The LS should be compared to the S M-B or the 7-series, which is old.

 

Its easy to say the LS does not compete head to head with the E60. Lets keep a couple things in mind. First, price can be the ultimate comparison (for many) and, like it or not, a fully loaded 5er hits $70K. Pretty steep. Second, Lexus tends to compete all over the board and some of its products just generally compete in the luxury space. Example the ES350. The past generation LS was not directly competing with the 7, S and 8. It was there and suceeding doing its own thing. The new LS takes a crack at the big boys, but its low price has it staking out new ground. Hitting the Germans at both the middle and high ends. Are they making any money on that thing or taking advantage of a steady dollar-yen exchange rate? The euro appreciation hasn't helped the Germans.

CVT Benhogan

 

I'm not so sure, I think Lexus has always tried to position the LS as a direct competitor to the cars you mention. I do agree it's possible to get an E60 up to LS territory - but then we're talking very high end E60 spec vs low end LS, much the same as you can spec an E60 to roughly the same price range as a poverty spec 7 Series. A loaded LS can set you back closer to 85K (and the forthcoming 600h could set you back over 100K, getting towards the higher end BMW/MB/Audi territory )

 

I think the LS has been a notch below the high end German cars, as Lexus entered below and gradually has moved up. Maybe its arrived. The LS generally comes very well equipped too and I doubt your paying extra for comfort excess and NAV. Of course the loaded version will likely park itself at 85K and do other things I wouldn't want my car doing. 90K is roughly the starting point for a bare bones S class. ah?

CVT Benhogan


PS No I don't like Lexus.

 

8 speed not for city drive so now way for HK. :thumbsdown:
But itis a nice car for 4 people
not the same class

 

The Lexus LS has always been aimed at the MB S-class and BMW 7-series.

The idea was to create a full size, luxury car which competes with those cars but costs $20,000 less. For many years this is what they have done. But it seems that Lexus has not been luring a lot of BMW and Mercedes buyers who don't mind paying $20,000+ more for a higher-end car. So the new LS is an attempt to bring Lexus into a more competitive stance in terms of features.


But... all they can do is try. Lexus will NEVER be BMW or Mercedes, and loyal drivers know the difference.

 

I really see the Lexus as taking over where Cadillac was decades ago - a quiet, high end luxury car that does not tax the driver, albeit of higher quality.

However, it will be very interesting to see how the upcoming IS500 will compare with the M3.

 

sorry itis still a japanese car, not need to compare
did you see 5th gear about 6 months ago when they tested the IS300 and he say IS 300 is less sporty than the 330i E90
so I think it will be the same for the IS500. Its not how good the engine is, it the car itself.

 

My site provides price comparisons (sorry, U.S. prices only so far) and tracks which cars people compare most often. I like to look at these lists, as they indicate which cars people most often cross-shop. Pages for these two cars:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/5-Series.php

http://www.truedelta.com/models/LS460.php

You'll see there that the Lexus is most often compared to the S-Class, 7-Series, E-Class, Avalon (beats me), RL, and STS. This list will be influenced by the fact that my database doesn't currently include very low volume models like the S8 and XJ.

In contrast, the 5er is most often compared to the A6/S6, E-Class, M35/M45, GS, RL, and TL. Neither list includes the other car.

I suppose the non-Sport 5er might be somewhat comparable. But when I think 5, I think 550 six-speed manual. Which isn't comparable to the Lexus at all.

 

TOTALLY different cars (and as noted later in the thread LS is not 'mid size')...for the most part, and there are exceptions, Lexus/Infinity Luxury are about removing the drivers connection to the road - luxury to the extreme...BMW is about putting the driver in touch with the road at the e60 platform (and all other BMWs sans the 7 series).

The new park assist is an excellent example of my point (and it cracks me up) - another effort to take the driving experience away from the driver. Seriously, if parallel parking is THAT challenging, question whether you should really be behind the wheel of a 4000lbs piece of metal