Here in the third quarter, however, we've noticed the car showing its age, just a bit. "After getting out of a fresher example of the Lexus LS 460 L last weekend, I noticed that our door panels creak every time you start accelerating and brake,"

By JOE KOVACH

From the start, we've been divided in our opinions of what was, when we took delivery, Lexus' flagship sedan. In one camp are those who expected a tighter, sportier, more Germanic vehicle, while others longed for-and enjoyed-the comfortable over-the-road cruiser that is the 2007 Lexus LS 460 L.

Luxury is winning out. "The leather in this car is very luxurious, as is the wood. I absolutely love the feeling of the wood-and-leather steering wheel under my hands. Turn a corner, and let that wheel sliiiiiiiiiide back. A sweet tactile sensation."

Here in the third quarter, however, we've noticed the car showing its age, just a bit. "After getting out of a fresher example of the Lexus LS 460 L last weekend, I noticed that our door panels creak every time you start accelerating and brake," noted one staffer. "I guess 13,000 miles will do that to you, but you would figure that this Lexus flagship would stay tighter longer."

Our news editor didn't get much help from the cruise control: "I gave the active cruise control a workout, and I still would take Mercedes-Benz's Distronic Plus over this system," he said. "The Mercedes system slows down to 0, while the Lexus quits at speeds below 20 mph. Just when you're closing in on the car in front and slowing down, the system gives up and leaves it up to you to quickly mash the brakes to bring the car to a halt. As a result, I find the M-B system more inherently 'trustable,' because I can count on it all the way down to a stop, unless the stop is very severe. The M-B is the future-the Lexus isn't quite there yet."

The exterior has picked up various little blemishes. In July, a door got dinged in a parking lot. (Of course, no note was left.)

After that mishap, we noticed a stone chip in the windshield. The repair, for $39.95, didn't hold for long.

We took the car in for its 20,000-mile maintenance and left $303.16 poorer, after the dealer replaced the oil and filter, replaced the A/C filter, rotated the tires and inspected the brake pads and rotors. The charge included nine quarts of oil at $9.63 per, plus $223.66 for labor. Luxury cars do come at a price.

But luxury, not sportiness, is what the LS 460 L delivers in spades. "Floating over the imperfections in the road and feeling only a few of them," waxed one editor after a long weekend. "I'd love this car for long-distance runs out west. The roads around Moab, Utah, would be perfect, since they are all smooth and speed limits seem to be suggestions at best."


Third-quarter update
As-tested price: $86,046

Miles driven (quarter/to date): 8395/21,972

Fuel economy (quarter/to date): 23.8 mpg/22.6 mpg

Fuel cost (quarter/to date): $1,227.13/$2,999.39

Days out of service (quarter/to date): Two/two

Maintenance: Replace four tires ($1,284.66); 15,000-mile service, including oil and filter change, tire rotation, general inspection ($336.33); 20,000-mile service, including oil and filter change, air conditioning filter replacement, tire rotation, general inspection ($303.16); four-wheel alignment ($116.55); repair stone chip ($39.95)