2008 LX 570 Official Review Thread
12-20-07, 07:08 AM
#1
2008 LX 570 Official Review Thread
Mods, can we sticky this?
Considering that all of the embargos are lifted today, I thought it might be useful to start a thread listing all of the reviews...so here goes:
Motor Trend
Sure, she's a dancing hippo, but she's light on her big feet and well turned out.
A jet-lagged, carb-loaded mind is wander-prone, so while the Lexus rep described how the cross-linked variable-rate shocks use a spring-rate valve to help limit dive, squat, and roll in the new LX 570, improving its dynamic handling, I daydreamed first of hippopotami in ballerina skirts, then of the Rubenesque Motormouth Maybelle dancing to "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful" in the musical adaptation of John Waters's "Hairspray." This largest Lexus has no more business vamoosing through chicanes than it does scaling 45-degree slopes, fording two-foot-deep streams, or straddling nine-inch-tall rocks, and yet it's capable of doing all the above.
In fact, it seems to have been optimized for such bushwacking, with innovations like Crawl Control (think three-speed downhill-assist that also works uphill), Active Height Control (which can tip-toe three inches above or kneel camel-like 2.4 inches below normal ride height. "What percentage of your buyers go off-road?" a colleague asks. "Um, I don't think we have numbers on that," the presenter dodges. Later we tackle ranch trails carved to showcase the LX's 24-inch chassis articulation (the max one wheel can deflect without another leaving the ground) and are impressed.
The more pertinent trial involves hooking up an 8500-pound trailer (that's 800 pounds more than an AWD Escalade can haul, 300-400 less than Lincoln's Navigator or Infiniti's QX56 can manage). The quad-cam 383-horse, 5.7-liter borrowed from the Tundra is up to the challenge, though one has to wonder why the vehicle wasn't similarly optimized for this more likely task with an integrated trailer-brake controller along with its standard class IV hitch.
Regular commuters and vacationers haven't been overlooked in the innovations. An optional 180-degree camera in the grille looks both ways when exiting a blind alley, and another shows you the passenger-side curb. Power assists the middle-row seats fore and aft (four inches) and folds the third-row jump seats up against the side windows. A Pre-Collision System option is claimed as another first in this class, as are active front head restraints and 10 airbags.
The LX 570 is not fun to drive. It's hyper-quiet, comfortable, and capable all out of proportion to its buyers' needs, always ready to pirouette or plie on demand.
Base Price $70,000 (est)
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 7-pass, 4-door, SUV
Engine 5.7L/383-hp/403-lb-ft DOHC 32-valve V-8
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight 6000 lb (mfr)
Wheelbase 112.2
Length x Width x Height 196.5 x 77.6 x 73.4 in
0-60 mph 7.4 sec (mfr est)
EPA City/Hwy Econ 12/18 mpg
CO2 Emissions 1.37 lb/mile (est)
On Sale In U.S. January 2008
Considering that all of the embargos are lifted today, I thought it might be useful to start a thread listing all of the reviews...so here goes:
Motor Trend
Sure, she's a dancing hippo, but she's light on her big feet and well turned out.
A jet-lagged, carb-loaded mind is wander-prone, so while the Lexus rep described how the cross-linked variable-rate shocks use a spring-rate valve to help limit dive, squat, and roll in the new LX 570, improving its dynamic handling, I daydreamed first of hippopotami in ballerina skirts, then of the Rubenesque Motormouth Maybelle dancing to "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful" in the musical adaptation of John Waters's "Hairspray." This largest Lexus has no more business vamoosing through chicanes than it does scaling 45-degree slopes, fording two-foot-deep streams, or straddling nine-inch-tall rocks, and yet it's capable of doing all the above.
In fact, it seems to have been optimized for such bushwacking, with innovations like Crawl Control (think three-speed downhill-assist that also works uphill), Active Height Control (which can tip-toe three inches above or kneel camel-like 2.4 inches below normal ride height. "What percentage of your buyers go off-road?" a colleague asks. "Um, I don't think we have numbers on that," the presenter dodges. Later we tackle ranch trails carved to showcase the LX's 24-inch chassis articulation (the max one wheel can deflect without another leaving the ground) and are impressed.
The more pertinent trial involves hooking up an 8500-pound trailer (that's 800 pounds more than an AWD Escalade can haul, 300-400 less than Lincoln's Navigator or Infiniti's QX56 can manage). The quad-cam 383-horse, 5.7-liter borrowed from the Tundra is up to the challenge, though one has to wonder why the vehicle wasn't similarly optimized for this more likely task with an integrated trailer-brake controller along with its standard class IV hitch.
Regular commuters and vacationers haven't been overlooked in the innovations. An optional 180-degree camera in the grille looks both ways when exiting a blind alley, and another shows you the passenger-side curb. Power assists the middle-row seats fore and aft (four inches) and folds the third-row jump seats up against the side windows. A Pre-Collision System option is claimed as another first in this class, as are active front head restraints and 10 airbags.
The LX 570 is not fun to drive. It's hyper-quiet, comfortable, and capable all out of proportion to its buyers' needs, always ready to pirouette or plie on demand.
Base Price $70,000 (est)
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 7-pass, 4-door, SUV
Engine 5.7L/383-hp/403-lb-ft DOHC 32-valve V-8
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight 6000 lb (mfr)
Wheelbase 112.2
Length x Width x Height 196.5 x 77.6 x 73.4 in
0-60 mph 7.4 sec (mfr est)
EPA City/Hwy Econ 12/18 mpg
CO2 Emissions 1.37 lb/mile (est)
On Sale In U.S. January 2008
Last edited by MPLexus301; 12-20-07 at 07:11 AM.
12-22-07, 06:45 AM
#3
Pole Position
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
12-23-07, 02:15 PM
#4
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Wash DC / Northern VA
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Too Much Too Late
Looks like Lexus may have "jumped the shark" with this SUV. I can hear the Press now "Lexus debuts oversize SUV five years too late." Seriously, this should've been delivered way back when. Who's gonna pay $80k+ for a hyper-engined gas guzzler (12mpg city) with regular gas at $3 now and headed towards $4 this Spring ?! No one that's who ! This is already the worst selling Lexus before the first one's delivered ! Very, very disappointed with this LX offering. Should've either come out as a hybrid or with dynamic displacement technology. It's foolishly obscene to market a 12mpg SUV these days. I'm going to the Angry Room ...
12-23-07, 10:55 PM
#6
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MIchigan
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looks like Lexus may have "jumped the shark" with this SUV. I can hear the Press now "Lexus debuts oversize SUV five years too late." Seriously, this should've been delivered way back when. Who's gonna pay $80k+ for a hyper-engined gas guzzler (12mpg city) with regular gas at $3 now and headed towards $4 this Spring ?! No one that's who ! This is already the worst selling Lexus before the first one's delivered ! Very, very disappointed with this LX offering. Should've either come out as a hybrid or with dynamic displacement technology. It's foolishly obscene to market a 12mpg SUV these days. I'm going to the Angry Room ...
Trending Topics
12-24-07, 01:13 AM
#8
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: dubai
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hi everyone,
i just want to say that if ELUDIUMQ36,if u cant afford one so blaim on this beautiful suv and try to earn more.U will see this suv on roads like u see mercedes or bmw on roads.
i just want to say that if ELUDIUMQ36,if u cant afford one so blaim on this beautiful suv and try to earn more.U will see this suv on roads like u see mercedes or bmw on roads.
12-24-07, 07:28 AM
#9
I don't think the gas mileage is going to affect sales, looking at the streets of the North Shore of Long Island there are plently of current LX470 models out and GLs, and Range Rovers so I doubt sales would be affected. Anyway I think it looks pretty good in person, if I had some cash laying around why not.
12-27-07, 10:50 PM
#11
New LX is amazing
New '08 came in today and '05 is for sale.
Considering what else is out there and the amount of comfort the new LX provides, it's a great deal. It's not a cheap date, but neither is the Range Rover or Mercedes. BMW doesn't really have anything in the class, but my car wont be in for warranty work either...
Also, resale is amazing, the '05 is worth $7000+- more than I expected.
Considering what else is out there and the amount of comfort the new LX provides, it's a great deal. It's not a cheap date, but neither is the Range Rover or Mercedes. BMW doesn't really have anything in the class, but my car wont be in for warranty work either...
Also, resale is amazing, the '05 is worth $7000+- more than I expected.
12-28-07, 04:00 AM
#12
Pole Position
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New '08 came in today and '05 is for sale.
Considering what else is out there and the amount of comfort the new LX provides, it's a great deal. It's not a cheap date, but neither is the Range Rover or Mercedes. BMW doesn't really have anything in the class, but my car wont be in for warranty work either...
Also, resale is amazing, the '05 is worth $7000+- more than I expected.
Considering what else is out there and the amount of comfort the new LX provides, it's a great deal. It's not a cheap date, but neither is the Range Rover or Mercedes. BMW doesn't really have anything in the class, but my car wont be in for warranty work either...
Also, resale is amazing, the '05 is worth $7000+- more than I expected.
In the 2006 Lexus added a bit more torque and HP.
I am planning to trade-in my '06 LX470 for the amazing LX570 .
12-28-07, 04:26 AM
#13
Pole Position
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: CT
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
12-28-07, 07:23 AM
#14
Dealer offered me $37,k for it but the problem is that they already have an EXACT '05 like mine at the dealership they are selling for $48,k (they lowered from $50,k yesterday) (both cars have 47,000 miles)(I bought 11/04)
I figured I'd get $35,k but I have a friend that buys all my old Lexus' that will go $42,k. I'm just greedy and trying for $45,k for a week first.
It's a great car and I wouldn't consider selling it, I just know as more '08's come out and more previous LX owners sell, that will drop the value of the '05.
I figured I'd get $35,k but I have a friend that buys all my old Lexus' that will go $42,k. I'm just greedy and trying for $45,k for a week first.
It's a great car and I wouldn't consider selling it, I just know as more '08's come out and more previous LX owners sell, that will drop the value of the '05.
