Too long, didnt read - I keep seeing LS500's traded in at the Audi dealership I work at, did Lexus drop the ball on this generation?

So working at the local Audi dealership, I've now seen a total of 3 LS500's and 1 LC500 that were traded in after being bought from the Lexus dealership down the road. Even though I absolute love this new generation of the LS, and it looks way better than its fancy Volkswagen counterparts. However, I've heard some small issues and possible teething troubles from this generation. So, I ask, did Lexus mess up and now people are jumping ship back to the Germans or I am over reacting to 3 simple trade ins?

 

I've noticed people that came from previous generations don't like them. Smaller interior, no V8, stiffer and sportier. People prefer the sedated, floaty feeling of the older ones. Me being in my early 30s, I love the driving dynamics.

 

I agree with LexRuger. I trade cars every 2-3 years and I am on my 2nd LS. I have really tried to come around on the 500 but the much smaller interior than my LS460 L and the v6 are killin me. I am 34 myself but always liked luxo barges. My uncle has a 500 and he is trading it because he is so pissed that the ES is hard to differentiate from a distance. Sounds stupid but it really is aggravating that Lexus released the ES with every feature and almost exact design language as the LS.

 

I own the new LS and have driven the new ES several times, as I get them for loaners when I bring the LS in for service. THERE IS NO COMPARISON. I can't believe someone would be pissed about that. Yeah they might look similar, although even that happens with other brands too, but the ride if very different, IMO.

 

I agree -- the ride and fit and finish of the LS are a cut above the ES. They might look similar on the outside, but the inside is definitely better on the LS. I had 4 LS460s before this the last three being the LWB models. Yes the LS500 is smaller in the back, but I don't ride back there.

I get lower mileage in the city, but much higher mileage on the highway -- 35 mpg on the LS500 vs 29 on the LS460L. I haven't really noticed any difference in power availability when I need to accelerate on the highway when merging into traffic.

 

lexus FOOLISHLY ignored their customers to listen to faux YouTube reviewers who advocate for more engine noise, more bumps, and a cramped interior with an unrefined driving experience. I hate to say it, but as much as I love the styling, this generation Lexus LS deserves to fail.

 

You got it! I never insinuated they were the same car. No way. I know the ES is way below the LS in almost every area. My uncles aggravation stems from the exterior physical appearance. And also the tech features are 100% the same. Even the HUD which could have been a perk saved for the big dollar car. I owned a 13' ES350 and also a 13' LS460L and there is no mistaking which is which. Not so for the 18'+ cars.

 

The relatively few times I've noticed an LS500 in traffic I found myself trying to figure out what it was usually first thinking it was an ES or GS and then being surprised when I saw the LS500 badge on the back.

With the LS500, Toyota made a mistake similar to what Mercedes did when the smaller rounded W220 S-Class superceded the much more imposing taller boxy W140 S-Class in 1998. While the W220 was technologically improved, it looked smaller and cheaper and was subject to derision. Mercedes attempted to reverse this mistake with the more imposing W221 in 2005 and even more so with the W222 in 2013.

If Toyota wants the LS to be competitive, it needs to compete with not only the regular long wheelbase Mercedes S-Class but also with the extended long wheelbase S-Class Maybach. Lets have a more imposing regular wheelbase LS500 to compete with the regular long wheelbase S-Class and an extended long wheelbase LS500L to compete with the extended long wheelbase S-Class Maybach.

I'm starting to wonder if Toyota has given up on the Lexus LS.

 

Yes the LS was a mistake by deviating from a working formula. Expensive lesson for Lexus

 

This happens every time Lexus releases a new model. Some people like the change and buy the new model, others don't and they come here to explain why they don't like the new changes. Many people did not like the mid cycle refresh on the LS460 where they changed the grill. I was one of them, but I still ended up buying a 2014 LWB and then a 2017 LWB. The LS500 is smaller inside, has a V6, but looks so much better. The car is also a pleasure to drive....

 

I agree with your interpretation in general. The only thing that absolutely killed it for me is the reduction in size. I have three-year-old twins and I’m 6 foot three 250 pounds. When I went to the dealer and put my car seat in the rear seat of the 500 and put my driver seat in a comfortable driving position, it was very uncomfortable for my son to sit behind me. His feet were up against the Seat. In my mid cycle refresh 460 L he can swing his feet and not touch the seat back.

its obviously a super nice car. I just wish they stayed with the luxo barge feel the 460L, S class, and Audi A8L have.

 

I am on my 5th LS 01, 04, 07, 11, the last 2 were L's. I now am driving a 19, LS, which, I must say drives better then all the previous models I have had. It is faster, handles much better, the seat for me is more comfortable, and they finally added side bolsters. I do miss the condo size back seat I had in the 2 LS L's, but heck I don't ride back there anyway. I looked at MB and Genesis when I bought the last LS, the MB was an additional 30K and I couldn't justify the difference. The Genesis was the closest to beating out the the Lexus, and if the new model had been out, I might have switched. All in all, I am happy with the decision I made.
The thought of someone not buying it because it looks like the ES seems a little crazy to me. Every car manufacture tries to get a similar look across their vehicle line. I have to look at the back to see if it is an A6 or A8 Audi, the front end of MB's are also very similar.

 

A8 sales are even worse than LS 500 sales so they probably didn't trade them in for A8s... Maybe for the e-tron.

 

The ES can’t compare with the LS, chiefly because it is WWD (Wrong Wheel Drive). Too much road feel and accompanying noise is transmitted from the front drive wheels to the driver in even the best front wheel drive cars. The Camry is a fine car, and so is the ES, but it’s no LS.

As for looks, I think they should stretch the LS 3” with the added room put into rear seat legroom. Also, I would be in favor of toning down the predator grille in the LS, making it a little more stately looking than its lesser siblings. I don’t know how long Lexus can continuing with this styling mistake, but I have heard several people say that they just plain don’t like the spindle grille.

The V6 is okay by me, since the turbos more than make up for the loss of two cylinders. Electric luxury cars are on the way and I’m not sure if the current LS will fit into that mold anyway. Most Lexus sales are now in small four cylinder SUVs. The same goes for BMW and M-B. I’m perplexed, don’t know what the future holds for luxury gas-engined 4 door cars.

 

I do kind of agree, from a distance I have seen the ES from the front and it does look like an LS, again from a distance. when it gets closer it is clear its an ES the car is smaller. The only time I think this is with the ES F-Sport, no other ES variant can look similar to the LS. Also Mercedes does this as well with there cars as the E class and C class look similar to the S class.