When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
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
Yes it did, the 5.0 was perfectly competitive for the cycle it came out in. Lexus just didn't update it
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)...
@JDR76 I'm in the same boat as you with regards to the GS. If and when I ever have to replace it, it's going to be hard to find a suitable replacement. An equivalent optioned, interior and build quality car is going to cost a lot more than what we purchased it for back in 2020. Handles great with the stability and AWD hard to beat - no problems driving through fresh powder after a major snow storm in Vermont this past winter.
Last edited by BlueIS05; Mar 18, 2025 at 05:46 PM.
haven't followed this all closely but sure seems like a lot of different cars have been discussed.
Originally Posted by NickL
The novelty of driving a high performance V8 as a daily wears out pretty quick.
i don't understand this comment. why would it wear off? a TTV8 is smooth, powerful, quiet. the bmw b58 may get lots of plause here as a reliable and powerful TTV6, but if i had the option of either, i'd take the TTV8. of course the TTV8 is going to cost more. if reliability is a concern, get a long extended warranty or lease one. or both, lease, then if you still love it at the end, buy it out (or buy another used one if the buy out price is bad which for a bmw it may well be since they make good lease deals by having an inflated residual [buy out] price).
The Lexus has treated me real good in terms of long term ownership and trade in value when I want something new.
ok well what was true in the past isn't necessarily true now for the next car.
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.
you're all over the map, lol
why get a '22 LS500 if what you really want is a '25 LS500? and why do you prefer the '25? is it just because it will be new?
Originally Posted by NickL
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.
you just ruled out bmw outside of a lease and you ruled out the M550 which gets 17/25 fuel economy. i was at lunch today with someone who just sold their 2015 bmw because the repairs it had would cost more than the entire value of the car. amazingly, they bought another bmw, an X1, which is not a vehicle that impresses me (a mini with the double kidney grille ).
The M340i is really a nice vehicle but that non telescopic steering wheel though….so that’s why I focused on the 540i.
going a size up on a bmw is a huge cost for a telescoping steering wheel.
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.
you are indeed, lol.
The ES300H has everything I want including 45MPG. LMAO.
it's the classic left brain vs right brain problem.
the es300h is super practical, efficient, quite 'nice', expected to have excellent reliability, but pretty slow and not exciting. 0-60 over 8 seconds.
it's a camry in a nice suit.
an m550i is comfortable, luxurious, FAST, will likely have good reliability for 3-4 years then after that it's a crapshoot. 0-60 under 4 seconds.
there is almost nothing similar about these 2 cars, lol.
a car in a flashy suit.
Originally Posted by Striker223
I've worked WAY more on LSs than these lol!
only in your universe are all german cars with more than 4 cylinders more reliable than lexus.
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.
Originally Posted by FrankReynoldsCPA
I think if the LS500 is fast/sporty enough, a 540i would be more than enough. The non M brakes should be perfectly good.
Go B58. It’s fun when you want it to be and efficient when you need it to be.
That’s with having the cruise set at 85 for over 200+ miles.
One thing about BMW unlike Lexus, when it says you have 3-4 miles to empty, you’re about to run out!! No hidden reserve like Lexus.
The B58 is an I6 BTW not a V6. It’s a great engine but I would always choose the V8 if it’s available. The V8 just elevates any car.
He wants fuel economy as well as fun plus reliability. Even you guys told me to go B58 on the X7 lol.
I’ll admit I’ve thought about the TTV8 several times after the B58. May be a good thing we didn’t test drive it. 🫣
With that being said, very happy with the B58 mild hybrid thus far.
Originally Posted by Toys4RJill
I like the Lexus/Toyota way much better.
Jill as you know I’ll use the entire tank. The guessing games sometimes get old. Unless I’m about to go on a road trip I can’t remember last time I’ve refueled with a 1/4 tank remaining.
For a short time I used to refuel at half tank in my 2nd gen but 15mpg around town and frequent trips to the pump got old. I bought a cheap 5th gen 2dr Accord 5spd and parked the truck.
BMW just seems to have difficulty making a reliable V8. If you only own it for a few years and keep it under warranty you're probably fine though. If you're like me and own cars out of warranty and keep them a while, the B58 makes a lot more sense. A stage 1 tuned 540i is going to be around 410-420 HP and 450-460 lb/ft at the crank. With no hit to reliability.
I do wish I had the V8 rowdiness, but I do have my truck for that.
BMW just seems to have difficulty making a reliable V8. If you only own it for a few years and keep it under warranty you're probably fine though. If you're like me and own cars out of warranty and keep them a while, the B58 makes a lot more sense. A stage 1 tuned 540i is going to be around 410-420 HP and 450-460 lb/ft at the crank. With no hit to reliability.
I do wish I had the V8 rowdiness, but I do have my truck for that.
Theres really not any evidence that this is the case any longer. It was 20 years ago, and that reputation has sat with them.
amazingly, they bought another bmw, an X1, which is not a vehicle that impresses me (a mini with the double kidney grille 
