MB Fanatic

I will be going for a test drive of the LS460l in the ultimate luxury trim or what have you. It has a sticker of 70+ plus dealer markup (what a joke). I will give you all a review of what I thought of it.

Just for fun I am going to take my CLS55 hahaha.

DaCeptak0n

Good stuff fanatic...give us a good write-up. I'll be going Saturday as well

S-Clusiv

When is the LS600 due?

MB Fanatic

Well guys and gals here is the basic rundown on the LS460L.

I drove a LS460L equipped with the Luxury package at about 14K additional to the base price. After dealer markup it was about 90K or so.

Ride/Handling: While the ride on the LS is smooth, its nothing fantastic. Even with its variable suspension, its very soft. Even on the sportiest setting the ride is hard yet not balanced like the S or 7. Its rough to say the least. My CLS55 feels better in that regard. It handles like a boat, plenty of body roll and the steering feels very detached from the road, the S has better steering feedback in that regard.

Dash: Way too many buttons. Not being able to use the NAV while driving another killer. Also the dash doesnt flow smoothly like the 7 or S. The controls and placement of keys felt akward to me. COMAND is much better with its force feedback and ease of use. I don't like the layout of the IC and its quite difficult to read in direct sunlight.

Drivetrain: Smooth engine, no doubt, but you have to rev the engine way too much to get any power out of it, and the transmission feels very funny. Its shifts slowly and quite sloppy. Finding the right gear seems to be bit of a problem when pushed hard.

Brakes: WEAK. The car needs new brakes ASAP. Plenty of Brake Fade, no feedback whatsoever. I consider this to be a major safety issue that needs to be addressed right away.

Electronics: Very well implemented except NAV. ML sound system sounds great, need I say more. Radar cruise control, cant touch Distronc Plus.

Presence: I couldnt tell the difference between the ES350 and the LS460l they had on the lots. Looks like a hodge-pog(Sp?) of design and ideas thrown onto vehicle. Doesnt stand out like a car should for that price.

If you have any other questions just post them in this thread.

Oh yes, the reps were drooling over the Alabaster White CLS55 with K4 and 030.

gangrun

^ I bet they would after staring at those butt ugly POS's Japanese people call cars(actually, the Japanese dont even like the Lexus brand! )

gangrun

^ I bet they would after staring at those butt ugly POS's Japanese people call cars(actually, the Japanese dont even like the Lexus brand! )

gangrun

^ I bet they would after staring at those butt ugly POS's Japanese people call cars(actually, the Japanese dont even like the Lexus brand! )

gangrun

sorry guys i dont know how that happened (reinforces my point though)

MercedesFTW

So only the electronics were a plus?

8-speed tranny not working too well huh?

MB Fanatic

Well the electronics did what they were there to do. They didnt malfunction, but only a long term test can determine that. Also VDIM is very picky, couldnt get the tires to spin one bit. Its very nanny like. Not much fun.

There were just too many buttons for simple tasks IMO.

8 speed tranny could use a software update to search for a better gear. I am sure they will fix that. It could have just been my test car, but nevertheless it left a bad taste.

S-Clusiv

Yes, but did it park itself??????

MB Fanatic

Hahah how could I forget about that little fact.

Well gents, the system is not all that its cracked up to be. It took 30+ seconds for it to park. In that time I could have parked about 2 times with my blindspot ridden CLS. On the second try, the car would not parallel park. Sales rep said there was not enough space for the computer to do so safely.

Germancar1

Sounds like to me this LS is just another big Toyota with features that don't work as advertised.

M

Nevada Jack

Nice report...Lexus has to realize they are up with the big boys now and when you take on MB one-on-one with 1 more speed in the tranny, an auto-park system instead of a guidance system, 1 more speaker in the sound system, etc., etc., etc., they had damn well make sure it all works. Style and performance are two of MB key features and by your initial test drive, they have not met the challenge.

Let the penny pinchers beware...(as I said somewhere else) the Lexus is a car...the Mercedes Benz is an automobile. For those who don't know the difference then the cheaper Lexus will probably make them feel good.

DaCeptak0n

Easy with the name-calling Nevada. Just because we're considering an Lexus LS460L over an S550 doesn't mean we're cheap, it means we're the best bang for the buck type economical buyers. Its maybe 4K under the S550 or whatever when fully equipped.

Side note, Jap cars have also been best bang for the buck. Anyways, I'll be taking a peek of the LS460/L for myself come Saturday yet Fanatic, your write-up was good and mostly convincing that LS460 has to wisen up, but they've got some time...I hope you gave them your full feedback!!

MB Fanatic

I don't think Jack was trying to be rude, but when your spending money on cars upward of 70+ cost becomes a minor issue, and you might as well go for the best.

Secondly, Lexus has to realize that if they want to be taken seriously, they need to rethink their entire philosophy. I mean its great that you buff your steering wheel for 3 hours, or polish the glass headlights for hours on end, but the light pattern in the end was the same if not worse than our S550.

Also, let me tell you something, the rear reclining seats are a joke. The ottomann thing they call is a total joke. All in all it comes down to design, and it looks like a typical toyota product with a lexus badge on it and a 20+K price thrown onto it.

Nevada Jack

I did not mean to offend anyone. The point I was trying to make to use an older proverb...don't be penny wise and pound foolish. I was not referring to the buyers financial status but to his (hers) judgement when you are buying a car in this price range. The lowest price does not always equate to equal quality and saving a few dollars may not pay dividends.

Mazinger

So Lexus missed it again, I thought they did well on the LS400 at the end of its life (1998-2000), screwed up with their LS430, but tried to fix it up along the years, and now this?
People who drive Lexus around here are usually the type that can't afford the MB's repair prices, They want an MB but they know they'll be stinged hard after a while. Also as a result they become some of the most ill-maintained cars around, The monopoly dealer sucks and put the obligatory Nokia-charger-that-looks-like-a-shift-stick to every LS they sell

I feel like I'm like that sometimes Everyone tells me I'm crazy for putting so much money into my 400E.

Zildjian

I was considering the LS460 because althought the current generation S-class is quite a looker, has outstanding performance and safety, I just can not get over the ugly, eyesore interior design. For the life of me I cant!

Nevada Jack

Have you actually sat inside one? What is it exactly that is so ugly and such an eyesore for you?

AsianML

I actually like the new LS. Particularly the rear cabin layout. But because I'm mainly a backseat rider, I like how the wood trim doesn't extend all the way throughout the door. It kind of gives an illusion of a bigger cabin, and it serves as a nice head rest whenever you're bored. You can rest your head there, or chin, and won't get too sore. =D

Zildjian

Yes I have been inside one - the model I was in had very nice, supple leather, a very tacticle, quality feel, and just luxurious ambience. But, to be honest, what I didn't like was the absence of the floor shifter (as in the W220) and the design of the steering wheel - I have never been a fan of the lack of the floor shifter, and design of that horrendous steering wheel. Other than that, I'd be all over the car by now.

MB Fanatic

Zildjian,

At first I too thought the same way about the S class but after spending some time in one, we now have an S600 and an S550 in the garage. Its far more intuitively laid out than the LS460, and when driving one after long time isnt so plain to look at as the LS460 is.

Nevada Jack

To each his own but you would find the shifter very natural and out of the way providing a much cleaner console area. The steering wheel is a little different at the bottom but it fits one hands really well.

If I was that much enthralled by the car, I would not let those two details prevent me from a purchase of such a great looking, performing automobile. To put out $80+ for a LS460L is really overlooking what you get with the "ugly and eyesore" interior of the S550...:-)))

TNT

How did Lexus miss again?
As far as afford the repair bills.
I'm tired of this forum, no good information here, just opinions with no facts to back them up.

So how many engineers or should I say poseur engineers are on this board?