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i'll wonder about this from time to time... but then i ask myself, is there a picture of chief engineer ichiro suzuki proudly standing beside an LS 430 or 460?
You mean LS600 is still too young and don't have a solid reputation?
the LS600hL is a work of art and technological marvel, but it is a extremely complex machine, featuring a lot of stuff traditional cars don't have. ive seen them fail and when they do, its bad. plus they are right now reaching the 10 year/100k-ish mark which ive always called the "cone of uncertainty" because that age is when things begin to fail. by 14 years of age everything that is going to fail will already be replaced.
plus hybrid tech is still newer technology. we will truly know over the next few years how it holds up.
The LS's have their appeals and that depends on the owner/driver's desires in a car. I like the simplicity of the 400's though some of the tech in the other generations can be beneficial in use. When they have problems that isn't fun for any. I find ours still to be comfortable and serves as needed for our trips. During one service visit for the Corolla I wandered across several dealer lots to take in potential alternatives. Drove the GS350 and for kicks a Panamera S. The GS is livable though I've probably like the V8 GS-F variant. The V6 is quick though the engine note doesn't do it for me with a big sedan.
The upcoming LS I was at the V6 choice. We'll see many more go the way CAFE standards are heading. As one poster in another thread had commented, Lexus is building their way out of some of their demographic market. The new LS does not appeal. If shoehorned into a car, the 4-GS+ or 3-RX. As much as I don't like FWD the aesthetics of the current Avalon I like.
I love my 97 Lexus LS400, bought it when it was a year old so I have it for 19 years now. Even to this day, it still put a grin on my face whenever I'm driving her. Check out one of my posts below then you know why.