Well, I concede. I think the 460 is holistically the best car I've owned so far, it's not the best at all in any one aspect but overall.....man it's special.

I finally had a chance to try the one thing I haven't had a chance to do yet with this car, I've had a chance to do backroads, longer distance drive/cruise, local slow drives, Christmas lights, work on it on the ground and up on the lift as well as poke around it's electronics. However up until today I never had a chance to try it on the interstate under ideal conditions and see how it does at high speed cruising.

We went about 60 miles north to visit a collector who buys and restores American classic furniture to pick out some stuff for our house, on the way up I didn't see any cops stationed up and the traffic flow was calm and consisted mainly of packs with open areas between them. I decided on the way back home since the shift change was hours off and according to a local officer no one was on that section of 71 to cruse back.

Holy crap this car is fantastic at this. Compared to the A8 it's not nearly as fast but it's so much more refined and exhibits the "glide" Lexus is so well known for. I am very impressed and pleased with how relaxed the car is at 120-130 and when it approaches a pack it's so controlled slipping through them. The A8 is rougher, and while far more powerful the engine doesn't smoothly sing it's way along, the 460 just flows along.

Great fuel economy as well, was around 17-25 the whole time, the 8 speed handles requests very well and is intentionally programmed for this I believe. It didn't try and shift stupidly even once when I partially let off or had to adjust down, stayed in the right gear the whole time.

This was the last thing to push me over the edge, everything else was quite impressive but this type of drive really exemplifies the meaning of a flagship car. The 460 did it brilliantly. It's not the fastest car ever but the experience it offers is outstanding. Truly more than a sum of it's spec sheet. The comfort and calmness it provides is something special.

It was also quite hilarious to see how riled up other cars got, when I crossed back over near Polaris when it goes down to 65-60 a Chrysler 200 was coming up full hammer down trying to catch me. I waited till he was 5-6 car lengths back to floor it and right as he came alongside me he "stopped" and started receding lol! He was going about 105 when he tried to pass, that was my last bit before taking my exit. Was a fantastic drive in a great machine. My only complaint is the stock limiter is a joke, it's way too low.

I wish we had sections here where we could drive better cars to their ability legally......such a shame so few of these cars will ever get to really run how they are meant to. Even worse is so many owners never get to really drive their cars!

 

You know what I’m finding? I’m finding that the design is a bit timeless. I’m still seeing 2008’s-2010’s driving around and they just look great. They stand out. People still ask what they are, or complement. That rear end with those exhaust ports and deck line...the length, the stance. It just has this classy look to it that still looks good even with today’s advancements. Maybe better.

 

It's very reserved, doesn't have any real styling and that keeps it nice and subtle. I like it but will say the SWB looks kinda stubby from across a parking lot, the belt-line is too high vs a 430 in my opinion and makes it look fatter. Up close its great though

 

You know what really surprised me actually, since I have to admit I have been flirting with the idea of facelifted 460 lately: the fact that the powertrain stayed the same from 07-17.

The fact that they got the world’s first (I believe) 8 speed automatic so right the first time that it stayed unchanged in their flagship car for a decade?! That blew my mind.

I really only had my 430 and now my 99 400 as sort of a hobby — it’s cool to me to keep an older flagship car in perfect condition, with oem parts, and rely on it and enjoy it as if it’s a new car. Plus, their reliability makes that fairly easy.

But now after all my research I’m seeing the 460 is just as reliable, and special? Hmmm.. I’m tempted.

 

The 07 SWB base is the fastest one......also legit gets more than 30 mpg highway and can average 25.

I really didn't like the car at first but after spending time owning one it's better than most everything else I've driven as a whole. The 430 is a little more bespoke, small details are more meticulously executed, it's smoother in some ways but not in others......but taken as a whole the 460 is just better. The car doesn't get out of sorts like a 430 can when pushed and is pure serenity under all conditions.

Now if you want to discuss reliability......the 430s are getting old so it's almost a given they will need suspension refits. They are strong and durable but not invincible, the 460 has a much easier suspension to work on and cheaper parts. It usually only wears out the lower main arm and it's "worn out" is not as bad as a 430s worn out lower arm.

Engine and trans wise however the 430 is unmatched. The belt system is just more durable over time and the engine itself will outlast the 1UR. The 1UR however has 100 more hp and ties the 430s max TQ at 2000 rpm. The transmission is firmly in favor of the 430 for reliability, the 5 speed is unreal. I serviced mine for the cars first time at 205k and it was a waste of fluid. The 8 speed is not as smooth and tends to hunt in the mornings/cold, it also requires fluid changes every 80k or so to keep it as happy as possible. It is however, far better when pushed hard vs an non-tuned 430 trans.

 

See, we told ya!

 

I disagree about front suspension. It is prone to failure including all control arms, struts, tie rods, and front bearings (AWD and RWD). But quality of the ride is better than anything I owned before.

 

The 430 just hides it better......the double A arms naturally conceal a worn bushing until lit gets super bad. The 460s superior ride quality is a double edged sword as well, it's so good it stands out more when something is wrong.

Besides....it's way easier to change out than a 430. Since each arm is it's own piece you don't have to bother with some of the stuff you need to on the 430 including pressing lower arm bushings in and out. Just buy a new arm. It's just like Audi suspension when you are under the car, having worked on my 430 to the tune of replacing literally everything suspension wise since all of it was worn out to some degree vs replacing everything on an Audi I'll take the Audi style setup.

Im also not so sure if it really lasts so much longer, I really think the geometry of the 430 just hides it more. The 06 that I maintain is mid 70k miles and it already has bushings that are comparable to my 460 with very small cracks starting to form. The multi link system just really can't hide it if even one bushing has an issue vs a wishbone system.

 

Yeah yeah I know lol!

I still stand by my initial review in terms of the 430 having outstanding attention to detail though! I do wish the 460 had a little bit more of that going on but the refresh helps out in that department. I just can't bring myself to spend 30-45k on a car that's fundamentally the same as my 07 when that's S8 or Bentley money. I wish I could get the driveline from one of those cars into a 460s body, I vastly prefer how Lexus does an interior and overall experience vs Audi.

If only Lexus made the TTV8.....

 

If they made a TTV8 I’d still have one!

 

Nice write up. Though I don't know how comfortable I'd be with my 2007 460 at 130 mph. Do you have an F Sport?

As far as really driving the car aggressively, there are car club events where you can take it on a track. Last summer a friend with a Porsche took me to one of their events and people could run any make car on the track. I think the same is true for the SCCA.

 

Just a base model, the F-sport doesn't gain anything and is much heavier by about 300lb. I'm running tires much better suited for this than the F-sport came with anyway. It's glass smooth and planted at 130, I think it would be fine at 140-150 before I would want to start altering suspension a bit. Stock is easily good enough as is.

Tracks are great but you can't really have the same experience/flow as interstate, I don't do it often but it's something I like.

 

I don't think my car will go that fast. I had it up to 100 MPH one day and I saw a State Trooper and my car slowed down a bunch.

 

When I got my '08 LS460 someone who had owned a previous gen LS told me "it's going to ruin all other cars for you."

Yup. I've had her for 6 years now- longest I've ever owned a daily driver. She just won't give me a good excuse to get rid of her. Too comfortable, too pretty, too fast, too quiet, too reliable, too paid off!

 

Have really enjoyed our '10. In the final stages of securing an '05 LS430 for my son. Looking forward to that experience, too. Will be nice to compare and contrast them