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The problem I faced when sitting down to write this review of the new model Lexus LS430, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota, was to find ANYTHING bad, or even slightly negative, to say about it.
I have a friend in the limousine business, which explains how I found myself invited along ... Read review
Advantages: Class. Just sheer class. Disadvantages: Nothing
...review of the new model Lexus LS430, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota, was to find ANYTHING bad, or even slightly negative, to say about it.
I have a friend in the limousine business, which explains how I found myself invited along for the morning as he put one of these beauties through its paces on an extended test drive.
To be driven in a car of this refinement and luxury is a rare experience, to be savoured and relived ... ...upgraded version of the “old” Lexus LS400.
The first thing that strikes you about the Lexus is the noise. Or rather, the absolute lack of it! Passengers and driver quite literally glide around in cocooned luxury.
It has been given a major reworking, with a fresh and lively 4,293cc V8 engine with 32 valves, double twin camshafts, and 281bhp at only 5,600rpm.
I should also mention that it is kitted out with Toyota’s wonderful ... more
When I write a car review, I generally try to give as balanced an opinion as possible in regard to a cars’ relative merits or failings. The problem I faced when sitting down to write this review of the new model Lexus LS430, from Japanese manufacturers Toyota, was to find ANYTHING bad, or even slightly negative, to say about it.
I have a friend in the limousine business, which explains how I found myself invited along for the morning as he put one of these beauties through its paces on an extended test drive. To be driven in a car of this refinement and luxury is a rare experience, to be savoured and relived for months afterwards.
This car is an upgraded version of the “old” Lexus LS400. The first thing that strikes you about the Lexus is the noise. Or rather, the absolute lack of it! Passengers and driver quite literally glide around in cocooned luxury. It has been given a major reworking, with a fresh and lively 4,293cc V8 engine with 32 valves, double twin camshafts, and 281bhp at only 5,600rpm. I should also mention that it is kitted out with Toyota’s wonderful VVTi or variable valve timing, a system which had humble beginnings in the “baby” Toyota, the highly popular Yaris, and is now fitted as standard to all the Toyota and Lexus line-up. VVTi does for the Lexus what it does for all Toyotas, ensuring an even spread of pulling power right through the rev range. Even though the engine is larger than its 4.0 litre predecessor, it is also considerably lighter and more fuel-efficient. Lighter equates to faster, with a quoted 0 to 100kmh or 62mph of a mere 6.7 seconds, and fuel economy is given as 23mpg, a very acceptable return from such a large engine.
But what the Lexus LS430 is all about is sheer luxury, and letting you know it. That’s why there are air-conditioned front seats: the leather is “perforated” so the air can flow through it. The climate control system is automatic, and even takes account of the changing position of the sun, not to mention where passengers are sitting in the car. New items included on the standard specification in comparison to the LS400 include a wood and leather steering wheel, the aforementioned air-con seats, a CD autoplayer positioned on the centre of the dash, electric sunshades for the rear window, rain-sensing wipers, and 17-inch wheels. About the only negative comment I can come up with about this magnificent car is to say that it could easily cause some people to part company with their driving license. At 80mph on a motorway it seemed to be moving at a slow crawl!!
For just under £5,000 (Irish Punts) or so extra, you can go completely overboard and order the “President Package”. This is definitely for those with a driver sat up front. It offers an electrically adjustable rear seat and head rest with memory control, a cool box, rear independent climate control, two extra sound speakers, and, believe it or believe it not, a rear seat “massage” function. Other extra options include an air suspension system, a satellite navigation set-up, and an incredible “Mark Levinson” stereo system.
Off course, you are expected to pay dearly for all this luxury, and the Lexus is by no stretch of the imagination cheap at a book price of £78,215. (Irish Punts) However, this compares very favourably with a Rolls Royce, Bentley or top-of-the-range BMW, all of which this car compares well against.
An old song of Simon and Gurfunkel springs to mind, which sums up this car very well. “The Sound of Silence”.
Advantages: Exellent quality Disadvantages: there are none
...advanced satellite navigation system called Lexus Satellite Navigator is standard equipment. Drawing on its vast experience gained in the Japanese home market over the past few years, L.S.N. provides spoken and screen-displayed directions. You simply key in your destination on the touch-screen, mounted in the dashboard console and easy-to-follow graphics, complemented by spoken prompts will soon have you wondering how you ever coped, juggling a road ... ...carefully disguised.
In summary, the Lexus engineers deserve considerable credit for making a great car that is arguably the best-ever Japanese vehicle. That it successfully challenges the best from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Jaguar means mission accomplished for the cream of Toyota engineering. As one of the company's executives remarked, "Only a few years ago, people wondered if Toyota could build a luxury car. Today, that seems an absurd question." ...
mad_times 12.12.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Lexus LS 400
Advantages: Ride, reliability, looks Disadvantages: Loves petrol!, iffy service from dealers
Have owned an S reg (currently 62000 miles) for over 1 year. She has been reliable, a lovely car to drive, gets many looks (it has the Dynamic Handling Pack with HUGE wheels).
Costs - Expensive, to fuel up, to get serviced. £600 for an annual warranty (not ofered after year 6). Insurance £550 with full no claims in Epsom, Surrey.
Reliability - Could not ask for a better car, some problems fixed under warranty (not that there were that many).
Service ... ...Worst dealer was in Brighton (have since been taken over - 2004). Have used dealer in North London (where I bought the car) - very helpful, was looked after)
Depreciation - Frightening! Went too a Mercedes dealer who offered £9500. The dealers glass's guide said £11,500). Other dealers offered the same low figure! Have to say though each time I went too look at other cars I started feeling "I don't want to get rid". So now I'm keeping the car :) ...
sullivaf 31.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Lexus LS 400
...is the flagship car for Lexus and has all the latest gadgetry. These are too numerous to mention so I'll only mention those nice suprises such as the glass which protects against UVA/B, the auto-dip mirrors and getting out after 600 miles and not having to stretch.
In spite of the latest technology, the car is utterly reliable. The effort has clearly been put into the design of the car in many ways which you won't even know or appreciate.
It has ... ...neutral.
The only bad thing I can think of is that it's too big. A coupé like the old BMW 6 series or Merc SEC would be nice rather than the sports coupé that Lexus have made.
I plan to keep it for a good many years. ...
Gooseberry 01.08.2004 (03.08.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Lexus LS 400
Advantages: Quiet engine, smooth ride,ease of use Disadvantages: nothing
What can I say.........this car is the smoothest, most comfortable ingenious motor I have ever driven. It may not have the best looks or fuel consumption, but there is nothing more a consumer could ask for in this car. It has a 4 litre V8 engine with 32 valves, double twin camshafts, and 281bhp at only 5,600rpm.
ge.
It does sppeds of 0-60 in a mere 6.7 seconds, and fuel economy is approximately 23-27mpg. It is quiet, smooth, has satellite navigation, ... ...driver and passenger. The seats are operated electrically, no manual buttons whatsoever. The leather finish is smart and well finished. The engine is so quiet , you wouldnt even know it had been started!
Large electric sunroof, and also has proper air conditioning.
5 disc cd player as well as radio, tape etc
I do not know of any other car that could possibly beat this model. ...
Cojoba 16.01.2003 (18.01.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Lexus LS 400
Road Handling
Comfort
Fuel consumption
Looks
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The Japanese, apparently, are fantastic at developing existing ideas into something new but seldom create something original. Invent a calculator, the Japanese will make it smaller. Make a television, they come back with a 42 inch plasma screen that you hang on the wall. All of this is brilliant for cold, functional devices, but how well does it work when they put their minds to something with a bit of soul, a little passion? like a sports saloon.
Lexus is the luxury division of Toyota, formed several years ago when Toyota realised that nobody was going to buy one of their cars instead of a BMW 7 series or Mercedes S Class, no matter how good it was. They needed to create a premium brand car, which normally takes decades, with an immediate presence. This led to the LexusLS400, which was superb but did not have the brand impact ...
