Such a hypothetical situation doesn't exist...in a situation where the cost is the same and maintenance is never a concern of course I would take the better engine, but thats not the situation. For one, the car doesn't exist now and did not exist when I got my car...so to say I would take that is to say I would take something that doesn't exist. Secondly, even if it did exist the engine requires much more maintenance and cost and that just doesn't interest me.

I still think the engine in the LS460 was enough! My LS460L I had before this was 90% the car this is...

But no, if I was buying a new S Class today I would have zero interest in an S680 Maybach. Way too big and garish and expensive for very little benefit to me over an S580.



Yes! Thats a must have.

 

S580e is looking very nice:

 

I drove the S580e, I LOVE it in EV mode...don't love it when the gas engine kicks in, the 6 feels way less refined than what I am used to. In EV mode its capable but not quick. So the question is do I want a car that I love to drive on EV mode and on a trip will be less enjoyable or do I want a car thats enjoyable all the time...which means the V8 or a full EV.

Since I have driven it though we got the Pacifica Hybrid, and I have come to really like that powertrain...I will drive the S580e again at legnth.

 

well of course... that's what turns off any reasonable person to one of these cars haha

i was simply expanding on striker's scenario which it seemed like you wanted no part of... cost no object though i kind of agree i'm still not even sure i'd want that S680 'maybach', it's not like the OG maybach 57/62 where you were genuinely getting something to behold and not just a very expensive appearance package on a highly spec'd W222

 

What I don't want cost being no object is an S63 or S65 or a Maybach

 

i am very convinced that everyone who tries plugin, will move to BEV eventually, simply because they all love being in EV mode, and it is too short. Question is price and can they can charge it.

 

Yes, that's the REAL question.....can they charge it?

Like it or not, there are a lot of people that simply don't have quick or easy assess to BEV-chargers.

 

Right. Many people live in apartments, and that's probably only going to grow with the rising cost of housing. I can't see apartment complex owners installing enough chargers to let every tenant charge their cars on the same day. It would be a hassle.

I don't have 220v in my garage, so I'd have to have that installed so that I don't have to trickle charge the thing. So I'm still years off from being ready for electric.

 

sad to you... almost no one else cares.

but i do agree with you and have stated many times that lexus was NEVER on the same 'level' as mercedes, bmw, even audi.

lexus initially didn't have awd. later they didn't have turbos. they've never done an amg type offering (except 500 units of the sublime lfa, which imo, was a mistake as it didn't provide much of a halo and cost a bundle to develop, and they still had a hard time selling them!).

however i also believe lexus NEVER intended to go head to head with those brands, always seekling out something different, unique niches, and at least initially catching those other brands TOTALLY off guard and seeing (and capitalizing on) opportunities.

the ls400 totall caught everyone off guard. wasn't quite an s-class in being 'fancy' or super complex or even tank like, but it was the best car build quality EVER.

the gs400 totally caught everyone off guard with the silky v8, great looks, state of the art infotainment (bmw still had cd based nav, lol).

the sc was a unique grand coupe

the first rx created a new market for a unique luxury crossover!

the es may be fwd, but it represented unprecedented value, room, smoothness, build quality, etc. lexus knew most people aren't 'car people' but know a beautifully made comfortable car when they drive one and don't care about which wheels are driving it, how much horsepower, etc.

gx and lx leveraged prado and land cruiser revered platforms with nicer 'suits' for further unique wins.

and on and on...

that's the lexus story.

if you just add the 30A dryer outlet to your cousin's home and find a charger half way, you can just get an EV.

 

pay more…for less cargo capacity

 

Agree

Apartment/Condo complexes will add chargers when the market makes them do that. With more and more EV demand tenants and buyers/residents will demand that EV charging be available and those for profit enterprises will meet that demand.

Case in point, the chargers in the Dulles Airport garage, they are spread throughout with long cords so they can be accessed by spaces not right at the charger. This is what you will see in apartment/condo garages




He's got one!

But you get 45 miles of smooth, wonderful, and almost free EV range...life is about tradeoffs. The S580e would probably drop my annual fuel cost by $4,000 a year, and the drive in EV mode is wonderful, plus the $7,500 tax rebate.

The trunk is plenty big for me. I have a subwoofer in my car and I bet my effective cargo space is less than that.

 

Putting 220V in your garage is no big deal.

 

so the Mercedes you have with its V-8 is not smooth or wonderful?

I do agree about the trade-offs. But I don’t consider this situation worth it

 

New apartment complexes and new construction in CA are required to have EV charging stations. Will it be enough? Maybe not. Cities in CA are arbitrarily classifying older buildings as new construction based on investment in capital improvements. It’s not great.

 

That can’t be serious. My LS430 has a 20 cubic foot trunk…

It’s a second and a half and some change slower 0-60 but I really don’t need it to be any faster than it is. It’s enough.

Not comparing the two just saying, Steve said his 460 engine was enough. I would agree with that as well as with my 430.