FWIW, the CEO in question did improve Ford’s lineup and helped save the company from bankruptcy a second time. *Unless you talk about the infamous dual clutch transmission that all but killed Ford’s small cars here in the US.
Bought an LS430 about a year ago after owning a gen 1 LS400 for a while, both from the internet hype😂 so far the LS430 has been to near the canadian border and the southern most point of the US in key west, once did 22 hours in one session and got 650 miles of range out of the tank. Truly is the best used car available today
clean simple design, excellent seats, tight interior construction, silky smooth engine and transmission, quiet at speed. it's what most manufacturers wish they could make.
My 75 year old dad recently gave me his LS430 because he was afraid of wrecking it… the man loved this car so much that he was willing to give it up just make sure it stayed in good shape. My daily driver is an LS460L but my garage queen is my dads old LS430 and one day I’ll gift my son his grandfather’s LS430 😭
Love your comment, your dad created a family heirloom. My 73 year old dad may get his first one next week which we’re following on an auction for him. Enjoy, happy motoring 👍
That's what they used to say about Bentley back in the day. You don't own one you are just the custodian who passes it on to the next generation. Long may he enjoy it.
Owned a 01 ls430 ultra luxury edition. What a car inside and out. Absolutely loved that car. The most comfortable car I have ever owned and one of the most reliable. Actually handed it down to my nephew for his 1st car.
I've had my 02 ultra luxury for the past 7 years, still the best riding car I've had. I just had part of my exterior repainted and new bumpers installed. Front seats were cracking and had the covers replaced professionally. Still such a nice car.
@@philipsgarage someone backed into the laser cruise control sensor on the front bumper and broke it and the airbags in the suspension started to go and that was basically it when it came to parts failing. One if alltime favorite cars I've ever owned.
@@watchdogs295 You can get one with under 200k for around $7k for a good one. Probably not with the UL package though. You can find them for less of course if you are willing to take higher mileage. Of course, you can find them over $15k if you want under 100k super pristine.
RCR is one of the only channels that either gets better with every video or retains it's value. Every Monday you can depend on some fun and insight without question.
@@nomadben im pretty sure it was the bit about the pillar gauges cuz I helped my friend put in that voltmeter thats why i thought it was funny but maybe he really likes those gauges
I like to think that Regular Car Reviews is the only reason I don't own a BMW 8-series. In reality it's just one of many, many reasons. But it is one of them.
There’s an LS 430 group on FB that I’m a member of - I’d never buy from anyone in that group, they know what they have. You’ll still be able to buy a decent 430 for around 5k. Stealing one for under that might have just gotten a little harder.
@@JayLiquori Late to the thread but this can sometimes be a weird sampling issue that is made more apparent over cell phone speakers. I don't know what causes this.
I had an '05 LS430 Ultra-Luxury (AKA every option possible) and it is hands-down my favorite car. The air suspension needed to be replaced which was a real pain in the ass, but other than that everything worked perfectly and I never had a problem with it. The fridge was actually way cooler (pun intended) than one might expect and after the '04 facelift they switched from Lidar cruise control to radar cruise control which worked just as well as modern implementations. That thing was hands-down the best road trip car (especially if you were in the back seats, which were heated/cooled like the front but also had power recline and massage!) Also an incredibly safe car, mine was totaled by an old guy running a light but I walked away with just a broken arm - they fit an amazing number of airbags in there! RIP (Those temperature controls make a lot more sense with the nav package, which completely rearranges the center console!)
Yeah I have a 02 and its been amazing. I've had to replace the bags in the rear and its not fun removing that entire back section to reach the shock towers.
i own a 05 430 CL fully optioned love it best purchase I've made really didn't see the point in the UL price difference the cl has practically all the same options
The LS400 was Dark Side of the Moon. The LS430 was Wish You Were Here. I have a 2006 face-lift, and it's by far the best car I've ever owned, even over the E34 535i I owned.
My grandmother drove the 2005 430 for over 10 years! That car was just unbelievably smooth, and it felt like a huge understressed engine that never reved above 200 RPM. First car I've ever seen with heated and cooled seats My dad had the 2004 model, and I think he drove it to over 350k miles. Traveled for work all over Alabama and the car was an incredibly smooth cloud
I was a Lexus tech in the time frame of this car. Tires, brakes, fluids, and trying like hell to explain the electronics to senior citizens- that is all there was to do.
I drove my dad’s 2004 LS430 when I was 16 for the first time and fell in love with it. It’s like riding in a sophisticated lazyboy recliner inside a cocoon of silence all the way past highway speeds. 10 years later; and I still would absolutely LOVE to buy one. Once you drive one of these; you will find that everything else sucks. Yes, they are that good.
I owned a 2002 LS 430 from 2008-2023. The best car I have ever owned absolutely the best. I miss her. And you’re absolutely right… Everything else pails in comparison even other Lexuses like my 2010 GS 350. I miss my silver cloud a.k.a. la Mafiosa.
My grandfather passed this car to me and I could not have been more grateful! It survived some close calls, long road trips, and is at 224k... Thank you for doing this vehicle justice with this review
I'll never forget when I was a young kid and I found one of these on the getaway and loved it in game, and since then, I've loved them more in real life 😅
@@Theesvpremekai I swear it's one of the most underrated games 😅 I'll have to dig through my old PS2 games and pull it out now hahaha. Did you ever play Black Monday?
@@Michka1001 nope. Never, but I read reviews and heard they didn’t improve much and some of the gameplay was still funky. I did, however, hold out hope for The Getaway 3. Still pissed they never made it even tho they did an engine demo years ago smh
I just bought a 2002 LS 430 it's the best car I've ever owned by far. The interior is so nice I love the leather and wood and the acceleration is smooth. I just got the timing belt changed not even 10 minutes ago. Its the first V8 I've ever owned and the first RWD car I've owned. In fact I actually work at the very same Ray Catena dealership that the car in this video was bought from 20 years ago.
dude, im a touring comedian and I drive a 2006 ls430 (the reason I checked out this video). I just wanted to tell you that I love what you're doing. you had me informed and cracking up. kudos, sir. tight work.
My grandma had one of these, same color and everything. I thought it was boxy and ugly. Then I tried driving it and my perception of Lexus changed forever. I had no idea that anyone could make a car THIS good.
You've done it guys. Your relentless praise for Toyota/Lexus products had turned me onto a path that has ended in me selling my E39 540i touring and getting into an L10 GS 450h President. Not looking back.
I actually reviewed one of these on my channel recently, however the one I reviewed was the absolute top spec, and had 195,000 miles on it, not that you'd know that, because with the exception of the drivers window sometimes sticking, literally everything worked perfectly. Every interior panel fit just right, nothing creaked, nothing was loose, hell none of the buttons had even lost any of the colour. If you told me it was 40,000 miles, I'd have believed you. Very understated design, incredibly comfortable and superbly quiet. We had the sunroof open for most of the day and it was that quiet WE FORGOT IT WAS OPEN. I've driven cars with everything closed that make more wind noise than the LS430 does. Honestly an absolutely superb example of amazing engineering and I have to hand it to Lexus for what a superb car they made there. And you're dead right on that engine, electric smooth
My father has one of these (the facelifted version). Apparently the windshield is heated by the engine cooling system, it has a tube stuck to it, which makes it quite expensive to replace.
My LS400 has this as well, I deleted it because the heater control valve I need isn’t available so I took a newer one and just circumvented the system. It’s really, really not a thing that is needed unless it’s -30 celsius out.
@@SoLDMG added complexity is just that, complexity. I do support heated grids where wipers sit With modern cars having such long wipers arms that are thin and high torque motors, I really want more to do it, because when frozen down and the motor says bitch we wiping you easily can set the wipers to wear out and never seemingly wipe nicely by doing that. s its like heated wiper fluid, sure you CAN but does that mean its nice and day? it can be but that added coplexiy who want
Yup and tensioner and water pump while he's at it - also probably needs cam cover gaskets, spark plug seals and cam seals - not a cheap service if you can't do the work yourself as though the parts are cheap and easy to get, it's a fair amount of labor. Not that difficult for a reasonably confident DIY mechanic home mechanic though.
@@Beer_Dad1975 Yeah, you bring it to the dealer and they will total the car! I did a starter replacement myself and even a lower oil pan leak which required the engine to be lifted a bit with an engine hoist.
Came here to post the identical comment. The service is supposed to be done @100K... its an interference engine so if that belt lets go its buh-bye lovely LS :(
I had a 04 LS430 for six years. Absolute peak of JDM manufacturing. Smooth reliable sturdy and classy even at 18 years old. Single owner elderly Manhattan doctor used it to drive to Fl in summer. I got it with 50k miles and took it over 250k miles. Was planning on taking it to 500k Miles but we hit a deer and totaled it. I bought a new Tesla model 3 LR as replacement. The Tesla is cool and fast but I miss the LS430 every day. I should have bought the wreck back and had it fixed up. It was fixable. Oh well I’ll pick up a newer LS460 LWB for long trips and general loafing around when the market cools off a bit.
I just put 1300 km in one day in mine. Same colour as this one, but with better looking chrome badges. It was a great ride. Came out of the car at the end feeling fine.
I bought my 2003 LS 430 in 2016 when my 2002 Isuzu Axiom's engine exploded, almost literally. Have had it ever since. From time to time i do think about selling it and getting something else, but i never do. I haven't owned many cars in my time, but have driven enough different and more modern ones to realize that the old LS's have the absolute comfort of a $60K vehicle with the reliability and ease of repair of a $23K vehicle. Yeah, i will admit. The clock is ticking. Parts are going to start to dry up in the next 10 to 15 years as 3rd party makers stop making new bushing or shock absorbers for these. Hell, im willing to bet a new Accord rides better than my LS 430. But for the time being. The LS 430 is a win. I'll never get rid of mine and i pray that im doing a good job of keeping it in good health. It's sitting at 110K miles at the moment, and would love to see it reach 300K miles. Thanks for doing a review on this, i was totally expecting it to be shit on since i know a lot of drivers think an older LS is "boring".
i wouldnt worry too much about parts going away - i have a 99 toyota rav4 and i can get anything for the suspension easily. assuming you don't have air suspension you should be ok
@@nickaa827 I hope so! But that's the nice thing with a RAV4 of any year. More RAV4's were sold in 2012 than LS430's did in 6 years. So there's more reason to make parts of those for longer.
I couldn't find aftermarket LS430 rear upper control arms(OEM is $900 each, screw that) but an aftermarket company made spherical ball joint ones for cheaper that are basically indestructible. I had to replace all suspension components but I could get autozone lifetime on most parts and it was easier to rebuild the entire suspension in the LS430 than it is in a 2nd gen Mazda 6(2003-2008 I think). It's actually one of the easiest cars I've worked on. The engine bay has a lot of room to put large tools on for the tensioner and replacing timing belts.
I had bought a 2004 LS 430 (facelift design) Mid Luxury spec. So it came with push start, navigation, soft close doors and much more. Paid $4500.00 back in 2020, regret selling that car considering the market of where it is now.
Bought my LS430 ultra in 2001. Sold it to a friend in 2014. Just bought it back in September. It's just like an old friend. 22 years old and not even a door ding. Everything works. 138K on the clock. Life if good.
Got my 2004 LS430 “Modern Luxury” edition right around when this video was released. I was lucky to buy one from a friend who is, perhaps, even pickier than I am about maintenance (and I was a service advisor, so super paranoid). Mine is the desirable silver with black interior with 18” five-spoke wheels. I’m absolutely in love. I’ve had many cars that were newer and lower-mileage, but only my old 1998 E320 compared to this LS430 for overall enjoyment and long-term quality.
Kinda sad actually. People see a video of a car and then they run out and try to get it. People are dumb, that's why we had that toilet paper crisis 2 years ago.
One of the most popular used cars in the gulf states especially UAE. Used examples of LS430s costs nearly nothing yet it's far more reliable than it's European & American (sans for the Town Car) of it's day. High mileage examples are common
My nephew has been driving one of these for years. He was hit by a distracted driver and it got totalled. He walked away just fine. What did he do with the insurance settlement? Went out and bought another one. 😁
My mom had one of these! I took my driving test in it during a time where cars didn’t commonly have back-up cameras so it made things pretty easy 😂. Now I’m 27 looking for one of these things to daily. I can’t wait to see my mom’s face when I get one.
@@majist0 having owned both, I'd argue the UR is better than the UZ, being the successor to the UZ, just as smooth, significantly more power and no more need for timing belt servicing - and even better fuel economy. I guess it's still too "new" to have developed the legendary status of the UZ though.
It was all top end. Odd for a luxo barge. The LS430 also had a very low drag coefficient, so the car would surprise a lot of people between 70-90+mph. Down low it was pokey. The LS460 UR motor gave the LS some low speed grunt finally. Now I drive a Tesla 3LR with acceleration boost and it’s complete opposite. It terrorizes stoplights but falls off pretty fast over 70mph
I bought OEM 18 inch wheels for my LS. I bought them one @ a time from all over the US. I felt like I was collecting the infinity stones for Thanos’ glove. God damn it was worth it though, I put new continental sport tires on and it’s like an entirely new car now!! Not to mention it looks about 1,000,000 times better than it did with those heinous 16 in factory wheels.
@@christophermartin972 It was worth the hunt in my estimation. Those 5 spokes really do compliment the LS430 much better. I thought about grabbing a set for my 98 LS400 at one point, but decided to leave it stock since it was so nice. Glad you love your car man, wish I still had my LS.
I had a job as a lot tech at a Lexus dealership at, in all places, Cincinnati. Pretty sure RCR is my spirit RUclipsr lol. One of the few pleasures of working where I did (or well, working for WHO I did) was when an ls430 would come in to us for delivery. Sit in the auto touchless bay with it for a few minutes, the 5 minute drive to the gas station to fill up... Loved sitting in that car. To this day the most comfortable cars I've ever sat in.
I wanted one of these for the reliability and comfort, but then I got an Audi A5 because my ego couldn’t handle what an old person car it looks like. Paying for it
Naa, Pentium4s were pretty bad CPUs. Pentium4 is like a 1970s V8. Over 5 liters of displacement for under 180 horsepower. They had high clock speeds of 3200mhz but were outperformed by AMDs 2200 MHz offerings. I would compare the car to an early Athlon64 chip.
Mr. Regular, that DJ rant was one of the best things you have done in years! Going to see my divorce attorney on Monday! Haha! It reminded me of the old rants from the guy that drove his wife's car ;)
Miss the hell out of my ls430, was passed down to me by a close family member. Some dude totaled it running a red, and I only owned it for a month - but that was long enough to know I'll never own a car like her again. Glad you're doing it justice with this video.
I've owned an 06 for about three years. It's one of the best cars I've ever owned. My first car was a used Mini that I bought sometime in the late 70s so I have a bit of selection to choose from. I'm fonder of a 97 SL600 I owned a few years ago however I can actually affort to operate the LS. I'm guessing it will last a long time. A tank of gas lasts at least two months of grocery store trips. The trunk is very nice and no one ever complains about the back seat.
I have an 04 and the facelift made it such a better car but still reliable: they fixed the styling, cooled seats,better 6spd trans, HID adaptive headlights, gps, Bluetooth, led tails, 18 inch rims
@RegularCars - for the love of all things holy, fly between Philly and Cincinnati. I've been doing that drive on a semi-regular basis (Xavier = Cincinnati) for decades now and between Ohio's intense love of orange barrels and the never ending construction between New Stanton, PA (visit the Sheetz!) to and through Wheeling (take I-470 if you value your sanity), the third world hellscape that is parts of PHL is worth it, especially if your trip is short and don't want to spend it all in the car.
My '03 is my baby. Nobody can tell me shit. It's still brand new in my eyes. Everyone sees an old Lexus while I see perfection. Has some decent giddy up too for its age and what it is. I daily my power stroke and weekend drive my LS430. It talks to me every time I turn the key😊❤️🔥
These have been my familly cars for over 5 years. The 1 first one was rusted, but the second one came from florida and is almost pristine. Both were the most reliable & confortable I ever owned, and probably drived. Oh!, and the truck has more cargo apace then my wife Outback with seat up, because with 2 childrens you can't lower back seat..
@@TheGuillohm I paid $7,000 for a 130,000 miles 2004 LS430! That price is basically free! I had to spend a few grand on top for painting bumper, also the alternator, starter, and battery had to be replace. The starter is under the intake manifold and needs it to come off. I took advantage and changed gaskets and spark plugs as well.
@@transamericanlife The biggest reason for me is comfort. The LS400's ride was just sooo smooth and creamy and the LS430 rides like a BMW. Also the 400 had the comfiest seats i've ever sat in. Then there's esthetics. The 2nd gen LS400 is a beautiful car and I can't say the same about the 430
I got one of these on a deal after I shithoused my Avalon. I love it. Absolutely love it. It is the perfect car for me. It’s also a phenomenally easy car to work on despite the miles of engine cover. So far I’ve done the ball joints, alternator, ac refresh, and (obviously) an oil change. It gets better mileage than my Avalon, despite the V-8 and consumption of premium. It rides like it has air ride despite not being the Ultra Luxury package. I’m 6’6”, and this car fits me like a glove. I’m what my dad calls “an old soul” and I fell in love with this car the moment I saw it. I’ve got a taste for grandpa cars. Big sedans, leather, wood, and a v-8. Got it out the door for $7100 with 163000 miles on it. I hope I have it forever.
Thank you so much for this review. I helped my grandpa pick one of these over another Town Car back in 2003, and in hindsight, it was a big part of why I became a car guy. The hvac buttons make a ton more sense on the model with the navigation screen. Too bad this wasn't the higher trim level my gramps had with that dvd based nav, xenon auto leveling headlamps and the Mark Levinson stereo. But same Jewish Racing Gold with gold badges!
I bought one of these in 2021, got it for 5k 220k Miles, ultimate luxury package, every single interior option and air suspension. I daily the car every single day and have put 20k on it in less than a year. UCF30 best chassis. I have only had to do brakes and valve cover gaskets. I’m a mechanic and it’s extremely easy to work on these.
I upgraded to an 03' LS430 from my 91' LS400. I wasn't expecting myself to get another LS after the 400, but the timing of it all jush sort of happened. But I am so happy with the car, especially aftwr driving the ls400. I can really see the incremental upgrades they have done while keeping the spirit of the LS lineup the same. 200k+ miles and going strong
Bought my '04 in cypress pearl about 4 years ago at 100k miles for $8k. Almost at 180k miles now, absolutely ZERO mechanical issue. Hands down the best financial decision of my life.
I was beginning to worry this channel was losing material, like a 5th season of a great show. This review was a welcome reminder that I was very wrong.
I’ve had my 03’ ls430 for about a year and half now, things amazing, love it so much, also the people I bought it from drove it into a ditch and the mufflers came off… long story short, didn’t hurt the car AT ALL and made it sound amazingly loud, love it
Bought a 2001 ls430 with 160k back in march, this car is fantastic i love the v8 and the options for this car are incredible. With that being said, this is an old car I would not recommend the LS line to anyone looking for their first car or who is on a budget. I already replaced the torque converter and replaced a couple belt accessories. You will have to do work on this car and finding factory parts can be difficult. It’s not that these parts were faulty by any means they are just old and this is to be expected of from cars this age. But if you are willing to go the extra mile to take care and maintain this car it will do you right.
I sat in one at an auto show back in the mid-00s. Absolute cream puff, in the best sense of the words -- everything felt spot-on. I'm sure it's just as beautiful to drive as it was to sit in it.
I know it’s almost a GTA meme to suggest certain RUclipsrs for radio stations in 6. But goddamn, RCR needs either a few segments or total control over a channel’s commercials
Remember when the Ford CEO drove one of these and when questioned why, he just bluntly said it's the finest car ever made
You'd think he'd want a car that does better, by his own company.
FWIW, the CEO in question did improve Ford’s lineup and helped save the company from bankruptcy a second time.
*Unless you talk about the infamous dual clutch transmission that all but killed Ford’s small cars here in the US.
@@Yeen125 maybe if we actually drove manuals it wouldn’t be such an issue
@@initialyeet3951 Weird thing to say. What if it was the engines having problems? Would you say we should drive EVs?
@@initialyeet3951 Maybe if Ford hadn't have built a shit automatic it wouldn't have been such an issue.
LS430 owner here. I named mine Apollo, because I'm determined to get my odometer past the distance to the moon. Less than 2K miles to go.
but then you gotta go back
Hoovie is that you?
@@bigsplungus128 I know I'm going to go for a quarter million miles next.
@@ZeroBlackfire lol Hoovie... wouldn't doubt it
Oh you'll easily make it, mine's already well on its way to its second encounter with the Moon.
The radio ad bit in this had me in pieces 🤣 gold. ABSOLUTE GOLD.
Not me== I tune out when the screaming starts.
like a fifth element bit
Yup was awsome
DJ Double Lunch has fallen on hard times.
RCR golden hour
Bought an LS430 about a year ago after owning a gen 1 LS400 for a while, both from the internet hype😂 so far the LS430 has been to near the canadian border and the southern most point of the US in key west, once did 22 hours in one session and got 650 miles of range out of the tank. Truly is the best used car available today
clean simple design, excellent seats, tight interior construction, silky smooth engine and transmission, quiet at speed. it's what most manufacturers wish they could make.
i had a black on black 06 ls430 last year. i sold it because i'm a moron. so comfortable.
Which would you rather own? I've been dreaming about buying either of them
Stop advertising that.. you’re making those used cars expensive again
@@Corkoth55 Gotta say..not a good move. But I've sold things that I got bored with....dumb on my part.
My 75 year old dad recently gave me his LS430 because he was afraid of wrecking it… the man loved this car so much that he was willing to give it up just make sure it stayed in good shape. My daily driver is an LS460L but my garage queen is my dads old LS430 and one day I’ll gift my son his grandfather’s LS430 😭
Take good care of her.
Love your comment, your dad created a family heirloom. My 73 year old dad may get his first one next week which we’re following on an auction for him. Enjoy, happy motoring 👍
What a lovely comment. I hope your son appreciates how special it is.
That's what they used to say about Bentley back in the day. You don't own one you are just the custodian who passes it on to the next generation.
Long may he enjoy it.
Owned a 01 ls430 ultra luxury edition. What a car inside and out. Absolutely loved that car. The most comfortable car I have ever owned and one of the most reliable. Actually handed it down to my nephew for his 1st car.
the massage chairs sent it for me, best car ive owned
Too expensive now because of all the attention they have now and the market unfortunately
I've had my 02 ultra luxury for the past 7 years, still the best riding car I've had. I just had part of my exterior repainted and new bumpers installed. Front seats were cracking and had the covers replaced professionally. Still such a nice car.
@@philipsgarage someone backed into the laser cruise control sensor on the front bumper and broke it and the airbags in the suspension started to go and that was basically it when it came to parts failing. One if alltime favorite cars I've ever owned.
@@watchdogs295 You can get one with under 200k for around $7k for a good one. Probably not with the UL package though. You can find them for less of course if you are willing to take higher mileage. Of course, you can find them over $15k if you want under 100k super pristine.
RCR is one of the only channels that either gets better with every video or retains it's value. Every Monday you can depend on some fun and insight without question.
Absolutely. Still waiting for the keeps ad...the hair is going, going.. gone
Have they done the Gen 3 Insight yet?
Moar lawnmoawer reveiws! ! ! !
I thought the older ones were better but the new ones run gags over used.
no pressure though!
*Immediately* sent this to a friend who daily drives one of these. He’ll love it, naturally.
IDK, he just spent 12 mins making fun of him.
@@calholli have u ever seen a RCR video before? 🤣 as an LS430 owner this video was golden
be careful with rcr. my best friend drives an f250 so i sent him that video but he didnt respond. idk why lol. he responded to everything else
@@kalui96 mans was hella butthurt lol
@@nomadben im pretty sure it was the bit about the pillar gauges cuz I helped my friend put in that voltmeter
thats why i thought it was funny but maybe he really likes those gauges
This channel drives up the cost of used daily drivers like Haggerty does classic muscle cars.
Wait till Davin rebuilds that Impreza Wagon's engine, then those'll go through the roof too :)))
I like to think that Regular Car Reviews is the only reason I don't own a BMW 8-series. In reality it's just one of many, many reasons. But it is one of them.
Except for the cars panned by this channel, such as the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix and the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Dale Earnhardt Edition!
Just like Scotty whenever he mentions Toyota
There’s an LS 430 group on FB that I’m a member of - I’d never buy from anyone in that group, they know what they have. You’ll still be able to buy a decent 430 for around 5k. Stealing one for under that might have just gotten a little harder.
As someone who used to be on the air, it's too easy to talk too much. This...this is gold.
The part about Spotify playlists is spot on.
"It dissolves into the distance like mist in Turok 64"
I laughed harder at that than i should have.
Turok may have been the mistiest game ever made. Even moreso than Myst!
NTHGTHDGDCRTDTRK
Man, I was missing Roman's music in these reviews. Nice to get a little taste of it again.
I personally can't stand his voice
Something about it, just irritates me
@@koalakyle19 His voice is similar to Billie Eilish and Scarlet Johannisson(I can't spell).
I just wish his guitar was properly tuned. Even in this higher end production I feel like the strings were ever so slightly off. Is it me?
@@JayLiquori Late to the thread but this can sometimes be a weird sampling issue that is made more apparent over cell phone speakers. I don't know what causes this.
I’m a detailer so I’ve driven a lot of cars. The LS430 is one of my favorites. They look so much better in black.
I had an '05 LS430 Ultra-Luxury (AKA every option possible) and it is hands-down my favorite car. The air suspension needed to be replaced which was a real pain in the ass, but other than that everything worked perfectly and I never had a problem with it. The fridge was actually way cooler (pun intended) than one might expect and after the '04 facelift they switched from Lidar cruise control to radar cruise control which worked just as well as modern implementations. That thing was hands-down the best road trip car (especially if you were in the back seats, which were heated/cooled like the front but also had power recline and massage!) Also an incredibly safe car, mine was totaled by an old guy running a light but I walked away with just a broken arm - they fit an amazing number of airbags in there! RIP
(Those temperature controls make a lot more sense with the nav package, which completely rearranges the center console!)
Yeah I have a 02 and its been amazing. I've had to replace the bags in the rear and its not fun removing that entire back section to reach the shock towers.
i own a 05 430 CL fully optioned love it best purchase I've made really didn't see the point in the UL price difference the cl has practically all the same options
The LS400 was Dark Side of the Moon. The LS430 was Wish You Were Here. I have a 2006 face-lift, and it's by far the best car I've ever owned, even over the E34 535i I owned.
I sold my 06 last year and I still have a Lexus shaped void in my heart.
@@Corkoth55 I don’t think I can part with my LS400. Hope you find something to fill that void!
@@Spartansrule118 Same here
My grandmother drove the 2005 430 for over 10 years! That car was just unbelievably smooth, and it felt like a huge understressed engine that never reved above 200 RPM. First car I've ever seen with heated and cooled seats
My dad had the 2004 model, and I think he drove it to over 350k miles. Traveled for work all over Alabama and the car was an incredibly smooth cloud
I was a Lexus tech in the time frame of this car. Tires, brakes, fluids, and trying like hell to explain the electronics to senior citizens- that is all there was to do.
How I feel about my 02 GS300!
DJ Dubblelunch is slowly but surely becoming my favorite piece of the RCR universe, right up there with Barry Hoffsetter
Don't forget Trent Falkenrath and Uncle Pulltab!
@@BullRunRoad30 And Tommy Fenstermacher
@@wgil89 👍😜👍
@@wgil89 And Bobby Bustamante
Right up there with good ol' Harold Slovinski for me.
I drove my dad’s 2004 LS430 when I was 16 for the first time and fell in love with it. It’s like riding in a sophisticated lazyboy recliner inside a cocoon of silence all the way past highway speeds.
10 years later; and I still would absolutely LOVE to buy one. Once you drive one of these; you will find that everything else sucks. Yes, they are that good.
Everything else does suck bro it doesn’t compare 😂😂🥱😮💨
Bruh I just slammed mine to the floor fender to lip and bro I can’t get enough of it so worth
I owned a 2002 LS 430 from 2008-2023. The best car I have ever owned absolutely the best. I miss her. And you’re absolutely right… Everything else pails in comparison even other Lexuses like my 2010 GS 350. I miss my silver cloud a.k.a. la Mafiosa.
My grandfather passed this car to me and I could not have been more grateful! It survived some close calls, long road trips, and is at 224k... Thank you for doing this vehicle justice with this review
I'll never forget when I was a young kid and I found one of these on the getaway and loved it in game, and since then, I've loved them more in real life 😅
Brooo I was just playing the getaway a few weeks ago.
@@Theesvpremekai I swear it's one of the most underrated games 😅 I'll have to dig through my old PS2 games and pull it out now hahaha. Did you ever play Black Monday?
Whew blast from the past there haha, loved those games, wish theyd make another
@@Michka1001 nope. Never, but I read reviews and heard they didn’t improve much and some of the gameplay was still funky. I did, however, hold out hope for The Getaway 3. Still pissed they never made it even tho they did an engine demo years ago smh
the getaway is such a classic. Shouldve had another release on ps3 ._.
HOLY SHIT HES FINALLY REVIEWING MY CAR!!! IVE BEEN WATCHING SINCE THE BEGINNING QHEN I WAS IN HIGHSCHOOL WOOOOOOOOOO
Are you Matt Farrah?
I bought an SW20 with my first paychecks encouraged by his reviews. Just got done doing a water pump replacement on it 💨💨💨
@@alastairward2774 I won't tell you no
Hell yes! Love the LS 430
I just bought a 2002 LS 430 it's the best car I've ever owned by far. The interior is so nice I love the leather and wood and the acceleration is smooth. I just got the timing belt changed not even 10 minutes ago. Its the first V8 I've ever owned and the first RWD car I've owned. In fact I actually work at the very same Ray Catena dealership that the car in this video was bought from 20 years ago.
I want a radio station with nothing but that DJ.
Sounds like something fit for GTA.
dude, im a touring comedian and I drive a 2006 ls430 (the reason I checked out this video). I just wanted to tell you that I love what you're doing. you had me informed and cracking up. kudos, sir. tight work.
My grandma had one of these, same color and everything. I thought it was boxy and ugly. Then I tried driving it and my perception of Lexus changed forever. I had no idea that anyone could make a car THIS good.
You've done it guys. Your relentless praise for Toyota/Lexus products had turned me onto a path that has ended in me selling my E39 540i touring and getting into an L10 GS 450h President. Not looking back.
I actually reviewed one of these on my channel recently, however the one I reviewed was the absolute top spec, and had 195,000 miles on it, not that you'd know that, because with the exception of the drivers window sometimes sticking, literally everything worked perfectly. Every interior panel fit just right, nothing creaked, nothing was loose, hell none of the buttons had even lost any of the colour. If you told me it was 40,000 miles, I'd have believed you. Very understated design, incredibly comfortable and superbly quiet. We had the sunroof open for most of the day and it was that quiet WE FORGOT IT WAS OPEN. I've driven cars with everything closed that make more wind noise than the LS430 does. Honestly an absolutely superb example of amazing engineering and I have to hand it to Lexus for what a superb car they made there. And you're dead right on that engine, electric smooth
It's incredibly aerodynamically efficient, which also helps with the wind noise.
my 2000 ls400 platinum is the only car of the 30 I've owned that I regret selling. what a gem. took me on a 2 week road trip with zero issues
My father has one of these (the facelifted version). Apparently the windshield is heated by the engine cooling system, it has a tube stuck to it, which makes it quite expensive to replace.
Only if you have the cold weather package, you can use a normal one if you don't want to pay the extra $1000
My LS400 has this as well, I deleted it because the heater control valve I need isn’t available so I took a newer one and just circumvented the system. It’s really, really not a thing that is needed unless it’s -30 celsius out.
@@SoLDMG added complexity is just that, complexity. I do support heated grids where wipers sit
With modern cars having such long wipers arms that are thin and high torque motors, I really want more to do it, because when frozen down and the motor says bitch we wiping you easily can set the wipers to wear out and never seemingly wipe nicely by doing that. s
its like heated wiper fluid, sure you CAN but does that mean its nice and day? it can be but that added coplexiy who want
It's time for a timing belt service if it hasn't been done yet. Very important!
Yup and tensioner and water pump while he's at it - also probably needs cam cover gaskets, spark plug seals and cam seals - not a cheap service if you can't do the work yourself as though the parts are cheap and easy to get, it's a fair amount of labor. Not that difficult for a reasonably confident DIY mechanic home mechanic though.
@@Beer_Dad1975 Yeah, you bring it to the dealer and they will total the car! I did a starter replacement myself and even a lower oil pan leak which required the engine to be lifted a bit with an engine hoist.
@@SI0AX Yes, did a starter replacement once on a 1UZ - not fun having to remove the whole inlet manifold! 🙂
@@Beer_Dad1975 I used an engine hoist to remove the intake manifold. Didn't want to go through so much trouble, lol. That thing is heavy!
Came here to post the identical comment. The service is supposed to be done @100K... its an interference engine so if that belt lets go its buh-bye lovely LS :(
I had a 04 LS430 for six years. Absolute peak of JDM manufacturing. Smooth reliable sturdy and classy even at 18 years old. Single owner elderly Manhattan doctor used it to drive to Fl in summer. I got it with 50k miles and took it over 250k miles. Was planning on taking it to 500k Miles but we hit a deer and totaled it. I bought a new Tesla model 3 LR as replacement. The Tesla is cool and fast but I miss the LS430 every day. I should have bought the wreck back and had it fixed up. It was fixable. Oh well I’ll pick up a newer LS460 LWB for long trips and general loafing around when the market cools off a bit.
Mr Regular reviewing Toyota products is the greatest thing on RUclips factual
7.3L Master Race
My old man had one of these, 2003 model. Thanks for the memories. He’s been gone 4 years but I fondly remember his silver LS.
I had a 2001 LS 430 "ultra luxury" as my first car a purchased in 2019. Was T-boned half a year in, still beats any new car I've owned since.
I just put 1300 km in one day in mine. Same colour as this one, but with better looking chrome badges. It was a great ride. Came out of the car at the end feeling fine.
I love driving mine every single day. The novelty never wears off.
I bought my 2003 LS 430 in 2016 when my 2002 Isuzu Axiom's engine exploded, almost literally. Have had it ever since. From time to time i do think about selling it and getting something else, but i never do. I haven't owned many cars in my time, but have driven enough different and more modern ones to realize that the old LS's have the absolute comfort of a $60K vehicle with the reliability and ease of repair of a $23K vehicle.
Yeah, i will admit. The clock is ticking. Parts are going to start to dry up in the next 10 to 15 years as 3rd party makers stop making new bushing or shock absorbers for these. Hell, im willing to bet a new Accord rides better than my LS 430. But for the time being. The LS 430 is a win.
I'll never get rid of mine and i pray that im doing a good job of keeping it in good health. It's sitting at 110K miles at the moment, and would love to see it reach 300K miles.
Thanks for doing a review on this, i was totally expecting it to be shit on since i know a lot of drivers think an older LS is "boring".
i wouldnt worry too much about parts going away - i have a 99 toyota rav4 and i can get anything for the suspension easily. assuming you don't have air suspension you should be ok
@@nickaa827 I hope so! But that's the nice thing with a RAV4 of any year. More RAV4's were sold in 2012 than LS430's did in 6 years. So there's more reason to make parts of those for longer.
I couldn't find aftermarket LS430 rear upper control arms(OEM is $900 each, screw that) but an aftermarket company made spherical ball joint ones for cheaper that are basically indestructible. I had to replace all suspension components but I could get autozone lifetime on most parts and it was easier to rebuild the entire suspension in the LS430 than it is in a 2nd gen Mazda 6(2003-2008 I think). It's actually one of the easiest cars I've worked on. The engine bay has a lot of room to put large tools on for the tensioner and replacing timing belts.
I had bought a 2004 LS 430 (facelift design) Mid Luxury spec. So it came with push start, navigation, soft close doors and much more. Paid $4500.00 back in 2020, regret selling that car considering the market of where it is now.
I could cry damn
Bought my LS430 ultra in 2001. Sold it to a friend in 2014. Just bought it back in September. It's just like an old friend. 22 years old and not even a door ding. Everything works. 138K on the clock. Life if good.
Finally! More Lexus content please! As an 07' ES350 owner I'm yet to sample the grand daddy LS430 I hear nothing but great things about!
Just don’t get the LS460, I’ve heard that they had engine problems.
We just drove our 2004 LS430 from Boston to Cleveland and averaged 29.9 mpg. Comfortable drive all the way!
Got my 2004 LS430 “Modern Luxury” edition right around when this video was released. I was lucky to buy one from a friend who is, perhaps, even pickier than I am about maintenance (and I was a service advisor, so super paranoid). Mine is the desirable silver with black interior with 18” five-spoke wheels. I’m absolutely in love. I’ve had many cars that were newer and lower-mileage, but only my old 1998 E320 compared to this LS430 for overall enjoyment and long-term quality.
You can actually see the prices of these rise between yesterday and this morning..... Thanks RCR.
Kinda sad actually. People see a video of a car and then they run out and try to get it.
People are dumb, that's why we had that toilet paper crisis 2 years ago.
Pain
Good thing I just bought a 2006 UL, one owner, clean Carfax.
What’s A UL?
Yeah everyday I have to admit I’ll probably never be able to grab one after all
One of the most popular used cars in the gulf states especially UAE. Used examples of LS430s costs nearly nothing yet it's far more reliable than it's European & American (sans for the Town Car) of it's day. High mileage examples are common
I definitely had the dual cassette Mellon Collie album - the one here had a nice patina, true to the times
Fantastic album
My nephew has been driving one of these for years. He was hit by a distracted driver and it got totalled. He walked away just fine. What did he do with the insurance settlement? Went out and bought another one. 😁
My mom had one of these! I took my driving test in it during a time where cars didn’t commonly have back-up cameras so it made things pretty easy 😂. Now I’m 27 looking for one of these things to daily. I can’t wait to see my mom’s face when I get one.
Even when I'm rolling in my V12 E38 I can't help but give these Lexus sedans a second glance. Great cars and great looking at that.
I recently test drove one with an exhaust, pretty underrated engine.
All the UZs are under-rated. Best V-8 besides the LS ever made.
@@majist0 having owned both, I'd argue the UR is better than the UZ, being the successor to the UZ, just as smooth, significantly more power and no more need for timing belt servicing - and even better fuel economy. I guess it's still too "new" to have developed the legendary status of the UZ though.
It was all top end. Odd for a luxo barge. The LS430 also had a very low drag coefficient, so the car would surprise a lot of people between 70-90+mph. Down low it was pokey. The LS460 UR motor gave the LS some low speed grunt finally. Now I drive a Tesla 3LR with acceleration boost and it’s complete opposite. It terrorizes stoplights but falls off pretty fast over 70mph
The LS430 is one of the greatest luxury sedans, they look really sharp with the oem 5-spoke wheels, too. This one is kind of retirement-home spec.
Retirement spec keeps away all the clowns who molest these cars with terrible mods.
@@CallistoAshus durrerrrrrrr lemme stance it like a stepped-on hot wheel so I can't take speed bumps and put fugly wheels on urrrh hurrr
I bought OEM 18 inch wheels for my LS. I bought them one @ a time from all over the US. I felt like I was collecting the infinity stones for Thanos’ glove. God damn it was worth it though, I put new continental sport tires on and it’s like an entirely new car now!! Not to mention it looks about 1,000,000 times better than it did with those heinous 16 in factory wheels.
@@christophermartin972 It was worth the hunt in my estimation. Those 5 spokes really do compliment the LS430 much better. I thought about grabbing a set for my 98 LS400 at one point, but decided to leave it stock since it was so nice. Glad you love your car man, wish I still had my LS.
I had a job as a lot tech at a Lexus dealership at, in all places, Cincinnati. Pretty sure RCR is my spirit RUclipsr lol.
One of the few pleasures of working where I did (or well, working for WHO I did) was when an ls430 would come in to us for delivery. Sit in the auto touchless bay with it for a few minutes, the 5 minute drive to the gas station to fill up... Loved sitting in that car. To this day the most comfortable cars I've ever sat in.
I wanted one of these for the reliability and comfort, but then I got an Audi A5 because my ego couldn’t handle what an old person car it looks like. Paying for it
This is the car equivalent of a Pentium 4
Naa, Pentium4s were pretty bad CPUs. Pentium4 is like a 1970s V8. Over 5 liters of displacement for under 180 horsepower.
They had high clock speeds of 3200mhz but were outperformed by AMDs 2200 MHz offerings.
I would compare the car to an early Athlon64 chip.
@@CoolTI-Daniel Pentium 3 Coppermine.
hahaha
Nah.. It's the equivalent of a Playstation1 controller. They nailed it so well back then, that even todays cars haven't improved on it much.
Gold cpu gold cpu gold cpu gold cpu
These cars are my favorite mid-2000s cruiser. I drove a 2005 and fell in love. I need to pick one up before the prices get silly.
The prices are already silly, silly. :)
Too late
Yeah I'll probably end up just getting a JDM Celsior when the 2004s are 25yrs old
Mr. Regular, that DJ rant was one of the best things you have done in years! Going to see my divorce attorney on Monday! Haha! It reminded me of the old rants from the guy that drove his wife's car ;)
One of the single greatest vehicles of all-time
Miss the hell out of my ls430, was passed down to me by a close family member. Some dude totaled it running a red, and I only owned it for a month - but that was long enough to know I'll never own a car like her again. Glad you're doing it justice with this video.
This was perfect. I hope you eventually do the next generation of this car.
I've owned an 06 for about three years. It's one of the best cars I've ever owned. My first car was a used Mini that I bought sometime in the late 70s so I have a bit of selection to choose from. I'm fonder of a 97 SL600 I owned a few years ago however I can actually affort to operate the LS. I'm guessing it will last a long time. A tank of gas lasts at least two months of grocery store trips. The trunk is very nice and no one ever complains about the back seat.
Even the 2002 6 cylinder ES300 with it's hydraulic shocks was super smooth and comfortable. I can only imagine what the LS430 feels like.
The radio segment is absolute peak, unsurpassable RegularCars.
Finally Roman is singing again. I miss his intros and outtakes
I have an 04 and the facelift made it such a better car but still reliable: they fixed the styling, cooled seats,better 6spd trans, HID adaptive headlights, gps, Bluetooth, led tails, 18 inch rims
@RegularCars - for the love of all things holy, fly between Philly and Cincinnati. I've been doing that drive on a semi-regular basis (Xavier = Cincinnati) for decades now and between Ohio's intense love of orange barrels and the never ending construction between New Stanton, PA (visit the Sheetz!) to and through Wheeling (take I-470 if you value your sanity), the third world hellscape that is parts of PHL is worth it, especially if your trip is short and don't want to spend it all in the car.
Dammit! I have been keeping my eye on these for years. Now you’re about to make the value sky rocket even more 😩
My '03 is my baby. Nobody can tell me shit. It's still brand new in my eyes. Everyone sees an old Lexus while I see perfection. Has some decent giddy up too for its age and what it is. I daily my power stroke and weekend drive my LS430. It talks to me every time I turn the key😊❤️🔥
These have been my familly cars for over 5 years. The 1 first one was rusted, but the second one came from florida and is almost pristine. Both were the most reliable & confortable I ever owned, and probably drived.
Oh!, and the truck has more cargo apace then my wife Outback with seat up, because with 2 childrens you can't lower back seat..
i just seen one for $2400 here in Oklahoma.. I probably should have bought it just for fun. It sold fairly quickly.
@@calholli It's a good think that it's a mostly unknowed car otherwise it would sell for way more.
@@TheGuillohm I paid $7,000 for a 130,000 miles 2004 LS430! That price is basically free! I had to spend a few grand on top for painting bumper, also the alternator, starter, and battery had to be replace. The starter is under the intake manifold and needs it to come off. I took advantage and changed gaskets and spark plugs as well.
I just bought an LS430 this winter after owning a 95 LS400 for 8 years. I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion but I think the LS400 is the better car
Any particular reasons? I'm an LS400 driver but I have never even ridden in a 430.
@@transamericanlife The biggest reason for me is comfort. The LS400's ride was just sooo smooth and creamy and the LS430 rides like a BMW. Also the 400 had the comfiest seats i've ever sat in. Then there's esthetics. The 2nd gen LS400 is a beautiful car and I can't say the same about the 430
The 2nd Gen LS400 is literally the most perfect car ever made. No car has beaten it to this day.
That radio spot was amazing! 😂😂😂
Yep. Cocaine's a hell of a drug.
I got one of these on a deal after I shithoused my Avalon. I love it. Absolutely love it. It is the perfect car for me. It’s also a phenomenally easy car to work on despite the miles of engine cover. So far I’ve done the ball joints, alternator, ac refresh, and (obviously) an oil change. It gets better mileage than my Avalon, despite the V-8 and consumption of premium. It rides like it has air ride despite not being the Ultra Luxury package. I’m 6’6”, and this car fits me like a glove. I’m what my dad calls “an old soul” and I fell in love with this car the moment I saw it. I’ve got a taste for grandpa cars. Big sedans, leather, wood, and a v-8. Got it out the door for $7100 with 163000 miles on it. I hope I have it forever.
As a w140 owner nothing makes me more jealous than seeing one of these on the road
The ads and commercials that you guys do are AMAZING! I would LOVE more of them
Thank you so much for this review. I helped my grandpa pick one of these over another Town Car back in 2003, and in hindsight, it was a big part of why I became a car guy. The hvac buttons make a ton more sense on the model with the navigation screen. Too bad this wasn't the higher trim level my gramps had with that dvd based nav, xenon auto leveling headlamps and the Mark Levinson stereo. But same Jewish Racing Gold with gold badges!
I love mine. The 2004 facelift with the sport package is actually really good looking imo
I will never forget playing Rigs of rods, because this is the first car I played on.
I haven't heard anyone talk about RoR in forever!
I bought one of these in 2021, got it for 5k 220k Miles, ultimate luxury package, every single interior option and air suspension. I daily the car every single day and have put 20k on it in less than a year. UCF30 best chassis. I have only had to do brakes and valve cover gaskets. I’m a mechanic and it’s extremely easy to work on these.
That exterior design language is quintessentially 2002
i honestly thought the car launched in 2010
I love it. When Jay-z pulled off in a Lexus in his "dead presidents" video back in the 90's.. I knew they were on the map for good.
I upgraded to an 03' LS430 from my 91' LS400. I wasn't expecting myself to get another LS after the 400, but the timing of it all jush sort of happened.
But I am so happy with the car, especially aftwr driving the ls400. I can really see the incremental upgrades they have done while keeping the spirit of the LS lineup the same.
200k+ miles and going strong
My absolute favorite affordable car I've never owned
Bought my '04 in cypress pearl about 4 years ago at 100k miles for $8k. Almost at 180k miles now, absolutely ZERO mechanical issue. Hands down the best financial decision of my life.
Currently watching this while sitting in my 2002 LS430, what are the odds lmao.
Watching while sitting in my 95 LS400, and pondering if I should have gone with the 430
No better used car than a Lexus. People are proud to own one and take good care of them.
I was beginning to worry this channel was losing material, like a 5th season of a great show. This review was a welcome reminder that I was very wrong.
I’ve had my 03’ ls430 for about a year and half now, things amazing, love it so much, also the people I bought it from drove it into a ditch and the mufflers came off… long story short, didn’t hurt the car AT ALL and made it sound amazingly loud, love it
Lexus LS430: The better 7-series
Bought a 2001 ls430 with 160k back in march, this car is fantastic i love the v8 and the options for this car are incredible. With that being said, this is an old car I would not recommend the LS line to anyone looking for their first car or who is on a budget. I already replaced the torque converter and replaced a couple belt accessories. You will have to do work on this car and finding factory parts can be difficult. It’s not that these parts were faulty by any means they are just old and this is to be expected of from cars this age. But if you are willing to go the extra mile to take care and maintain this car it will do you right.
You guys just jacked up the price of these by 25 percent.
Grandfather had one that made it over 400,000 miles. When he passed it was still running with a little oil seepage. His daughters sold it for $5,000.
"Is this Matt Farah's Million Mile Lexus?"
Still only a million miles? Did he stop driving it a few years back?
Matt Happel will not tune Matt Farah’s Million Mile Lexus.
😂😂
Hah, he got it from Scotty!
@@alastairward2774 He sold it to Tavarish I think. It was on car trek last year for a cheap luxury car challenge.
My 16yo son drives a 2002 ultra luxury version. It's arguably a better mile crusher than my '13 LS460 F sport. Really great car.
As a radio guy: goddamn, I think I worked with that guy.
I sat in one at an auto show back in the mid-00s. Absolute cream puff, in the best sense of the words -- everything felt spot-on. I'm sure it's just as beautiful to drive as it was to sit in it.
I've owned 2 430's and I loved them so much, I now have a 460 😁
Regular Car Reviews: The only show where the cut away gag overshadows an already great episode.
The radio bit sounds like something out of GTA 😂😂😂😂
A friend has one of these, and yes he winters in Ft. Lauderdale. It is an amazing car. So relaxing.
these cars are excellent highway and around town machines
I know it’s almost a GTA meme to suggest certain RUclipsrs for radio stations in 6. But goddamn, RCR needs either a few segments or total control over a channel’s commercials
The V8 that started it all.