first, most are leased. second, people who can afford cars like this typically don't keep them very long. the depreciation isn't that big a deal to them.

 

That wasn't quite what I was referring to. A car like that could be addicting to people....power, comfort, refinement, almost every conveninece item inside possible. Wouldn't necessarily be my first choice (something in the Lacrosse/MKX/G80/ES/Cadenza class is fine with me), but a number of people would sell their soul for an S65.

 

you're right this one has 14k mi!
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...1955/overview/

and this one is renntech tuned

 

Apart from badge, I think one of the biggest areas why S Class rules the LS and the rest of the competition including 7 Series etc is on styling.
Look at how "stately" the S Class styling is.
A true diplomat's vehicle.












By comparison, the original 2007 4LS clean & slick styling almost got there.






Only to be ruined by midlife refreshed 4.5LS styling which went backwards, losing the clean/slick front end, and aging rapidly.


Though the rear isn't too bad from this angle.





The forthcoming 5LS is really plain and uninspiring.

 

People actually double take the LS on the road? I've never looked twice at one either... Don't even know why the 2 are being compared , the S class is on a whole different level.

 

The W221 was one of the worst and most ameteur styled flagship sedans in modern memory - and it looks ancient today.

The W222 is much improved, but still a bit bland, especially towards the rear. Those blobs for headlights don't help it on the stately-o-meter either.

The LS460 was better styled than both. It's rear end in particular was very stately:



Compare it to the W221, with its harsh surfaces and comical wheel arches,



And the W222:


And the LS500, which in IRL photos is actually quite a pretty car:

 

The new S-class is gorgeous, very sophisticated, and refuses to be ignored. I wanted an S-class before deciding on an LS. We could afford to buy a used S-class, but I was doubtful we could afford to maintain one. That W221 though is one ugly car and belongs more in the 1980s or 90s than post-second-millenium. I love cars in general and also like the A8 a lot too. I'm not too impressed with recent BMWs. Too many models in the BMW stable that don't really differentiate themselves all that well -- 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-series, x3, x5, x6, plus sub-models within each series and convertibles too, the brand has become too diluted. Besides recognizing other LSes on the road, the S-class is among the few remaining cars on the road (besides the occasional Ferrari/Lambo/NSX) that still gets my immediate attention. That said, if we never own an S-class I would still be perfectly happy with our LS.

BTW, got my third "nice Lexus" compliment today since owning the car for five months. Usually, people are impressed by the car but only seldom does someone actually come up to me and make it a point to compliment our 2013 LS. I never received any compliments when we had the LS 430, but with the LS 460 strangers have asked about the Flaxen leather, teenagers have yelled out their approval from the sidewalk, colleagues have characterized the interior as "beautiful", and today a Costco employee felt compelled to acknowledge our "nice Lexus" while he was helping someone load their GMC Acadia. I am sure an S-class would have garnered more attention and appreciation from strangers, if only from the badge. Am also noticing a lot more Lexus on the roads in our area, mostly ISes, Res, and ESes. People are starting to realize they can just pay a little more to move up from mainstream brands. However, this is starting to give a feeling that anyone can get into a Lexus and it is no longer as exclusive as it once was. The S-class still has that exclusive/elusive quality, something to aspire to.

 

There is no $90k S Class. The S Class starts at $97k, and it's almost impossible to find one for less than $100k.

Why would I embellish my opinion of a vehicle I don't own as compared to the vehicle I do own? What would be my motivation for doing that?

I don't have an S Class, I have an LS460. I've never felt anything rock hard in any of the S Classes I've driven. I personally value real materials in luxury cars and it bugs me my LS460 has fake leather stitched door panels and dash, especially when my LS400 and LS430 had real leather.

All the A8s I've ever seen have a beautiful
Alcantara headliner with LED light piping and opera lighting.

Hard to quantify it, is an LS460 interior $30k better than a GS350?!

I just don't agree. No elegance in that at all IMHO, I would never choose that bordello red and cut glass. I do like the more traditional LS500 trim option in some ways, but overall I think the S Class is way classier looking.

Prestige is often not merit based, and the LS has some prestige but nothing like an S Class. I know, I've had three. Nobody gives it a second look, once in a VERY great while I might get a "nice car". In reality, my GS got a lot more attention, as did oddly enough my Jeeps.

The LS is very anonymous, which is not a bad thing per se.

HAHAHAHA. It's a business my friend, sales are the very definition of merit.

 

The new LS doesn't even have a V8 anymore while all the others not only have several V8 choices but also offer a V12!
That is prestige.

If you won the lottery tomorrow and wanted a flagship sedan, 99.9% of people would not choose the LS.

 

Yep, and it's always been a value purchase. I've always loved my LS sedans but the value proposition has always been a big part of the selection process.

 

I find that hard to believe. I feel the new LS looks amazing vs the competition. I bet sales will show a nice jump over the previous gen (obviously since it's new). It won't match the S class for sales, but that's because everyone wants one. Imo, I want something unique and a little different, not what everyone has (Mercedes).

 

The LS500 will likely be the best flagship sedan you can buy all things considered.

But yes most will go after the three pointed star.

 

Unless you want a V8...

 

That will be the LS-F.

 

That's just it. I don't want a sporty LS-F. I want a regular luxury model LS with a V8. If I were to buy an S Class I would prefer the S550 to the AMG models.