Hello all
I guess finally my 400 is giving up, and I have been on and off about buying LS460. I am seeing 2012 at 15k+ and 2014 at 25-30 and both are in budget. Thing that bothers me is this breaking and causing me a bank loan to fix it, though I am mechanically capable.
All I want is a quietest car (top level nvh, per se) and good sound system in a car. I am not bothered it being v6/8 or whatever. Given all that I am seeing LS is still ranked top in the dept and mind you I am coming from LS400 and bunch of Tesla's (owned by family).
Any recommendations on specific thing/years to avoid on a LS460.

Also, if you do private party sale on CL, is it possible to add aftermarket warranty?

My previous discussion on Tesla vs LS. I also have a MachE on order that's being built in May. But I live in an apartment so charging infrastructure is still painful for me.

 

Many like 2013 and up due to facelift and other improvements. Be sure to get Mark Levinson stereo. Avoid air suspension because of eventual expensive repair. You can buy aftermarket warranties and service plans from third party sellers. You'll need to research those. Read the FAQ at the top of this page for issues/repairs.

 

If you want quiet and comfortable, get a late model 430. If you want sporty, by all means get a 460 but a MBZ or BMW would suit those needs better.

 

460 cabin isn't quiet?

 

LS430 interior wont melt, has no valley plate that I know of, no brake actuator problem, but all can be fixed and the 430's are harder to find now.

 

Having had an LS400, an LS430 and two LS460s, the 460 is every bit as quiet and nice riding as the 400 and 430, if not moreso. There isn't anything sporty about the 460, its a little more dynamic than the 430, but in actuality reminds me more of my 98 400 than the 430 which got way less dynamic. LS430 was my least favorite LS we had.

The LS460 is simply one of the quietest cars you can buy, I know I have driven them all, owned a lot of them and tested many of them with a sound meter. LS460 is 58-59 dB at 75 MPH, same as my S560. I have driven cars similarly quiet, but have never driven a car that tested quieter.

LS460 is a great replacement for an LS400, I would get a 13-17 personally, they are the most modern. I would recommend the LWB having had both, and personally I think the air suspension is worth the potential repair costs, again having had both. Just understand its a much more complex car than an LS400, its much more like a Mercedes than the 400 was. Multilink suspension, much more complex engine, so its going to be costlier to maintain...but its better...its all about tradeoffs.

Can't speak to a Tesla, but outside of a Model S they wont be competitive with an LS460.

 

I am in late 20s so I am not getting chauffeured anywhere tbh. So still LWB? I was considering SWB with regular springs. I am also thinking to get an aftermarket warranty to alleviate the headache that comes with them. For the 98 LS400 I owned, the complex job I have tackled was starter motor but can get hands dirty if there is enough community support. I understand mechanics quite a bit.

Out of 13-17, they all are the same? I was thinking to get '12 with low miles and save money for repairs instead of getting latest if both exhibits the same issues.

 

Didnt know valley plate issue until your comment. The reason I am ruling any >10 yr car is rubber and plastics. It's simply difficult to work with when it breaks in random fashion.
I would really love an LS430 with low miles but simply after owning a car like LS400 something I learnt is that the rubber and plastics age irrespective of miles.

 

The LWB car just looks and feels more elegant, it rides better, just feels more like a proper flagship car. I originally got the SWB model because I felt like you did, but as soon as I drove the LWB car I had to have it and traded my SWB car in for one.

There are little changes, the infotainment improved in 2015 and then again in 2016, but mostly the same. They dramatically improved the quality of the interior in 13, almost 3,000 parts were new for 13, the 13 refresh just makes the car much more modern and compelling, IMO.

 

The melting interior is only in the 07-12 LS460's, isn't it? I didn't think the 13+ had this issue and it is one of the big reasons I am looking at 13+.

 

I have seen a couple examples of it, but much more of the interior on the 13-17 is covered in stitched leather/imitation leather

 

If you want quiet, EVs measure quiet on a dBA meter but I don’t think NVH is as well sorted. That is to say, an LS is to me a more comfortable acoustic environment.

I just tested a 460 today on the same roads as my Ford Lightning. The Ford measured 2 dB(A) quieter, but it didn’t feel as relaxed.

I took some recordings and at the low end found a thick band between 40-120 hz, whereas the LS was less intense there. In the higher range there were lots of frequencies in the Ford that didn’t exist in the LS at all (~6k, 8k, 10, 12, etc. up to 20 kHz). Subjectively there was more road noise in the Ford, and the wind noise sounded sharper and more annoying. Contrasting to the Lexus, I heard more of a gentle rustling of wind. My Lightning is far quieter than the Mach-e you’re looking at too. FWIW I’m between an LS460 and Mercedes S500. They both win over any/all EVs I have driven.

 

dB are not the be all and end all of what makes a vehicle seem quiet inside, like you said the different frequency ranges play a huge role. I have not driven an F150 lightning but I have driven fullsized pickups and they measure as low as the LS/S Class (surprised you measured lower, like I said I have never driven anything that measured lower than 58 dBa at 75 MPH), but they don't seem as quiet.

I have had the same experience as you with EVs, something like a Tesla Model S is just not as quiet as an LS. Have you driven a Mercedes EQS or BMW i7 yet? I haven't...

 

Absolutely. I tested at only 60 mph due to the available roads. Wind noise ramps up in the truck around 70 mph. This particular LS has double-paned glass in front, but not the rear. Subjectively it was better than the F-sport, but not as quiet as the L model.

I have driven the EQS and EQE. Actually found the EQE to be more pleasant, perhaps due to the sealed off rear (EQS has a hatch). Both offer that initially impressive "EV quietness," though I noticed faint high frequency motor noise, even at highway speed. I actually met a new owner of an AMG EQS who complained of motor whine on the highway. Have not tried the BMW, but it might be better. Would love to hear your thoughts if you test them.

 

The rear double panel glass makes a difference in the LS for sure, my 15 didn’t have it, my 17 did.

Yeah any higher profile vehicle the wind noise really picks up north of 65 or so. Even luxury SUVs