Is there really anything better ?

Author's Rating:

Pros: Inexpensive luxury cruiser with all the goodies that you can think of (for mid 2000).

Cons: Suspension soft around corners, but then again I'm not doing Indy 500 any time soon.

The Bottom Line: 
When they say this car is smooth and quiet... it's really DEAD quiet.

Author's Review
Luxury, quality, performance, reliability, prestige... all for around $20-28K.  Right now, if you have $30K and always wanted a luxury automobile, it is the best time to buy.  It's not that luxury vehicles naturally depreciate that much, it's that people in this economy just are not purchasing big luxury vehicles.

The 2004 LS430 was the first year in the LS430 "generation" (which ran from 2001-2006) that had the 6-speed automatic transmission.  Prior to this, it came with a 5-speed automatic.  The extra gear results in a slightly quicker 0-60 time (5.9s) than the previous three years (6.4s), while maintaining the same fuel efficiency (18 city/24 highway).  In the one year I've owned the vehicle, it's been doing about 19 mpg of mixed driving, which is online with the average.  For pure highway driving, which I've only done twice, I've gotten 26 mpg with the cruise engaged for most of the trip.

The 430 in LS430 denoted the engine displacement, which is a 4.3 liter V8 engine which produces 290hp, but it's the torque (320 ftlb) from the transmission that makes the difference.  As mentioned before, this combination brings the car up to 60 mph in 5.9s, and that's for a car over 2 tons.

The anemities are a plenty for the vehicle.  As with any vehicle, there are ranges of trim, everything from base (really base, but has leather and dual climate) to Ultra luxury (fully loaded).  I will only review the vehicle trim I have, which is the Custom luxury (one below Ultra).  It comes with:

1. Navigation w/ backup camera
2. Mark Levinson stereo.  AM/FM, cassette, with 6 indash CD changer
3. Sunroof
4. Power windows and locks
5. Auto door closers (you only need to close the door until it touches, then motors silently close the door shut).
6. Heat seats all around, with cooled in front
7. Dual panel glass (to reduce wind noise)
8. Alzera (suede) interior headliner
9. Headlight washers
10. Parking sensors front/back
11. Radar cruise, which maintains the distance between you and vehicle ahead
12. Adaptive headlights that turn with steering and autolevel with pitch of vehicle
13. Power rear sunshade
14. Traction control

I'm sure I'm missing some little things on this list also.  All this for me with 36K miles for $28K.  The LS has historically been recorded to go well into 200K with regular maintenance.  So, with only 38K, that's quite a deal.  What vehicle, old or NEW, are you going to get for $28K?

If you like how Cadillacs ride?  Then you'll like the LS430 because it has the same floaty, soft, plush ride that big American cars have, without the noise or issues that come with domestics.  If you like the handling and grip around tight corners that BMW has, then you will not like the LS430.  The LS430 is made to cruise the road in style and comfort.  It's a very isolated and not road driving inspired vehicle.  If you want massive power, snap neck acceleration, and crazy cornering, then the LS430 is not your car.  If you want more than adequate power, brisk acceleration, and better than average capable handling, cruiser for quietness, then the LS430 is for you.