that’s why I’m a firm believer of going over budget and giving it your best shot when product developing something like this. The products last for decades and the end user benefits from it for life. It’s also greener because if the buyer is happy, they won’t need to keep buying new cars every couple of years in that search for the perfect product. And as younger buyers age they fall into the segment naturally. There’s no need to chase.

 

Oh yeah, it’s the little things like we say. Just took these pictures. If it’s pitch black dark even, no problem.

 

Wow. That blows my mind. Never knew

 

Yeah like I said, LS430 they thought of EVERYTHING and forgot NOTHING. Unbelievable car.

 

my 98 Ls400 had that as well

 

what an attention to detail. Never knew that about that gen.

Did your LS have the engine starter cut off if you try to start while it was already running?

 

I assume 460 did too, or I hope.

Also, the seat belt height mover button is about the most satisfying feeling button you'll ever press.

 

‘Yeah. That power motor belt is amazing. So impressive. New LS500 doesn’t have it … But Toyota Century does New LS has powered belts on the clip end.

 

The LS460 has all those lights plus a bleed in effect when you walk toward it and it senses the key, it will also auto adjust the seat to the key you are carrying. Controls in the LS430/460 feel the same to use as far as seats go, dash buttons are better damped in the 430 though but the 460 has superior seat padding and window control feel.

Here are some pictures showing a full leather LS600, it is on an entirely higher level than ANY LS430 or LS400. The "weak" points are the seat lower areas, sides, and back plus the wheel face. For some reason unlike the Germans Lexus still used plastics here, the seatbacks are the soft touch type but I still don't understand for something that was supposed to go against the V12 cars why they didn't do a FULL leather package.

There are also far more high end materials in general and on top of being a quieter car all around other than engine and even that according to a DB meter it is STILL actually quieter than the UZ engine but since the rest of the car is so silent it stands out it also controls itself much better as far as ride and isolation. Also on the outside the LS460 has some seriously special headlights,






Also note the overhead speakers, pillar speakers, and air vents for the rear seat that has an IR temperature reading system for occupant skin, all fine touches that elevate the car. In any case it doesn't sound like you have much/any hands on experience with any of these cars and are going purely by pictures and are hand picking bad examples for the 460 and not good/true examples of the type. Ultimately it doesn't matter to me since I have both among many flagships in my fleet, I will say I will likely get rid of my LS460 at some point since I really really want to have a max spec LS600 to go with my W12 so it has a more worthy stablemate.

I would also however, settle for a 460 Ultra spec......but the 600 is the one I really want.

 

^^^The LS460 was probably the quietest gas-powered vehicle, on all types of road surfaces, that I have ever sampled, although I have not sampled the latest Mercedes S-Class (left that one up to Steve LOL)

I will say, however, that, many years ago, in 1969, the new Lincoln Continental that my Dad brought home from the office one night (he worked for Philco-Ford, and it was a company car) was a VERY close second to the 460 in the noise department. Back then, Fords were noted for their quiet rides....although some top-line GM products were also very hushed.

 

Yeah . I love the door lights that light up the pavement when you open the door. But as you said, those little things add up.





above you can see the first gen Lexus 400…the light used to point down and was a nice tasteful design element as the light also provided illumination to the map pocket. Only the first gen 400 does this. All other generations just add the light to the bottom of the door.


Lexus GX sort of did it for the 470 but went away for the 460





In 2003. Toyota really tried with the 4Runner. They concealed the lights light first gen 400. Such a nice small touch I love how it illuminates the door pocket and the roadway






The leather dash of the LS600h is a commendable effort. But still doesn’t address the design shortcomings of the interior.




The leather covering here does not look very good. Way too many seams and jointed together

100% agree that the roof spelled and pillar items are a nice touch. No doubt the interior is very comprehensive. Lots of moving parts. I still think the LS400 interior headliner, door plus are more tasteful. Like rear reading lamps for each side…





Second generation removed the individual personal switch.

this above is nice IMO. I also much prefer the design of the roof grab handles in the 400 that are fixed. I have ever like the way Toyota has gone to the pivot style. My 04 4Runner has fixed grab handles whereas my new 4R has the pivot style. Not a fan.




here is the 460. No doubt the 460 vanity mirrors are nice. But I think the 400 is classier.




‘I also admire how Toyota/lexus integrated the rear seat belt into the rear pillar. I think the first gen was the only model to do this. All other moved the back seat.

I think the 2013-2017 Lexus LS600h refresh has a lovely interior. Excellent exterior styling as well.

 

Ask any Lexus master tech or just a service advisor at the dealer which is the better car, overwhelmingly they'll say 430. Those are just facts.

Having more features and newer tech doesn't equal a fundamentally better automobile. Look at the disaster of the LS out now.

Also FWIW I've never really seen a 460 with absolutely insane mileage like the 600,000 mile LS430 just bought by a popular YouTuber mechanic. Should be lots of fun to watch.

 

To be fair, I've had a few cars with illuminated seat belts I honestly don't remember if my LS460s had it, does yours have it @DaveGS4 ?

The S Class is better isolated from road noise, but overall its very similar. The LS460 is as quiet as the quietest cars on the road.

 

something I never knew. The CD slots and changer is concealed.





the door hinges are so classy. Such attention to detail

 

Your comments are inconsistent. The LS400 has vastly cheaper, less thought out, and lower end materials and components than a full spec XF40. The refresh didn't change anything you said you don't like, and trust me when I say even with all the "moving parts" it's still perfectly solid. The only thing I have ever noticed (and fixed already) was under heavy impacts the instrument cluster had a slight squeak. Turns out when the dash was replaced someone got lazy.....

The leather dash seam work is done intentionally like that to show off all the stitching and visually separate it from a cheaper plastic dash like the LS400 but I guess you don't understand what very high end features are?

The seatbelt in the pillar is cheaper than a guided belt that is mounted behind the seat, that's just a lazy way to mount and feed it and looks worse, functions worse, and is generic.

The grab handles are hilarious, you really think a static, truck like hunk of plastic is better than a leather wrapped unit that is soft damped so when you let go it doesn't even make noise as it retracts slowly back to the default state? Great job again picking a picture with the car in a strange state and making no effort to fairly represent vs consistently picking better angles and pictures for the 400.

Door lights are not something that a 4 runner does better, the low mounted light is better functionally and also acts as a warning the dot is open at night.

There is also a mirror mounted light and both have bleed in/out effects that most cars don't have. I think there is a pocket light as well but I may be confusing it with my A8s since they have trim, panel, pocket, warning, puddle, lower, and dual handle lights on every door and you can adjust all of them for behavior type and interior for color.


What you really need to do is actually drive and experience these cars for yourself, in person, and preferably sitting next to each other to "get it" The LS430 was the peak of fine details, the LS460 is the best car, the LS400 has the most simplistic design that lent itself best to longevity/consistency but is totally outclassed and out performed.