I did the unthinkable
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 904
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Sorry, OP...
My point with the sales figures is that the Lexus LS has gone from the highest numbers to the lowest numbers but nobody seems to have noticed that. It is my own theory that lackluster performance is the reason for this. Could I be wrong? Certainly - but I don't think so. The LS is a great car in pretty much every other way. Performance, the one thing that I find the car lacks, is the only thing I see missing.
My point with the sales figures is that the Lexus LS has gone from the highest numbers to the lowest numbers but nobody seems to have noticed that. It is my own theory that lackluster performance is the reason for this. Could I be wrong? Certainly - but I don't think so. The LS is a great car in pretty much every other way. Performance, the one thing that I find the car lacks, is the only thing I see missing.
CL Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,262
Likes: 480
From: MA
I don't think there are many owners who bought an LS for performance (except maybe for some F Sport buyers). I had a '95 Infiniti Q45a and kept it for 4 years after getting my LS. From a performance standpoint that car ran circles around the LS. However, it couldn't begin to compete with the ride, technology, comfort and interior of the LS. Those were the reasons I bought the LS (and I liked the exterior styling).
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 904
Likes: 3
From: Florida
I'm due to trade up in July and it appears I'm a little too early to get whatever "next generation" drive train Lexus has for us...
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 904
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Right, I know about the difference in performance between the LS430 and LS460. There's not much of a real world difference, however. At least not in my experience. Both cars perform very similarly. When I bought the LS430, performance was on par with the mainstream, non-AMG S430 and S500. Nowadays, it's a very different story.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,097
Likes: 3,871
From: Maryland
They don't make the S430 anymore, and the S550 is considerably more than the S Class was back in the day. The S Class started about $10k more than the LS back then, nowadays it's twice that. Like I said, the LS460 outperformed the S350...which replaced the S430 as the entry level S until the W221.
Sounds to me like you need to buy an S550. Complaining that the LS is not like an S550 doesn't make any sense IMHO.
Sounds to me like you need to buy an S550. Complaining that the LS is not like an S550 doesn't make any sense IMHO.
Last edited by SW17LS; Mar 3, 2014 at 05:27 PM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 904
Likes: 3
From: Florida
The LS doesn't "need" to be like an S550 but I'm pretty sure that's where Lexus is aiming anyway. The 7-Series and A8 have a stiffer ride but the S550 is more luxurious and soft - like the LS... I'd like to see the LS keep up power-wise. Maybe they're just a little slow. As mentioned (by I believe you) there's an all-new LS coming in the not-too-distant future. I'm sure it'll have more power to remain competitive in the segment...
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 557
Likes: 2
From: Midwest
Sorry, OP...
My point with the sales figures is that the Lexus LS has gone from the highest numbers to the lowest numbers but nobody seems to have noticed that. It is my own theory that lackluster performance is the reason for this. Could I be wrong? Certainly - but I don't think so. The LS is a great car in pretty much every other way. Performance, the one thing that I find the car lacks, is the only thing I see missing.
My point with the sales figures is that the Lexus LS has gone from the highest numbers to the lowest numbers but nobody seems to have noticed that. It is my own theory that lackluster performance is the reason for this. Could I be wrong? Certainly - but I don't think so. The LS is a great car in pretty much every other way. Performance, the one thing that I find the car lacks, is the only thing I see missing.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 904
Likes: 3
From: Florida
...and you're getting it ALL with the S550. That's one hell of a car...
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,958
Likes: 502
From: Maryland
The LS doesn't "need" to be like an S550 but I'm pretty sure that's where Lexus is aiming anyway. The 7-Series and A8 have a stiffer ride but the S550 is more luxurious and soft - like the LS... I'd like to see the LS keep up power-wise. Maybe they're just a little slow. As mentioned (by I believe you) there's an all-new LS coming in the not-too-distant future. I'm sure it'll have more power to remain competitive in the segment...
