Sal Collaziano

Hi there. I'm Sal Collaziano from CadillacForums.com and I'm a big fan of luxury cars. I like 'em all. Right down to the Lincoln Town Car and the Buick Park Avenue.. Of course, I know who the big-players are in the luxury automotive game and I'm seeking some opinions and information from owners of the best of the best.

I'm doing some research and I'm trying to figure out which car is best for the driver who WANTS his/her passengers to be completely disconnected from the road..

I've looked into the Infiniti Q45 - and it seems as if the Q isn't as refined as the LS430.. It's very quiet, but not quite as quiet.. It's got a very soft ride, but not quite as soft...

I've looked into the Acura RL.. It seems to be nearly as soft and quiet as the LS430, but it's too bland inside - which I feel takes from the comfort of the interior. The v6 isn't exactly encouraging either..

I've looked into the BMW 7-series, and it doesn't ride soft at all.. I stopped there and didn't bother to figure in road noise and/or wind noise - which I'm sure is minimal...

So then I've got the Mercedes S430 - which I've driven in. It's very quiet inside - and has a very soft ride. I've never been in a moving LS430 - so I've got no idea just how good these cars really are. I hear they're the quietest and softest-riding in the industry. How does the Lexus LS430 compare to the Mercedes S430 in ride quality and interior noise/comfort/etcetera?

Thank you...

absent

Lexus bores me to death(had a rental for a week),instead of a new S430,I'd rather have a used S500.

Sal Collaziano

Would you mind sharing some insight on what is boring? I'm looking for as much information as I can get.

Thank you...

IluvS500

I think what he means is there is no connection to the road. Alot of people like to have a feeling of what their drivin on, and supposedly the LS has none. The Lexus is a great car for the passengers. With all the comfort features and the quality of it all. The LS would be my second choice after the S Class. That followed by the A8L.

Sal Collaziano

Some people, believe it or not, actually like that feeling of being disconnected from the road.. I do.. I went from a soft-riding Cadillac Eldorado ETC, into a Vette than went airborne riding over a worm, back into a Cadillac - a Fleetwood Brougham... I was so displeased with the ride of the Vette (I don't know why I did it - I guess I just wanted to own a Vette once) that I'm not fanatical about not feeling bumps in the road.. I actually Want to feel like I'm riding on glass..

So am I to understand that the Mercedes S Class rides a little more harsh but handles better than the LS430? If so, is it really that noticable? Does it make that much of a difference?

Thanks...

bmms8

ive only riden in a s430, but the ls430 to me is more of a luxurious car for a lot cheaper. if all you want is pure luxury, and the best ride, the ls430 cant be beat. GL

vraa

This is going to turn into another of the famous Lexus vs Mercedes, then turn into whats worth more, a piece of chicken or a blank cd-r and so on. They are useless.

But as long as it's here the Lexus will give you a more "disconnected" feel mainly because the LS430 aims more at making the ride as comfortable as possible, meaning boat like.

MBZman

I've had the pleasure of driving both. If you are looking for a car that has ab-sol-ute-ly no road feel, is comfy like a couch and pampers your passengers, Lexus rules. It's not even close. It's truely the most boring, dull car I have ever driven.

bmms8

as you can see, most mb owners will say its very dull, and boring, so your best bet would be to ask a third party, like ajaguar forum. jagtalk.com i believe isa forum. GL

absent

Should have read your post more carefully.
A Lexus is a better car in your case.(closer in "feel" to a Cadillac Fleetwood)

Caliz_Finest

People here are saying the Lexus is boring partly because of the soft suspension (I also think the exterior is very boring and plain looking), but if thats what youre looking for then the Lexus is for you.

Sal Collaziano

I hear what you're all saying in regards to the Lexus being boring. The exterior is pretty-much a copy-off of Mercedes - and not as classy. The interior, to me, is about the same - which is what I'm mostly concerned with. And the boring ride is something that I'm into as well.

It appears to me that the Japanese have mastered the road-disconnection.. Not that Mercedes couldn't do that if they wanted to... Mercedes owners want cars that are extremely eye-catching, historical, great-riding performers.. Lexus owners want as much prestige as they can afford while being more serene than anything else available..

Both cars have their place.. For the most part, if they costed the same - I'm sure a whole helluva a lot of Lexus owners would be driving S430s - but a good portion would still go for that disconnected feel...

Thank you for clearing-up the "ride" quality deal for me...

DrewSclass

I have the pleasure of owning both cars. I have a S430 w/sport package and had a lexus LS430. I now own a Lexus GS400. They drive virtually the same and have the same engines.

True the lexus is very boring to drive. But when comparing the engines the lexus is much stronger and pulls much harder then the S430 engine. It is more on par with the S500 engines.

The cabin is silky quiet.....so quiet that you forget the car is on sometimes. The NAV is so much better than the benz.

At high speeds I prefer the benz than the lexus. The benz has very little body roll....probably because of the sport package and wider 18 staggered rims.

The lexus has tremendous body roll and weaving in and out of traffic is very scary.

What to do and how to solve?
Downgraded and got myself a Lexus GS400.
So much aftermarket parts available for this car. I have a coilover setup, beefed up front and rear sway bars, chassis braces, front and rear Stablizer bars. With a 300hp engine, this thing really handles amazingly and will outhandle my benz. Total upgrade cost was about $2500. No body roll and the cars sticks. Too bad these parts are not available on the LS but the GS has become a whole different animal.

jbcritch

go to Car & Driver's website. They did a test of $70,000+ sedans about 3 months ago and the results should now be online. They put the lexus at top...but they admit that it is "boring to look at."
Happy hunting,
John

1SICKLEX

DrewsClass for LS 430 parts go here:
www.l-tunedparts.com , not much on the site but they can get you hard to find Japanese only parts.

Sal, go to www.clublexus.com for more on LS 430 owners.

boltonblue

i've driven both in the selection process.
The lexus is very competent but totally detached as you desire. The japanese have done a great job of turning a car into an appliance. For those looking for just transportation it's fine.

In the northeast I needed the 4matic which lexus doesn't have. I also needed to enjoy the experience of driving the car and lexus can't get there. After running the blue ridge parkway this summer, I knew I had made the right choice.

highstylinS430

Having owned an S430 and once driven the LS430 with air suspension, both cars are for two different people. The LS is for the person who wants to have the plushest ride more importantly than sporty feel. It definitely has a softer ride than the S430 but the Mercedes offers a more sport driving experience. And the Lexus like everyone says just doesn't have that "spark" or elegant look of a Mercedes. As nice as a Lexus is, it's just missing that flair.....great for someone who's main concern is ride. I've driven my S430 on the highway and you're always confident on the road no matter what speed. Mercedes' Airmatic is great, always smooth and can handle high speeds. You can make lane changes at high speeds without the car loosing balance, feels like a sports car (even without sports package). Mercedes' are built more sturdy too as a body shop manager once told me compared to Lexus. S-class is that one car you can always look forward to at the end of the day to drive. I'll always stick with the Mercedes.

coach4sale

I've owned both the ls430, s430, and s600. Really the only difference between the s430 and s600 was performance. But the ls 430 is honestly the best luxury car i have ever owned. I have had numerous problems with my s classes from air suspension, ball joints, command system, etc. Partially because my s430 is a 2000 and they are quite problematic. I recently purchased the 2002 s600 from a good friend and it has already been to the shop twice with only 13k. The engine light kept coming on and it was wearing out tires every 2k. I have never had any problems out of the ls 430 and honestly i cant say it rides better than the mercedes but it rides just as good. You just change the oil and you never have a problem. I tell everyone i know if you want to buy a quality luxury car and get the most out of your dollar buy a ls430.

highstylinS430

Yes. I agree as well. Lexus has excellent reliability. I also had a 2000 S430 (didn't have Airmatic problems) and had to have my Command system replaced as well as speedometer. Anyone purchasing a preowned 2000 S-class should absolutely get an extended warranty thru the dealer or aftermarket. They're getting better with the quality with the 2003 and newer S. The new S is expected around Spring 2005 with the body bigger as the '91-'99 model year (W140 platform).

Chappy

I recommend the Lincoln Town Car.

MercManiac

Japanese drive in their country at 50mph on the highway and systemically engineer to suit that realm and then export....

........same for the Germans, for whom when they feel the need, can head out on a weekend and drive legally at 190+mph on the autobahn.

Hence, MB better high speed handling and roll over protection (when you wipe out at 110mph+ you roll....Germans do build a roll cage....Japanese and American manufacturers do not "cost issue".......this is why Lexus offers more goodies for the money in comparison to German cars.....Germans put their "grounded costs" first into body integrity )(go to an auto show and see the E body cut in half......solid steel tubing that is 1.3" thick.....a real roll cage!). Lexus, notched into a valid market segment (former Cad/Lincoln owners) where people could care less about response/feel or high speed crash protection.

Both are fine autos that serve their market segments extremely well.

Luv my S600!!!!!

Dizzy

Hmm....Lexus as a brand was designed specifically for the U.S. market. A lot of the testing done is here in the U.S., not Japan, because all of their cars are designed for our "tastes." So I wouldn't go so far to say that toyota/lexus doesn't test their cars at high speed. And there is definitely a large segment of America that craves the plushy and no road feeling ride.

It's a matter of philosophy. Like someone mentioned earlier, different strokes for different folks. You want plushy ride? You go w/ a Lexus. You want great ride and great handling? you go with a Mercedes. It's really that simple. Having driven both and owned the problematic 2000 S430, I would go w/ the Lexus simply because my driving habits have changed.

Lexus designed the GS series for the sports enthusiats out there. There are actually people out there who have an LS430 AND a GS430 Now, is that great marketing or what?

When it comes down to it....goto your local dealers and take a test drive.

MB AMG

I would choose the LS430 over the S430.

MrAMG

I drive an E55 211 and wife's car is LS430. I have driven the LS430 quite a few times (when it's raining, or going out with the family, etc). When I drive the LS430, I feel so relaxed, comfortable and just take it easy all the way. On the other hand, my adrelain is always up when I drive the E55, and my daughter reminds me to slow down once in a while.

RU_MATRX

I pick the LS430 over the S430. Much better value and luxury. Besides, the LS430 does a much better job of quality and luxury for it's intended market compared to the S430 at this price point of $65K.