This is what i saw coming with Lexus, as with all companies. Watch the price of a new LS go into the same cost range as BMW and Benz. This defeats the purpose of why i was attracted to Lexus. I don't care about what people say about my toyota built luxury car. Now Lexus in 3-5 years will be another over priced ego boosting car like Benz and Bmw and then the quality will start to fall just like Benz and Bmw, by the way it has already started. I always took pride in shunning people when they asked why not a Benz or Bmw. The thrill will soon be gone, and I'll miss it, I truly will. Im cool with the changes but will miss the fact that us as Lexus buyers are some of the most secure about who we are in the luxury car market. We didn't need a $90,000 car to tell us that. Now it will soon change, the LS 460 is likely to touch that amount with upgrades on long wheelbase purchases. So long lexus you'll always be my first love (just as a car). Im thinking about dating Acura the next time i want a car. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!

 

My impression/understanding is that the "basic" (not long-wheelbase) LS460 will be priced in the $58K-$65K range, still well below the BMW 7-Series and MB S-Class. As with anything else(and, particularly cars), "features" carry an additional price; so, the fact that there will be a $90K+ LS doesn't frighten or offend me. Everything I've read about the LS460 has me thinking about buying this car. Although I've owned various Lexus cars over the last 12 years, and have test-driven an LS, I've never owned one of them. This car is seducing the hell out of me!

 

The LS 460 will cost less than a comparably equipped S-Class or 7-Series. The new S550 starts at $87,175 and the 750i (the short wheelbase) starts at $72,495. Equipped with options the prices go way up from there. The LS won't start at a price that high and won't be as expensive when equipped with options either. Lexus will still be less expensive than the competition.

 

only time will tell and it's almost pointless to argue here, but i would be surprised if a similarly equipped ls460 being as high priced as a fully loaded s500. i thought that car loaded is in the 100k range, no?

 

....base model LS460. I owned a S430 that came with nav as all S-Class models do also bose is standard. Things like Marl Lev/Nav are options and some of what is standard and already in the price of the S-Class is an option with the LS. I think that in about 5 years we will see then if prices don't start to rise. Remember in 1990 you could get a LS for $25,000 less than the least costly of Benz's. Those days are gone look at what im saying, the gap is closing. You have to compare apples to apples not oranges to banana's. You can't compare a base LS 430 or the new LS460 with a base LS 550 there not in the same class. You have to compare the long wheelbase version LS 460 with the S-Class. I owned both and the S-430 is roomier rear wise and front seat wise. Compare the same options in the cars and then make a choice on my thinking here. I'm pro consumer not pro major suit. Look at the price of the base GS. Just 7-8 years ago it was at $37,000, now it's around $44,000 and thats base price of what they have on the lots here in Va Beach, Va, which is not the place were the price is highest. Remember to compare the same options, and also an 8 speed car for almost the same price as the version there selling now is impossible. Lexus wants to compete with Benz, Bmw and Jag and also Audi. That was there intent from the start. They did what Taco Bell did in the Late 80's and 1990's. They low balled you in to see how good the product is then slowly raised prices to compete with the more established chains (McDonalds,Burger King, KFC and Wendy's etc.).All im saying is im not knocking business at all, im just saying Lexus can no longer have my business or money if they charge the same as the others because then they will be the others. Leaving a market for the next Lexus, and I belive if Acura would step it's game up and make a bigger TL and RL and if you have'nt heard the Acura Legend will be back in the next 5 years. I seen the other day what the RL gives you for about $46,000- $50,000 and with Honda/Acura quality its a great time for Acura to take Lexus' spot. Be careful Lexus Im not the only one who feels this way. Don't get me wrong you make great cars but the reason we loved you from jump was the price and quality, not the fact that you were like Benz or Bmw or Jag or even Audi, we didn't have to be told you were better we believed it already. Its Benz and Bmw who try to tell themselves your not as good and try to make the consumers belive it to, your playing there game and your on offense. And they already are saying the new LS 460 looks like a better version of the 7 series Bmw.Your Tiger Woods lexus. Benz and Bmw are Jack Nicholas. Both are great and one is a legend, you are a legend making your history, now stop measuring what your cars should be based on these older versions of what cars usta be you rep what it is now. I still will love you though together or apart.

 

I'm thinking that as the LS goes to the upper levels, the ES is at base, and GS in between...perhaps Lexus is thinking to position the GS up somewhat...

I'd thought the ES would go upmarket, and in some ways it is 'better than the original LS' but it has stayed close to entry-luxury...

 

Good outlook enigma, i didnt even think of that the new ES is better than the first LS. I guess we all are at the mercy of the price they pick for each car they sell in there line-up.I hope I'm wrong about what i forsee. I did predicted this a couple of years back though but until the pricing arrives I'm wrong, and am hoping to be wrong once the pricing of the new LS 460 comes out with options figured into the price comparable to the S-Class, 7 Series and Jag and also the Audi models . Remember guys the only way to truly tell what the real price is, you have to add comparable options and then check the prices.(GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME)

 

The Lexus will be priced significantly lower that the Euro competition. Lexus already has outsold the Germans for six years in a row. It is they that need to find a way to unseat Lexus. The problems Mercedes have been experiencing for the last three years are not encouraging for the three pointed star. I have heard of three separate suspension failures already on the "S" Class flagship that just arrived. Acura has always been a value brand. Honda and Acura just dominated the new Consumer Reports rankings too. They have avoided making a V8 even though they are capable. The RL is their top of the line and it's not selling well as new competitors have entered the market including Lexus and Infiniti in that price range. Acura doesn't have an LS category car and if they bring one it will be difficult to wrest market share from Lexus, BMW and Mercedes. Infiniti has tried numerous times to go upclass with the Q45 and each time they are handed their head. Lexus is improving all of the time. Soon they will have the first Super Lux hybrid. Anyway your 2001 LS430 will last as long as you want it too...after all it's a Lexus LS. It doesn't make sense that a "value " buyer like yourself would choose any of the Euros as they are very pricey and currently unreliable. If you want to go down market to an Acura then that is a different comparison but it's simply not an LS level car.

Rock

 

that's exactly what we are talking about right? apple to apple. cars with SIMILAR options loaded.

a fully loaded gs430 (or gs450h) will be around 58k msrp. the counterpart from mb (e500) and bmw (550i) will be far more, from my understanding in the 70k range easily. that's whopping 10k

same with the ls. if you want, just wait till the prices of ls460l comes out and price one with similar features to the s class, i won't be surprised to see about 20k difference

 

Great points guy and I hope thats true about what you guys think on pricing of the LS 460. After all options compared to the S-class and Bmw and Jag etc. is going to be interesting. I'm curious as to what they will do with the price of the hybrid version. Remember I dont want to leave lexus, I just dint want what attracted me to the car company to go away. Looks of the cars changing is o.k, the price is my concern. Also I hope you guys will be right, remember I like my car (2001 LS 430) and will always love the Old GS and ES models. I just think the charm of lexus will go away in 5 years, im not talking when they release the new cars in the next to years, im speaking of 5 years after that.(GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME)

 

well for sure i am crossing my fingers as well. one thing i noteice is that (for example, the current ls430) they do have much wider range for people to choose from, from a base 55k model (if you can find one) all the way to over 70k for the ul. and for the ls460, i would expect to see even wider range as well, especially when the ls600h comes out. i think that's not a bad thing, it gives people more choices and while keeping the car affordable to most, it leaves options for people who want to spend.

on the other hand though, i also notice that mb and bimmer they do have EVEN WIDER range of selections and price differences. there are some stuff on those cars that's not even on lexus. that's why when all cars are out and what not, we have to be careful in pricing them out to have about the same equipments. that's the right way to compare them

 

Good points Rominl, lets hope for the best. The LS600 is going to be interesting to say the least,price wise i am curious about this car. Lexus in my opinion has done its first true overhaul of its cars, that may be why i feel the way i do about the pricing. I must admit the look of all the changes so far on a scale of 1-10 is in my opinion is 8. They have made an effort to make there cars look better, because the New 2007 ES and the new IS models are special.The GS grew on me and now looks good to me.(GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME)

 

yup, i am waiting bad for the new ls too. IS is way too small for me, and ES is not really my cup of tea. having the gs400 and sc430 now, i would really want to get the ls next. if possible of course i want the ls600h, but we have to see the price. looking at the mb setup, i don't think it's going to be able to compete with the power of s600, so i want to see how they price the car. if it's over 110k, then i think it's way too much. even at 100k i think it's stretching, but i guess people will start to look at it. though for me, not sure if i wanna shell out that kind of money for the car