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Lexus LS 400/LS 430

8462 messages,  Last post on Dec 12, 2012 at 10:05 PM

You are in the Lexus LS 400/LS 430 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Lexus LS 400, Lexus LS 430, Sedan

Messages Page 467 of 847

#4661 of 8462 04 LS430 by ljflx

Sep 22, 2003 (9:41 am)

I picked up a brochure today at Ray Catena Lexus. Unfortunately they didn't have a car on the lot which surprised me given they are such a large volume dealer. Apparently some of the cars seen so far are making their way from dealer to dealer in advance of the Sept. 24 debut. The car pictured in the brochure is definitely bolder and some of the new colors play that up. Mercury metallic is the new silver and it is a bit darker and deeper than the milennium silver. The blue onyx (car looks great in that color) is a holdover as is the black cherry which looks darker at least on paper. Some new dark colors (at least to me perhaps they were available in 2003)are Cypress Pearl (similar to the riverrock green on the LX and TLC in the past), Flint Mica (a deep and dark grey - perhaps named after Flint 350) and Briarward Pearl (a rich dark taupe color). They are all good looking colors and I think the car will look great in the Flint Mica color. The mystic gold is also a holdover but I never liked this cashmere replacement color. White and black, of course, remain and a Moonlight Pearl replaces the Parchment color and looks to be a big improvement over it. Inside the Ecru color (the real light color) is now only available on the custom and ultra lux models with the perforated leather as is a saddle interior. Black is available in standard and perforated leather and ash and cashmere are available in the standard leather.
 
The sport package with the euro suspension is available with the modern luxury package and with the premium package (the latter lacks the ML or nav and will only be available as a custom order from what I've been told.) My dealer tells me Lexus will be shipping a lot of Euros outfitted with the modern luxury package in the early going. Apparently research tells them that it and the custom lux package will be hot.
 
I'm surpised they don't offer the sport package (euro suspension) on the custom lux car since that car doesn't have the air suspension. Sometimes I can never understand Lexus' logic. Lastly all cars come pre-wired for XM satellite radio and the Lexus link message (for those who hate it) remains unchanged.
 
Overall this car looks great and the new wheels are a big improvement.
 
Oh yeah my whole purpose of going was to take out a 2004 LX470 which they gave me to take home for part of the day. This truck is better than ever and the back-up camera is fabulous. The larger wheels they put on this truck in 2003 improve, rather than hinder, the silky smooth ride. My old one rode like an LS400 but the new one has more of an LS 430 ride. I'm taking one in December.

#4662 of 8462 ljflx by lenscap

Sep 22, 2003 (11:00 am)

I also picked up a 2004 brochure and the photos seem inconsistent with the option packages. I don't have the brochure in front of me, but the photo of the Flint Mica car has the 18" wheels, meaning it has the sport package. Yet that car also has the headlight washers and saddle interior, which supposedly are not offered with the sport package. If I remember correctly another sport package car photo had the new-style key (with the black marks on the door handles), which again is not offered with the sport. Maybe some of these options can be ordered as individual items in conjunction with the sport package.
 
By the way, the 2004 in the showroom was Mercury with a black interior. When I pointed out the new Antique Wood to the salesman he said it was unchanged from last year. I told him it was new but he didn't believe me (I didn't look at the brochure until I got home, otherwise I would have pointed this out to him).

#4663 of 8462 04 LS 430 Brochure by ikey78

Sep 22, 2003 (3:44 pm)

Good observations re the 2004 brochure by lenscap. Also, the cars in the brochure with headlight washers i.e ultra or custom lux have no Laser Cruise windows which should be clearly visible below the front bumper on the right.
 
I believe that these are pictures of European cars. Check out http://www.lexus-europe.com and you will see that Laser Cruise is not an option on those cars. From what I can see they come with 18 inch 5 spoke wheels standard over there which explains some of the other pictures in the brochure.
 
Either they did not have a US custom or ultra available for the brochure photo shoot or they are deliberately trying to show as many pictures as possible with the 18 inch wheels because they look better.

#4664 of 8462 lenscap by ljflx

Sep 22, 2003 (6:25 pm)

I just received an e-mail from Lexus, as I am sure others on the board will/have as well, about the 2004 LS430. It states that the 18" wheels are available as an option. It does not state that with the proviso that you can only get them with the sport package. When I brought the LX back today (I love that truck) my salesman said that he was almost certain that Lexus had decided to make 18" wheels optionable on all the option packages and in fact most of the cars you will see arriving will have 18" wheels. The cars will debut on Wednesday so let's see. If anyone on the board is shopping the car in the next week or two please post about this.
 
Now the strange thing about this e-mail is it gives you a bold headline about the 2004 LS and invites you to build one. Click on that link and it brings you right to the source except that it is the 2003 that you are building. Stranger all the more since my dealer sold out his last 2003 weeks ago. Go figure.

#4665 of 8462 ikey78 by ljflx

Sep 22, 2003 (8:00 pm)

The brochure is actually loaded with pictures taken at US wineries and other spots that Lexus gives credit to.

#4666 of 8462 04 Brochure/ljflx by ikey78

Sep 23, 2003 (5:37 am)

I agree that many of the pictures are credited as having been taken in the California wine country. A lot of those pictures do not have any cars in them but I guess set the mood.
 
It is possible that they were using pre production prototypes or European versions in at least some of the pictures. Bottom line is that as stated previously, some the cars pictured do not seem to match with the options described in the brochure.

#4667 of 8462 Pictures... by wwest

Sep 23, 2003 (8:19 am)

should have been taken in the yakima valley where the best wines are "made".

#4668 of 8462 brochure and Lexus link by ljflx

Sep 23, 2003 (10:24 am)

Though my salesman tells me there is no change in Lexus link in 2004 the brochure paints a much more confusing picture. Many, but not all, of the cars pictured have the antenna required by Lexus link. But the safety and luxury equipment (both standard and available) make no mention of it. Is it possible that lexus link is a goner? Then why the antenna or maybe it does double duty to pick-up satellite radio. On the other hand maybe I just missed Lexus link in the brochure. Maybe the cars without the antenna are the european pictures. The LX470 brochure also makes no mention of Lexus link unless I missed it there as well and the LX I drove yesterday didn't have the message. But then neither do the loaner cars I get even though the newer ones I got the last two times in had the link antenna.
 
Does anyone know what is going on? Is it history or has Lexus put it in the vehicles and forgotten about it?

#4669 of 8462 ljflx by syswei

Sep 23, 2003 (10:28 am)

Lexus has a customer info center at the corporate level, and is worth a try for info like that. For instance in the past they were able to tell me the Class rating of the LX tow hitch. Not that sure of the number but try 800-usa-lexus and if that isn't it they can at least direct you.

#4670 of 8462 syswei by ljflx

Sep 23, 2003 (10:41 am)

It's not that urgent for me as I am 3 months away from taking the LX and 4-5 for the 2004 LS. But it is included in GX470 option packages at Lexus.com. Maybe it is part of Bluetooth or maybe Bluetooth blew it away.

Messages Page 467 of 847

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