2001 Lexus LS 430 Review

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John Lennon said of popular music that, "Before Elvis, there was nothing." And likewise, in the world of automobiles, until the late 1980s, there were no Japanese luxury cars or luxury nameplates. Just plain old Datsun (Nissan today), Honda and, of course, Toyota. If you wanted a basic car, fine. But the big guns of Europe — Mercedes-Benz, in particular — had the premium luxury car market pretty much cornered.

Then, in 1989, Lexus happened. That was the year the first LS400 sedan hit the streets.  The Germans laughed at first — a Japanese luxury car? Nein!

But their merriment was as short-lived as last year’s strudel. With the very first LS400 95 percent as nice, 100 percent as well built, and literally thousands of dollars less than a comparable Benz, all of a sudden people were forgoing the haughty three-pointed star in favor of the upstart from Japan.

A decade later, Lexus has become one of the world's premier luxury marques and hacked out a major slice of the luxury car market, into which it expands remorselessly with each new model intro. The 2001 LS430, the successor to the LS400, will only further annoy the Germans, who will have to explain to skeptical customers why the powerful, opulent and superbly crafted Lexus flagship sedan costs about as much ($54,005 to start) as the second-best Mercedes-Benz sedan, the $53,200 E430.

Gecko-like

The top Mercedes model — the S-Class — starts (that's right, starts) at a Gordon Gecko-like $70,800 for the S430, or almost $20,000 more than the base price of the LS430.

If the measure is price, the LS430 theoretically competes with the Mercedes E430. But take a look at the spec sheet: the E430 is noticeably less car than the LS430. The Benz is significantly smaller (111.5-inch wheelbase vs. 115.2 for the Lexus; overall length is 189.4 inches for the Mercedes, 196.7 for the Lexus; while width is 72.0 inches for the Lexus vs. 70.8 for the narrower, less roomy Benz). And the Mercedes has an appreciably less powerful engine — a 275-hp V-8 in the E430 vs. a 290-hp V-8 for the LS430.

If you step up to the much more expensive S-Class, the cheapest example of which is almost $4000 more than the most expensive, totally maxed-out Ultra Luxury version of the LS430 ($67,775), things still look good for the Lexus and bad for Mercedes. The 2001 LS430 offers more front leg and head room than the S430, more cabin volume, and a larger trunk. And the LS430's standard 290-hp V-8 is still stronger than the S430's standard engine — which is the same 275-hp V-8 used in the less prestigious E430. This less powerful engine must also haul a heavier car, so performance suffers in the bargain.

Pay more, get less. Now you know why the beer is a little bitter in the Fatherland.

Somehow, the braniacs at Lexus have figured out how to make world-class cars (body panel fit at tolerances of 1/1000 of a millimeter, etc.) without the monopoly money MSRP that comes glued to the window of a new Mercedes-Benz.

Power play

If anything, the new LS430 will widen the gap. In addition to a larger, more powerful engine (4.3 liters vs. 4.0 liters in the old car), the LS430 is basically a "clean sheet" vehicle — new from the floorpan up. The restyled exterior is crisper than the rounded and somewhat muted form of the LS400. A mighty grille and swept-back headlight assemblies that arch back into the fenders and hood get you noticed when you barrel up behind some poor schlub driving his three-year-old Lumina. The rest of the car is more subdued, but it's still more caffeinated than the much more demure shape of the previous LS400.

Like Mercedes, Lexus understands that its target market is younger and more desirous of exciting machinery than the torpid, "starter-casket" ethic that prevailed in this segment 10 years ago. Accordingly, suspension tuning is much firmer, even on the base level car — with 17x7.5-inch wheels and 55-series tires optionally available. The LS430 can hit 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and runs the quarter mile in 14.7 seconds. The only "old men" who'll be driving this car are guys like A.J. Foyt.

There is so much technology inside this machine that one hardly knows where to begin: laser cruise control that automatically adjusts following speed between your car and the one ahead; a semi-active electronic air suspension (three levels of suspension tuning are available); optional DVD-based navigation system (one disc covers the entire United States, unlike CD-ROM based systems) stability control; Intuitive Parking Assist (beeps when you're about to bump into something), seats with heaters and massagers; water-repellent door glass — to name a couple of the headliners.

The drivetrain has a feature called Intuitive Powertrain Control that helps maintain speed with fewer corrections or inputs needed by the driver. If, for example, you are ascending a hill, the computer senses the additional load and the engine delivers the needed torque to maintain speed without the driver having to mash the accelerator pedal.

It goes on and on like that. As with other cars in the premium segment, it gets a little bewildering — there's so much stuff. But the important point to remember is that Lexus offers all this gear at a price that is truly remarkable, given what others are charging.

A Japanese Mercedes? No. Better than that.

 

2001 Lexus LS430
Base price range: $54,005-$67,775
Engine: 4.3 liter V-8, 290 hp
Transmission: Five-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 115.2 in
Length: 196.7 in
Width: 72.0 in
Height: 58.7 in
Curb Weight: 3955 lb
EPA (cty/hwy): 18/25 mpg (auto)
Safety equipment: Dual front airbags; head airbags; side airbags, stability control; traction control; ABS; Intuitive Park Assist
Major standard features: V-8 engine, automatic transmission, climate control, air conditioning, power steering, windows, locks & mirrors; cruise control, keyless remote entry, premium audio system w/CD, leather trim
Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles

 

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