Until now, there have been only three big dogs in the practical, daily driver, luxury four-door world: the V-8 versions of the BMW 7-series, the Mercedes-Benz S-class, and the Audi A8. That all changes for 2007. Read more about the 2007 Lexus LS460 here at Automobile Magazine Online.

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Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:07:00 EDT

I am a big fan of Lexus and this will probably be a most impressive car and a contender in the big luxo market.....

But seriously- here's my contention...

I know I am kind of old school. I still have an 86 F150 farm truck with a straight 6 (where you can hide 3-4 bodies in the engine compartment) and about 220k miles.

WTF is up with all these shields/ covers inside the hood? What's the purpose of the hood/ fenders/ grille? How many Lexus 4xx owners are ever going to pop the hood anyway? Is this just so that their silly soccer mom biatch wives don't stow groceries, luggage or a toddler in the engine compartment? Also, why does Kia have all the same stupid covers on their Optima (E-series ripoff) also? Aren't these just the wannabesuccessful yuppies and schmoes that can't afford a real benz or lexus?

End of rant. Period.

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Phil
Previously loved
variety, but I miss the 99 F350 PSD- 37k, traded, damn

Current stable
98 E-300 TurboDiesel, 253k
http://www.facebook.com/people/Philip-Underwood/762882374

I think that pretty much explains it with the first sentence.

I must add that most new cars don't have any user serviceable parts so why not cover up that ugly alternator with a plastic cover to make it nicer, more appealing with a clean modern contemporary look. (I might add that I drive the 74 240D smoking up a storm every day)

I was at my mechanic's place and he had a newer C class in the shop and showed me the oil dipstick cover. It was a baby pacifier! That's obviously a sign that the cars aren't designed....even by MB...to be serviced by the owners.

I was looking at the 2006 LS430 brochure and it made me laugh because it had 7 lines of powertrain and technical information! It had pictures of wine tasting, golfing, dining, pictures of food, lush scenery etc. It's selling an image and lifestyle.....not a car so much.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Lexus now has the worlds first 8 speed automatic. I wonder how long it will take Mercedes, BMW and Audi to come up with something like that. Isnt 8 gears a bit too many? And Imagine the repair bill of that puppie when it fails. Probably so difficult to replair or rebuild that you have to buy a whole new unit from the dealer or elswhere... I am happy with 5 speed automatic but 8 is too many.

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2001 E55

2001 E320 Sedan

2001 Subaru Legacy

2006 SLK280

2016 Subaru Outback 3.6

plus it frign parks itself, i wonder how a driving test instructor would react after he tells you to parallel park, you drive the lexus to the spot, fiddle with the buttons and it parks itself.. now tell me. in the future are we going to be tested on the proper sequence of flipping switches before leaving the driveway or what

8 gears huh? The more the merrier I guess. Better fuel economy and gear spread as long as it's done right.

Of course I always wonder how long these modern transmissions last with their absurdly long fluid change intervals.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

In my oponion there are four: the ones mentioned above plus the Jaguar XJ series. Period.

Lexus, as all Asian wannabes are just plain cheap copies of what the Europeans are doing.

Remember when the original Lexus LS420 came into market? A big fuss, everyone wide-eyed, No. 1 JD Power surveys, etc, etc, etc... Have you seen an eighties LS 420 on the streets lately??? Hhmm... guess not.

Better proof: check all the most important embassies around the world. What do the ambassador drives or is driven around in? I would say 80% of the cases are S-classes, 10% 7-series, 5% Audi A8s, 4% Jaguar XJ8s and 1% Lexus LS420/430s. And that 1% corresponds to the Japanese Embassy.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

In some video that was posted on the forum,it stated that 97% of the worlds government owns an S-class.

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1998 S500
2006 E320 CDI
1963 220S
1994 S500
1995 S500
2005 BMW 545i sport
2007 GL320 CDI
2007 ML320 CDI
1991 Toyota Previa White over Blue
2000 Lexus RX300 White over Beige
2008 Audi Q7 Black Opal over Grey
1993 Toyota T-100 Silver over Grey
2002 Chevy 2500 Express White over Grey

By the way,is the car out yet?Havent seen any of Ebay lately.

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1998 S500
2006 E320 CDI
1963 220S
1994 S500
1995 S500
2005 BMW 545i sport
2007 GL320 CDI
2007 ML320 CDI
1991 Toyota Previa White over Blue
2000 Lexus RX300 White over Beige
2008 Audi Q7 Black Opal over Grey
1993 Toyota T-100 Silver over Grey
2002 Chevy 2500 Express White over Grey

One thing I can say for Japenese Manufactures like Lexus. They have a masssive elder clientel and some snob appeal with the yuppie class.
They are very good at taking what the Italians and the British And the German automotive companies design and making it reliable. My sister and 92 year old Aunt both own lexus ES 300s in my family I dought that if they were Mercedes-Benz automobiles they would not be running because of the cost of maintaince.
This is not to say Mercedes-Benz doesn't build a good car, they build the best car in the world, bar none!!!!
It is the over enginerring that put Mercedes-Benz on the side lines and increased pass Mercedes-Benz owners to take a second look at the Lexus .
I have yet to see how this car parke's it self that ought to be something to see when one of their elderly customers comes into the lexus dealer with both front and rear body damage because of this option.
I own a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300E Sportline , I feel it is a car I will never part with if I can help it. I dought real car enthusiast would go for the Lexus appeal only the business suites and realtors looking for a good lease.

Bob Geco

It was actually an LS400 - introduced in late 1989 in the USA as a 1990 model. I think that they (Toyota) started working on this car as early as 1985.

I had one with 250K miles - still running like new - extremely smooth engine and transmission. After I first bought it, I would have to look down at the speedometer at traffic lights to see if it was still running, where it was so smooth and quiet. I only sold it because I could no longer stand the ugly colors. It was like a dark maroon with a brown/light rose colored interior- from the factory. You can see the dreadful color in the photos I posted of mine. These were taken in the summer of 2004.

My aunt in North Carolina has a 90' LS400 that she bought new. Low miles on hers... only 180K. Only two parts have had to be replaced and that was the starter and the PS pump. Other than that- flawless. They are excellent cars, but like ALL cars- they do have some issues, but back in the 90s- they were hands down one of the most trouble free cars on the road.

Still a bunch on the roads around here. I see more of the 96-00 models though.

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Nope, haven't seen any eighties LS420s, they don't exist.

BUT, I still see many first generation LS400s 1990-1994 models, very common and they still look good.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Lets face it the top of the line toyota in Japan was the Crown V8. not imported to the USA. Toyota's only top of the line car back then was the Cresseda a wonderfull sedan with the same engine as the supra and a computer controlled transmission that allowed the driver ecomony too performance mode with the push of a button , changed the transmission mode and shifting to performance mode.
Quite a bit of motor too twin can six cylinder that put out a healthy amount of tork and power to the ground. When lexus came it is my understanding that they wanted an up scale division to represent this new car and considered no association with the Toyota brand name.
Why was the Crown not imported and badged a lexus or was this the new Crown in new sheet metal? the answer lies with in the corporate archieves of Toyota management and design.

Article to be continued .

Bob Geco

I think there's another model of Toyota higher than the Crown. I don't remember the name of it, but I do remember that it's gone virtually unchanged in terms of general exterior design over the years, what really stands out about it is the side mirrors were mounted on the front fenders as opposed to the a-pillars.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

ever when you were younger have a three speed bike then this other kid comes up like.. oh yea.. well ive got a 10 speed... i had the same incident.. so i said.. pffft.. czech it.. 21 speed mountain bike... twas a kent.. . he was pwnd