2001-2006 Lexus LS 430 – high luxury / low risk

November 20, 10:27 AMAutomotive ExaminerKyle Busch

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The Lexus LS 430 model was manufactured from 2001 until
2006. If you are interested in a traditional looking four-door
luxury sedan, this Lexus is a good place to start and most likely
end your search. As the commercial says, “the pursuit of
perfection” applies to this car like no other.

The original LS 400 was a big hit that got powerful Mercedes-Benz
to take notice. In the mid 90’s, Lexus released the second generation
of the car to market. The company played it safe since it had a big
time hit with the fist generation. And for the third generation, the
focus of this article, Lexus kept the car’s traditional looks but refined
it with more of everything: design, interior room, comfort, performance,
safety, and technology.

The result of all the company’s hard work and pursuit of perfection
was one of the finest luxury vehicles anywhere. However, with such
success, the car’s price with options was right at the esteemed European
luxury elites. With the 2001-2006 LS 400, Lexus was not about to
give anything away for free as the company did with the first
generation LS 400.

The LS 430 has a 4.3-liter V8 engine making 278 horsepower and
312 pound-feet of torque. The power has always gone to the rear
wheels, however, at first in 2001 it was through a five-speed
automatic and then in 2004, it became a six-speed automatic.

As standard equipment, the LS 430 has a full complement of air bags,
antilock brakes with brake assist, traction control, VSC stability control,
as well as a tire pressure monitoring system.

As can be expected with a premium luxury sedan, the 430 also featured
dual-zone climate control, (with back and forth sweeping air registers),
a 14 position electric driver’s seat with memory, cruise control, power
tilt and telescoping steering wheel, auto-dimming mirrors, an in-dash
CD changer, and a power trunk closer. Furthermore, many used LS 430s
can be had with heated and cooled leather seats and a sound system with
over a dozen speakers. The system will make you think you are in the
front row at a symphony or rock concert.

The gas mileage for the LS 430 is about 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg
on the highway.

Now that the new LS 460 has been circulating for almost two years,
the 430 has depreciated. Thus, it is still a great car but at a much better
price.

Prices for a used LS 430 are about $17,000 for a 2001 up to
about $40,000 for a 2006 model. Given Lexus’s excellent reliability
record, you could spend well under $20,000 and be driving a premium
luxury vehicle that will provide a decade or more worth of driving
pleasure all without breaking the bank.

Welcome to the world of high luxury / low risk at a reasonable price!

Kyle Busch is the author of “Drive the Best for the Price…” He
welcomes your comments or car questions at his auto web site: www.DriveTheBestBook.com