10 Photos Showing Why The Lexus LS 430 Was the Best Of The 2000s

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10 Photos Showing Why The Lexus LS 430 Was the Best Of The 2000s

Best car of the 2000s you say? That boring thing?

Published 3 months ago in Wow

Best car of the 2000s you say? That boring thing?

Granted, to the modern viewer the 2001-2006 Lexus LS 430 looks more like a drivable version of my grandfathers leather recliner than a luxury flagship sedan, but I assure you it exuded "sleek" and "stylish" to the early 2000s car buyer.

According to survivorship bias, it's a luxury to even have an opinion on this car, seeing as it can vote and drink under United States law. After almost 25 years, thousands of them remain on the road and will stay there for the foreseeable future.

As with most older cars, if you're still seeing a few around they must be alright. And the LS 430 is more than alright. Owners everywhere boast milage of 250,000 or more, oftentimes with minimal maintenance costs along the way. Some even sport odometer readings in the seven figures.

But the LS 430 isn't just reliable. It's luxurious, practical, and a pleasure to drive.

1
Price
Starting between $55,000 and $70,000 in 2001, (around $100,000 in today’s money), the LS wasn’t cheap. But it wasn’t made to be. Designed to compete with the German luxury brands, it upped the game with fancy tech and bullet proof Toyota reliability while remaining competitive in price.

2
Engine
Sporting a 290 horsepower V-8, the LS 430 jumps from zero to 60 in just 6.3 seconds, all while averaging 25 mpg highway with a smooth and quiet 5-speed automatic.

3
Features
Loaded with features, the 430 sports navigation, a voice activated telephone, parking-assist, and self-driving "Dynamic Laser Cruise Control," among other features. Pretty fancy for 2001.

4
Production
Production exceeded 140,000 units with many still on the road today. Owners around the world constantly state a desire to drive their cars until the wheels fall off.

5
Interior
With a Mark Levinson premium sound system, center touch screen, and massage rear-seat options, the interior is a nice place to be.

6
Rear Seats
Rear seats included great legroom, an automatic window shade, and climate controls.

7
Prizes
The LS 430 is the highest recorded scorer in the history of J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Survey. It also scored 2001’s highest theft-deterrence rating.

8
Used Market
While many people couldn’t afford one in 2001, the car held its value exceptionally well. Additionally, it’s quite affordable on the used market. You can buy one in decent condition for $10,000-$25,000. You’ll probably be able to sell it for something similar. That makes the LS 430 one of the best used car purchases ever.

9
Care
Not to mention the car’s cult following. You can bet a previous owner took good care of it.

10
The Best
So what makes it better than its competition? The 2000s Toyota 4-Runner, Hilux, and Camry were all brilliant. As were the Honda Accord, Subaru WRX, Mazda MX-5 and Ferrari Enzo. But while each of those cars do a few things well, the LS 430 did it all. Luxury, reliability, practicality, and performance. All rolled into one neat package that’s still sitting in your grandfather’s driveway.