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I agree. The novelty of driving a high performance V8 as a daily wears out pretty quick.
I'm okay with paying for regular maintenance on a vehicle. I just don't want to keep going back to get stuff fix out outside of the regular maintenance too often. The Lexus has treated me real good in terms of long term ownership and trade in value when I want something new.
The 540i xDrive, if I don't find one that has all the features I want, I'm afraid I'm not going to keep it very long and will take a hit on trade in. The M550 is easier to find with the features I want but the high performance V8 is probably going to be more troublesome.
This is why I almost bought a Lexus GS350 again. But I certainly would like some more updated tech on the GS. So it's a good thing I pulled out of that deal.
I'm looking for a 2022 certified LS500. If I can find one locally to test drive, I would. But really, the 2025 LS500 is the model I want.
I'm thinking of leasing something for 3 years to try it out and if it doesn't work out, I will then get a used '25 LS500 as long term car.
Has never worn out for me lol.
There is no reason why inherently a V8 is higher maintenance than a V6. The addition of two cylinders doesn't change the maintenance needs beyond needing more oil and two extra spark plugs. It just so happens that with BMW the B58 has a better track record than their particular V8s, but the vast majorty of the issues with their V8s are in the past.
IMO a TTV6 LS500 is an even trade with a german V8 in terms of potential long term repair costs, and the product is nowhere near as good.
So this may not help much but my friend works at a big Lexus dealer (they have over 300 loaner vehicles) and I asked him could he ask about the reliability of the LS500. He reached out to the head mechanic at his dealer and he stated “no major problems but he wouldn’t buy”. Not great detail but that’s all I got.
They have issues relating to the engine blowing up, it's (on top of the fact it's only a 6) the main reason I left Lexus, the second I found out the TTV8 was canceled I went German.
Apparently the TTV8 is still happening but it will be in a $200k+ supercar. Might be called the LF R?
I have the same opinion you do about Lexus TTV6. I will admit I've never actually driven something with the V35A in it so maybe I could give it a chance.
Apparently the TTV8 is still happening but it will be in a $200k+ supercar. Might be called the LF R?
I have the same opinion you do about Lexus TTV6. I will admit I've never actually driven something with the V35A in it so maybe I could give it a chance.
I test drove both versions of the LS500, AWD and RWD and they are not particularly impressive power wise. No faster than a RWD 460 and way less coherent power delivery, chassis was good but it felt more like a 5/E class tier car overall. My hope was an LSF but it never happened
@NickL , what do you think of that red one? Only 20k miles and that price is good. If I had to choose between a very gently used M550 and an LS 500, I'd pick the 550 every time.
Apparently the TTV8 is still happening but it will be in a $200k+ supercar. Might be called the LF R?
I have the same opinion you do about Lexus TTV6. I will admit I've never actually driven something with the V35A in it so maybe I could give it a chance.
It’s a very good engine. Smooth, powerful, refined. It’s just incredibly complex and down the line is going to be just as expensive to work on as a German engine. Turbo replacement for instance is engine out.
@NickL , what do you think of that red one? Only 20k miles and that price is good. If I had to choose between a very gently used M550 and an LS 500, I'd pick the 550 every time.
Yeah, there’s a couple of M550 locally that would be good for me to look at IF I want to get into the N63 engine.
But I’m getting far off from the reason why I’m looking to replace the LS460. Mainly fuel consumption and perhaps something more maintenance cost friendly. The M340i is really a nice vehicle but that non telescopic steering wheel though….so that’s why I focused on the 540i.
The truth is, I’m not in the situation where I NEED a car. So I’m making this way more complicated than it has to me.
Trust me, I’ve lost some sleep thinking what I should get. One day, I’m all BMW and excited to try something new. Another day, I’m all Lexus and stay with what I know.
The ES300H has everything I want including 45MPG. LMAO.
It's a tough choice. If I were in the market now for a sedan to replace my GS, I don't know what I'd do. Lexus no longer offers a sedan that appeals to me, so I'd look elsewhere or, like you, look on the used market. I don't love the styling direction BMW is going, and I am not really a fan of Mercedes styling either. I'm not really into Audi. Where does that leave me? I'd either ditch the sedan idea and get a fun coupe, or just go pick up another GS or perhaps a GS-F. Or maybe just nothing at all and daily the Tundra (which I pretty much do already)...
It's a tough choice. If I were in the market now for a sedan to replace my GS, I don't know what I'd do. Lexus no longer offers a sedan that appeals to me, so I'd look elsewhere or, like you, look on the used market. I don't love the styling direction BMW is going, and I am not really a fan of Mercedes styling either. I'm not really into Audi. Where does that leave me? I'd either ditch the sedan idea and get a fun coupe, or just go pick up another GS or perhaps a GS-F. Or maybe just nothing at all and daily the Tundra (which I pretty much do already)...
Or be paid to own a 5th Generation GS in the form of a mirai.
Or be paid to own a 5th Generation GS in the form of a mirai.
joking of course.
LOL...the Mirai, and what could have been...
At current, no plans to part with my GS. It's my third one, and I've had it for almost 5 years. I love it every time I drive it. Only 7k miles on it. My favorite car I've ever owned.
At current, no plans to part with my GS. It's my third one, and I've had it for almost 5 years. I love it every time I drive it. Only 7k miles on it. My favorite car I've ever owned.
Lexus was proud of the 4th gen GS product so much it was on display at the Lexus International Gallery Aoyama next to other big weights like the LFA.
I dislike the cliche, but they truly dont build them like they used to.
Lexus was proud of the 4th gen GS product so much it was on display at the Lexus International Gallery Aoyama next to other big weights like the LFA.
.
Lexus made an era with no twin turbo V8. The 5.0 V8 never lived up the Mercedes and BMW offerings. On the other hand, the V6 hybrid was ahead of the times
It’s a very good engine. Smooth, powerful, refined. It’s just incredibly complex and down the line is going to be just as expensive to work on as a German engine. Turbo replacement for instance is engine out.
Yep and a German TTV6 is 5 hours in your garage for the same job....
but that’s all I got.
