Topic: Test Drive: 2014 Lexus LS 460 AWD

[Northernridge]

I see that Lexus is now working on a GS F...not F Sport but F which will have north of 500hp. The new GS doesn't seem to be getting much love but I like it.

[bd2]

The LS460 is still in its 3rd gen - it just had a 2nd more extensive refresh, altho the powertrain pretty much remained the same and is woefully behind the competition.

[rrocket]

The LS460 is still in its 3rd gen - it just had a 2nd more extensive refresh, altho the powertrain pretty much remained the same and is woefully behind the competition.

Maybe the HP...but the 8 speed tranny is plenty good still.

And the competition is woefully behind Lexus on pricing, reliability, etc..

[dirtyjeffer]

one of the bosses at my work has a GS350...maybe 2007ish...the car looks brand new and still looks good (in terms of style, shape, etc).

[johngenx]

One thing Toyota keeps doing is retaining the things that work well and not changing for the sake of change.  I'm past my days of letting manufacturers experiment on me as a consumer.

[Fobroader]

I love this car, in the luxo barge class this would be my choice. Lexus reliability, looks good and the interior is sweet, sounds good to me. Great review.

[Oldsguy]

The LS460 is still in its 3rd gen - it just had a 2nd more extensive refresh, altho the powertrain pretty much remained the same and is woefully behind the competition.

rrocket is a Lexus fanboi... they could slap a lemon-sucking grille on a 4-speed Corolla, bolt in some leather chairs and double the price and he would still be singing its praises... no reasoning with those types. 

[OliverD]

The LS460 is still in its 3rd gen - it just had a 2nd more extensive refresh, altho the powertrain pretty much remained the same and is woefully behind the competition.

It's actually in its 4th generation. I'm assuming you're lumping the first and second gen models together, but the '95-'00 model was pretty much a complete redesign despite looking largely the same as the original.

[bd2]

The LS460 is still in its 3rd gen - it just had a 2nd more extensive refresh, altho the powertrain pretty much remained the same and is woefully behind the competition.

Maybe the HP...but the 8 speed tranny is plenty good still.

And the competition is woefully behind Lexus on pricing, reliability, etc..

The S Class has proven to be pretty reliable (we'll see about the new one with all the gadgets) and it's easier to be reliable when one doesn't make constant powertrain updates.

As for pricing, just shows that Lexus can't command the prices of BMW, much less Mercedes.

[Noto]

rrocket is a Lexus fanboi... they could slap a lemon-sucking grille on a 4-speed Corolla, bolt in some leather chairs and double the price and he would still be singing its praises... no reasoning with those types. 

That sounds lovely.  I'll take one.  With AWD, please.

[EV Dan]

The LS460 is still in its 3rd gen - it just had a 2nd more extensive refresh, altho the powertrain pretty much remained the same and is woefully behind the competition.

Maybe the HP...but the 8 speed tranny is plenty good still.

And the competition is woefully behind Lexus on pricing, reliability, etc..

... It's ahead of the competition on resale value but behind on the price of parts 
Speaking of HP. My driving is not exactly nice and calm and yet I floored it maybe 2 or 3 times. There are no autobahns around here and I'm kind of certain I will never take it to the track. So while German luxury makes are fighting for their 0-60 bragging rights, the majority of our well-off population will likely be quite content with a smooth and reliable NA V8.
 

[mixmanmash]

The LS460 is still in its 3rd gen - it just had a 2nd more extensive refresh, altho the powertrain pretty much remained the same and is woefully behind the competition.

Maybe the HP...but the 8 speed tranny is plenty good still.

And the competition is woefully behind Lexus on pricing, reliability, etc..

... It's ahead of the competition on resale value but behind on the price of parts 
Speaking of HP. My driving is not exactly nice and calm and yet I floored it maybe 2 or 3 times. There are no autobahns around here and I'm kind of certain I will never take it to the track. So while German luxury makes are fighting for their 0-60 bragging rights, the majority of our well-off population will likely be quite content with a smooth and reliable NA V8.

This is true, especially against Mercedes Benz.  I remember Consumer Reports had an article years ago comparing parts prices from luxury manufacturers.  The picked midsized vehicles.  Acura TL was the cheapest followed by Mercedes Benz E-Class.  The Lexus GS was high up there, with Cadillac, Lincoln and BMW.

That said, even to this day, I find MB parts prices even cheaper than Nissan.   

[EV Dan]

I meant the Lexus parts are priced lower, since some are shared with Toyota, but I don't own a Lexus (yet). A friend told me a Cayenne oil filter cost 30 bucks, a plain oil filter!!! 

[mixmanmash]

I meant the Lexus parts are priced lower, since some are shared with Toyota, but I don't own a Lexus (yet). A friend told me a Cayenne oil filter cost 30 bucks, a plain oil filter!!! 

Ask him how much an air filter costs.  Lol.  I bet the capacity of that oil filter is significantly higher given the extended service intervals on the FGCs.

[EV Dan]

I meant the Lexus parts are priced lower, since some are shared with Toyota, but I don't own a Lexus (yet). A friend told me a Cayenne oil filter cost 30 bucks, a plain oil filter!!! 

Ask him how much an air filter costs.  Lol.  I bet the capacity of that oil filter is significantly higher given the extended service intervals on the FGCs.

He now drives a GM SUV. 3 bucks. Could the capacity be 10 times higher?

[mixmanmash]

I meant the Lexus parts are priced lower, since some are shared with Toyota, but I don't own a Lexus (yet). A friend told me a Cayenne oil filter cost 30 bucks, a plain oil filter!!! 

Ask him how much an air filter costs.  Lol.  I bet the capacity of that oil filter is significantly higher given the extended service intervals on the FGCs.

He now drives a GM SUV. 3 bucks. Could the capacity be 10 times higher?

I doubt it is $3 for an oil filter on a GM SUV.  Probably closer to $10.

And hopefully not the same filter they have been using on the new Corvettes...

[EV Dan]

I meant the Lexus parts are priced lower, since some are shared with Toyota, but I don't own a Lexus (yet). A friend told me a Cayenne oil filter cost 30 bucks, a plain oil filter!!! 

Ask him how much an air filter costs.  Lol.  I bet the capacity of that oil filter is significantly higher given the extended service intervals on the FGCs.

He now drives a GM SUV. 3 bucks. Could the capacity be 10 times higher?

I doubt it is $3 for an oil filter on a GM SUV.  Probably closer to $10.

And hopefully not the same filter they have been using on the new Corvettes...

Why doubt? Look up an oil filter for a modern 5.3L GM V8. They start from $1.78 on rockauto. 

[rrocket]

^^I wouldn't run a POS $1.78 oil filter on my car..

[mixmanmash]

^^I wouldn't run a POS $1.78 oil filter on my car..

This. I am talking OEM filters.
I talked to my friend who works for an oil analysis lab.  They also analyze used filters and you would be amazed at the variance in filtration from the cheap units to the OEM or pricier units.

[rrocket]

^^I wouldn't run a POS $1.78 oil filter on my car..

This. I am talking OEM filters.
I talked to my friend who works for an oil analysis lab.  They also analyze used filters and you would be amazed at the variance in filtration from the cheap units to the OEM or pricier units.

I only use Amsoil synthetic filters or Purolator PureOne filters.