Thread: Got myself a Lexus...

I've had it for around 4 months or so now, and I still have the 370Z, but am selling it. For the past year and a half my left knee has been giving me issues from my youth of doing stupid stunts on bicycles. Driving the Z and stomping the clutch is no issue, it's getting in and especially getting out that kills me.

A very nice lady friend of mine that I've known for nearly 20 years bought this Lexus off of her aunt (who bought it new and has ALL of the maintenance records and garage kept the entire time) a year ago for her mother, but unfortunately, her mother took ill shortly after and passed, and never drove the car. My friend didn't need the car and I told her I was sort of looking, so she shot out a random price on the Lexus, and I instantly agreed.

So, onto the Lexus... It's a 2002 Lexus LS430, currently with 199,990 miles on the clock as of last night when I got home from work. Nice thing is, these are all highway miles, and like I said, the car has been religiously maintained over the years at the dealership. Everything works perfectly and the interior and exterior is in excellent shape. The only thing that shows any kind of wear is the leather on the arm rest, but even that isn't bad.

A few things I have done so far since ownership, the first and most important includes ceramic tint all the way around on the car, including the entire windshield (20% on all doors and rear, 70% down the windshield, blocks 99% UV and IR). In the middle of the day Florida heat, the car is never any hotter inside that the ambient temp outside. This ceramic tint is amazing.

Upgraded the stock 4100K HID low beams to 6000K, wet sanded and polished the headlights, 6000K LED licence plate lights, 2700K LED "true amber" fog light bulbs (have but not installed yet), K&N replacement air filter as well as K&N cabin filter, did a "muffler delete" on the exhaust to give it a quiet and subtle rumble that never gets loud (kind of reminds me of a stock older AMG or M-Series), and upgraded the original taillights with amber turn signals to the Japanese Toyota Celsior taillights with clear turn signals. They give it a more updated look.

There's lots more that I plan on doing such as classy, period correct staggered wheels no larger than 18", stock replacement upgraded "Sport" suspension, beefed up sway bars, updated stock front and rear bumper covers, full paint correction and ceramic coating, and a full stereo overhaul with custom 10" or 12" infinite baffle subwoofer and DSP (stock is an 8" IB sub).

Anyway, on to a few pics...

First day home...


Right after window tint...


Exhaust done...


Taillight swap...




Just for fun, with my brother's 2018 Alfa Giulia...




Mileage as of last night...

Congratulations!

It’s in beautiful shape.

Charles.......You are fortunate to have been able to purchase such a clean 2002 Lexus LS430. Is it the V6 or V8 version? They are quite nice vehicles, and Lexus reliability, particularly with documented dealer maintenance, should mean you will have many more miles of enjoyable driving.

And on the way home just a few minutes ago...

Time to join https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-models-10/




You got one helluva deal. That’s so awesome!

Wow, beautiful car. I would love to get a low mileage 1995 LS400 if I only have an extra garage space to keep it. But LS430 is also super cool.

I love my wife’s 2012 LS460. It’s like driving around in your favorite recliner. You can drive all day and not feel tired. Gobs of power too. Her car has only 52k so at the rate of 8K per year she is good for 62 years before she needs another car

We did that 880 mile round trip a few weeks back to pick up my Heresy III's up in the middle of Georgia. Three of us were in the car (me driving the entire time) for pretty much 15 hours straight, none stop. It's the most comfortable car we've ever been in... Well, except maybe my father's 1977 Lincoln Town Car that he had back in the late 80's, early 90's.

With that massive 460ci (7.5L) V8 which only made a whopping 208 hp and 356 ft lbs of torque in a car that literally weighed 2.5 tons! My how technology as come along, with the Lexus and it's "tiny" 262ci (4.3L) V8, and it makes a healthy 290 hp and 320 ft lbs of torque, in a car that weighs in at just under 2 tons.

And yes, these LS430's do have gobs of power. When you think about it, they're rated 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds. That's the same exact time as the 1993 Mustang LX 5.0, and those were considered quick cars back in the day. Again, my father had a 1989 LX 5.0.