So a little bit about a year ago I own an IS350 2008 that was my second car and ever since then I have loved Lexus I love how smooth they Ride and honestly there are slick looking car but the more research I did in the Lexus I found out how reliable they are the only thing I didn't like about my is it was small 4 four-door car so I've been thinking about getting the ls460 between 2007 to 12 can anyone tell me what it's like if I owning the car what do you think about gas mileage is there anything I should look into before actually getting the car thank you in advance

 

Awesome advice, the 460 utterly outclasses any IS in all ways but that also extends to complexity of repairs and parts costs. Be prepared that if you buy one repairs might not really crop up often but they will bear the price tag in accordance with a $60-80k car

I was at a point I had to decide between a 430 and 460 and went with the 430 due to parts costs alone as I can diy anything but I can't control cost of parts and a 460 would have meant spending far more than I intended on my daily......via costs of refitting a 2007-2011 car or having to pay for a 2013. Even with the path I went my 430 has required $2700 in parts including tires ($910) for everything to be reset to new mechanically. The 460 would have cost $4800 for the exact same things I did in parts.

 

Having moved up from a 2008 IS250 to a 2007 then 2014 LS460, I agree with the above comments. I had an engine rebuild (under warranty) for carbon buildup in the IS and had to replace the NAV touch screen (DIY - $20 for the screen on ebay and 1 day DIY labor). Other than that I had no problems with the IS. Both LS460s have required some expensive repairs. Luckily, I had extended warranties on both cars so it didn't cost me anything. Here is a partial list of the bigger items:

Failed drivers seat lumbar adjustment - $1200
Front wheel bearing - $850
Water pump - $850
Brake actuator - $3700
Left side front control arms - $2700

So there you have it. You can get 90% of the LS in a 2013+ ES350 with few of the reliability issues of the LS460.

 

Some great advice here.

Then why have you had two and not gotten a 2013+ ES?

I wouldn’t put the % at 90%, perhaps 75%. There are a lot of things about the LS that are considerably better. RWD, much better and more refined powertrain, much more sophisticated suspension that provides a more solid and refined ride, they’re bigger and more impressive, the interior on the LS is much higher quality with much better materials, better seats, quieter. Better sound systems. Plus they’re just more interesting. That last 25% is a lot, from someone who had had both and did go from an LS to an ES at one point. I would keep an LS in good shape with 100k miles over trading for a new ES. I really would.

BUT, with that said they are a lot more expensive to buy and a lot more expensive to run. But, they’re a lot better too. You just have to be prepared for the costs.

People talk a lot about the negatives, but this is a great car guys. I just drove a new MB S450, I’ve driven the new A8 and the new 7 Series and the LS460 still holds its own compared to those cars, it really does.

 

I averaged $400 mo in repairs on my 08 and 09.
From a very reasonable Indy.

 

I guess to every thing turn turn turn. I had an 08 LS460. Greatest car I've ever owned. Never had an issue. No problem with control arms, brake actuator, trunk release, engine this or that, water pump, nuttin! I will say it's a crying shame for all that money I was forced to put in my Lexus though. I had to buy a battery and tires! Lexus should know better! ;-)

Look, there's risks everywhere no matter what you do. You could buy a 2013+ ES and have issues. You could buy a Javelin and have no issues (if you can find one). Bottom line is, if you're wanting luxury and class, and are interested in the 07-12, find yourself a clean 11 or 12. Check all the records on the Lexus Owner's Site and do your homework online. Then if you'd like peace of mind, see about getting yourself an extended warranty.

Good luck.

 

If I am recalling correctly, Consumer Reports has listed the LS460 as well above average in reliability. Those that are fearful of costly repairs can buy new and sell every 2 or 3 years. The upside of course is having a new car with warranty and next to no maintenance costs. The sting of depreciation on a 3 year old LS might make the control arms, brake actuator, trunk release repairs seem not quite so bad. I've never purchased extended warranties on any vehicle before, but it might give some piece of mind. The companies selling the extended warranties haven't gone broke yet anyways covering the dreaded 2007 - 2010 LS 460's... yet.

 

I have not owned my 07 LS460 for a long time. It’s been a little less than a year now. However, I can tell you what I love so much about this car. First off, the paint job is absolutely extraordinary. People don’t often mention this, but my God it is absolutely breathtaking sometimes (mine is the mercury metallic silver.) The ML sound system is once again amazing. The tech in this car is not as outdated as you would think. Mine has backup camera, power front and rear seats, heated and ventilated front AND rear seats (which is rare even on modern cars), parking sensors...you get the picture. Then there’s the engine. The LS460 is a quiet car (aside from the damn wind noise issue lol) but that V8 sounds great up in the rev range, and there are very few things as fun as wringing out a naturally aspirated v8 if that tickles your fancy. The engine has amazing punch for a car that size. I average 21 MPG and drive 50/50 city highway. Just on highway I get 30 MPG, and my car has over 100,000 miles.

I have been in a post 2013 ES350 and I can tell you it is in no way as good as the LS. The ride and seats are nice sure, but infotainment sucks, it’s FWD which is a real bummer, and interior materials are just not up to snuff in comparison with the LS. Sure, Maintenence in the LS will be more expensive and I can’t attest to the true costs yet, but get yourself a 2011 or 2012 LS and you won’t regret it. Amazing car.

 

Totally agree, thats why I always give the advice that I give. Its a great car, but not everybody can afford one. The ES is a car that really anybody can afford, its basically a Camry/Avalon, but its not as good a car.

 

The LS especially ones with LWB, air suspension, and ML sound system are on the level of other flagship luxury sedans like BMW 7 series, Mercedes S class, and Audi A8. What stands out for me day to day is the smooth ride quality, quiet cabin, refined interior fit finish, buttery smooth engine with more than enough power. However this is a flagship vehicle and you must expect an old car to have expensive repairs as have already been listed the common failures are control arms, brake actuators, ML amps, air suspension, melting dash on earlier models.
I definitely feel the LS is worthy of flagship status but the question of value is relative. It is the best value compared to BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Tesla but you cannot expect to pay $10k for a ten year old car with over 100K miles and expect to only need oil changes and tires. Just account for the expected expensive items, extended warranty, or get a newer but more expensive year. If this is not in the budget you will be much happier in an ES.

 

While the other posts are correct about the general reliability and comfort of the LS- it truly is a terrific Daily Driver, (I actually look forward to my 10-12 mile commute!) - I wanted to mention another item - SIZE.
As you are currently used to the size and driving characteristics of the IS, moving to an LS (depending the wheelbase) may take a little getting used to.
A regular short wheelbase or an "F" model will handle a lot more like your IS, as it is closer to it's size and weight (albeit with tons more power), however, if you end up with a "L" model, that may be a stretch (sorry, I couldn't resist!).
I recently moved from a 2005 LS430 to my current 2013 LS460F(RWD), and at first, I thought that the LS460 was actually a smaller car. This is not true, of course, but the "F" is lowered by several millimeters than other models, has shorter overhangs and a lower roofline and side glass than the LS430, so it's just a matter of perception. The interior room is about the same, even a little wider and a smidge longer in the rear seats.

So, just bear that in mind, especially if you have to park daily in a lot of confined parking spaces, where you could risk damaging your LS or worse, it may just not fit at all.
______

 

Even a SWB LS is a lot bigger than an IS

 

Lol, and all of them are small compared to what I started my driving experience with. I still think my 430 is a "cute little thing" when I walk up to it. It's all a matter of perspective and what you are used to, you will get used to moving from the IS in about a week.

 

The 430 is almost 10 inches shorter than an LS460L, and is 10 inches shorter than an LS500. Wheelbase is 7 inches shorter too. Being used to big cars already, there was absolutely an adjustment period going from the LS460 to the LS460L, that additional length in the wheelbase has a definite impact when moving the car around, and even now after having put nearly 40,000 miles on the LS460L I still comment about how big it is in some low speed maneuvers.

Its not a small adjustment coming from an IS, which is over 20 inches shorter.

 

Guess I'm desensitized since I learned to maneuver and parallel park in a 18.9 ft truck, also have driven much larger customer vehicles so I'm not phased much at all by varying size or turn radius.

Just go further into a turn before turning in, and adjust the turn arc to accommodate the length of the body to not hit anything. Really don't get why some make a big deal out of it, ironically I have seen far more smaller cars have drivers who don't know how to park or position in traffic and align themselves and not the car to lane centers