470hpGS400

iTrader: (1)

At fault injury accident. Had to clarify, brain works faster than my fingers.


Parked next to a LS430 today. Very clean. Styling wise the RL just stood out. The LS blended well with the Camry next to it. All subjective of course.

DeathMetal

iTrader: (2)

Wow, guys...thanks for all of the great information here. Ironically, I have scrapped both the LS430 and the RL as their thirsty engines and my lengthy commute are just not the most economically viable vehicles to be driving. =(

In all honesty, though - I test drove the RL, and were it not for the long commute and absurd Insurance rates in NJ, the RL would win. It's a magnificent car, and I truly hope everyone is enjoying theirs.

I have put an offer in to a dealer for CPO TL 6spd w/ Nav, so it looks like I'll be here for ahwile. I am happy to see these forums so active and what appears to be a very supportive forum.

Blazing GT

RL,TL. You cant loose if you get the Acura

arnage

depending on what option package the LS430 may be outfitted with (if any), the LS430 (MY04 - 06) can also have an "active" cruise control. the feature is called dynamic laser cruise control, and includes the ability for the car to accelerate / decelerate (via brake or engine brake) based upon distance from the vehicle in front. the custom luxury package ($6k msrp) or ultra luxury package ($11k msrp) both include this feature, while the lesser two option packages -- premium package & modern luxury package -- omit this feature.

i'd prefer to have some meaningful seat time in both (back to back, ideally) before deciding on one or the other. i imagine both cars appeal to slightly different demographics, and in my opinion, both cars were designed to satisfy two different purposes, so at the end of the day, it'll be up to you to decide.. and it sounds as if you've already decided to do consider the TL instead.

both vehicles have depreciated quite precipitously from their MSRPs (especially so for the LS) -- so while this is advantageous to buyers in the used market, it does suck for whoever already owns one, or happened to have bought one new.

i have quite limited experience with the RL (test drove it when it first came out), and by a seat of the pants measurement, I didn't feel as if it had particularly notable acceleration. I don't mean for the discussion to deteriorate down to the usual V6 vs. V8 arguments, but it sort of is what it is. I've actually never driven the UCF III LS430, but i have the prior generation LS400 <full disclosure>. The engines are actually quite similar, with identical hp ratings prior to the NAE adj (but the 430 has a slightly advantageous torque band). The acceleration on the LS is there when you need it.

The RL is rated at 256 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm... whereas the LS430 is rated at
320 lb-ft @ 3,400, which is a pretty significant difference, even after considering that mpg ratings are very comparable. That said, the RL will run circles (no pun intended) around the LS in snow and quite possibly handling, that's for sure.