Is Lexus LS500 as Groundbreaking as LS400 Once Was?
Lexus LS400 changed our luxury landscape forever, so is it even fair to expect something similar from latest iteration?
Since its inception, the Lexus LS has garnered a reputation for being one of the most reliable and luxurious sedans on the planet. And each passing generation of the LS has offered up its own unique quirks and features that have endeared it to a portion of enthusiasts. We often see debates here in the Club Lexus forums centering around the LS400 and LS430, and oftentimes even the LS460. But after checking out (and sharing) the interesting video above from YouTuber Exhaust Sports Auto comparing the original LS400 with the new LS500, member coolsaber sparked a fascinating conversation here in the forums regarding the model’s lineage.
“Having recently seen the arguments over ‘prestige,’ do you believe that the LS500 is different? Or the same, or taking the best of both worlds from the original LS formula?”
It’s hard to compare the latest iteration of a model to the groundbreaking original, of course. As many members are quick to point out.
“The LS500 in 2019 is far less ‘prestigious’ than the LS400 was in 1989. The new car is just kind of a meh sized deal, whereas the original was a genuine game changer to the entire business,” said Stroock639.
“It’s a case of competition. As Stroock says, the LS400 was a game changer, but the only recent game changer has been Tesla. That said, the LS500 is very nice, just not wow,” added bitkauuna.
And this is the conundrum for the new LS. There’s much more competition these days, and a major focus on SUVs. So it’s hard to match the impact of the original, as mmarshall recalls.
“It very quickly developed an extremely good reputation. It was also backed up by an excellent ad campaign. With the German upmarket brands, it was not so much that they were unreliable. Before the mid-1990s, for example, Mercedes built arguably the best vehicles on the planet. It boiled down to cost, and the cost of repairs when they finally were needed. The original LS400 offered a comparable vehicle to the Mercedes S-Class at a lower cost, and with Toyota reliability.”
Still, tex2670 feels like the LS500 is still every bit as prestigious as the original.
“I agree the original LS400 was a game changer. But I don’t agree that it was, in relative terms, more prestigious than the current LS. The current LS has less significance today because there’s just much more competition in the market, including from luxury SUVs.”
So far, this thread has blossomed into a fascinating discussion revolving around an interesting topic. But we want to hear what you think. So head over here and tell us if you believe the LS500 is as prestigious as the LS400, and why or why not!
Photos: Lexus
Join the Club Lexus forums now!
