​​​​​​​The BMW for me. Why? I just prefer it.

Hard to say if the BMW is better until we've driven the LS500. One huge plus is that it has an available V8...its also more prestigious, and preferring its style and looks is a legitimate viewpoint (not saying I do, I just have to see the LS in person first). Huge plus for BMWs is free scheduled maintenance.

Yes, but two or three-year scheduled maintenance, on many new vehicles today, is little more than a few oil-changes (and maybe a brief inspection). And even those few oil changes may be determined by the oil-system sensors.

That's also turning out to be a problem with some vehicles. The oil-sensors can drag out oil-change intervals so long that not only does the oil significantly deteriorate, but the level itself can drop sharply due to oil-consumption (not always enough to trigger the red warning light).

If you lease though its a nice benefit to have everything included in the lease payment.

+1 on this. I am not a fan of leasing (just personal financial stance) but the notion of having "everything" covered from brake pads to scheduled maintenance would help bolster the ownership experience. Now, if I actually do the math, it doesn't cost the owner nor the brand too much $$ (assuming 7500 oil change intervals at $80-$100/instance) that is $700-$100 over 4 years of cost for a peace of mind. Raise the MSRP by $1k and most consumers won't notice.

Then again, I also caveat I'm the guy that buys a VSA on my vehicles purely because it provides me a peace of mind that when I pull up to a service bay, I have zero financial care on what the service advisor suggests to be done to my vehicle.

I am not so sure. Which button on the steering wheel are you referring to? I think you may have confused the lane departure warning/LKA button (right side below DRCC button) for the parking assist.

As for metal buttons, it would be great, although they could just be metal-looking plastic. I was under the impression that the brushed metal trim on the 2013+ dash is brushed metal, and read on this thread yesterday that it is plastic. It feels cool to touch, but who knows.....

Ok if the badges were switched everyone would orefers the ls interior. The 7 looks like all the lesser models. The moral of this thread is that most of ou despise the ls cause of the badge and it's not German and you'll continue to prefer Germans even when the Lexus's look better.

I'm not sure Prestige is thaaat big of a factor in buying decision these days, especially in the $150k level or lower. Customers are more savvy these days with the advent of the internet and easy access to various review sites/publication. Perhaps for the older generation Prestiage and badge means more and willing to pay more for the badge. At the end of the day, no luxury car has something that's mind blowing. To find something truly mind blowing and desireable, one will have to look to the hypercar market. My Samsung Note 5 has a more sophisticated and useful UI that any car will ever dream of. Sure it doesnt have wheels, doors and an engine but it sure as hell beats using any car infotainment system. When Hyundai can go and create a luxury car, the barrier to entry is effectively non-existent if the manufacturer is patient and willing to play the long game. When MB and BMW decided they wanted to play in the ~$35k segment, they've effectively removed the image of unobtanium and the prevalence of leasing certain did its part too.

Everyone? Despise? I don't despise the LS at all, just prefer the other one. That's what makes the (auto) world go around.

I actually completely disagree with this. If the barrier to entry was non-existent then there would be no need for the long-game. There are still many, many people that still cannot see them selves paying $45k+ for a Kia Stinger GT because...it's a Kia. There's a reason the Genesis G80's resale value is so bad. There's a reason Lexus has been so shy about offering $100k+ cars with regularity until now; or ever why the LS460 came in at discount compared to the S-class even though at one point it was just as good. Prestige still matters. Hell, that's why the
"Porsche tax" still exists on cars like the Macan.

There were previous reports that Lexus had trademarked the name "Lexus LS 350" which hinted that a lower-trim LS using a V6 might also be offered as an option (potentially in Japan):

https://www.tmdn.org/tmview/get-deta...02016000069316
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...-v6-model.html

I wonder if this is still a possibility or if Lexus was merely experimenting with other ways to name the new LS500 using the 3.5L twin-turbo engine (i.e. Lexus LS 350t).

The brushed trim on our LS460 is certainly real metal, its not plastic.

Prestige definitely still matters. Anybody who tells you they don't buy a car of this caliber for the prestige it gives them at least in part is lying to you. Even younger generations, brand and cachet still matters a lot to them. Look at Apple.

A big, imposing flagship luxury car is a big statement about your success.

It's only three days, and I am beginning to like the new LS a whole lot. After the initial shock of the V8 loss, funky rear window and some interior design choices (Frankenstein ***** and Oriental fans ) wears off, there is much to appreciate and admire in this car. Some of the videos have been very helpful, especially the German one. One neat feature is that the air suspension will raise the car for easy entry and exit; maybe Lexus will give customers the option of choosing between several suspension heights, not just normal and high. It's weird that Lexus will not offer Apple Carplay or Android Auto. I could easily see myself getting a fully-loaded CPO/used car with the works (rear DVD screens, dual moon roofs, etc.) in 2020 or 2021. The only catch is by then the reason to get rear DVDs will be long gone, as one son will be in college and the other nearly there . Oh well, my 2014 will just have to do....

I can't wait for this car to come out. LAst year traded in my Jag XJ for a BMW 750 and im not happy with it. As soon as it comes out this bimmer is gone. But then I will have to get off the list for the LC500.. a little sad but I did the LS for an everyday driver.

Another negative on LS interior is lack of headroom.
Based on the video the guy is 6'1 and has no space sitting in the back while upfront it is pretty tight as well.
Style over functionality or just poor design. The other issue is the track pad which is universally criticized.