Hunt.trophy

Having read a lot on this forum about tyres for the LS430 I am almost nervous to be venturing into this territory... However I have been putting off buying tyres for 6 months now, and I must get them soon. I have zero traction left... Is it worth going to the trouble and expense of getting the Japan Dunlop Sport 270's? Dunlop have a newer pattern out - the 2020 - that I haven't heard anything about... My local 'Fast-Fit' guy thinks I'm crazy, but will special order the Japan Dunlops for me. Works out at €250 a tyre including an alloy reconditioning. Going to get all 5 done. All advice and comments welcome and needed...

Okay, I don't want t sound like a mad man, but I had the very same problem in my 1998 LS400, it drove me insane. My father had the bright idea to take out the spare wheel and get down to the metal. With a careful look underneath the car to ensure no risk of further damage... He drilled a few well placed holes into the spare wheel well. The idea was to let any water easily drain out and some fresh air in to the boot to clear out the stink. I was so bleedin :tsktsk: annoyed at him when I found out what he did, but it did in-fact work. It took about two weeks for the smell to go, but the damp was solved in a matter of days. Now I know this sounds nuts, it did to me. But the old man had some logic... It worked and stayed dry and smell free for the next 10 months of driving. Don't forget I live in Ireland where there is rain EVERY day and is so damp moss grows on everything, the roads are crap and there are splashing puddles everywhere... Try it if you can make the leap of faith, but I am not responsible... By the way, I don't have this problem with the LS430 and there is NO way I'd let my old man near it with a drill... :)

Not in Ireland... Still the same speed, but the cost goes higher quicker...

It's also good for when you are on a rougher road and want to be able to go a little faster than usual... It doesn't drop till you hit 60mph. By the way, when the car is high up, it looks better. So when I am sitting in traffic, I put it up high and feel like a gangster...

This used to happen to me to my great annoyance. I then realised if you twist the pump head to the left, i.e. so your back of your hand is near the boot and the palm of your hand and nozzel are pointed towards the engine then the fuel can go in at full speed and cuts off at the end. Works everytime and at every pump. I had in-fact forgot about the problem since to solution is just habit now...

Her name is Susie and my wife is sure I'm having an affair with her...

It's tough old world isn't it?

Sell sell sell, in three years you'd get something fresher for same money.

Great response... Now let me comment on your comments... 1. I have never noticed a lag in acceleration in any Lexus I have driven. Perhaps this is due to having nothing to compare it to. 2. The LS460 I have has the hard disk to grab audio as standard. - I live in Ireland 3. Totally agree 4. I prefer that it brakes, as the coasting to a lower speed is an annoyance in the LS430 for me. It is good when coming into a special speed zone, you are at the right speed quickly, in case there is a speed trap. 5. & 6. AGREE & AGREE IN reality though, we are very spoiled if we are even discussing this. In effect, we can travel at 155mph in the comfort of our sitting room - safely.

Driving faster may affect your MPG more than the PWR ETC button... ENJOY.

That's my plan... Maybe inheritance will lead to a 460, but cannot see it happening otherwise...!

No cassette deck in the LS460 (not missed either)

I beg to disagree. It is my opinion that the LS430 is PERFECT. I am sure the LS430 drivers out there would not be able to come up with one item or function missing from the top spec LS430. I am sure that in the future, people will say 'Ah, the LS430 was when Lexus knew how to make a real car'... There are several things that really annoy me about the LS460 (I drive it a lot) 1. When the wind-shield wipers are in the Auto position, you have to switch them to off then up to mist - just to get a quick wipe. In the 430 you simply pull the lever toward you and the job is done. 2. The roof seems to be about three inches lower down, meaning every time I get into the drivers side, I smack my head hard. 3. When you open the rear passenger door from the outside, it is longer than you'd expect and you end up smacking your belly on the very pointy end of it. 4. The lumbar support does not actually go low enough to be supportive where it is most needed 5. The cup holder is in where the ash-tray used to be, and the slick old cup holder from the 430 is gone. Meaning that you cannot fit the standard oversized water bottle in any more. 6. Visibility out of the car as a driver is VERY poor with a lot more blind spots. 7. The front centre A/C vents no longer move automatically. 8. No sun shade above the rear-view mirror - it is needed OK... Enough bitching - at least it looks good!!! But seriously, has any one else noticed all these bad points on the LS460 or am I just obsessive?

Hi there, sorry I got confused between the 430 & 460. The 430 has the mute button, but having spent some time in the 460 yesterday trying to find the mute button for you, I am sorry to report there is NONE. Lexus has missed a trick. Back to the reno.

Turn the volume all the way down. Hold in the SET button on the steering wheel, beside the volume control till it beeps. Then when the volume is up, you'll just have the press the set button once for a moment and you'll have the silence you desire. It is not PAUSE, it is just MUTE. However, if you want PAUSE, the ON/OFF button is so close to the steering wheel, you'd have it knocked off as quick as you could press the missing PAUSE button! No trick missed !

What is the outside colour of it? What colour is the leather? I would say if you've got the warranty you can relax about it. These cars are to last and that they do. The dealer is obviously treating you fairly so far by doing all the work before the car is even released. Sounds reputable and decent.

Will you get a warranty with it? How long for? Covering what? If you're not gettting a substantial warranty I wouldn't touch it.

Thanks for the comments. My car has the premium pack, which I did not mention. So when the A/C was on I also had the 'air purifier' on. This cools down the cool-box between the rear seats and also further purifies and dehumidifies the air in the car. Perhaps that accounts for the bigger difference. I don't usually have the 'Air Purifier' on all the time. But as I was keeping score, I thought I go from one extreme to the other. Interesting about the SAT-NAV screen. Would having the CD player on make any differnce to MPG?

A further interesting point on this epic is; I did the same journey twice this week. One trip, as my wife was with me, the AC was off and so was the SAT-NAV screen. (She's pregnant and gets her away about the silly things) The other trip was just me, AC on full pelt and as usual the SAT-NAV screen was on. PWR ETC and Cruise Control was used. Without the AC on and the SAT-NAV screen off, the MPG was 5MPG more. In otherwords, that had a HUGE saving on petrol... Now I like more comforts more the environment, so I will be drivng as usual. Just thought someone out there may be trying to get better MPG and this is a sure way.

I have almost the same car as you, and love it just as much as you. I never mind driving anywhere and choose to go on long drives to relax. Have you noticed when you put your CD's on Random, it is intelligent. It analyses the tone and beat of each song and then puts the next best song on, so your tunes are alays smooth and flowing. As you get to know your car, you will find more and more that you fall in love with. My wife is sure I am having an affair with Susie the Sat-Nav girly... Good Luck and enjoy the car. PS the LS430 is the best kept secret, that's why we look so smug when we park beside a German Car. WE KNOW... WE KNOW...

I owned a Lexus LS400 year 1998 for 18 months and did 25,000 miles in it. I really loved it. I then upgraded to a LS430 year 2001 and have had it for 6 months and done 10,000 miles in it. It is a different car completely. The LS430 is more like driving a sporty Porsche than a luxury car. All the little extra conveniences make a huge difference too. Imagine being stuck in traffic and having so many buttons to play with that you want the red lights so you can play with them... I cannot recomend the LS430 high enough. My Dad drives the LS460 and has ordered the LS600 high-bred. I have driven the LS460 plenty and have the feeling that people will say "The LS430 was when Lexus could REALLY make a car" All the little annoying things you'd get in an S class merc have made their way into the LS460... Poor ergonomics, lots of lost features between the LS430 and LS460. Noisier and less refined. The only major plus the LS460 has, is it looks amazing inside and out. If your thinking of the LS430 then you won't be disapointed.

Amazingly, despite all conjecture, the general opinion is that PWR ETC = better fuel economy. I drove 360 miles today with PWR ETC mode on, and again got better fuel economy then expected... Can LEXUS provide some further detail of this major incorrect detail in the manual?

I wouldn't know what to expect with regards to wheel nuts... My LS430 does not have any locking nuts nore does my Dad's LS460... My LS400 did though! Best of luck with LS460, I sure envy you... What a car...

How did the weekend drivers get on with their PWR ETC experiments?? Anything to add or any noticable difference in fuel economy?

If you hold in LOCK on the key fob the windowns will also close. Nice little tool to have although I am sure most Lexus owners don't know this, as you'd have to read the manual to find out about it.