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.

 

IMO, yes you are wrong.

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).

 

Same here. I didn't buy my 05 LS for performance - but performance was there to begin with. If it wasn't competitive, I probably wouldn't have bought it. I agree that most LS buyers are different than I am...

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...

 

Your LS460 is much higher performance than your LS430 was lol

It's just not the right car for you anymore. That's fine...just don't blame the car.

 

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.

 

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.

 

...that's the thing... The base S-Class in America has continuously moved forward in the performance category but the LS has not. Hasn't the LS always been kind of an S-Class competitor?

The better it gets, the more it costs. It's overpriced in my opinion, however...

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...

 

Actually, performance is not real high up on the list of my preferences. I am all for luxury, comfort, the latest breakthrough technology, and latest safety features. That is why I am buying the new S550.

 

...and you're getting it ALL with the S550. That's one hell of a car...

 

No question...

 

Honestly every car maker is behind mercedes with their newest redesign as it has always been. 2014 bentleys dont have anything other than prestige over it

 

I'd settle for a Yugo with power steering and automatic blinker cancellation. Hahaha

 

I bet the new LS will have a twin turbo V8, at least the option for it, and the rest will be on par with its competitors. I just wish they would be quicker getting new models out like their competitors. The current LS is so stale even though the refresh makes it look better. Maybe when you are ready to trade up again after this year the new LS will be out.

 

I'd love a V8 LS with forced induction.

 

i am sure a lot of us are waiting for that