V12Jake

Hey all, I'm beginning the hunt for my next daily and I think I've narrowed it down to the two cars listed above. I already have a big sporty sedan ('04 S600, looking to add a 05/06 CL65 to the fleet within the next few years anyways) so this DD really just needs to meet the objective of being as comfortable and isolated as possible. My two biggest concerns are cabin noise at highway speed and ride quality. Also stereo quality is important, but as both cars would have the ML system I feel safe there. I've driven an LS500 and it was nicer than the 2015 LS460L I drove, but I want to know how it'd compare with a pre-facelift LS600.

riknchar

The 2011-12 LS600hL and new LS500 are two very different cars. With your primary concern being cabin noise at highway speed and ride quality (isolation), I would definitely suggest the LS600hL will meet these needs better than the LS500. The LS500 was designed to be sportier and "edgier" than the previous LS, but it does sacrifice some of the pure isolation and comfort to obtain the sportier ride. The LS600hL was (and still is) one of the most refined, quiet, comfortable highway cruisers ever produced, and is pretty hard to beat for those priorities. I've owned two LS600hLs and can attest that they are incredibly comfortable for long road trips!

SW17LS

The LS500 is not as quiet nor as nice riding as the previous generation LS, 460 or 600. If you thought it rode better than the 15 LS460L you drove you should sample a different 460L.

TriC

The vehicles under consideration are at 2 very different price points. Pricing of a later low mileage 600 would be much closer to that of a 500.

While unable to speak to an LS 500 (and, at 6-4, I probably can't even comfortably fit in one), I can say that the 600 gives an incredibly isolated and superbly quiet ride and has (at least to my ear) a fabulous stereo. It is an extremely heavy car which only adds to its solid feel.

V12Jake

I could also go for a face lifted LS600 for the price of a 500, but i prefer the look of the 11-12 LS, especially the interior design.
I'd love something like this but the colors on that one just don't do it for me.

TriC

MY 2010 through MY 2012 are all the same. I too prefer the look of those years to the later ones, both in and out.

The car that you linked is unusual in that it lacks either of the available rear seat upgrade options and hence does not have rear seat side airbags.

cochiseg

Good to know TriC, I wouldnt guess that there were versions without rear side air bags ! (i must have this in my '11 corolla, and I dont want to downgrade in a way... )

Thanks for mentionning this !