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Lexus LS 460/LS 460L: First Drives

94 messages,  Last post on Dec 18, 2006 at 3:51 PM

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#55 of 94 Re: Drove one today [ljflx] by cyclone4 Oct 27, 2006 (1:26 pm)
Replying to: ljflx (Oct 27, 2006 10:24 am) Len, I did not drive the SWB but yes everything about the LS460L is pretty much perfect. The only possible exception, as I stated above, is that the trunk with the rear seat upgrade is a bit small. I don't understand why a few reviews were complaining about the brakes, handling, etc. This car is spectacular in all respects.   I am hoping that the salesman is wrong about the minuscule trunk space on the 600HL. If by some chance it is as large as the LS460HL with the rear seat upgrade, I would immediately jump on it. But I very much doubt that will be the case. It would be awesome if your information on the AWD is correct and that it will be available in the spring. I doubt that will be the case, however. Wouldn't that upset the folks that are now purchasing the RWD LS460L if they preferred the AWD? I know that I would be ticked. Also, wouldn't that take something away from the launch of the LS600HL which comes standard with AWD? Replies to this message: oac (Oct 27, 2006 2:24 pm) cyclone4 (Oct 27, 2006 3:10 pm) ljflx (Oct 27, 2006 4:18 pm) ljflx (Oct 27, 2006 4:41 pm) cyclone4 (Oct 28, 2006 8:30 am)
#56 of 94 Re: Drove one today [cyclone4] by oac Oct 27, 2006 (2:24 pm)
Replying to: cyclone4 (Oct 27, 2006 1:26 pm) I am hoping that the salesman is wrong about the minuscule trunk space on the 600HL.   Finally got my first visual of the LS460 today... Well my initial feeling from a distance was "muted", but closer inspection led to a more excited feeling... but that's not why I am responding to this post...   The reason is that my dealer told me he expects the 600hL to be low production, and loaded.... get this... the price will start north of $100K, and he expects a loaded version to sticker at $115K... His words not mine...   If I were you, I'd just buy the 460L loaded at $85K and save yourself another $20-25K over the 600hL. YMMV Replies to this message: cyclone4 (Oct 27, 2006 3:10 pm) ljflx (Oct 27, 2006 4:18 pm)
#57 of 94 Re: Drove one today [oac] by cyclone4 Oct 27, 2006 (3:10 pm)
Replying to: oac (Oct 27, 2006 2:24 pm) oac, I would buy the LS460L immediately but I really want AWD for winter driving. Therefore, I have a dilemma.
#58 of 94 Re: Drove one today [oac] by ljflx Oct 27, 2006 (4:12 pm)
Replying to: oac (Oct 27, 2006 10:52 am) OAC - It was actually $69K. I made a typo there. It had the ML, Nav, comfort package and the parking assist. Don't remember exact figure but was something like $69,750 give or take. Most of the SWB cars are coming over equipped like this, at least over here. I went there early this morning because they get very busy on a Friday and I had each car for about 25 minutes. I drove the LS460 first. It was a dream and I'd love to see how an air suspension LS460 - if they had included that as an option - would stack up against the LS460L. The air suspension plus the added space gives that cavernous lux feel and a different experience/driving dynamic to the LS460L and that's the big difference between the two cars. Anyone who gave out a less than perfect review on the LS460 will change quickly when they review the LS460L. That's the real deal car here and the one to compare to an S550.   I did price out a LS460L sport suspension and that can be had for around $78K. That is the car I'd go for in a warner climate like yours. They didn't have one around though and I told them I want to test drive that if they take one as a demo.   The news I got was that Lexus would become more and more flexible over time. So what you see now will only grow. The dealers don't know anything about specifics, timing and nothing is a done deal yet. For example they don't know when they'll bring in AWD. They certainly will not do so until the 600HL debuts and then they are wrestling with whether it should be released just after that or whether it will be deferred until September as a 2008 car. The reason for the latter is that the LS600HL will be a 2008 car. Japan has this thing about hierarchies it seems. Just like the GS has to wait for the LS to hit before the bigger engine gets into the GS so now do the LS460 and 460L have to wait until the 600HL debuts.   I don't think you'll see the sport suspension on the LS460. The sport suspension is a fine-tuned air suspension and it appears the air suspensuion is only going on the LWB car - at least in this model year. I'd hold off, save extra and get that LS460L sport if I were you. Supposedly it handles like a dream and once you experience the L it's hard to go back to the 460. The LS460L handles very well as it is, so I can imagine the sport variant. Dream car and when I got back with it there were two othe people waiting to test drive it. I'm friendly up high at that dealership and the manager said give him till Christmas when things cool down and he'll let me have a demo for a weekend. Can't wait. Replies to this message: oac (Oct 27, 2006 7:21 pm)
#59 of 94 Re: Drove one today [oac] by ljflx Oct 27, 2006 (4:18 pm)
Replying to: oac (Oct 27, 2006 2:24 pm) OAC and Cyclone - I got the feeling today that custom versions of the LS600HL will top $120K and that most of them will top $100K as shipped. The car will have custom options that have not been made public yet. That pricing makes sense when you think about it as ther LS460L can already be optioned to prices well above a 750LI.
#60 of 94 Re: Drove one today [cyclone4] by ljflx Oct 27, 2006 (4:41 pm)
Replying to: cyclone4 (Oct 27, 2006 1:26 pm) Cyclone - when I leased the GX470 a few years ago I got one of the first ones that had the upgraded Nav and back-up camera. I never heard any bad stories from folks that took that truck before and the added cost was only about $400 or so. I'd bet that only 1 of 4 LS460L's in cold weather climates would be AWD. Most folks will bank the $2K and just put on snows. The other thing is that you get the best out of AWD if you put snows on anyway. My old boss had an A8 for 6 years and because of the sportier tires on that car he needed snows for AWD to be effective in winter. He always told me not to kid yourself with AWD cars - they still need snows.   As for the early LS sales when AWD is not available - I don't think anyone will really get mad. It's not like AWD is free (likely a $2K option) and it's not like MB has a record of selling nothing but AWD S-class cars in cold climates. Most S-class buyers in cold cities still bypass AWD. Lexus probably expects the same sale ratios as MB gets or the GS300 gets anyway. Replies to this message: cyclone4 (Oct 28, 2006 8:30 am)
#61 of 94 Re: Drove one today [ljflx] by oac Oct 27, 2006 (7:21 pm)
Replying to: ljflx (Oct 27, 2006 4:12 pm) OAC - It was actually $69K. I made a typo there. It had the ML, Nav, comfort package and the parking assist. Don't remember exact figure but was something like $69,750 give or take. Most of the SWB cars are coming over equipped like this, at least over here.   Thanks... Looks the same out here on the west coast... I finally got to talk to my dealer today (was away on a trip last weekend for the LS460 bash at my dealership, so I missed all the fun ) Here is what I got:   460 SWB = $61,000 ML + Nav + XM = $5,465 Parking Assist = $395 Door closers + $500 Accessories = $245 Destination = $715 -------------------- Total = $68,320 --------------------   A comparative LWB model prices out at $74K. The dealership has sold only one with a Touring Pkg, but they have none en route... My next issue is color combo... I want cashmere or alabaster interior, but only two cars come with these colors - obsidian and white. The truffle mica is not a color in production yet (until spring), so I can check out other combos.... Alternately, the dealer offered to special order one for me; ordering takes 90 days...   I am waiting to actually get to test drive both L and S trims before deciding... We'll see...
#62 of 94 Re: Drove one today [ljflx] by cyclone4 Oct 28, 2006 (8:30 am)
Replying to: ljflx (Oct 27, 2006 4:41 pm) As always, I really appreciate your input. I guess time will tell. We'll see what is available 6-8 months down the road. I don't think I will make a decision until at least next spring. Given a choice, I am definitely going for the AWD version. And who knows, maybe there will be a miracle and Lexus will have found a way to have more trunk space than the current thinking when the LS600HL is released next April. It will also be very interesting to see what the MSRP for the 600HL will be.
#63 of 94 Taste of Lexus by mikeivan Oct 28, 2006 (10:33 am)
I am just back from driving the LS460L at Taste of Lexus. After sitting in both, my wife did not even want to drive the LS460. The rear seat leg room and comfort are impressive. However, an earlier poster is correct, the driver's footwell on the LS460L is NARROWER than the LS430! The ride and cornering are improved over the LS430 (I don't know what suspension we drove). The car looks better in person than in pictures and the transmission is sooo smooth. I thought the road course was too short, about a 3 minute drive (we went three times). She did say the brakes were grabby, however, I did not notice that. The Taste of Lexus was a first class show with the nicest PortaPotty I have ever been in. Replies to this message: hpowders (Oct 28, 2006 12:19 pm)
#64 of 94 Re: Taste of Lexus [mikeivan] by hpowders Oct 28, 2006 (12:19 pm)
Replying to: mikeivan (Oct 28, 2006 10:33 am) I will try the foot well for myself on Thursday at the auto show. Wonder how Lexus goofed this up. You are the third person to complain loudly about this. Disappointing.

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