getting to know the LS500. an insiders perspective..
02-26-18, 10:08 AM
#1
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
getting to know the LS500. an insiders perspective..
as some of you know i work at a lexus dealership as a technology specialist. have been in the business about 4 years now.
anyway, ive been an LS guy for a long long time. in my opinion the LS is truly the best car in the world. not just because i work for lexus, but because ive had and driven every big luxobarge under the sun. (its a luxury car dealership so we get all kinds of cool stuff in on trade and i like to try everything to see what it drives like) the LS is personally important to me, as ive had an LS since i was 17 and im in my 30s now, ive gone through so many phases of my life driving them. ive been in two serious crashes in them and they saved my life. one accident was horrific and the other driver was killed. (i was hit head on by a drunk driver at 60 mph and lived to talk about it without serious injury, the drunk driver wasnt so lucky), now 6 LS later, . im an enthusiast before im an employee.. the LS is a VERY BIG DEAL to me.
anyway, when the new LS500 showed up and i found out it had a V6 and not a V8, my heart absolutley sank. the LS has always had a V8 and an LS is NOT and LS without one!!!! -yeah, im one of those guys. i wasnt in love with the styling either to put another nail in the coffin.
however, my friends kept saying, "dont hate it yet!" "atleast give it a chance!" "dont judge it till you drive it or see it in person atleast!!" as much as i wanted to write it off as "not a real LS" i kept my mouth shut, and my mind open. well, about a week ago, we got our first three. a obsidian/black base model, a starfire/flaxen hybrid w/luxury package, and an atomic/black F-Sport.
i gotta say, finally seeing the car in person, it melted my heart almost instantly. it looks AWESOME!! outside is super nicely sculpted, great lines, headlights are beautifiul, and the F-Sport model looks downright menacing on the road in the rear view mirror. the interior is super classy as well. easy to understand, simple to operate, great fit and finish and doesnt feel as heavy as the 460. still rock solid but without the lumbering boat feel. the interior is inspired by japanese lanterns which they did a killer job on, and everything feels like it could last forever. really the only complaint i have, and maybe its just the car guy in me, is the electronic shifter. guess im old school like that. i mean, paddle shifters are cool and everything, but its just not my cup of tea. i really enjoyed the autostick in the 460 tho and its sad to see that go.
okay, now the most important part of the car. the part that makes the LS the LS, the heart. i popped the hood to reveal the v6 under the hood, which looks tiny next to the 4.6 V8 which it replaced. its not naturally aspirated anymore and went forced induction twin turbo, like pretty much all other modern luxury cars these days, which im trying real real hard to accept across the board no matter what kind of car it is, bc im a stone cold air breathing V8 guy and always have been, but its 2018 and its time to stop hanging on to the past.
started up the car and it came to life quite nicely. engine hums super quiet and its every bit as smooth as the old v8. its also burn your hair off powerful next to the old v8. turbo lag is next to non existant, and has a very satisfying grunt when stomped on. i realized i was beginning to loose hatred for the TT V6, and thought.. "what? how can this be??!" i thought i was going crazy so as soon as i got back to the dealership i grabbed the very last new 2017 460 we still had, and took it for a ride for an A to B comparison.
-the 500 flat out kills the 460 in every way you can possibly think of.
1. its way way faster than the 460
2. its alot more sportier feeling than the 460
3. its has very VERY unique styling. nothing boring about this car at all, and there isnt anything else on the road that looks like it. maybe a little too far out for some, but i think its way cool and bravo for lexus and the LS to come out of its shell, and to really try something totally different.
4. current infotainment system. (will cover more of this later) its a 2018 car that works like a 2018 car! the 460 felt so 2007 it hurt. even the 2017 model. sure it was a beautiful car as well, but way way overdue for a change!!!!
5. its priced well. you can pick up a pretty well equipped one in the mid $70Ks.
my short conclusion of the LS 500 is that its super cool, and i really like it after all. yes, i work at a lexus dealership, but im an LS enthusiast first. its still sad to see the old V8 die, and to see the mechanical shifter leave, but thats it.
its a VERY unique, well executed killer car that would look good against really any backdrop in the world, its still soft as a warm butter bath, and faster than any LS has ever been before. ive been trying to spend more time with the LS500 getting to learn and know all of its gizmos, quirks, personality, etc, but just havent had enough time with them because they sell so fast. when i get some more seat time ill go more in depth about the car and tell you guys all about it.
yes, i work for lexus. no i wasnt put up to this. this are just my 100% candid personal thoughts about the new LS, which i just had to get out!
just know this. DO NOT write off this new LS as not a "real" LS because no V8!!!!!!!!!! it is more LS than any before it!
visit your local dealership, and take one for a spin. you will all be seriously impressed with it.
anyway, ive been an LS guy for a long long time. in my opinion the LS is truly the best car in the world. not just because i work for lexus, but because ive had and driven every big luxobarge under the sun. (its a luxury car dealership so we get all kinds of cool stuff in on trade and i like to try everything to see what it drives like) the LS is personally important to me, as ive had an LS since i was 17 and im in my 30s now, ive gone through so many phases of my life driving them. ive been in two serious crashes in them and they saved my life. one accident was horrific and the other driver was killed. (i was hit head on by a drunk driver at 60 mph and lived to talk about it without serious injury, the drunk driver wasnt so lucky), now 6 LS later, . im an enthusiast before im an employee.. the LS is a VERY BIG DEAL to me.
anyway, when the new LS500 showed up and i found out it had a V6 and not a V8, my heart absolutley sank. the LS has always had a V8 and an LS is NOT and LS without one!!!! -yeah, im one of those guys. i wasnt in love with the styling either to put another nail in the coffin.
however, my friends kept saying, "dont hate it yet!" "atleast give it a chance!" "dont judge it till you drive it or see it in person atleast!!" as much as i wanted to write it off as "not a real LS" i kept my mouth shut, and my mind open. well, about a week ago, we got our first three. a obsidian/black base model, a starfire/flaxen hybrid w/luxury package, and an atomic/black F-Sport.
i gotta say, finally seeing the car in person, it melted my heart almost instantly. it looks AWESOME!! outside is super nicely sculpted, great lines, headlights are beautifiul, and the F-Sport model looks downright menacing on the road in the rear view mirror. the interior is super classy as well. easy to understand, simple to operate, great fit and finish and doesnt feel as heavy as the 460. still rock solid but without the lumbering boat feel. the interior is inspired by japanese lanterns which they did a killer job on, and everything feels like it could last forever. really the only complaint i have, and maybe its just the car guy in me, is the electronic shifter. guess im old school like that. i mean, paddle shifters are cool and everything, but its just not my cup of tea. i really enjoyed the autostick in the 460 tho and its sad to see that go.
okay, now the most important part of the car. the part that makes the LS the LS, the heart. i popped the hood to reveal the v6 under the hood, which looks tiny next to the 4.6 V8 which it replaced. its not naturally aspirated anymore and went forced induction twin turbo, like pretty much all other modern luxury cars these days, which im trying real real hard to accept across the board no matter what kind of car it is, bc im a stone cold air breathing V8 guy and always have been, but its 2018 and its time to stop hanging on to the past.
started up the car and it came to life quite nicely. engine hums super quiet and its every bit as smooth as the old v8. its also burn your hair off powerful next to the old v8. turbo lag is next to non existant, and has a very satisfying grunt when stomped on. i realized i was beginning to loose hatred for the TT V6, and thought.. "what? how can this be??!" i thought i was going crazy so as soon as i got back to the dealership i grabbed the very last new 2017 460 we still had, and took it for a ride for an A to B comparison.
-the 500 flat out kills the 460 in every way you can possibly think of.
1. its way way faster than the 460
2. its alot more sportier feeling than the 460
3. its has very VERY unique styling. nothing boring about this car at all, and there isnt anything else on the road that looks like it. maybe a little too far out for some, but i think its way cool and bravo for lexus and the LS to come out of its shell, and to really try something totally different.
4. current infotainment system. (will cover more of this later) its a 2018 car that works like a 2018 car! the 460 felt so 2007 it hurt. even the 2017 model. sure it was a beautiful car as well, but way way overdue for a change!!!!
5. its priced well. you can pick up a pretty well equipped one in the mid $70Ks.
my short conclusion of the LS 500 is that its super cool, and i really like it after all. yes, i work at a lexus dealership, but im an LS enthusiast first. its still sad to see the old V8 die, and to see the mechanical shifter leave, but thats it.
its a VERY unique, well executed killer car that would look good against really any backdrop in the world, its still soft as a warm butter bath, and faster than any LS has ever been before. ive been trying to spend more time with the LS500 getting to learn and know all of its gizmos, quirks, personality, etc, but just havent had enough time with them because they sell so fast. when i get some more seat time ill go more in depth about the car and tell you guys all about it.
yes, i work for lexus. no i wasnt put up to this. this are just my 100% candid personal thoughts about the new LS, which i just had to get out!
just know this. DO NOT write off this new LS as not a "real" LS because no V8!!!!!!!!!! it is more LS than any before it!
visit your local dealership, and take one for a spin. you will all be seriously impressed with it.
The following 5 users liked this post by Stereorob:
02-26-18, 10:40 AM
#2
stereorob, I totally agree with your assessment. However when I first saw the F-Sport in person I had an issue with the pattern in the black seats. But the more I go back and look at it the more I like it. The combo of Caviar and black interior is awesome. The front grill of the F-Sport vs the non F-Sport is much more sporty. And the new ML stereo is the most killer audio system I have ever heard in a car. But let's see how this new engine/trans performs over the next year. I have a 2016 RX 350 with 13 months left on the lease. I made a huge mistake getting this the first year of the new 8-speed trans as it continues to have shifting problems: doesn't know when to shift properly. The lead Tech at my local dealer is waiting to see if another TSB is issued on it but thus far nothing. So when my lease is up in March 2019 I may go for the new LS. Looking forward to more analysis from you and others. Obviously the Lexus Infotainment system is terrible and not user friendly. Maybe they'll redo that for the 2019 or at least add Apple CarPlay.
02-26-18, 10:41 AM
#3
Great write up - what dealer are you at?
I flew out to Miami last month and drove home in my F Sport - Lexus North Miami.
As for the V-6 -
I am a V-8 guy too (MOPAR and FORD...and of course LEXUS)
I learned to drive in a 1966 1/2 Dodge Charger 426 Hemi with Hurst shifter...Dad sold for $600 during the gas crisis in the 70's
)
And I was very leery of the new generation of high pressure V-6's
Having lived with a FORD Raptor for over 6 months - I'm a convert.
The sound is different - not that familiar V-8 rumble - but so.
(Then again my neighbor has a Mustang 350 with the flat plain Voodoo V-8..revs to 8,000 rom ..each and every person on the planet needs to hear this . . it is AMAZING)
I flew out to Miami last month and drove home in my F Sport - Lexus North Miami.
As for the V-6 -
I am a V-8 guy too (MOPAR and FORD...and of course LEXUS)
I learned to drive in a 1966 1/2 Dodge Charger 426 Hemi with Hurst shifter...Dad sold for $600 during the gas crisis in the 70's
)And I was very leery of the new generation of high pressure V-6's
Having lived with a FORD Raptor for over 6 months - I'm a convert.
The sound is different - not that familiar V-8 rumble - but so.
(Then again my neighbor has a Mustang 350 with the flat plain Voodoo V-8..revs to 8,000 rom ..each and every person on the planet needs to hear this . . it is AMAZING)
Last edited by xfea; 02-26-18 at 02:57 PM.
02-26-18, 01:35 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
I agree with a lot of your thoughts, however I definitely don't agree that the engine is as smooth as the old V8. At several points in the rev band and at WOT there is a coarseness to the engine that isn't there in the 460. In terms of exhaust note it too sounds like a V6 IMHO and doesn't have the same muted V8 growl the old one had. It sounds amazing in Sport+ but then thats artificial sound piped in through the speakers.
That wouldn't keep me from getting one though, but what would is the much tighter interior space, especially front headroom and legroom in the back. Big downgrades from the previous car in both of those areas. Thats really what would keep me out of an LS500 potentially, and made me glad I didn't wait.
Eh, not really. Base is almost $76k. Optioned with stuff you'd want such as the interior upgrades (car really needs those, its very plain inside with the base leather, no leather on the wheel, etc), ML audio etc its in the upper $80s-$90k. Very similar pricing with options to the outgoing LS460L.
Are they discounting them at your dealer already?
That wouldn't keep me from getting one though, but what would is the much tighter interior space, especially front headroom and legroom in the back. Big downgrades from the previous car in both of those areas. Thats really what would keep me out of an LS500 potentially, and made me glad I didn't wait.
5. its priced well. you can pick up a pretty well equipped one in the mid $70Ks.
Are they discounting them at your dealer already?
02-27-18, 06:22 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
I would imagine in some detuned capacity.
02-28-18, 12:50 PM
#8
If the 3.5L V6 TT was fitted to IS/ES/GS, then it would directly become a "500", with an equivalent power to a 5.0.
So it will be interesting to see if Toyota Motor Corporation tries to cut costs by merely detuning the 3.5L V6 TT into the IS/ES/GS, and also suffer greater fuel consumption, and greater NVH from a large capacity V6 with heavier reciprocating mass.
The alternative is for TMC to invest some money into smaller capacity moieties like 3.0/2.5/2.0/1.5 V6 TT based on the same block, but with smaller bore x stroke - smaller capacities which have superior fuel economy, and lighter reciprocating mass for superior NVH in term of smoothness of idle, and smoothness of revving at wide open throttle openings.
Formula 1 racing cars have been using 1.5L V6 eTT electric twin turbos for quite some time.
Back in the 1980's and 90's, TMC used to have a range of 2.0/2.5/3.0 in-line sixes with turbocharging on top.
The difficult part is that TMC knows that "electrification" is just around the corner, so they don't want to spend much money on internal combustion engines, nor do they really want to spend money on electric turbos that accelerate to 70,000 rpm in just 2 milliseconds etc.
So it will be interesting to see if Toyota Motor Corporation tries to cut costs by merely detuning the 3.5L V6 TT into the IS/ES/GS, and also suffer greater fuel consumption, and greater NVH from a large capacity V6 with heavier reciprocating mass.
The alternative is for TMC to invest some money into smaller capacity moieties like 3.0/2.5/2.0/1.5 V6 TT based on the same block, but with smaller bore x stroke - smaller capacities which have superior fuel economy, and lighter reciprocating mass for superior NVH in term of smoothness of idle, and smoothness of revving at wide open throttle openings.
Formula 1 racing cars have been using 1.5L V6 eTT electric twin turbos for quite some time.
Back in the 1980's and 90's, TMC used to have a range of 2.0/2.5/3.0 in-line sixes with turbocharging on top.
The difficult part is that TMC knows that "electrification" is just around the corner, so they don't want to spend much money on internal combustion engines, nor do they really want to spend money on electric turbos that accelerate to 70,000 rpm in just 2 milliseconds etc.
02-28-18, 12:56 PM
#9
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
btw. the GS isnt going away. just a rumor. kind of like how every year everyone says, "THATS IT FOR THE GX!!!" "THIS IS THE LAST YEAR!!" its not going anywhere either., however it needs updates so bad its painful..
02-28-18, 06:01 PM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
That engine is a modular design, so they can come out with smaller displacement variants which is what will happen with the GS for instance
02-28-18, 08:26 PM
#12
Lexus Champion
I've seen the 0-60 times and they are ahead of the older cars, but Motor Trend said it has decent torque but, "apply moderate or more throttle and the V6 struggles to move the 5,xxxlb sedan." That bothers me. The very thing a luxury car is supposed to be is effortless. My LS430 has only 290 hp and absolutely never feels like it's struggling, ever. I've never heard an automotive publication infer an LS ever "struggled" with acceleration, ever. They couldn't match the times with the 460 Lexus claimed but never inferred the engine wasn't up to snuff. I really can't recall anyone, ever, legitly complaining about the LS V8 or saying one negative thing about it. That plus the reports of the V6 not being as smooth nor sounding as good (which I knew would be the case), along with the good-but-not-great reviews, I hate to say I'm a tad letdown with the 5LS.
The smooth serene muted V8 engine note and the way my (old) LS wafts is the very epitome of luxury. I love the sound of that V8 purring. A V6 just won't cut it for me. I'm not in the market for one anyway but I have no desire to own one a few years down the road, at least as of now. I loved the interior of it but it felt cramped inside. I don't think I care for the looks overall. I think probably the best looking LS comes down to 98-00, or 10-12 with the chrome 5spokes. I have warmed to the later 460s too, I think they look a little fussy but the front end looks great and the interior is finally back to LS standards. My next car will be a '15-17 460 and I'll love it.
The smooth serene muted V8 engine note and the way my (old) LS wafts is the very epitome of luxury. I love the sound of that V8 purring. A V6 just won't cut it for me. I'm not in the market for one anyway but I have no desire to own one a few years down the road, at least as of now. I loved the interior of it but it felt cramped inside. I don't think I care for the looks overall. I think probably the best looking LS comes down to 98-00, or 10-12 with the chrome 5spokes. I have warmed to the later 460s too, I think they look a little fussy but the front end looks great and the interior is finally back to LS standards. My next car will be a '15-17 460 and I'll love it.
02-28-18, 08:29 PM
#13
Lexus Fanatic
I didn’t feel the the one I drove never felt like it struggled. I suppose they could have interpreted that coarseness i described as struggling...
02-28-18, 08:41 PM
#14
Lexus Champion
I guess what I was saying is I had a bad taste in my mouth to begin with re: V6, and seeing Motor Trend say something negative about it didn't help.
02-28-18, 08:55 PM
#15
Lexus Fanatic
When you move to the 460, get an L and get the air suspension 