driving the LS after 7 days in a rental
02-23-17, 06:07 AM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
driving the LS after 7 days in a rental
Here's what going back to the LS430 feels like after driving a 2017 Pathfinder for a week....
Car feels low, my seating position adds to this effect. I like seats with adjustable thigh support, so I tend to have the front raised, the rear dropped, and then the seatback reclined so that arms are extended....
Car smells. UH OH. I had thought this was the case before. What did the previous owner do? It's not cigarette smoke, at least I don't think so. Kinda like air fresheners? One time I left McDonald's chicken sandwiches (3) under the pass seat of my BMW in the summer when it was triple digits. Maybe I ought to look under the seats??!
Motor is smooth. The Pathfinder with CVT did not seem smooth. But it delivered a 21 mpg figure off the computer, which seems good for a AWD SUV.
Suddenly my drive experience seemed dated....the dash does remind me of a 1995 Camry, meaning none of the glitz and flight information that a 2017 car has, controls, etc.
That perfectly centered steering wheel caught my attention 2 miles into my commute. I swear the cost of an alignment is worth it for that alone!
Steering was different, maybe it should be a little heavier, but it's definitely ok...
On the way to work, I came up upon the BMW X5 Servicemobile for my dealer, so I tapped the horn and the person put down the window....hey Brother, how're you doing?
Fine I say, this is my daily driver.....oh, I didn't think it was a BMW with that wood steering wheel, have a great day!
The gentleman lives in my town, have seen him driving past my house 12 years in 3 generations of X5's (they're marked , finally met him last Dec. Said to give him a call on his cell if I ever need anything....they kind of look like this (but this is a X3)
http://www.bmw.com.co/content/dam/bm...ICE-MOBILE.jpg
All in all, the LS is a smooth cruiser, even when compared to a 2017 car. It does lack all the gizmos but if it's about driving, they still are very good at that....300k here we come!
Car feels low, my seating position adds to this effect. I like seats with adjustable thigh support, so I tend to have the front raised, the rear dropped, and then the seatback reclined so that arms are extended....
Car smells. UH OH. I had thought this was the case before. What did the previous owner do? It's not cigarette smoke, at least I don't think so. Kinda like air fresheners? One time I left McDonald's chicken sandwiches (3) under the pass seat of my BMW in the summer when it was triple digits. Maybe I ought to look under the seats??!
Motor is smooth. The Pathfinder with CVT did not seem smooth. But it delivered a 21 mpg figure off the computer, which seems good for a AWD SUV.
Suddenly my drive experience seemed dated....the dash does remind me of a 1995 Camry, meaning none of the glitz and flight information that a 2017 car has, controls, etc.
That perfectly centered steering wheel caught my attention 2 miles into my commute. I swear the cost of an alignment is worth it for that alone!
Steering was different, maybe it should be a little heavier, but it's definitely ok...
On the way to work, I came up upon the BMW X5 Servicemobile for my dealer, so I tapped the horn and the person put down the window....hey Brother, how're you doing?
Fine I say, this is my daily driver.....oh, I didn't think it was a BMW with that wood steering wheel, have a great day!
The gentleman lives in my town, have seen him driving past my house 12 years in 3 generations of X5's (they're marked , finally met him last Dec. Said to give him a call on his cell if I ever need anything....they kind of look like this (but this is a X3)
http://www.bmw.com.co/content/dam/bm...ICE-MOBILE.jpg
All in all, the LS is a smooth cruiser, even when compared to a 2017 car. It does lack all the gizmos but if it's about driving, they still are very good at that....300k here we come!
02-23-17, 11:15 AM
#2
Thanks but I'll stick with my "dated" driving experience. I've driven several very nice newer cars (including a 460). Sure it's an older car but nothing comes close to the comfort and engineering of a 430. It must have been fun to buy and drive a brand new one!
02-23-17, 09:59 PM
#3
Pole Position
I agree. I'd buy a new LS430 today if they still made them. The only thing that has come even remotely close wasn't even a Lexus. It was a Hyundai Equus.
02-24-17, 03:06 AM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I think what we all have in common is wanting longevity, reliability, affordability, otherwise why not, indulge in a A8L, right? On the Lexus website itself, "twin turbo V6" for the next LS. Even a buddy at work asked me to talk him out of it, he has a 535i (2016) and was thinking of going to a 430i. I think he's after the newer B technology over his N55. I pleaded c'mon your talking about going from an inline 6 to a 4 cyl? He was listening, but it wouldn't surprise me if next week we head out to lunch in a new 430....(bmw cracks me up with all these numbers, they don't represent displacement anymore, kinda like what Infiniti did)
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