I just picked up my Opaline Pearl SWB LS460 with light grey interior and ML yesterday. This car is awesome!!

Here are my impressions so far:

This color is very interesting. . It looks very different depending on the light. In bright sunlight, it looks like a very light pewter or putty grey. On a cloudy day it looks bright white. At night, depending on the intensity and type of light hitting the car, it can look like anything from bright white, to white with a hint of purple/blue/pink, to the putty grey pewter. Basically the more intense the light, the more the care goes toward light grey, the less intense the more it goes toward bright white.

I have owned every several LS cars over the years: 90, 96, 98, 02. Every car through 02 was more of an evolutionary change. Compared to the LS460, I see the first four generations of LS as being very similar to each other. Sure as time when on, there was refinement, more room, and more engine power, but the driving experience remained largly the same. I see the LS460 is the most changed LS to date, I would even call it revolutionary compared to past models. On the down side: For the first time, the new LS has less room than the previous generation: the trunk is smaller than on my LS430 for sure. I can’t put my finger on why, the new LS also seems to be smaller on the interior. Could it just be an illusion?
As for the upside, the car is quieter than ever. On smooth blacktop, the LS has always been nearly silent. But on concrete or bumpy roads, a lot of noise tended to come in the car with past LS models. This time around, the high pitched whine when rolling over cement has been greatly reduced, as has the drumming sound when rolling over road seams or uneven pavement.
Lexus has nailed the suspension this time. It’s got this very firm, yet supple quality to the ride. It feels stiffer, yet rides even more comfortably than before, how is this possible?
The transmission is the most improved over my 02 LS430. You almost forget that the transmission exists. When cruising, the engine runs at like 1700-2200rpm. It doesn’t matter if you are going 30, or 80. Want to accelerate a little a little? step on the gas a little, the engine quickly revs to the low end of the power band (2800 or so). Want to accelerate a lot? step on hit harder, the engine revs to the appropriate rpm to get the desired thrust. The transmission works completely in the background. Other than watching the tach move , you can rarely detect transmission shift. You feel the acceleration thrust come on instantly, by you never feel the jerk or hesitation of a transmission shift.
The ML stereo combined with the quit cabin, make you feel like your sitting in your living room listening to an audiophile grade stereo system. All while traveling 80mph down the highway. You can’t bet it. ML was a must have option for me.

I am out of time for this post. I’ll try and get follow-up impressions and photos posted later.

 

thank you so much for your review, and congrats on your new car!!!! glad that you are enjoying every part of it

 

Glad you're enjoying your car & congrats

Would love to see pictures of the LS460 in this new paint color

 

I've finally seen Opaline pearl in person on an LS yesterday at Longo. It's definitely a unique color.

Welcome to CL!

 

Yea, the car is dirty already...


Both pictures were taken today at about 3pm after a rain/snow storm we had that lasted into the early afternoon.

http://picasaweb.google.com/vollandt...17352457853682

http://picasaweb.google.com/vollandt...17365342755586

 

Congrats on the new car V!

I toyed with getting that color. My Q45a is ivory in color and I still love it after all these years. I thought the Opaline Pearl was a bit too white for my liking, but reading your description has given me second thoughts. Oh well, too late now!

Good luck with the new car!

 

Nice write-up, I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your LS

 

It appears to me that opaline pearl is similar to Glacier Frost but with a hint of pink or purple, rather than light blue. Is this what others see?? I saw it in person and it looked quite intense.

 

Glacier Frost Mica was available for the 07 LS460 in Canada, but they cancelled it for 2008 & didn't replace it with anything else . . . my guess is very, very few people(if any) ordered it ? I certainly have never seen a GFM LS460 . . .

 

Yes just a touch of purple. It's not as pronounced like the blue in GFM was in my opinion.

 

The only GFM LS i've ever seen was in a VIP magazine and in the Lexus Japan LS brochure/book.