Speed Academy got a free car — but all that glitters is not gold.
The following is a transcript of the episode, organized via AI and edited by a staffer:
[Intro Music]
Welcome back to the channel, everyone.
This video is going to be a little different—Dave isn’t here today. And secondly, someone just gave us this LS430. No strings attached.
At first glance, that sounds like an amazing deal. And technically, it is a fully running and driving car. So, let’s see if it starts.
The battery’s clearly dead, so I’ll hook up a charger and see what happens.
[Music]
We have power, though the alarm is going off. The car has 320,000 kilometers on it—not exactly low mileage. Still, it’s a Lexus, so it should start… except we just lost power. Looks like we blew a fuse.
After resetting, the lights are back on. Let’s try again. It’s struggling, but eventually—yes, we’ve got a runner. Though, the tach jumping around and all the warning lights aren’t a good sign. For now, we’ll let it run and charge before taking it for a quick spin around the lot.
[Music]
Driving impressions: suspension feels decent, brakes are fine, and it still has that typical LS430 smoothness. The main issues are an exhaust leak and a bunch of warning lights, but mechanically, it doesn’t feel bad.
Condition Check
On the outside, this definitely looks like a 320,000 km car: dents, faded lights, a beat-up bumper, rust spots, and badly pitted wheels. Common Toyota/Lexus rear quarter rust is starting to show, along with corrosion around the doors and underbody.
The engine bay, however, looks surprisingly clean. Strut towers and condenser area seem solid. But the hood rust hints at deeper problems underneath.
In the trunk, I found some crumbling metal parts—never a good sign. That suggests major rust issues.
Underside Inspection
Once on the hoist, the reality set in. Tires are moderately used, rims are in rough shape, but brakes and calipers still look decent. The suspension arms and shocks show heavy rust. There’s undercoating, but it’s patchy.
I discovered multiple odd magnets stuck to the oil pan—possibly to catch shavings? If you know, let me know in the comments.
The exhaust has a major split, and pinch welds are folding under pressure. Rust is everywhere, but not catastrophic—except for the subframe.
The previous owner mentioned the subframe was “soft.” On inspection, I found a welded repair job. A suspension arm had rotted away, and someone patched in a replacement. The welds weren’t terrible, but it’s still a big red flag.
Safety Protocol
Here in Ontario, safety inspections are stricter now. Cars are either sold “safetied” (already approved) or “as-is.” This LS430 was sold as-is.
When the buyer took it for inspection, the ministry ruled the subframe repair unacceptable. To pass, it would need a full replacement—an expensive job.
Faced with the cost, the owner decided not to sink more money into it and instead passed it along to us rather than selling it to another unsuspecting buyer. Admirable decision.
Our Take
Could this car be saved? Probably, especially if you did the work yourself. In another region, like Michigan, it might even still be considered roadworthy. But for us, it’s just not worth the time or money. We’ll likely use it as a parts car, pulling the engine and other useful components for our LS430 project.
The lesson here: when buying a used car—especially in Ontario—make sure it will pass safety standards before handing over your money. Otherwise, you could end up in the same situation.
The Previous Owner’s Story
Brian, the previous owner, bought this car after being inspired by our videos. He loved how comfortable it was, but the stricter safety standards caught him off guard. The mechanic connected directly to the ministry, provided photos and videos, and the car failed.
The cost to repair outweighed the value, so Brian wrote it off. Not wanting to sell it dishonestly, he gave it to us instead, hoping it could still serve some purpose.
And that’s where we are today.
Conclusion
So, what do you think? Should we try to save this LS430, or just use it for parts? Let us know in the comments. If someone out there wants to take it on as a project, reach out—it’ll be for sale cheap. Otherwise, we’ll strip it down and send the rest to the scrapyard.
Thanks for watching. This was a different kind of video—let us know what you thought.
[Outro Music]
Speed Academy is a website and YouTube channel based on making things go fast and enjoying cars. Peter Tarach and Dave Pratte are the forces behind Speed Academy.
The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.
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