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how quiet is Lexus LS460

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Old Nov 27, 2019 | 06:59 PM
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Default how quiet is Lexus LS460

How quiet is Lexus LS 460?
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Old Nov 27, 2019 | 08:05 PM
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They are quiet but in relation to what other vehicle? My best suggestion is to drive one so you get personal experience.
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Old Nov 28, 2019 | 02:14 AM
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You can definitely hear yourself think!
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Old Nov 28, 2019 | 05:47 AM
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Very Quiet - unless you have a pre 2011 with side window wind noise.
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Old Nov 28, 2019 | 11:17 AM
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80mph at 2000 rpm.
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Old Dec 3, 2019 | 04:54 PM
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They're one of the quietest production cars you can buy outside of something like a Rolls Royce. There are cars as quiet, but I've never driven anything quieter, and I've driven pretty much everything.
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Old Dec 3, 2019 | 08:37 PM
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Interesting question!

I've had two 2001 LS 430s, which I drove for over 250,000 miles combined. I now have a 2012 LS460, and I can honestly say that the engine noise in it is slightly more noticeable, and I can barely hear I little more wind noise, which may be coming from a mirror; this is probably an anomaly. However, the engine noise is just not a major issue, especially at higher speeds. The ride, power and amenities are so overwhelmingly better, I just don't notice it!!!

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Old Dec 3, 2019 | 08:47 PM
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It’s very quiet. More so than the 2008 Jaguar XJL I previously owned.
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Old Dec 3, 2019 | 09:56 PM
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Oddly enough I felt like the LS 430 base & modern luxury was quieter than the 460? I test drove an LS 460 and felt the expansion joint noise & tire noise was louder than I was expecting and not tomb like as the 430. I'd say that the ES is on par or close with the old LS 460. But that was based off my hearing familarity with my daily driver. Since the ES is too new to my ears & without a decibel meter in hand.

My daily driver Toyota comes in at 65-67DBA at 65mph. The new camry v6 achieves 63-65DBA at 65mph. The new Avalon should yield closer to 60DBA & the ES in the high to mid 50DB, similar to where the LS 460 would land.

If I wanted a fullsize luxo barge, I'd recommend test driving a Genesis G90. For a mide size luxury, wait for the 2020 Cadenza or try the 2019 ES.

Funny enough, Tesla cars aren't quiet at all & hardly a luxury car in my book!


https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Pressure-30-130dBA-Warranty/dp/B00P1D84N6/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=decibel+meter&qid=1575439780&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&sr=8-8 https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Pressure-30-130dBA-Warranty/dp/B00P1D84N6/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=decibel+meter&qid=1575439780&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&sr=8-8

Last edited by Hifiman1; Dec 3, 2019 at 10:12 PM.
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Old Dec 4, 2019 | 12:41 AM
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If you’re on the right tire and good factory air ride, it’s one of the quietest cars I’ve been in. Even at WOT, you can barely hear the car hauling ***
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Old Dec 4, 2019 | 06:06 AM
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The LS460 is definitely one of the quietest cars available, with the LS600hL being named as the #1 quietest cars in the world in this 2013 article (interesting read): http://elevatingsound.com/the-price-of-quiet-driving/
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Old Dec 4, 2019 | 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Hifiman1
Oddly enough I felt like the LS 430 base & modern luxury was quieter than the 460? I test drove an LS 460 and felt the expansion joint noise & tire noise was louder than I was expecting and not tomb like as the 430. I'd say that the ES is on par or close with the old LS 460. But that was based off my hearing familarity with my daily driver. Since the ES is too new to my ears & without a decibel meter in hand.

My daily driver Toyota comes in at 65-67DBA at 65mph. The new camry v6 achieves 63-65DBA at 65mph. The new Avalon should yield closer to 60DBA & the ES in the high to mid 50DB, similar to where the LS 460 would land.
I actually do have a decibel meter that I've used when driving cars.

For your experience with the LS460, it totally depends on tires, which is also true of the LS430. With tires out of the equation the 460 is just as quiet as the 430 if not quieter. My LS460 has basically no tire noise unless the pavement is coarse, but I have very good tires. Tire noise and expansion joint noise is the same as it was in my 430 and 400.

The new ES is also very quiet, but the difference between the ES and the LS is road noise. The ES is not as well isolated from tire and road noise as the LS. Remember when you drive a new ES its on brand new tires and a used LS is on tires that have some wear.

My LS runs about 58 dB at 70 MPH. My Pacifica is 62, the new ES350 I drove was 59, my buddy's 2016 ES350 is 60.
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Old Dec 4, 2019 | 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
They're one of the quietest production cars you can buy outside of something like a Rolls Royce. There are cars as quiet, but I've never driven anything quieter, and I've driven pretty much everything.
I found a blog post listing various of Edmunds' noise test results (couldn't find them on their site), and based on that the LS600h was actually marginally (0.1 dB!) quieter than the Phantom at highway speeds. The LS460 was over 3 dB behind, weirdly. Not sure whether there's extra sound deadening on the LS600h or something, or if it's down to engine noise since the LS600h cruises at around 1000rpm.

Of course, interior noise level is more than just sound pressure; some types of noises are more irritating than others. I had a Phaeton for two weeks, and actually felt that the tire noise may have been slightly lower than on the LS600h. Of course, the cars had different tires, and we have really crappy rough tarmac here in Finland...
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Old Dec 4, 2019 | 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by SpruceRain
I found a blog post listing various of Edmunds' noise test results (couldn't find them on their site), and based on that the LS600h was actually marginally (0.1 dB!) quieter than the Phantom at highway speeds. The LS460 was over 3 dB behind, weirdly. Not sure whether there's extra sound deadening on the LS600h or something, or if it's down to engine noise since the LS600h cruises at around 1000rpm.
Edmunds tested two LS460s, an earlier one was much louder than a later one, my guess is because of the wind noise problems early LS460s could have. The later one tested was similar to the LS600.

Here is the article with the later LS460 (a 2010) which showed a 70 MPH cruise of 58.2 dB:

https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/...50i-sport.html

Of course, interior noise level is more than just sound pressure; some types of noises are more irritating than others. I had a Phaeton for two weeks, and actually felt that the tire noise may have been slightly lower than on the LS600h. Of course, the cars had different tires, and we have really crappy rough tarmac here in Finland...
Right, sound pressure only tells you part of the story.
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Old Dec 4, 2019 | 11:43 PM
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A car can be as quiet as possible, but if the sound frequency heard is more pronounced to the human ear. It won't matter how quiet the car is, that's why tires target a certain frequency to hush, the quiet wheels in Lexus, Acura, and Genesis target annoying frequencies, and noise cancelation is used in top tier cars.

I might be jumping the gun, but I wouldn't be surprised if the new G90 is more isolated than the LS 460 & 500.

I use alex on autos decibel measurements with a grain of salt. With that being said the 19 ES @ 50mph got 69db and the Kia cadenza got 68.5db @50mph and Rlx got 68db.
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