2001 Lexus LS 430 4.3

Summary:

A car I'd buy, even with 200K on it

Faults:

Nothing, just the following maintenance items:

Brakes.

Oil changes.

Timing belt/pulley.

General Comments:

I now have owned 4 generations of the 5 LS generations. All of them have been superb. The LS430 however, is the quietest of them, and the most elegant. I initially bought the LS460L, but my wife wanted it after driving it a few times. So, to fill the void, I bought this one. The following are things to look forward to:

1.) Reliability! The car starts and goes. When I had the timing belt changed, it was the first time in the car's life. It wasn't even damaged, ripped, or dry. This was just a few months ago in 2019.

2.) Comfort! - The seats, front and back are very comfortable. Visited my mother out of state, and she fell in love with it. The rear massaging seats STILL work, as does the air con for the rear. Front seat heating/cooling still work as well. Every comfort feature you could ask for.

3.) Smooth Power. - The car moves effortlessly, whether on straight roads or uphill. I do believe it really can do 60mph in 6.5. Passing is sure, with plenty of HP to get it done.

4.) Quiet Cabin - No matter what speed, the car is insulated to the point of not hearing any road noise.

5.) Great GPS - I've seen the complaints about the Lexus GPS, but I find it spot on, and better than my cell phone GPS. I can turn them on side by side, and the 430 gives the better path.

6.) Door Handles - It isn't a big deal with you warm climate folks, but I live where the winters can get brutal. The "lift up" type door handles get broken from the moisture and freezing temps. The "pull type" handles on the 430 are perfect for cold weather opening, without breaking.

7.) Soft Close and regular closing doors - The automatic pull close still works flawlessly on the car. Also, when you choose to just close it normally, it reminds me of how my old Mercedes W126 car doors would close with just a wonderful "thoomp". No rattle, no slamming necessary, just the sound of quality.

A few not so good things:

1.) Sound system - Pure JUNK! I can't believe such a premium car would have the worst sound system of ANY car I've owned. They tout this Mark Levinson system as though it is the best money can buy, and even have an upcharge for it. In actuality, the customer should be paid for having to endure such a weak, inept system that WILL break.

2.) Radio reception - Miserable. If you travel at all, you will not get any good range to listen to your favorite radio station. Also, the system is not compatible with SIRUS.

3.) Seat Controls - All the positions don't work. Not that big a deal, especially after almost 20 years, but I'd like the "full" experience anyway.

4.) Park Assist - Does not function properly. It always thinks I'm about to run into something on the passenger rear.

5.) Heated/Cooled seats - While they do work, there's not enough heat or cooling to really make a difference.

6.) Height/Power/ECT Buttons - I don't think they work. I don't hear or notice anything when I push the height button, nor do I "feel" any difference in acceleration upon pushing the Power/ECT button.

All in all, this car, being built in late 2000, is the cream of the crop, even though certain features do not work. I drive 135 miles per day, and drive 3 different cars so one doesn't absorb all the miles, and this one I know can be trusted.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st November, 2019

23rd Nov 2019, 16:16

Just because a timing belt wasn't changed at the proper maintenance schedule does not mean that the car is reliable. Could have easily broke at any time after. This goes for any belt driven engine. Not because it's a glorified Toyota.

24th Nov 2019, 00:29

I have had early Lexus cars. Very solid built cars with great reliability to them. They have a few flaws to them, but nothing that can't be fixed. Suspension... door locks... large 10 inch bass speaker cracks easily... smog components are many and they do go bad and some are very hard to get to, especially the vapor charcoal canister in the rear of the car. Other than those things, they are pretty much bulletproof.

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2001 Lexus LS 430

Summary:

Beautiful luxurious comfort

Faults:

The only issues I've had so far is that some of the power seat buttons didn't work and the rain sensor fell off the windshield. Other than that, nothing has gone wrong.

General Comments:

As soon as I purchased the car, I changed the timing belt. The belt that was on it was from its 90,000 maintenance requirement. The belt I took off was in very good condition, but I changed the water pump, belt and the works to be sure the car would be on the road for another 200k+ miles.

Everyone thought I was nuts for buying a car with 255k miles, but once they ride in it, they don't laugh so much. The car is the smoothest riding car I've ever been in, including several Mercedes models.

I am so happy with my LS430 and would purchase another.

Maybe I just bought one that was extremely well taken care of?

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th June, 2018

9th Jun 2018, 21:09

Yes, it is. Lexus and Toyota for starters are engineered conservatively; their parts suppliers are assisted to produce quality parts at a good price while still making a good margin, and these parts are put together well. But even Lexus is not made of granite. It does help that the car is good to start with, but when parts do need replacing, and service is due for things like the gearbox or engine, they must be done on time, properly, and with correct, good-quality (or original) parts. The car cannot have done so well in the hands of less caring previous owners. Not many cars will not have had some wheel bearings replaced by 200K km (about 120K miles), and belt tensioners are best replaced together with the drive belts. I suppose people who tend to buy Lexus are also more likely to stick to the maintenance routine, even as the car ages and bought cheaper second-hand. There are lesser cars from far less reliable brands which surprisingly do last over the 200K mile mark, often from a combination of good parts used in assembly, diligent owner maintenance, and treating the car sympathetically. Even then, many will definitely feel their age - suspension bushings and engine/gearbox mounts can be laborious to replace, which adds to maintenance cost on what is by then a cheap car.

11th Mar 2020, 20:07

I currently have a 2001 LS430 that I bought in 2018 with around 92k on it. I have seen the ones like yours with well over 200k on them, and you know what? I'm sticking with the model! When I buy another Lexus, it will be the LS430 of either year, and mileage is not a real concern (unless it is overpriced). These cars are unbeatable, with one exception - the 1981-1985 Mercedes 300SD, which is, IMO the best car ever built. Next in line - Lexus LS430!

In reply to 11th Mar 2020, 20:07

14th Apr 2020, 17:57

Love your comment about the W126 300SD!! My best friend has a 1984 model, which despite being from the North East, is a real survivor and refuses to die!! I have driven his car countless times; my feeling is that Lexus correctly identified the benchmark of that era and made it better!!! I look at the LS 430 as the modern W126 and that is high praise indeed!! I wish you happy motoring in your LS 430 :).