I am in lust with the LS460, but I live in the city and have always driven small cars. My only concern with getting one is that it would feel like a large tuna boat to navigate downtown, or that it would be so wide that it would take up most or all of any parking space downtown. Thoughts?

 

the swb is big and wide definitely, but i don't think it's that hard to drive. the car is capable, i honestly would say it's more about the driver whether he/she is skillful enough to gauge all situation and driving angles.

now parking space, it might be a little painful on compact space, even with the mirrors retracted

 

Thanks, Rom. I wish there were something that had the tremendous luxury of the LS460 without being a luxo-barge. Then again, the 460 is only 2ft longer than a Toyota Prius...I wonder how big of a difference that really makes. I'd be open to a comforting ES or a sportier GS, but from what I understand they just aren't as nice on the inside as the larger LS-460. Why does the flasgship model have to also be the biggest?

I'll probably still get a 460, but it will definitely be SWB.

 

12 inches is A LOT. and more importantly, the added width changes things quite a lot too.

maybe you can look at the new gs when it debuts in 2 weeks. supposedly quite luxurious

 

i have had mine for 1 2/3 years. I came from a Jag xj. The LS460 felt like a monster when i first got it, but not anymore. Although, i will say i have never parallel parked it (avoid it like the plaque) and hope i never have to try.

 

I moved from an 08 GS to a 10 LS SWB and was surprised to notice very little difference in the ease of navigation. The LS is much easier to navigate, in my opinion, than one would think. I live in Chicago, in the city, and have no problem whatsoever driving and parking it. There are certainly times when I will spend a little extra time looking for a larger parking space, but that's for my own peace of mind.

For such a large car, I feel it moves very nimbly. The only thing that took a little time to get used to, and which was a reminder that I had moved to a larger and heavier car, was the braking. During my first few rapid slowdowns on the congested Chicago interstates, I discovered I had to apply the brakes more firmly to keep the car from barreling forward more than I intended.

Bottom line, don't be afraid of the LS's size.

 

2 ft (12 inches) is a big difference and longer is better (I meant the car)!!!

 

I agree with rominl. Wait for the all-new GS.

Now to your original point, parking the LS460 isn't that big of an issue even in congested places where professional parking skills are often required. Navigating while parking is quite easy with the design and equipment on the car. Though the park guidance system is quite useless imo, with the positioning of the driver's seat where the view in all directions is quite clear and with the side mirrors along with the fantastic back-up camera I don't think will find it difficult to drive or park the car in pretty much any place other than Europe.

 

For me its not the width in tight spaces as much as the very slow steering ratio at low speeds.

 

When I got mines it felt like a Prius. Of course I came from a Deville, an escalade and my suburban. But seriously, my Deville looked just as big but drove entirely different. The LS feels smaller to drive but still has a lot of room. I have the LWB.

 

if you upgrade the suspension a little the car handles and feels like a smaller, lighter car