This is true. That is why I try hard not to get involved with debates on the subjective sides of cars. It is just impossible to come to any agreement when there are so many different people with different tastes, styles, and priorities. The only tangible things I can compare the RL to my Lexus is things like performance and fit and finish. I would have to say the RL has just as good fit and finish if not better thanmy 04 Lexus RX330 and better than my 93 SC400 which it should given my SC is 12 years older. Performance wise I've driven the RL and it not not feel sluggish, heavy, or have any understeer problem so the SH-AWD is doing a great job countering the traits that people here will say comes with FWD biased, front heavy transverse mounted engine cars. So that should be a non issue already. Over all, I haven't had a chance to get a real good look at the new GS since I don't think our dealer had any yet, but so far the GS300 even is AWD does not sway me over the RL, but the GS430 probably would on paper, but the price of a GS430 might be more than I personally feel is worth it over a car such as the RL. Only a realy life test drive will make that clear.

On the subjective side I'll only make one comment on this post. The RL's interior feels just as if not more luxurious than any current Lexus I've been in (GS, ES, SC, RX) except for the LS which is simply in a different league over all. But then again, my opinions may not matter since I'm not particularly brand loyal, but more so car loyal. When I find a good car I tend to like it for a long time.

 

Dunno why people keep crying that the RL is slow. Two different mags (C&D and R&T) have both clocked the RL 0-60 at 6.7s. The 6.7s is the best EVER for a V6 auto sedan in this class, AWD or non-AWD. Only the 06' M35 has a chance at besting this.

http://caranddriver.com/article.asp?...&page_number=4

http://roadandtrack.com/article.asp?...ber=1&preview=

 

and actually the market price for the ls430 UL is only about 66k most of the time. what's the market price of the RL? just a little OT, it's good that you are looking into the ls430

 

Our market price is really not something to compare. Keep in mind the RX330 I have still sells for MSRP and over $40K here.A loaded AWD RX330 with performance package cost close to $50K. GS430s still cost over $55K. Regular LS430s cost near $60K. It would be a heck of a deal to get a LS430 UL for mid $60K here in Hawaii Right now it is hard to compare the selling price of the RL since most dealers are still charging MSRP because they can. The car is still selling well enough that most dealers don't have to bargin too much at all. I would bet though that once the hype dies down later this year or if it is like the TL in a years time I wouldn't be surprised if people are getting the RL for $45-$48k out the door. To be honest, the RL is still more my type of car, but I'm probably going to go with the LS430 UL just for the reason I mentioned. The VIP style and the air suspension. My idea is to get the Nav equiped LS430 UL from the mainland (They don't sell Nav equiped cars aside from the new RL in Hawaii), interface with aftermarket video. That cuts my A/V system budget by mor than half price since I just need the interface adpator and two monitors in the rear headrest and a PS2. For the suspension, I'll just get an air ride controller and that takes care of my lowering look. No need to spend $2000 on a good adjustable coil over set up My only big purchase will be $3-$40K on a body kit. But still that is only about $6K in mods and I'll have a near complete VIP style show car.

PS. Don't tell any of the local guys here about my plans. I'm still about a year away (I have to sell the NSX and SC400 first) and I wanted it to be a surprise. Hopefully they don't look at this post.

 

Excellent link 1sick:

Rob, thanks for the heads up that you rejoined and I wish you farewell again. You were banned because you posted a series of inappropriate comments, insulting posts and personal attacks and ignored repeated warnings. You are not welcome on our forum.

=================================
All folks involved in this thread:

PLEASE remember this is a Lexus forum and many of our members are obviously going to be biased towards Lexus vehicles and features, just as you may be biased towards another brand. You would (and can) see exactly the same 'fan' attitudes on other forums that host Acura, Infiniti, etc enthusiasts.

I ask all members to be open to considering the preferences of other folks posting in this thread. ALL of these three cars have a lot to offer and you wouldn't go wrong buying any one of them. Different styles and features matter to different people. I'm personally not sold on the looks of the new GS and if I had to choose soley based on specs and pictures I've seen - I would buy the Infinity over the RL and GS.

Certainly you don't have to agree with everything people post, but do it politely and use facts and spell out personal opinion - not insults and name calling.

 

R&T, in their latest issue, clocked the M45 0-60 at 5.3 and quartermile at 13.8.

I think that's the fastest ever for a V8 sedan in this class.

 

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=145779

Kudos to Infiniti. Priced as tested 50k. Incredible work. This is very impressive.

 

damn that's very very fast!

 

New pics of the M

 

Just got my car and driver mag. Their test for the M45Sport 0-60 5.6 street start 5-60 5.7 and 1/4 mile at 14.2 @ 101 mph. Don't get me wrong, 5.7 is fast but there's a huge difference in those numbers. Sounds like I would rather have R&T's M45 instead of C&D's version.

 

Yes. Those times are comparable. I've been reading that people accuse R&T of getting the lowest times for cars but I dunno. Clearly the M45 is a mid-sub 6 second car
What I usually do is take the avg of major magazines instead of the lowest time possible.

 

yeah so that about a 0-60 of 5.5 which is still great

 

Maybe R&T has a really skinny 90 pound woman doing all of their test runs.

 

lol, lets hope that same 90lbs woman drives the GS 430

Funny but the PREVIOUS M45, they tested 3 times to try to lower the time. They had gotten a time of 6.8 or so. They figured it was the heat, since the car had 340hp.
They woke up in the morning and drove the M45 one last time and got their lowest time when it was cooler, 0-60 in 6.2 seconds.

So Motor Trend got a 6.1 estimate, Car and Driver got a 5.6 and Road and Track got a 5.3. That is very good.
The 300C for instance has gotten a low of 5.2 and a high of 6.1 in different magazines.

Again kudos to Infiniti for bringing this very good car to the market.

 

A potent M45 for $50K? That's great. The *current* GS430 with nav is $52K MSRP, so the next one ain't likely to be cheaper, plus, anyone know the weight of the new GS? I somehow doubt with the 4.3 in the new GS, even with the 6 speed auto, that it will be as fast as this M45, but maybe it will.

I don't know the dimensions, but from all the pics I've seen the M45 looks smaller than the new GS, which is a PLUS in my books.

I saw a new RL from behind on the highway the other morning and I thought it looked great, especially the circle of LEDs on the rear lights, VERY SWEET.