SW17LS

Doesn't negate anything I said. I'm certainly not an average LS driver, I'm 36 years old. However, I would say I have significant experience and insight into the different generations of the Lexus LS. The skidpad figure you mention is indicative of a generation of the LS that existed for 5 years out of the 27 the LS has existed, to say thats what "most LS drivers want" is a stretch, since the vast majority of LS buyers bought a vehicle that wasn't that way. Your characterization of the car as an archetype isn't accurate. You describe a Lincoln Town Car or Cadillac Fleetwood or Deville when you describe a Lexus LS and thats not what the car really is.

Skidpad figures:

LS400: 0.81G ~ 62.6 MPH Slalom
LS430: 0.73G ~ 61.0 MPH Slalom
LS460: 0.82G ~ 63.0 MPH Slalom

Point is, the LS430 is a significantly sloppier handling car than the LS400 or LS460 without being a significantly harder riding car, which all in all is why I feel its the least satisfying LS to drive.

mmarshall

Not really. Several times, I've commented on the poor build quality (compared to the excellent build quality of the LS) that we saw in older Cadillacs and Lincolns of that vintage.

Gets back to what I said earlier......most LS drivers probably won't care about skidpad figures. Also, the type and brand of tires used in the tests can make a difference. Later LS models, of course, handling-wise, also have the advantage of the AWD and F-Sport suspension options. Of course, some LS owners DO like some added sportiness. You remember Mike (LexFather), don't you? He had a nice LS F-Sport model a few years ago.....with Vossen wheels. That was some car.

SW17LS

Not talking about build quality, talking about ride. My point is the LS was never a "ride before everything else" car. They made it that way with the 430, but they came back from that in the 460 and now in the 500. The 400 is the original LS, and the archetype for what the LS is meant to be.

Its not about the skidpad number, its about what it represents. Its not just an arbitrary number somebody brags about, its a result of the suspension tuning of the car. While LS drivers don't care about the skidpad number, they DO care about the way the car feels and drives...which is impacted by the same suspension tuning that causes the skidpad result.

And tires don't make a .8G difference unless one car has snow tires.

The skidpad and slalom numbers I posted above are a RWD non F Sport LS460. The point is to illustrate the similarity of the LS400 (the original LS) and the LS460 in those tests, and the significant departure with the LS430.

But we are off topic here. So, while I miss the LS400 at times, I don't regret getting rid of it.

mmarshall

OK...as far as I'm concerned, let's drop it. No sense going on and on. Let some other posters get a word in the thread, on the cars they miss the most. I suppose, for at least some of us, in ten or fifteen years, we'll be looking back on cars we actually drove ourselves LOL.

O. L. T.

iTrader: (17)

W208 Mercedes I had was perfect. Sold it at 100k miles on the dot. Traded in at 99,999 for an IS300. Told the salesman it was under 100k and he had to value it as such.

1WILLY1

iTrader: (9)

My silver, supercharged 02 corvette z06 was sold about 8 months ago and ive never fully gotten over it yet.

I sold my first corvette about 2 years ago, a black 2000 FRC and felt nothing but relief and joy when it was gone, I figired id feel the same after the second one but I don't

Aron9000

I also kind of regret selling my 1999 Z28 Camaro. I mean it looked the business in very dark navy blue. It was also stupid fast, lots of torque, if you were an inexperienced driver, mashing the throttle at the wrong time would send you into a spin. The LS1 V8, with a couple of bolt ons, automatic transmission, it made 305 rwhp/340 lb-ft rwtq. Car was rated at 305hp at the crank, so you know that factory hp rating was nonsense.

1WILLY1

iTrader: (9)

Nice, Ive taken a liking to the newer model Camaros, the supercharged ZL1's in particular

Corvette drivetrain , bigger body , updated looks, I think they are a good buy

1WILLY1

iTrader: (9)

Here's a few shots of my Z, was making 641 hp to the crank with a magnacharger

ArmyofOne

ooo another vette fan!



2008 Pace Car, #325/500

mmarshall

Did you have any problems with it? With the exception of the durable drive-train, much of what was on those cars had a reputation for poor quality and cheapness.

oldcajun

I had a similar looking 1969 Gran Prix but it was white with the black top. Mine was the SJ model with a Super Duty 421 with 400 hp. Traded for a 1971 Corvette which was slower and a piece of junk as far as reliability. This was actually the same platform as the GTO/Tempest with the front wheels moved forward about a foot. View over that long hood was incredible.
Steve

wasjr

I have had two that I regret selling. One was a 1979 Corvette that I owned until until 1986 (I got married and didn't need the bait anymore). Installed a headphone jack and enjoyed tooling down the interstate with T tops off and headphones on.

Also, before that I owned a 1972 Grand Prix like pictured above. Mine was the equivalent color to british racing green with a tan interior. As stated above, the car would flat move, and back then the speed limit was 75 so everybody drove 80-90 mph on the interstate. Ordered it with a factory installed 8 Track that was mounted facing the front on hump in back floor.

jwong77

None, I tend to drive the wheels off of my cars. By the time I get a new car, its such a big upgrade from the previous that I don't miss the old car whatsoever.

mmarshall

Do you miss the car that you first got behind the wheel of........that day you took your first driving lesson, or the first time you drove alone? That's a life-long memory for a lot of people. For me, it was a 60s vintage Plymouth Valiant. The only comparable event for me was probably the day I first soloed an airplane around the airport.....without my instructor sitting in the seat next to me.