Lexus LS500/Mark Levinson Reference

[Takeshi]

You are 100% right, I took the pricing from my previous visit to my local Lexus. I built a RWD with Executive package, Panoramic Roof , and HUD for 103.7k and the One with Glass for 108.9k. How do I edit / update my original post?

I just built one AWD, HUD with executive package and the cost is 106k

 

[leggy]

You are 100% right, I took the pricing from my previous visit to my local Lexus. I built a RWD with Executive package, Panoramic Roof , and HUD for 103.7k and the One with Glass for 108.9k. How do I edit / update my original post?

If you are using the mobile version then there are 3 dots next to the report at the bottom left corner, click the dotsb and select edit

 

[G-21206]

I think the interior of the current LS is the most beautiful of all the large luxury sedans. Obviously that's a matter of taste - subjective and not for everyone. I am buying a 2020 G90 Ultimate next month - going for either the dark red or silver exterior with brown or beige on the inside. Very excited about it.

The Lexus LS is the only other vehicle in this segment I considered - struck the European entries for reliability and cost of ownership. Plus I just see so many of those on the road where I live and want something more distinctive.

Cons for current Lexus from my perspective: dropped the V8, stiffer ride, executive package costs an arm and a leg (although I dig the powered rear seat foot rest I must say).

Among other things, the culture of Genesis appeals to me. Granted you can avoid the air suspension in the other brands, but I love the fact that Genesis does not even offer it. Hope they never do. Those things scream long-term ownership nightmare and I tend to hold onto my vehicles well past the warranty period.

 

[Johnny_M]

Of all the luxury sedan offerings, Lexus LS is the only one I have considered besides the G90. The LS interior is the most beautiful of them all in my opinion (very subjective obviously). Also appreciate the reputation for long term reliability because I tend to keep vehicles well past their warranty periods. That is one reason I shied away from the European options, along with how common they are on the road where I live.

I'm buying a 2020 G90 Ultimate next month (dark red or silver exterior). Very excited about it! The biggest strike against Lexus for me was that they no longer offer a normally aspirated engine. Also turned off by the stiffer ride they are going with now and the expense of the Executive Package, which is their closest approximation to the Ultimate's rear passenger experience.

I also appreciate the culture of simplicity I perceive with Genesis. For example they don't offer an air suspension, which can be a long-term ownership nightmare. Lexus should have kept the normally aspirated engine option and their original softer ride.

 

[Backslack]

A wise choice. Another bonus of not going with the Lexus: no nightmarish touchpad infotainment nonsense! The clicker on my GS drives me nuts as is. The infotainment in all recent Lexus vehicles feels like an afterthought.

 

[Johnny_M]

Good point. That is something you figure they would have ditched by now.

This will probably make me seem older than I am (early 50s so no spring chicken). But if a manufacturer offered a package in which everything but maybe navigation was operated by high-end physical switches, toggles and dials, I would consider it a upgrade and pay $3K for it.

No screens, apps, and GUI's, no clunky touchpads, etc. It's not that I struggle to learn to use them. It's that the tech advances so much more quickly than the rest of the car wears out.

Design a car you're going to charge $80K or more for that is well enough built to last 15 years / 200K miles, and your approach should be to make the controls trend-agnostic and timeless.

Anyway, always admired the GS though. Great-looking car across the generations...

 

[G-925333]

One of the most commonly compared luxury sedans to the G90 is the Lexus LS 500. I purchased my G90 for a whole host of reasons, the top two of which include the V8 and the absolutely amazing Lexicon audio system.

Today, I test drove a new Lexus LS 500 with the top-tier 2,400 watt, 23 speaker Mark Levinson Reference surround sound system which includes tweeters in the ceiling. Personally I think that the LS is gorgeous and a real eye catcher. It is one of the best looking luxury sedans on the road today. In test driving it, I expected to be amazed, but was surprisingly let down. The LS I drove cost $88,000, which is quite a bit higher than the most expensive G90, and did not include things like a head up display, power rear seats, or an adaptive suspension, like in the G90. Fully loaded, it would cost approximately $125,000.00.

It was a very nice car, no doubt. I’m not here to trash talk it. It accelerated, handled, and felt very similar to my G90. But I just simply wasn’t impressed. The controls were not intuitive and were confusing. That Lexus track pad thing that you must use to navigate the main screen and control the navigation system was finicky and annoying. To simply turn off the heated seat, I had to go through multiple menus and select the driver’s seat as the menu defaulted to the passenger seat. It was distracting and difficult to use while driving.

I then tested the Mark Levinson stereo. To my astonishment, it does not sound as good as my G90’s Lexicon system. The highs/fidelity/treble simply weren’t as clear and crisp as the Lexicon. I had the treble turned all the way up and the surround sound set on “3D.” I would never have known that it contained six additional speakers and over 1,000 additional watts. I simply was not all that impressed. I suppose that the point of this post is for me to illustrate that spending a whole bunch of extra money does not always get you a better car, and it solidifies how much I love and appreciate the G90 considering it costs thousands less. You seriously get a lot of car for the money with the G90. Go Genesis!

jda8: I am curious about the impact audio file compression has on the Lexicon's system sound quality, since there is no standard CD player. My impression from your post is that it overcomes this limitation.

 

[Backslack]

Genesis vs LS - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

Hello fellow Club Lexus members, instead of linking our threads on your site, wouldn't it be easier to just come down here and express your disagreements with my claims? For the record, I currently own a Lexus GS and used to own an LS430, so please don't accuse me of being biased for disliking this current iteration of the LS.

 

[SBF]

Genesis is truly a great value. My wife has one, and we love it. I have the LS 500, and we love that also. Genesis and Lexus are the "econo' choices of luxury cars. They do not differ ALL that much, and the prices are both low. Lexus is a little more, sure. Go Genesis for being lower priced and having similar options available. But holey hell, the first time I took my wife's Genesis in for an oil change, I stood in line with the other Hyundai folk. Clean dealership, but oh my God man - a COMPLETELY different universe compared to a Lexus dealership, service included. If we are in the econo-luxury world, I think I would most-definitely pay a little more for the facilities and service that Lexus is well-known for having.

I REFUSE to take my wife's Genesis to the dealership again. She wanted to roll a little cheaper, so SHE can deal with that kind of service and atmosphere.

 

[XXX]

Genesis is truly a great value. My wife has one, and we love it. I have the LS 500, and we love that also. Genesis and Lexus are the "econo' choices of luxury cars. They do not differ ALL that much, and the prices are both low. Lexus is a little more, sure. Go Genesis for being lower priced and having similar options available. But holey hell, the first time I took my wife's Genesis in for an oil change, I stood in line with the other Hyundai folk. Clean dealership, but oh my God man - a COMPLETELY different universe compared to a Lexus dealership, service included. If we are in the econo-luxury world, I think I would most-definitely pay a little more for the facilities and service that Lexus is well-known for having.

I REFUSE to take my wife's Genesis to the dealership again. She wanted to roll a little cheaper, so SHE can deal with that kind of service and atmosphere.

This is where I totally agree. Genesis designed a beautiful luxury car without the luxury service. As most know, I took my car in a week ago this past Tuesday for an inspection towards an extended warranty. As of this writing, I don't have my car. Maybe today. Service is terrible and that's because the dealers love money and refused to allow separation of product. I fault Hyundai for this. Years ago, they should have split the brands instead of rolling out a Genesis with the Hyundai brand the then splitting it to a luxury car years later.

Lexus starting in 2018 redesigned the LS, but it's still years behind in style and tech. Most LS460 owners won't be going to the 500. Too small, 6 cylinder and over priced. But Lexus service is the benchmark for top notch high end customer service. The Genesis facility is an over worked Hyundai sweat shop with not enough certified techs nor bays to work on all those cars. Throw in Genesis owners who are now shell shocked at the poor conditions and overcrowded work spaces they face their first time in, and it's enough to make you sell your car.

I've spend a lot of time talking to Genesis. I know they are trying to change the service program. My dealer told me yesterday they are working with Genesis to develop an empty Subaru building they own down the street for Genesis. If this happens across the nation, even if it takes a few years, it would be a difference maker. Let's hope so.

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[G-863120]

One of the most commonly compared luxury sedans to the G90 is the Lexus LS 500. I purchased my G90 for a whole host of reasons, the top two of which include the V8 and the absolutely amazing Lexicon audio system.

Today, I test drove a new Lexus LS 500 with the top-tier 2,400 watt, 23 speaker Mark Levinson Reference surround sound system which includes tweeters in the ceiling. Personally I think that the LS is gorgeous and a real eye catcher. It is one of the best looking luxury sedans on the road today. In test driving it, I expected to be amazed, but was surprisingly let down. The LS I drove cost $88,000, which is quite a bit higher than the most expensive G90, and did not include things like a head up display, power rear seats, or an adaptive suspension, like in the G90. Fully loaded, it would cost approximately $125,000.00.

It was a very nice car, no doubt. I’m not here to trash talk it. It accelerated, handled, and felt very similar to my G90. But I just simply wasn’t impressed. The controls were not intuitive and were confusing. That Lexus track pad thing that you must use to navigate the main screen and control the navigation system was finicky and annoying. To simply turn off the heated seat, I had to go through multiple menus and select the driver’s seat as the menu defaulted to the passenger seat. It was distracting and difficult to use while driving.

I then tested the Mark Levinson stereo. To my astonishment, it does not sound as good as my G90’s Lexicon system. The highs/fidelity/treble simply weren’t as clear and crisp as the Lexicon. I had the treble turned all the way up and the surround sound set on “3D.” I would never have known that it contained six additional speakers and over 1,000 additional watts. I simply was not all that impressed. I suppose that the point of this post is for me to illustrate that spending a whole bunch of extra money does not always get you a better car, and it solidifies how much I love and appreciate the G90 considering it costs thousands less. You seriously get a lot of car for the money with the G90. Go Genesis!

Lexus to Genesis is like Rolex to Seiko….so let’s be real. Genesis is a good car….and cheaper…..but that does not substitute for Lexus legendary...Period.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Lexus to Genesis is like Rolex to Seiko….so let’s be real. Genesis is a good car….and cheaper…..but that does not substitute for Lexus legendary...Period.

I'm not a Genesis fan boy and I disagree. The lines are much more blurred these days. At this point, I'm not certain what's better about the Lexus LS other than a longer history than the G90.

 

[XXX]

Lexus to Genesis is like Rolex to Seiko….so let’s be real. Genesis is a good car….and cheaper…..but that does not substitute for Lexus legendary...Period.

Hahaha. While I see your point, if you read the LS500 forum, there are many who disagree with your thoughts. In fact, some downright hate the car. So, let's be real, you have your opinion, and others have theirs. As for cheaper, perhaps you mean less expensive with a much better warranty. Lexus is living off it's name to gouge buyers and produce a subpar automobile. Enjoy your Lexus.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Hahaha. While I see your point, if you read the LS500 forum, there are many who disagree with your thoughts. In fact, some downright hate the car. So, let's be real, you have your opinion, and others have theirs. As for cheaper, perhaps you mean less expensive with a much better warranty. Lexus is living off it's name to gouge buyers and produce a subpar automobile. Enjoy your Lexus.

In my opinion, the Lexus LS peaked at the third generation. Others say the second! The third, while great, just wasn't quite as good as the previous generation. The latest generation started catering too much to "sport" and sacrificed some luxury (soft ride, quiet interior). The Lexus LS really isn't what it used to be. None of them are. Genesis is the new Lexus in my opinion...

 

[XXX]

In my opinion, the Lexus LS peaked at the third generation. Others say the second! The third, while great, just wasn't quite as good as the previous generation. The latest generation started catering too much to "sport" and sacrificed some luxury (soft ride, quiet interior). The Lexus LS really isn't what it used to be. None of them are. Genesis is the new Lexus in my opinion...

I've had every LS but the 500. I knew better to consider it because of the complaints and disappointments mentioned on their forum. My two favs were my 94 LS400 and my 08 LS460. Solid incredible cars. While my 05 LS430 was nice, I just never cared for it. My 2014 LS460 F Sport was a total fail for me. It was noisy, rattled and not very smooth. Perhaps the 2017 LS460L would be on par with the 2017 G90. Still, other than a Lexus badge and an inflated price, you're still not getting the tech of a G90. To each their own.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

I've had every LS but the 500. I knew better to consider it because of the complaints and disappointments mentioned on their forum. Mytwo favs were my 94 LS400 and my 08 LS460. Solid incredible cars. While my 05 LS430 was nice, I just never cared for it. My 2014 LS460 F Sport was a total fail for me. It was noisy, rattled and not very smooth. Perhaps the 2017 LS460L would be on par with the 2017 G90. Still, other than a Lexus badge and an inflated price, you're still not getting the tech of a G90. To each their own.

The LS430 was boring - but solid. Not really something you can "love" - but a great automobile...

 

[G-499024]

Genesis is truly a great value. My wife has one, and we love it. I have the LS 500, and we love that also. Genesis and Lexus are the "econo' choices of luxury cars. They do not differ ALL that much, and the prices are both low. Lexus is a little more, sure. Go Genesis for being lower priced and having similar options available. But holey hell, the first time I took my wife's Genesis in for an oil change, I stood in line with the other Hyundai folk. Clean dealership, but oh my God man - a COMPLETELY different universe compared to a Lexus dealership, service included. If we are in the econo-luxury world, I think I would most-definitely pay a little more for the facilities and service that Lexus is well-known for having.

I REFUSE to take my wife's Genesis to the dealership again. She wanted to roll a little cheaper, so SHE can deal with that kind of service and atmosphere.

Well said! I agree…

 

[katulu]

Some facts in the convo I wholeheartedly agree with: LS500 is just not what it should've been. In MY OPINION, Lexus should have redesigned the interface YEARS ago, and I still think they should have gone more "Ipad"- style touchscreen. The whole mouse thing was awful since the beginning, and the more recent "trackpad" is no better. I never thought Lexus would hold on to that mistake for so long. Well, that's where they lost me - and believe me, I waited for years for them to rectify. Second, to ME, is the undue influence of "sportiness" - the LS should have been the utmost example of LUXURY - roominess, comfort, quiet, ease. "Sport" pretensions help nothing to what the LS identity should be. Smaller cabin, sportier ride, bad infotainment controls... pass.

Also, I must be in the minority here but the L-finesse design language with the Predator mouth (which I never really hated) feels.... OLD in 2021. When did it start - 2012? Even the new ones look just like the 2015s. I really applaud Genesis for their adoption of a NEW, solid design language and exploring it in all their models. I hope they continue to evolve, but Lexus really hasn't. Kiriko glass doesn't improve a car, sorry.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Some facts in the convo I wholeheartedly agree with: LS500 is just not what it should've been. In MY OPINION, Lexus should have redesigned the interface YEARS ago, and I still think they should have gone more "Ipad"- style touchscreen. The whole mouse thing was awful since the beginning, and the more recent "trackpad" is no better. I never thought Lexus would hold on to that mistake for so long. Well, that's where they lost me - and believe me, I waited for years for them to rectify. Second, to ME, is the undue influence of "sportiness" - the LS should have been the utmost example of LUXURY - roominess, comfort, quiet, ease. "Sport" pretensions help nothing to what the LS identity should be. Smaller cabin, sportier ride, bad infotainment controls... pass.

Also, I must be in the minority here but the L-finesse design language with the Predator mouth (which I never really hated) feels.... OLD in 2021. When did it start - 2012? Even the new ones look just like the 2015s. I really applaud Genesis for their adoption of a NEW, solid design language and exploring it in all their models. I hope they continue to evolve, but Lexus really hasn't. Kiriko glass doesn't improve a car, sorry.

I find the Genesis G90 to be the car for those who appreciated the traditional Lexus LS (or Cadillac Fleetwood, Lincoln Town Car). Even the 7-Series has softened up. Who needs to carve corners at 80mph in a full-size luxury sedan? Not many...

 

[katulu]

I find the Genesis G90 to be the car for those who appreciated the traditional Lexus LS (or Cadillac Fleetwood, Lincoln Town Car). Even the 7-Series has softened up. Who needs to carve corners at 80mph in a full-size luxury sedan? Not many...

I seriously DO wonder - do those "sport" versions REALLY outsell regular models? Or are they making extra bucks on price? I don't get it.