I also live in NYC and use my 99 LS400 for daily commute to work with a around trip of roughly 30 miles. With mostly city driving i average 16-17 mpg with either A/C or heat on. I fill up every sunday, full tank and its barrely enough to get me through the week. My girlfriend keeps telling me to switch to her 08 Audi A4 for a daily commute, but i just hate the audi in comparison to my LS. I think you will have a hard time downsizing from your LS460 to a Camry, get 98-00 LS400, you won't regret it.

I couldn't let go of my 99 even after i got UL 04 LS, that's how much i like it.

 

Between those 2 cars I'd definitely choose the LS. I'd think long and hard about going a smaller car route for a commuter like others have suggested though.

 

How do you feel about your cars? Are you going to treat your new daily driver with kid gloves or have a don't care what happens to it attitude. The LS obviously would be a nicer car and have a nicer ride but if it got banged up during your commute in the snow how would you feel? If you will treat it like a beater might as well get a beater that drives better in the snow and gets better mileage. Nothings worse then having a luxury car and treating it like a Geo.

 

ooooooo ^^ Get that! ... awesome cars

 

i say nyou screw mpg and get a used lx470, great for those nyc roads, but not for yuour car, haha. not but really i wouldtell you to be practical with this second car, but for you to go from an ls460 to some econobox, well i know you would feel miserable. the ls is a good deal, but i think an es would be better. upkeep will be cheaper, mpg will be better, driving in snow will be easier, and well, if the es gets a bit banged up, god forbid i would hate for that to happen to mine, id feel alot better about it than if it happened to my ls