PatsSoxfan, I have a lot to learn i'm sure

I had considered purchasing a 2007 S550 about a year ago, and i tried a car that was getting about 12 mpg around town, and assumed that the new S550 was getting the same mpg numbers?

I also didn't realize how much more "affordable" these had become as i priced one out the other day that hit the $100K mark fairly quickly. . .

I am by no means intending to be harsh or bitter, just interested

 

No problem peteybabes. I was nothing short of stunned (in a great way) when I found out the pricing of the 2014 S550.

 

It considered an extended refresh to break up when new releases come out, Lexus had three major releases 2013 GS, ES, 2014 IS and now 2015 RC & RC-F coming, they felt they need to push the LS out a little bit longer, they added over 3000 new parts to the 4th Gen LS thus major refresh not a 5th Gen LS that is over due.

 

From everything I can see online, the MB gets almost identical MPG numbers as the Lex. Pretty great considering the performance numbers the MB returns.

 

If you are dropping $100K on a car, gas mileage shouldn't be a huge issue.

As for the new S550, I posted on here a few weeks ago about my experience with one. MB left Lexus in the dust with that car.

 

Yes, you are absolutely correct that if one spends $100K on a car, gas mileage should not be a big issue. However, psychologically speaking, it is an issue with me. I want my car to get at least decent gas mileage. And from everything I read and heard, the S550 does indeed get decent gas mileage for such a big car.

I agree that the new S550 has left Lexus, BMW 7 Series, and the Audi A8 in the dust in my opinion. On your statement above, you're saying that the S550 left Lexus in the dust in general terms and not just the gas mileage, correct?

 

The new S550 is by far ahead of the pack in every measure. I test drove one too and it is far better than my LS600 while getting the same mpg in mixed driving pushing more HP and a faster 0-60 time. While the pricing is more expensive than an LS in 2 years the S550 will be within reach and fairly similarly priced as a 2 year old LS (my only knock on MB is the depreciation)

The car itself is fantastic definitely #1 on my list until proven otherwise.

 

Thanks for the input LXurious. It's great to hear that the gas mileage is comparable to the LS600h in mixed driving. That means that overall, I will be getting little better gas mileage than what I have been getting on my LS460L.

 

Well. I see gains in the city vs my 460 which is roughly 3-5 mpgs better in the city on my 600. Highway is worse than a 460 which gets around 29-31mpg and my 600 best highway mpg was about 27 keeping it under 75

 

I'm not sure I follow you. I take it that you are comparing the LS460 to the LS600, right? Or are you comparing the gas mileage for the LS460 vs. the new S550? I am obviously interested in the latter. Thanks in advance.

 

Logically that does make sense. The city driving makes most use of the battery, while the highway driving is primarily the gasoline engine which is now pulling much more weight with the 600 vs. the 460.

 

congrats on the s550, that's quite a car!!! if possible, post back from time to time on your s550 ownership experience!

 

Thank you Romin! I certainly will provide info on my experience. Again, it looks like it will be a mid March delivery. I found out today that it is now on a ship on the Atlantic.

 

seriously, the anticipation!!!

while not getting the car now, i am quite interested in the new s550 as well that's why i would love to hear from owners. i had the w221 s550 and that's one heck of a car, i am sure that influenced a lot in my impression about the w222

 

The new S550 is a fabulous car, best in the segment no question. Enjoy it and post pics.

BUT...to be fair and realistic...the cost of an LS460 is not "almost as much" as an S550. The S550 is a very expensive car, the most expensive non-exotic luxury flagship by far.

An LS460L starts at $78,440. An LS460L AWD starts at $81,925.

An S550 starts at $92,900 ($14,500 more than an LS460L), An AWD S550 is $96,825 ($14,900 more than AWD LS460L). The S550 is 18% more expensive than the LS460L...when you consider the fact that for most of us, the LS460 is more than enough space and we don't need or want the "L"...the S550 is MUCH more money.

If I option an LS460L AWD with everything but executive seating, I get to a price of $102,031. If I option an S550 to be similar to that LS in equipment I get it to $115,415. The delta there is $13,384...which is still a 13% difference.

When you bear in mind that very few LS460s are sold as "Ls" to begin with, and of those very few are sold that highly optioned...while the BASE price of an AWD S550 approaches $96k, so its fair to say a large % of S550s are over $100k...theres just no way around the S550 being a significantly more expensive car...superior no doubt...but you're paying for it.