Aggie, thanks for the more detailed story. What may have caused this strange behavior was the fact, as I understand your explanation, that you were making a sharp turn when it happened. This would have meant that the right rear wheel, on a larger radius, was turning faster than the left rear wheel during the backup maneuver, and maybe still during the start of the forward motion until you reached alignment with the driveway and straightened the steering wheel. The traction control system may have interepreted this as the right wheel spinning and braked that wheel and thereby sent all the engine torque (from the high idle speed) to the left rear wheel.
So my question is, was it the left rear wheel that spun?
I have an after market XM system in my LX470. Its display shows the artist and title of the songs played in addition to the channel name and number. Does the LS's system do that? Does 6 channels per screen on 3 screens mean that there are, in effect, 18 "presets"? How do you tune through all of the XM channels, and where is the channel number/name displayed?
Thanks for the info. I've heard good things about Wilde Lexus. They seem to be a litttle more accomodating (and willing to negotiate price) than Lexus of Tampa Bay and Lexus of Clearwater which both have the same owner. Let us know how the drive went. Do you have any experience with the previous LS 400's? I'm really pleased with mine and only willing to trade up if there is a substantial improvment in ride and quietness. Some say there is and others say not. I also noticed that Lexus of Orlando was advertising 05 LS 430's at $7,000 off list.
hpowders - you owe me one. If he has a euro suspension LS you may want to at least test drive it. It is more responsive and has excellent handling vs the standard suspension, though the latter is just fine. If you have the time give that GS a test drive. I'm hearing some real great things about it. It would be real interesting to hear your view given you have the 5-series vs the new GS.
If you haven't experienced Lexus dealer service you are in for a treat. They treat you like royalty. By the way my new CR April issue in today. Horrible reliability again for most German cars including the new 5-series. Nothing but net as usual for the LS430 and Lexus as a whole. Lexus ownership satisfacion and depreciations is amazing. Sky high and you have to really search to find a car with only a half red circle.
Nope. This will be the first time in a Lexus. Never even been a passenger in one. Strict BMW man since 1993. Should prove interesting. Funny but Wilde Lexus is right down the block from my BMW dealer, Southpointe BMW. Have to sit real low in my seat driving my bimmer past Southpointe turning into Wilde.
dbc123 - the LS400 is such a great car it is hard to imagine a great improvement over that thing. I had a 95 and 98 LS400 (lease every 3 years for business) and now the 2001 and 2004. Differences - added luxury and amenities, more power, quieter if you can believe that, tighter handling than any LS400 but even with that an improved and more dream like ride - even though the LS400 was always a dream ride already. Greater trunk space, more passenger head room and overall space for driver and passenger , the Mark Levinson is a better stereo than the Nakamichi (which remains the second best stereo I've ever heard in a car). The six speed is as smooth as the 5 speed but adds a hair better fuel economy and a lot more torque. Finally the interior moves up from luxurious in the LS400 to sumptously luxurious in the 430 with the wood treatment and placement of the nav system among other things. I'm sure there are more things but the new LS430 is certainly the best luxury car on the road as far as I'm concerned and I've driven everything in the class except the 7-series and Phaeton. As for comparo to the LS400 - it just took what seemed so perfect to begin with and raised the level higher. But remember there is a brand new edition due in 18 months or less.
Does anyone have a blackberry who has successfully mated it with the bluetooth in our LS? If so can you please give me the details on which one works well.
#1. When you select a new channel by knob or preselect, the name of the channel (Watercolor), the Channel number (Ch 071), and the Channel Type (Jazz & Blues) appears across the top of the nav/audio display. This info stays on for about 7 or 8 seconds and then clears. If you are navigating, the map stays in place, the XM band runs across of the nav screen. #2. Yes. 18 presets. Sat 1, Sat 2, Sat 3 each have six preselect. The button that you use to select radio am, fm, tape, or CD will be used to select XM also. #3. You tune through the XM channels by use of the radio tuning know that you use for AM/FM. If you rapidly dial from one channel to a higher channel (say 20 channels higher) the intermediate channels appear on the screen but do not come up on the speakers until you stop turning the knob. I imagine you can seek/scan but I've not tried that feature or voice command? #4. The channel number/name is displayed as outlined in #1 above.
Yes ljflx. I am up bright and early, eager with anticipation. I don't believe I have ever driven a car with a complete red circle in reliability from CR. I will ask about the euro-tuned suspension and also about taking the GS430 for an extended test drive. I will report back at the end of the day. Thanks again! hpowders
ljflx: Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I currently own a 99 LS 400 which has only 31K miles and is in flawless condition. I'm hard pressed to justify the considerable expense to step up to a 04-05 LS 430 unless there is a significant improvment. I actually prefer the classic styling of my 400 to that of the 430 - especially the 01-03 430's which I really do not care for. I'm also not very concerned about the newer gadgets - smart start, power door closers, power window shades, massaging seats or even nav (which I have on my Jag and seldom use). For me, it's all about the smoothness, silence, ride, power and general refinement. Considering the above, would you still consider the 430 a clear step up from my car?
I got the basic LS to drive. After 10 minutes, I brought it back. Steering was much too light for me. Turns were horrible. Acceleration was disappointing. My BMW 6 feels more powerful than the Lexus 8. The Lexus is probably a little too heavy. Seats were good but not amazingly comfortable. Drove a Passat in 2002 and found its seats to be better than the LS. Hated the wood steering wheel. Haven't seen a parking brake pedal like that in years. Car is absolutely screaming for a re-design. Then I tried the GS 430. Night and day. Forget what Edmunds said about the brakes. Excellent brakes. Stopped smoothly. Very good on turns though not quite as good as BMW but close enough. Good acceleration, about equal in as power to my BMW 6. Feels like a sports sedan. Excellent ride. Much more to my liking. A little less legroom than the LS. Seats just okay. Nothing special. Hate the wood steering wheel although has leather on the sides of the wheel. Do not like the outer design of the car. Looks bloated. And what's up with the gated shifter on both of these cars? Tedious! Couldn't take it for an extended drive because it was the only one there. I would take a pass on both cars although after driving the GS 430, at least I didn't feel like I wasted my time. If you are looking for a sports sedan, definitely give the GS 430 a try. A pleasant surprise.
dbc, 31K Miles? wow, that's low mileage. I had a '98 that I traded for my '02..Honestly, I didn't think there was a huge difference other than the interior accents and electronic toys. I still feel a LS400 will have better long term reliability than the LS430's.
I still have my 92 LS and the sound insulation is better on the '92. If you turn on the radio, get out of the car and shut the door you hardly hear anything..On the LS430 you can hear practically everything. I'd wait for 2007 before I'd trade up. Plus the ride on the 92 is better with the 15" instead of the 18" rims. Though the LS430 has better performance parameters.
Hpowders, Sorry to hear the car disappointed you. You should have tried the Air Suspension model or Euro Suspension Model. Also was the PWR button on? That would have given a much bigger punch when you stepped on the pedal. The seats on the more expensive models have a different type of leather too. At the same time it is not a sports sedan. It's more of a cruiser.
Hey sv7887. I am very glad that I got to drive one so I could form my own opinion. The car I drove was the basic car. I wasn't told about the PWR button. From the response of the vehicle, I bet it was off so they could save a few shekels on the gas. On the other hand, the GS 430 was fully loaded, although I was concentrating on the driving experience in both vehicles. I respect fellow posters' right to enjoy the LS 430. I will not be spending any time here being anti-Lexus. I did enjoy driving the GS 430. I was very pleasantly surprised. HP
I'm always perplexed by this idea that they are direct competitors. They are not. I totally respect Howard's preference for the driving feel of the euro cars. They certainly have a more direct and connected feel to them. To some, this is of paramont importance. The LS easily is smoother, quieter, more refined and far more reliable. Some prefer these qualities and they, (like myself) are always disappointed when test driving a MB, BMW, Audi, etc. I understand the dilemma presented to the euro car crowd by the continuing decline in reliability of these cars. A friends new MB SL has been in the shop numerous times during 8 months of ownership and is still not right. So, Howard, what to do? Is the "ultimate driving machine" going to stay in your garage?
I will test drive the M45 soon. Then comes the BMW 545, the 2006 530 and the 2006 330. The choice will be among the above and the Lexus GS 430 which I found surprisingly impressive. I have until July to finalize. So I will take my time and drive them all as they become available. Now to look up some Infiniti dealers...... Should be as easy as "dbc."
I'm glad you got to test drive and, as my mother always said, "got that out of your system." Yes, there *is* a big difference between the Lexus and European cars. My '05 LS430 doesn't 'corner' as well as my Volvos did, or our BMW, but this time I hope I bought those full red circles in CS magazine. At this point in time, I traded off 'feel' for reliability. I needed a break from the constant expensive repairs after ditching my last Volvo.
Aren't we lucky, though, that we can have so many choices here, and can usually get whatever we want in a car?
BTW, the "Power" button only gives the "sound" of a sports car and doesn't really affect the ride or feel. My Volvos and our Avalon had that same thing, and we never used it. It just puts higher rpm's on the tranny before shifting gears, and uses a little more gas. As for cornering, handling and feel: no different.
Good luck on your search for the right car for you. :-)
I am really annoyed that the dealer didn't tell me about the power button. It had to be off. That's what happens when you drive the car yourself. If I had the dealer accompanied test drive, I'm sure he would have mentioned it-especially because I would have brought up the sluggish feel. I will call the dealer and arrange for a regular test drive so I can ask him about that power button. I would love to feel the power. I did like the way the side mirrors folded into the car when parked. Really neat. I gotta try it again. All those people can't be wrong.
hpowders - anyone coming out of a BMW has to get his hands on the Euro. That is the car you will like. The power button does make a big difference.
Thanks for verifying the GS. A BMW loving buddy of mine who despises the new 5 test drove it the other day and raved about it. I thought he may have exaggerated because he knows I always buy Lexus. But someone else had told me its great earlier also, then him and now you are also saying it can hold its own very well in the class.
GO back to the dealer and ask if he has an LS with the sport mode ...I knew you would be disappointed as soon as I heard you had 17 in. tires...They were probably all season as well...
If he has the sport mode it will come with 18 in summer tires...that and the power button and you will notice a huge difference which will be much closer to your BMW experience but still very lexus like.
Hi Hpowders, The Power button is located directly in front of the gear box, right below the Audio controls. You'll see ECT "PWR" and "Snow." When you push the button, you'll see a ECT PWR light come on in the dash. You can also shift the gears on your own as well.
If you're looking for the BMW feel, you'll probably want to try the Air Suspension which has Sport and Normal modes. My '02 LS430 had the sports suspension and the ride was noteably stiffer than my new car.
I won't mislead you, this car isn't going to be as "exciting" as your BMW, but it will pamper you. But I can say you will be spoiled by your dealer and the way the car treats you. Think of it as the bookish girl who isn't the best looking, but will be forever loyal.
You should insist on driving a model with Air Suspension or at least a Modern Luxury one with 18" tires. Those cars will have the Voice Activated Navigation System, Mark Levinson stereo (Out of the world, bring a CD you're very familiar with to judge the difference), Backup camera, Parking Radar, as well as some other wonderful toys. Most LS's sold are the Modern Luxury like mine. The Base model lacks all the gizmos that have fools like me trading in perfectly good cars for.
Driving a base LS430 is like listening to football on the radio. It doesn't give you the whole experience of the LS series. All of my LS's have been the middle range, except for my 1992 which has everything save the air suspension.
Ultimately, You have to like the car. Since we're talking big money here, you should get something that you want. Lexus is great on objectives like Customer Service, reliability, et all, but I'm not sure if this is the sort of car that will provoke an emotional response from someone used to a BMW.
All this talk about my LS430 is making me sad. I'm here in London driving this horrendous rented Citroen..My wife has officially taken over my LS430...
The 92 I still have..93K miles (big file) The 98 was traded at 31K miles The 02 was just traded at 25K miles The 05 has about 450 miles on it right now..
If you depress the "audio" button on the dash, the full screen will appear with the six selections and a button for "text" will appear. Touch the "Text" and the name of the tune and artist will appear in an abbreviated form. The computer will only print about 12 letters each line. Forgot to put that in my last post. The screen will go back to map after the normal time limit.
Sv - The 2005 but the 92 still looks classic. For some reason I thought you were from California but I see you have plenty of snow in a few pictures. Very snowy in the northeast since mid-January and everyone is already saying look out late next week.
I just want to thank all of you for your kind input and advice. I will call another dealership and ask if they have an LS430 with the euro-tuned suspension and the 18" summer tires. Thanks to your valuable comments, I know what to ask for. Regards, hpowders
As soon as I read your first post-drive post, all I could think of was "What was that Lexus dealer thinking putting a 5 series BMW owner into a base LS? Were they crazy?" The base LS is a Deville-killer, not a 545-killer! It literally pained me to read that you turned the car back after 10 minutes.
The first thing you have to note is that the LS is a big car-- substantially bigger than a E or a 5. If you don't want or need that extra room (particularly in the back seat), then the car will always be a disappointment. It will never drive as well as a smaller luxury sedan-- especially a BMW 5. Heck, an AMG E will drive more responsively than an AMG S!
The next point is that if you are looking for the best driving dynamics you can get in the larger size car, you definitely need to look for a Euro-Tuned, or a Custom or Ultra for the adjustable suspension. And 18" tires certainly add to the grippiness.
The thing that surprised me the most was that you didn't find the seats comfortable. You're the first person I have heard say that. But as has been noted by others, the option packages come with upgraded seats (heated/cooled with perforated leather); maybe that would make a difference for you.
But I think you sound like you really aren't interested in the extra room of the LS, and were really more interested in potentially getting a more reliable ride, less quirky electronics, etc., than in the new Bimmer. If so, the GS or the new Infiniti M45 Sport would seem to be more up your alley.
We told you about some of the minor stuff....Now here is COOL...
Where the Roof line hits the glass just behind the rearview mirror is a tiny Sun visor about 8in long and maybe an inch wide to block the sun between the roofline and the top of the mirror....Then there is the change tray on the left side of the dash (all cars have them but on lexus they seem to be just in the right place) and little trays all over for sunglasses and cell phones etc. Two glove boxes, of course...The the button that makes the rear window sun shade go up and down..Not to mention the button for the head rests and lots of other little things that spell a Luxury car. All of it easy to use and just where you want it.
I don't need the backseat room. I would try the car again with the euro-tuned suspension and the 18" summer tires and making sure the power button is in the "on" position. Yes, the decline in reliability of BMW's is why I am shopping around for alternatives. The seat was good-plenty of adjustments. I just said that I have sat in better. I don't know what they were thinking, but the outer appearance of the LS they gave me was dirty(white). They put a license plate in the rear window that said "dealer." The experience was to put it mildly, a turn off. Real "seedy." I will follow up as stated above. Regards, hpowders
This is all very nice but when you are taking an initial test drive, you tend to concentrate on the basic driving experience and if this is fine, then follow-up on all the cool stuff. Can't believe they didn't tell me about the power button. That is pretty basic. Maybe they figured I was a waste of their time coming from BMW. Regards, hpowders
My comment was to try and point out the difference in thinking between a BMW guy and A Lexus guy....
Most Lexus dealers are a big cut above other dealers...Give it another try...Maybe you are a BMW guy for life but it is Good to find out if another car can make you happy.
I believe the double (two)glove box was standard on the 2004; however on the 2005 they deleted one of the boxes to accommodate the lower leg air bag for the passenger. They also made the under seat boxes smaller on the 05 to accommodate the perforated seat heater/coolers. Still a great car.
The power of suggestion! Quote from the owner's manual: "In the POWER position, the transmission is shifted up at higher vehicle speeds and shifted down more responsively than in the normal position." You won't notice anything like more power.
Hi all, The normal mode is basically conservative to avoid the gas guzzler tax.. The PWR mode shifts the transmission more aggresively. Stomp on the gas pedal and you will get a more pronounced response. I've done this a few times when I engaged in some juvenile behavior.
Granted this isn't like a Supercharger or something, but your MPG will fall if you use it. The Engine is a 290 HP but can generate 320 ft/lb of torque, which is a fair amount for the size car. I think all it does it ensure a more spirited acceleration. That's what I seem to notice when I use it.
I have an '05 LS and I do notice quicker/more responsive acceleration in Power mode. In normal mode, the car does feel a bit sluggish unless you really step on the gas peddle.
To hpowders - I should qualify the usage of the word "big" in "big difference in acceleration" between Power and Normal modes. The difference is subjective. If you are a BMW fan, then the Power mode in Lexus still may not be to your liking. As for me, I am not a BMW fan so the kick/handling aspect of a car is not as important to me. I currently have both an E class and the LS. The LS definitely does not have the same driving dynamics as the German counter parts, but the LS is a wonderfully sumptuous luxury car with a soft touch and understated elegance.
To sv7887 – Sorry to hear about the wife taking over the LS. Luckily for me, my better half still prefers MB/German feel and therefore we will not be fighting over the LS any time soon.
hi friends ... as some of you might know , i have owned many ls models : 1990 ls4 ,1991 ls4 , 1993 ls4, 1996 ls4 ,2001,2002,2003,2004,& 2005 ls 430's . these were family and business . back in august 1989 , i was told by the then " factory parts and service rep, in my zone "... ( his name : mr. worley ) ... that the power switch instigates a " program change " in the tranny shift patter : ie : / the shifts are held longer from start to overdrive , causing the vehicle to go to the next shift point ( electronically )... at higher rpm's , and thus a higher ground speed . no effect is directly caused to the fuel distributor , air mixture , etc. strictly shift points @ higher rpm's . --- to a ls that seems " slow " , more than likely it is the octane of the fuel , and/or amount of moisture ( water) in the fuel . he told me that amoco premium has the least amount of water , and is the least likely to pre ignite ( higher octane ). --- personal favorites : of course the 1990 , i still own it with 13k miles ... simple model ( $ 39,900) ... a cadillac that runs like a scared rabbit straight down the road with no hands on the wheel ... with goodyear ga's , while listening to the nakamici... the only negative to me is the seat on the 90, 91 , & 92 lays real low and i'm 5'7" ... ( like the [non-permissible content removed] thought all americans were 6'6'' . the 1996 ls , std car with nak is my all time favorite . ( black / grey ) the happiest ,smoothest machine i ever enjoyed . the 2001 ls 430 i kept 10 k miles ... no problems .. i did not go for the nav/levinson package ... the car was dull , the dunlop 5000's drifted ( i called her the " wandering desert machine ) ... however no mechanical problems . the 2002 ls430 ... had a seat bottom that was 3 to 4 inches down from the seat back , and hurt me at the belt line . they swapped seats from another car ... and it was the same ... end of that one . the 2003ls430 is a standout performer with a tight seat and they added the sonar on the front and rear bumper ... great example of an ls... the 2004 ls 430 added the backup camera , improved the navigation system on the third and final build ( late car ) , and the dunlop 5000's improved . the 2005 ls 430 is the most quiet , most refined sophisticated lady of the whole span . with the 18" wheels ( after several wheel balancings and a few hundred miles to wear them in ) become whisper quiet ... but not to my taste ( hate tar strips and potholes ) ... i swapped with my dealer for the 17" rims and mxv4" ( 225/55/17 ) as on the 2004 ls ... she runs like a champ .... straight down the road ( no hands ) like the 1990 ls did , and the levinson radio speakers now seperate treble ... and the bass goes to the big woofer , it sounds 10x better than the nak's did . the navigation actually tell's the truth now ? there is nothing ... not even close to the '05 ls 430 . mitchell rowe
Comments
So my question is, was it the left rear wheel that spun?
If you haven't experienced Lexus dealer service you are in for a treat. They treat you like royalty. By the way my new CR April issue in today. Horrible reliability again for most German cars including the new 5-series. Nothing but net as usual for the LS430 and Lexus as a whole. Lexus ownership satisfacion and depreciations is amazing. Sky high and you have to really search to find a car with only a half red circle.
Good luck and enjoy.
hpowders - don't forget to wear a big hat and dark sunglasses.
#2. Yes. 18 presets. Sat 1, Sat 2, Sat 3 each have six preselect. The button that you use to select radio am, fm, tape, or CD will be used to select XM also.
#3. You tune through the XM channels by use of the radio tuning know that you use for AM/FM. If you rapidly dial from one channel to a higher channel (say 20 channels higher) the intermediate channels appear on the screen but do not come up on the speakers until you stop turning the knob. I imagine you can seek/scan but I've not tried that feature or voice command?
#4. The channel number/name is displayed as outlined in #1 above.
I will report back at the end of the day.
Thanks again!
hpowders
Steering was much too light for me. Turns were horrible.
Acceleration was disappointing. My BMW 6 feels more powerful than the Lexus 8. The Lexus is probably a little too heavy.
Seats were good but not amazingly comfortable. Drove a Passat in 2002 and found its seats to be better than the LS.
Hated the wood steering wheel.
Haven't seen a parking brake pedal like that in years.
Car is absolutely screaming for a re-design.
Then I tried the GS 430. Night and day. Forget what Edmunds said about the brakes. Excellent brakes. Stopped smoothly.
Very good on turns though not quite as good as BMW but close enough.
Good acceleration, about equal in as power to my BMW 6.
Feels like a sports sedan. Excellent ride. Much more to my liking.
A little less legroom than the LS. Seats just okay. Nothing special.
Hate the wood steering wheel although has leather on the sides of the wheel.
Do not like the outer design of the car. Looks bloated.
And what's up with the gated shifter on both of these cars? Tedious!
Couldn't take it for an extended drive because it was the only one there.
I would take a pass on both cars although after driving the GS 430, at least I didn't feel like I wasted my time.
If you are looking for a sports sedan, definitely give the GS 430 a try. A pleasant surprise.
31K Miles? wow, that's low mileage. I had a '98 that I traded for my '02..Honestly, I didn't think there was a huge difference other than the interior accents and electronic toys. I still feel a LS400 will have better long term reliability than the LS430's.
I still have my 92 LS and the sound insulation is better on the '92. If you turn on the radio, get out of the car and shut the door you hardly hear anything..On the LS430 you can hear practically everything. I'd wait for 2007 before I'd trade up. Plus the ride on the 92 is better with the 15" instead of the 18" rims. Though the LS430 has better performance parameters.
Hope that helps,
SV
Sorry to hear the car disappointed you. You should have tried the Air Suspension model or Euro Suspension Model. Also was the PWR button on? That would have given a much bigger punch when you stepped on the pedal. The seats on the more expensive models have a different type of leather too. At the same time it is not a sports sedan. It's more of a cruiser.
SV
On the other hand, the GS 430 was fully loaded, although I was concentrating on the driving experience in both vehicles.
I respect fellow posters' right to enjoy the LS 430. I will not be spending any time here being anti-Lexus.
I did enjoy driving the GS 430. I was very pleasantly surprised.
HP
I understand the dilemma presented to the euro car crowd by the continuing decline in reliability of these cars. A friends new MB SL has been in the shop numerous times during 8 months of ownership and is still not right. So, Howard, what to do? Is the "ultimate driving machine" going to stay in your garage?
The choice will be among the above and the Lexus GS 430 which I found surprisingly impressive.
I have until July to finalize. So I will take my time and drive them all as they become available.
Now to look up some Infiniti dealers......
Should be as easy as "dbc."
Aren't we lucky, though, that we can have so many choices here, and can usually get whatever we want in a car?
BTW, the "Power" button only gives the "sound" of a sports car and doesn't really affect the ride or feel. My Volvos and our Avalon had that same thing, and we never used it. It just puts higher rpm's on the tranny before shifting gears, and uses a little more gas. As for cornering, handling and feel: no different.
Good luck on your search for the right car for you. :-)
"BTW, the "Power" button only gives the "sound" of a sports car and doesn't really affect the ride or feel."
Actually, the power button makes a big difference in acceleration. It definitely gives the LS a kick.
I will call the dealer and arrange for a regular test drive so I can ask him about that power button. I would love to feel the power.
I did like the way the side mirrors folded into the car when parked. Really neat.
I gotta try it again. All those people can't be wrong.
Thanks for verifying the GS. A BMW loving buddy of mine who despises the new 5 test drove it the other day and raved about it. I thought he may have exaggerated because he knows I always buy Lexus. But someone else had told me its great earlier also, then him and now you are also saying it can hold its own very well in the class.
GO back to the dealer and ask if he has an LS with the sport mode ...I knew you would be disappointed as soon as I heard you had 17 in. tires...They were probably all season as well...
If he has the sport mode it will come with 18 in summer tires...that and the power button and you will notice a huge difference which will be much closer to your BMW experience but still very lexus like.
The Power button is located directly in front of the gear box, right below the Audio controls. You'll see ECT "PWR" and "Snow." When you push the button, you'll see a ECT PWR light come on in the dash. You can also shift the gears on your own as well.
If you're looking for the BMW feel, you'll probably want to try the Air Suspension which has Sport and Normal modes. My '02 LS430 had the sports suspension and the ride was noteably stiffer than my new car.
I won't mislead you, this car isn't going to be as "exciting" as your BMW, but it will pamper you. But I can say you will be spoiled by your dealer and the way the car treats you. Think of it as the bookish girl who isn't the best looking, but will be forever loyal.
You should insist on driving a model with Air Suspension or at least a Modern Luxury one with 18" tires. Those cars will have the Voice Activated Navigation System, Mark Levinson stereo (Out of the world, bring a CD you're very familiar with to judge the difference), Backup camera, Parking Radar, as well as some other wonderful toys. Most LS's sold are the Modern Luxury like mine. The Base model lacks all the gizmos that have fools like me trading in perfectly good cars for.
Driving a base LS430 is like listening to football on the radio. It doesn't give you the whole experience of the LS series. All of my LS's have been the middle range, except for my 1992 which has everything save the air suspension.
Ultimately, You have to like the car. Since we're talking big money here, you should get something that you want. Lexus is great on objectives like Customer Service, reliability, et all, but I'm not sure if this is the sort of car that will provoke an emotional response from someone used to a BMW.
All this talk about my LS430 is making me sad. I'm here in London driving this horrendous rented Citroen..My wife has officially taken over my LS430...
SV
Hhhhmmmm.... I might need to try it out, then. I was only quoting what I had been told by car salesmen for our previous cars.
I posted the pictures of all the LS400/430 cars I've had..Which one do you think is the best?
http://hometown.aol.com/sv7887/myhomepage/Cars/
The 92 I still have..93K miles (big file)
The 98 was traded at 31K miles
The 02 was just traded at 25K miles
The 05 has about 450 miles on it right now..
SV
Regards,
hpowders
I will call another dealership and ask if they have an LS430 with the euro-tuned suspension and the 18" summer tires.
Thanks to your valuable comments, I know what to ask for.
Regards,
hpowders
The first thing you have to note is that the LS is a big car-- substantially bigger than a E or a 5. If you don't want or need that extra room (particularly in the back seat), then the car will always be a disappointment. It will never drive as well as a smaller luxury sedan-- especially a BMW 5. Heck, an AMG E will drive more responsively than an AMG S!
The next point is that if you are looking for the best driving dynamics you can get in the larger size car, you definitely need to look for a Euro-Tuned, or a Custom or Ultra for the adjustable suspension. And 18" tires certainly add to the grippiness.
The thing that surprised me the most was that you didn't find the seats comfortable. You're the first person I have heard say that. But as has been noted by others, the option packages come with upgraded seats (heated/cooled with perforated leather); maybe that would make a difference for you.
But I think you sound like you really aren't interested in the extra room of the LS, and were really more interested in potentially getting a more reliable ride, less quirky electronics, etc., than in the new Bimmer. If so, the GS or the new Infiniti M45 Sport would seem to be more up your alley.
Good luck!
We told you about some of the minor stuff....Now here is COOL...
Where the Roof line hits the glass just behind the rearview mirror is a tiny Sun visor about 8in long and maybe an inch wide to block the sun between the roofline and the top of the mirror....Then there is the change tray on the left side of the dash (all cars have them but on lexus they seem to be just in the right place) and little trays all over for sunglasses and cell phones etc. Two glove boxes, of course...The the button that makes the rear window sun shade go up and down..Not to mention the button for the head rests and lots of other little things that spell a Luxury car. All of it easy to use and just where you want it.
I don't need the backseat room. I would try the car again with the euro-tuned suspension and the 18" summer tires and making sure the power button is in the "on" position.
Yes, the decline in reliability of BMW's is why I am shopping around for alternatives.
The seat was good-plenty of adjustments. I just said that I have sat in better.
I don't know what they were thinking, but the outer appearance of the LS they gave me was dirty(white). They put a license plate in the rear window that said "dealer." The experience was to put it mildly, a turn off. Real "seedy."
I will follow up as stated above.
Regards,
hpowders
This is all very nice but when you are taking an initial test drive, you tend to concentrate on the basic driving experience and if this is fine, then follow-up on all the cool stuff.
Can't believe they didn't tell me about the power button. That is pretty basic.
Maybe they figured I was a waste of their time coming from BMW.
Regards,
hpowders
My comment was to try and point out the difference in thinking between a BMW guy and A Lexus guy....
Most Lexus dealers are a big cut above other dealers...Give it another try...Maybe you are a BMW guy for life but it is Good to find out if another car can make you happy.
The normal mode is basically conservative to avoid the gas guzzler tax.. The PWR mode shifts the transmission more aggresively. Stomp on the gas pedal and you will get a more pronounced response. I've done this a few times when I engaged in some juvenile behavior.
Granted this isn't like a Supercharger or something, but your MPG will fall if you use it. The Engine is a 290 HP but can generate 320 ft/lb of torque, which is a fair amount for the size car. I think all it does it ensure a more spirited acceleration. That's what I seem to notice when I use it.
SV
To hpowders - I should qualify the usage of the word "big" in "big difference in acceleration" between Power and Normal modes. The difference is subjective. If you are a BMW fan, then the Power mode in Lexus still may not be to your liking. As for me, I am not a BMW fan so the kick/handling aspect of a car is not as important to me. I currently have both an E class and the LS. The LS definitely does not have the same driving dynamics as the German counter parts, but the LS is a wonderfully sumptuous luxury car with a soft touch and understated elegance.
To sv7887 – Sorry to hear about the wife taking over the LS. Luckily for me, my better half still prefers MB/German feel and therefore we will not be fighting over the LS any time soon.
1993 ls4, 1996 ls4 ,2001,2002,2003,2004,&
2005 ls 430's . these were family and business .
back in august 1989 , i was told by the then
" factory parts and service rep, in my zone "... ( his name : mr. worley ) ... that the power switch instigates a " program change " in the tranny shift patter : ie : / the shifts are held longer from start to overdrive , causing the vehicle to go to the next shift point
( electronically )... at higher rpm's , and thus a higher ground speed . no effect is directly caused to the fuel distributor , air mixture , etc. strictly shift points @ higher rpm's .
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to a ls that seems " slow " , more than likely it is the octane of the fuel , and/or amount of moisture ( water) in the fuel . he told me that amoco premium has the least amount of water , and is the least likely to pre ignite ( higher octane ).
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personal favorites : of course the 1990 , i still own it with 13k miles ... simple model
( $ 39,900) ... a cadillac that runs like a scared rabbit straight down the road with no hands on the wheel ... with goodyear ga's , while listening to the nakamici... the only negative to me is the seat on the 90, 91 , & 92 lays real low and i'm 5'7" ... ( like the [non-permissible content removed] thought all americans were 6'6'' .
the 1996 ls , std car with nak is my all time favorite . ( black / grey ) the happiest ,smoothest machine i ever enjoyed .
the 2001 ls 430 i kept 10 k miles ... no problems .. i did not go for the nav/levinson package ... the car was dull , the dunlop 5000's drifted ( i called her the " wandering desert machine ) ... however no mechanical problems .
the 2002 ls430 ... had a seat bottom that was 3 to 4 inches down from the seat back , and hurt me at the belt line . they swapped seats from another car ... and it was the same ... end of that one .
the 2003ls430 is a standout performer with a tight seat and they added the sonar on the front and rear bumper ... great example of an ls...
the 2004 ls 430 added the backup camera , improved the navigation system on the third and final build ( late car ) , and the dunlop 5000's improved .
the 2005 ls 430 is the most quiet , most refined sophisticated lady of the whole span . with the 18" wheels ( after several wheel balancings and a few hundred miles to wear them in ) become whisper quiet ... but not to my taste ( hate tar strips and potholes ) ... i swapped with my dealer for the 17" rims and mxv4" ( 225/55/17 ) as on the 2004 ls ... she runs like a champ .... straight down the road ( no hands ) like the 1990 ls did , and the levinson radio speakers now seperate treble ... and the bass goes to the big woofer , it sounds 10x better than the nak's did . the navigation actually tell's the truth now ?
there is nothing ... not even close to the '05 ls 430 .
mitchell rowe