Dynamic Laser Cruise Control + Gearbox (ls430 2001 Vs. 2004)

tebalto · April 21, 2008

Hi everybody!

Is there any difference between the Cruise Control that equipped the 2001 and the 2004 LS430 versions?

I read a lot of reviews but I can't understand if they are the same system or not...

I thought the 2001 hadn't the "Pace car" feature, limiting its usage just to the "Slowdown if you are getting too close to the next vehicle", but in some 2001 review they are describing both the modes.

In some 2004 they are refering also to some Cruise Control updates...

While talking about 01 and 04 comparisons, I have also a question on the gearbox: how is the 2001's in terms of smoothess compared to the 2004? Is the 2004 6-gears also providing a better consumption? Is anybody ever using the sequential mode?

Thanks and regards,

Alessandro

Matrixabc · April 21, 2008

I am sure the laser cruise control is an option on the 2001 LS430.

tebalto · April 21, 2008

Ok, but is it the same device that came as standard in 2004 models?

Haylands · April 21, 2008

Ok, but is it the same devise that came as standard in 2004 models?

Hi

Laser cruise was not a UK option on 2001-4 cars, only on home market and some other foreign countries.

I presume you have read the report on the later 6 speed boxes having a much smoother change than the earlier 5 speed, well the writer of the report obviously had to make some comparison between the earlier and later cars..... well

My earlier 5 speed has such a smooth change that I defy anyone to tell me when it changes gear without looking at the rev counter, the change is so smooth it is unreal, you could not improve on it if you tried, as for the kickdown, well you can't feel it change gear it just goes very fast very quickly, so if the later 6 speed is smoother then it must be better than perfect....

As for consumption who knows, the official figure is 1mpg more for the later car...

Personally I'd have a later one if I could afford it because I think the front lights look nicer and I like the clear rear indicators, and unfortunately they will not fit the earlier car. I do prefer the red dial needles on mine to the later white ones but I also prefer the later oval exhaust tips rather than the hidden ones on mine (might put some different ends on mine soon though)

So if you are looking to buy I'd just get the latest one you can afford, they are all brilliant...

Good Luck

Pete

jsj24uk · April 22, 2008

I'm not sure if the gearbox on my old GS300 which was a five speed is the same one used on the LS430 but you could swear sometimes that it was a CVT. I do find though that my LS430 which has the six speed gearbox, although just as smooth as the five speed one, feels like it has got more gears than it knows what to do with. This is somthing I found when driving the LS460.

The one thing that does annoy me is the voice recognition. Sometimes when I say 21 degrees, it puts the temperature up to 28. Apart from that, I think it's awsome.

tebalto · April 22, 2008

jsj24uk thaks for your kind reply.

feels like it has got more gears than it knows what to do with. This is somthing I found when driving the LS460.

Sorry about my English, but what did you mean with it? Is it maybe that the gearbox is undecided on what gear to insert and when?

As I had some MB equipped with NAG-5 Gears Automatic Transmission, I found very annoying that sometimes the gearbox was taking a lot of time to decide if it was better lowering a shift or continuing with the same one. During overtaking situation it was even dangerous: you couldn't predict how much time it would take because the trasmission introduced some variable delay that, in worst cases, could be even 1sec!

Another defect was that during comfort rides, at slow speed, sometimes instead of rising the gear to get a low level of engine noise, consumption and a high torque (all the cars were equipped with Diesel engines) it kept the same gear bringing the engine at high rpm...

Even on recent models I found this NAG system very primordial and uncomfortable: my last MB, the one I'm still using, is a 2004 model...

I would like to be sure that the Lexus automatic transmission is a little bit smarter...

And what about the sequential function? Is it usefull?

Regards!

Alessandro

jsj24uk · April 22, 2008

I find that using the sequential function very good, especially when you want some engine braking. To be honest, I don't use it that much but I find it alot easier to use than the small buttons which were on the steering wheel of my old GS300. The gearbox in my LS430 is also very quick to kickdown and there is no hesitation at all so overtaking is good. It sometimes feels as though it decide's to miss gears as it goes but every six speed version I have driven is like that. It sometimes feels a little lost at low speed driving but it does learn your driving style and adapts to it.