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You guys should see some of what people do to old LSs. I follow several FB pages. Constantly blown away by how stupid and ridiculous they make an otherwise fine automobile.. I've seen an LS400 retrofitted into an off-road vehicle with an exhaust coming out the hood.
I don't think they were firmer at all. I also think the current RX rides well. X5 and GLE are better, but much more expensive.
Just me only, but I'm very sensitive to small changes to coils, shock absorbers and low profile tires etc.
For example, my 2015 4GS came with 48131-30C91 front left coils, and 48510-80765 front left shock absorbers, and somehow I noticed that they were both firmer in the springing tautness and firmer in the damping control, so the investigation by Lexus Parts found that from build date 10/2014 to 10/2015, the GS increased both the springing and damping - to match the stronger adhesive used in the front windscreen.
Hence I had to pay to change to my friend's 12/2011-10/2014 48131-30C90 front left coil spring, and his 01/2014-09/2014 48520-80375 front left shock absorber.
Thus, the front coils were used since production in December 2011, but it seems that the original December 2011 built 4GS used different front shock absorbers again.
Another interesting find was that the Luxury and F Sport used the same suspension part numbers front and rear, but the software programming of the front shock absorber valving was different.
People like Signdetres and JDR76 tell me that 2016 4.5GS rides more softly with different part numbers, but that is no surprize considering the mid-life refresh.
My 2015 was a bit of a surprize because normally TMC doesn't change suspension settings year to year, and my 2015 was really firm - with the OEM 19" Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050, it would handle almost like a compact sedan, albeit at a big cost to the ride & refinement...
The LS does not meet the standards of prior LS models. Not sure where Lexus went wrong, but they took a bad turn somewhere. I would not purchase the current LS, even with steep discounts. Not as refined and luxurious or the fact that other manufacturers caught up, while Lexis was sleeping.
Lexus is not the Lexus of old. Other manufacturers are very competitive and at the level of Lexus.
Designwise my only issue is that screen. Have to see it in person.
I think the LS500 is beautiful, in fact I saw one tonight parked on the street in the dark burgundy color with white interior (its a special edition, I can't remember the name) and its STUNNING IMO.
They say they improved the ride in the refresh, we'll see.
This is such a mild refresh at a time that LS needs to be Completely overhauled.
New Sclass is months away and new G90 is already at dealers.
LS needed a dramatic styling update and V8 availability.....
I remember being excited to drive the new one at Citi Field when it came out, and it was awful. The steering had zero feel, and then a V6 engine. I always thought that light steering happened when a EPS system were new, maybe they don't have enough research to get it right. But it was a relatively smaller car compared to the previous 2 generations, more like a Mazda 6. Hopefully it gets back on track when it's truly redesigned. Interesting too how looks are subjective. Is the Mazda 6 a good looking car? It's ok, but it's not as expensive.
07-23-20 | 05:50 PM
