Lexus LS600h takes last place in Motor Trend comparo

[mustang84]

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans...ison/index.html

The all-wheel-drive Lexus exhibited pigheaded understeer in most corners, often attended by the beep-beep nagging of the stability nanny. Switching it off kills the beeps, but never allows one scintilla of chassis slip angle. And despite being fitted with $3000 worth of active anti-roll bars, the LS 600hL seemed to roll as much or more than the other cars here, even when set to "sport" mode (it's borderline nautical in "comfort"). Charging hard up the hill depleted the battery quickly (actually, pressing the gas pedal on any type of road kills the battery quickly), and horsing the CVT through its eight virtual gear ratios with liberal doses of carpet-crushing throttle provoked an unseemly "hybrid system overheat" warning. We didn't find the hybrid gear equal to sacrificing a golf-bag's worth of trunk space for and, after this session, all editors were ready to red-pencil the 600 badge down to a 500.

In the end, the Lexus strikes us as ideal for CEOs who've made their fortunes plundering the earth's resources and want to appear to be making amends. It said little to us beyond "Forgive me; I'm not quite the guzzler I appear to be." Its smugness irked us almost as much as its undeserved 600 badge.

[K.C.]

I saw that, and loved every minute of that Lexus review.

[loki]

nice. haha

[Z-06]

Does not surprise me. If I was a backseat driver, the Lexus would be the most effective car in the group. But then again, I am not a backseat driver.

[K.C.]

Does not surprise me. If I was a backseat driver, the Lexus would be the most effective car in the group. But then again, I am not a backseat driver.

So it would be perfect for my former mother in law?

[Z-06]

So it would be perfect for my former mother in law?

Are you going to be the driver?

[thegriffon]

"Disguises modern technology and dynamics in authentic 19th-century elegance."

Is that a backhanded compliment or what?

[K.C.]

Are you going to be the driver?

Oh no, she'd never be driven by one of us homoseckshulls

[Flybrian]

I saw a 2004 LS430 at auction today - white, non-chrome alloys, no nav, no roof. I have to ask myself why would anyone have paid $55k+ for that car when it was new. Foolishness.

[DetroitNut90]

I have to admit, the LS600 has very nice rear accomodations. It's dead comfortable, and the controls for the seat/climate system were easy to pick up. But that wouldn't make me choose it over the Quattroporte...it's unholy how good that car looks.

I wonder how the A8 would've ranked in this...that would be my second choice in this segment.

[AxelTheRed]

lol @ Lexus

[siegen]

The front end of that LS is horrible to look at, specially sitting next to the Maserati.

[SuperSport623]

quick eye candy:

i love how random the name is... such a cool name meaning such a simple phrase...

[Intrepidation]

Good for the Maserati ...however this car is far more sexy...

[CSpec]

I don't really see why sports-car like handling really matters here, it should be comfortable and quiet. Even still, I wouldn't buy an LS460.

[Delta Force79]

@ Toyota...err I mean Lexus :AH-HA_wink:

[Cory Wolfe]

It really doesn't surprise me.

[Dsuupr]

toyota building crap continues. Now that toyota is no longer seen as the builder of cars with no mechanical flaws, all the other details of the bad cars they build are starting to come out.

[ponchoman49]

Right where any Lexus belongs- moving towards the bottom of the list.