An Ode to the lexus ls430
Author: big country
Thirty years ago, Japanese automakers were beginning a fifteen-year run that would be remembered as one of the high points of the automobile industry. The Lexus LS400 had been introduced five years earlier and sent Mercedes into a full-on panic (Mercedes itself had a great fifteen-year run that will be chronicled at a later date in the Tribune). With simple, handsome designs and excellent engineering and reliability, Honda and Toyota were hitting their stride as the American manufacturers were wandering around in the desert of underpowered engines, plastic interiors and body cladding.
While there were many truly great cars to come out of this period - Acura NSX & Legend, some of the best generations of Honda Accord & Civic, iconic generations of Toyota 4Runner & Land Cruiser, the pièce de résistance of this era was the Lexus LS430.
Debuting for the 2001 model year, the LS430 was a massive step forward for the LS that was already a star in the luxury sedan market. This truly was perfect convergence of two automotive trends that were headed in opposite directions. The first line, which is the one that is on an upward trajectory, is engineering. If you were to hop into a car from the 90’s, it will feel like an old car. However, just a few years later, the LS430 was produced and you can sit in it and not feel like it’s from an era before cell phones. The second and downward sloping line is design. Japanese design used to be simple, handsome and functional with very little false pretense of sport. Today, nearly every manufacturer has adopted the “more aggressive is more better” philosophy that has resulted in every car looking the same with key sacrifices in interior space and alternative design ideas.
Why the LS430 is the ultimate car
Design: simple, classic three-box styling that stands out against modern cars designed to trick adolescents into the idea that their skinny tires and MPG-seeking transmissions would be anything but a bore on the racetrack.
Sense of Purpose: Unlike modern luxury sedans that are conflicted and confused in their mission statement, this machine was designed to achieve two things: comfort and class. Where modern cars feature firm suspensions for “sport,” the LS is tuned for comfort. Where modern cars feature fake air intakes, meaningless spoilers and eye-searing creases, the LS looks like a car that should be in the background of a luxury yacht catalog.
Interior Space: As a direct result of that three-box styling, the interior is incredibly spacious. Headroom abounds and, although this is not a particularly long vehicle, rear legroom is plentiful.
Build Quality: Japanese automakers had been producing well-built cars for a couple decades before the LS430 was introduced, however, this was the first time you could get a car that truly rivaled the Mercedes S-Class in interior finishes. With the optional Ultra Luxury package, the interior is still a feat of luxury trimming. Semi-aniline leather covers nearly every visible surface, with carpet or high-quality vinyl covering the rest. The seats, lacking the pretense that this will be driven on the Nürburgring, are designed for ultimate comfort and the genuine wood has depth that the plastic faux wood in a lessor vehicle could never match.
Equipment: 32-valve DOHC, 4.3L V8, 5-speed transmission (and later 6-speed), aluminum hood, available four-corner air suspension, rear-wheel drive (allowing for an extremely tight turning circle), and a trunk that has been verified to fit a 55-inch television are just some of the highlights.
Cost to Acquire & Own: In some respects, one could say the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes S-Class check many of the boxes outline above. However, the most important feature of the LS is that you can actually still drive it in confidence. While a 20-year old BMW or Mercedes would certainly be cheap to purchase, the additional car you would have to buy while the BMW or Mercedes was in the shop is not. The beauty of the LS is that it’s a true luxury car with Toyota Camry reliability and since most people want a car with aggressive styling or some other gimmick, it is incredibly cheap to purchase. Oh by the way, even with a V8, the LS430 gets 23 mpg on the highway at 80 mph.
A farewell to Arms
As the automotive industry continues to globalize, differences between manufactures is becoming less significant and as every crossover moves to a crossover-focused lineup, the chances of getting another LS430 seems slim. However, we can celebrate that we got one in the first place, cherish them and hope that a great automaker will return to the former glory of the three-box sedan.
