherry 1 year old example that had just come into stock, they were very surprised when I traded my 7 series in for it (This was 1991 when BMW reigned) have been driving in the same marque ever since. I now have a 2016 460 . Finances are tighter I am now retired but am saving!!!!! Why buy a new one when you can spend less than half the RRP after only a couple of years and all the niggles taken care of. My last trip hopefully will be in a Lexus Hearse (supposing one ever gets converted) but what a way to go. Alan B
I have not watched this video ...yet 😁 but I have a 2006 Lexus LS 430 with currently 712,000 kilometers on it, I love it to bits a friend gave to me when my Peugeot 407 2 litre turbo diesel was causing my hair to fall out and making me eat Xanax like tic tacs. Anyway it is a retired ex silver service hire car lots of preventive maintenance as it was his lively hood along with two others and a Audi A8. still nice and quiet very smooth most people are shocked when they see how many K's it has done and is still tight no rattles, leather is a little worn and some of the plastic grommets/clips are missing but hey no complaints here. I'm adding a GS 300 to the stable in the next couple of days.
@@RevLexus indeed I was a bit dubious when he gave it to me with over 600,000 k's on it thinking it would be another money pit after the Peugeot, but I have never been so happy to be wrong 😆
I had one 5 years ago, a 2004 face-lift and I agree, it was a brilliantly well made, well equipped car. The spec was mind-blowing for the year and every single thing worked perfectly. I do agree parts can be tricky, most stuff, even simple items like suspension arms are dealer only - there's very little other than service items available non-gen but mine was so reliable, fortunately I didn't need to replace much. Special mention (as not in the film) to the electronic oscillating dash vents that sweep from side-to-side on their own! My 5 year old thought they were magic!
I don't think theres many LS owners who've sold them and don't look back at them as being one of the best cars they've ever had. I miss my LS400, I've never been in anything as comfy and easy to drive.
Hi James, I’ve been following your podcasts for quite awhile now and would like to give you a big shout out for the great articles you constantly achieve. Having just watched this podcast it seems like a big coincidence that my LS400 is about to start it’s life on the road at last. Having only 7000 miles from new it’s virtually brand new. However I did pay quite a lot more than your podcast suggested. I’ll keep you updated on my progress with it. Keep up the good work.
@@mskhan2711 send me your phone number. I may sell as I still haven’t put the car on the road as yet. My E39 M5 returns to me very shortly and I need the garage space.
SSSHHHHHHH! Those things have been the best kept secret in motoring for ages. I was kinda hoping to pick one up for a song in a few months , but NOW people are catching on. Now they're starting to get a little pricey. Here in the States at least. THANKS!
How did Lexus go from producing an elegant car like this, to foisting new cars on us that look as though they've already been involved in a front end crash?
@@alpha7ization do you mean latest 7? Havn't seen anything uglier. I can call Ssang yung pretty after seeing bmw. And talking about mercs. Have you seen latest S class? It is just streched mazda 6. Not ugly, but hardly looks original. And the last one. Audi. Smaller models are juse VWs with different grille and A8. How on earth they've managed to make it look so disproportional? Look at any generation prior to it - all of them looks timeless classy and simply cool. But not the last one. So in that sense I'd agree. Lexus not in their league
I have one of these beautiful cars here in Australia. Absolutely love it. Has been extremely reliable and the dealer experience is the best. We can often drive very long distances here in Aus and I know I can get into this car and arrive as fresh as when I started the drive without worrying about it breaking down in the middle of nowhere. Will be keeping mine for a very long time.
James great video. I just bought a car from Steven Eagell in Shirley and it was a fantastic experience. I’m now rewatching your video, The LS430 V8 is indeed perfection. 👌👏👍
I was never a fan of the styling of the pre-facelifted 3rd gen LS, but the facelifted 3rd gen LS is one of my favorites. Just that subtle refresh up front and the taillights makes a *huge* difference in its appearance in my opinion. The 2004-2006 LS430 is just about perfect. It has aged *very* well.
Agreed. The styling is night and day for how subtle it is. The addition of a 6-speed auto, icing on the cake. Definitely the sweet spot imo. Only way to inprove it would be to fit the 5 litre V8 from the isf and other models that got it. The first gen ls has also aged well like the w124 mercs but the 04-06 has just the right mix of looks, interior and drivetrain...
I passed up on one of these as I thought, getting a dog, we'd need a wagon. The bloody thing sits in the passenger footwell the whole time. Bonus is we've got 7 seats as a result, but I may pick one of these up if, and when, they stop buggering the economy
Lexus dealers are consistently good - I can remember years ago taking my car in for a service, it was a couple of years old at the time and there was some minor paint bubbling on one of the alloy wheels. When I picked the car up the dealer had put 4 new wheels on the car at no charge!
I 100% agree!! I bought a used 2002 LS430 one owner with currently 195,000 miles. It's like when you fall in love and can't remember life before your spouse. Hands down, this car is luxurious, reliable, responsive, I don't even look or think about another vehicle.. When people Brag about their cars I don't even participate, because I know I'm driving the best engineered car in the world!!!!!! Thxs Lexus
Jay, time now to find the latest model to see how it fares against this classic. I bought a 2008 GS450h 8 years ago and it’s still going strong with 150,000 miles on the clock and having had one major cost which was the hybrid system replacement at the 12 year mark which was £2,800 at a Lexus dealership. It’s now with my retired father and at 78 he often drives from Scotland to the south of Ireland in it in total comfort. It can do 35mpg on a long run and he reckons it will see him out😁. Great cars and as you say, extremely underrated.
A few years ago I needed a car to ferry my elderly parents around in so I went on the hunt fo an LS400. I found an SC400 instead and couldn't pass it up. The coupe is really something special. I ended up buying a Honda Odyssey to haul the folks in, which is also a brilliant car, for a minivan.
Glad to see you review the LS , I owned a GS400 the next model down but the GS was the Sporty version and it had all the Lexus quality. The GS400 was smaller and lighter but still had the same engine as the top dog. The Lexus line up offerd smaller models but the GS was my favorite. Your are correct the cars were high quality and dollar for dollar unmatched.
I owned one just like the one Jay reviewed. Still to this day, it is without a doubt the greatest built car I have ever owned and I've owned a lot of cars. I sold it in 2018 and it still looked new and drove like it was brand new.
Fantastic video showcasing the car perfectly, I have had one now for 2 years, same colour, same everything, purchased from a Car Dealer who has his own RU-vid channel, he purchased it to keep it for his own collection of cars, so the repairs it needed at the time, I know were done properly, (as shown on his channel). I fell in love with the car when I saw it, so I made him an offer, covering his costs and giving him a profit, much to my surprise he accepted my offer, and even delivered it to me, travelling well over 150 miles to do so. I still love the car to this day, and driving it is pure luxury. It has about double the mileage of the one you featured, but as you said, the engine is bulletproof. I love watching videos that feature the Lexus LS40 knowing I have one outside on my Drive, so thank you. All the very best to you from Nick in Wolsingham.
Rented if for 2 weeks on vacation in 2001; my own car was a new 740, it handled like a boat compared to the 7, maybe unfair but it was a massive difference
I Fell in love with the LS and the history of it in 2015 and bought a 1998 LS400 the following year. I have added over 125k miles over the years and still love it as much as I did 7 years ago.🙏
a Friend had one, was honestly blown away by how quiet it was, how well it went and the fact that over 10 years it cost NOTHIUNG to run, it simply never went wrong!
In the US, this version was called Ultra Luxury, which was not common. I would love to find one of these versions with under 100,000 miles here in the US for under 5 grand. Seriously not possible. For under 100 grand originally, this UL was a hell of a bargain. Most US buyers seem to have gone for what we called the Modern Luxury, which omitted the rear executive seat, air suspension, soft close doors, and double glazing. Radar cruise was an option even on the Ultra Luxury. My 2004 was an ML and I really didn't miss the UL features even though I would love to have the UL now. I am seriously thinking of making one my next car albeit with some reconditioning.
Few days ago, I had the dream-like pleasure of driving one of these in Taiwan, Zhubei to Taipei and back, via the motorway. It encourages you to go smoothly and calmly, cruising in supreme comfort. While accelerating, at no point did the V8 surpass 2100-2200 rpm or so, and yet you can feel that it has twice the power you could ever need. I must have one, and I doubt I'll ever give it away.
As an owner of a slightly newer GS450H, I must say, the engineering quality and attention to detail that went into these cars really pays off when they get 10+ years older and makes them such a good used car purchase. I love mine and got it at rock bottom price with 100k miles on it, I don't think I'll ever own anything better than a used high mileage Lexus.
Astonishing info, great video - thanks. I once travelled as passenger in an LS400 and I can testify as to what a superb vehicle it really is. My only reservation about owning one would be the running costs - fuel consumption, servicing and any spare parts or repairs would not come cheap. I seem to remember Edd China doing some work on one of these on Wheeler Dealers. I'm not sure they made a huge profit, but were super-impressed with the car. If you want to waft along in whisper quiet uber-luxury, I agree it beats anything else I've ever come across. I guess the only real competitor would be a more recent Lexus such as the 2011 Lexus 600 HL which James tested a couple of years back - but I've never been in one of those.
Need to get another LS430. My son had one but got rear-ended, and we totaled it. I have a SC400 with over 200,000 miles and still love it. I miss the LS430. The LFA is amazing.
14:27 I believe you mean *2004. The six-year run of the LS430 are split in half; 2001-2003 and 2004-2006, the latter being the facelifted version you speak of at this timestamp, Jay. Great video! I loved my LS430 but I love my LS400 even more.
Excellent review, I own a Lexus GS 460 with the wonderful V8 that followed the 430, it also has an 8 speed transmission and provides amazing acceleration. The ultimate sleeper perhaps?
@@kevinmccann9279 ah that's not going to work then. Looked at getting one a while back but so rare here. Think they discontinued it after a year as everyone bought the gs450h instead (we had one but it was the worst Lexus we ever owned, so many problems).
I've watched a lot of car review videos over the years and this one was my favorite. I definitely love the car, but I enjoyed your review and personality just as much. In 2000, I purchased a 1996 Lexus LS 400 from a local Lexus dealerships. Exactly as you stated in the video, both the vehicle and my interactions with the dealership were superb. The cost of oil changes and other routine maintenance was more than I was accustomed to, since I previously drove a 1993 Honda Accord EX Sedan. (I regret selling the Lexus _and_ the Honda.) Overall, it wasn't too bad, since I only kept the Lexus for four years. Before buying the used Lexus, I also looked at a used BMW 740 iL and a used Audi A8 L. I had always loved the exterior styling of the BMW. As I took it for a test drive, however, I was very disappointed by how much the interior rattled and how cheap it felt. The Audi was really nice -- great styling, it rode and handled fantastic, and it was comfortable and had a wonderful sound system. Unfortunately, it was more expensive. So, that made the decision for me. After having the Lexus for a short while, though, I was happy with the way it worked out. If I remember correctly, the Lexus had about 25k miles on it and it was like driving a leather sofa down the interstate. But, a leather sofa that could move rather briskly and was not so spongy that Dramamine would be required. The BMW had felt more "sporty" feel to it. Originally, I thought that's what I wanted -- to be more connected to the road -- but, I quickly realized I was wrong. Driving the Lexus, everything felt like it were buffered by a cloud. The Lexus seemed to glide down the freeway with ease and in solitude with road bumps barely registering audibly or even in a tactile manner through the seat or steering wheel. Again, all components felt like they were connected through clouds and the cabin noise was so low as to imagine all interior panels must have been stuffed with down pillows. Common road and wind noises were very effectively muted. Everything about the Lexus looked, felt, and sounded solid and well-engineered. To me, there was no bad perspective from which to view the Lexus. I thought it was beautiful work of art. And, whether closing a cabin door, turning a knob on the stereo, or feeling the forward lunge of the car when pressing the accelerator (no matter the speed), everything about the vehicle felt over-engineered. Oh, and that gorgeous back-lit electro-luminescent gauge cluster. The vehicle exuded luxury and class. However, for fun, it could also quickly dispatch other vehicles. My favorite memory of driving the Lexus was going for a drive at night with the sunroof open and the cool breeze circulating while playing Diana Krall's "Let's face the music and dance." For me, I don't think it got any better than that precise moment. If time travel existed, that is definitely one memory I would revisit again.
