You might be interested to know (then again you might not)

That today I test-drove a 750-i.

Now, even though they have been toned down in the Bangalized looks department, while better looking than last year's, they are still ugly . . .

BUT . . .

Interior . . . AWESOME

Build . . . AWESOME

Ride . . . AWESOME (in it's own way)

iDrive . . . stupid, but if it doesn't break down as often as I have heard it does, and if you can preset everything and never have to deal with it again, who cares. Seriously though . . . I prefer reaching ovvver and adjusting a ****, or throwing a dedicated switch to operate something rather than have to scroll thru menu after menu.

It didn't have a navigation disc in so I didn't get to see the nav . . . however I have been in numerous other cars with nav and I have yet to see a nav sysstem better than the one in my LS. But, I bet it would suffice.

All in all, although a entirely different ride than the LS430, I loved it. It's a friggin' tank, handles beautifully, suprizingly quiet, totally solid, and although the ride a bit more rough, it was really impressive.

Still ugly though. But I want one.

 

I suppose that if you are going sit in an L.A. traffic jam, you may as well be comfortable

 

I'll be interested in seeing how the new LS handles. My wife's LS430 rides like glass, but you feel it a little in the corners.

 

What's up Kobi!

Yeah, that 7 series is a beast. My best friend has the 745Li, which has, I believes 20 less HP than the new 750. That is an awesome vehicle. If I didn't need it to drive, I'd give my right foot for a 745Li (Or 750Li, nowadays).

I drove what I considered the three top luxury sedans that I could conceivably afford: The 745Li, the LS430 and the S500. I drove the LS first:

Very well built machine, I love the way the mirrors fold in when you turn it off, I loved the nav system with the "go home" feature. It rode well, for 290 HP (The least of the bunch) it accellerated surprisingly well. The interior ergonimics were top-notch; the attention to detail was meticulous, right down the the passenger seat control being on the inboard cushion so the driver could adjust it, without having to reach over the console and seat to get to it... The Mark Levinson audio system, the heated & colled perforated leather seats, the refrigerated console, everything... I loved it.
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Then I drove the S500, and I LOVED the heavy feel of the car (Which made the LS feel like an Accord DX in terms of road feel). But, the power didn't surprise me. and honestly, the interior ergonomics kinda left me wanting more. At the end of the day, when the MB started off strong against the LS, in my score book, it was LS430 1st place, S500 2nd place.
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Then, I drove to Classic BMW in Richardson, and got the keys to the $72,000 BMW 745Li. Only $2,000 more than the loaded LS430 I'd driven earlier. I was not expecting to be impressed by this car either, having been let-down by the MB. When I put the key in the ignition, I was impressed.

The big-body Bimmer was awesome, right from the start-up. The collision sensing system, the reclining rear seats, the 14-way adjustable front seats, the voice-activated damn-near everything, the hands free phone (even the dialign was hands-free), the navigation system, and- we haven't left the parking lot yet...

The ride, was far and away the best. Smoking the Benz and trouncing the (lightweight, by comparison) LS430. Talk about fast? I've never felt that kind of accelleration before. Sure, I've driven cars that accellerate in a brutal manner (GTO and Vette) but, nothign that just surged ahead with sheer power and no drama. To go from 40 - 105 in that car is as quick and easy as going from 0 - 30 in an F-150. This is by far the best car I have ever had the privledge of placing my butt in the seat of.

Before that day, if anyone had asked me, cost no object, what car could you live with for the next 10 years, if it had to support all your needs & desires. I'd have said the 345 HP Infiniti Q45 (Which we hadn't gotten to yet).

After that day, I have been hooked on the 7, and the Q isn't even on my radar anymore... At least not until the new one comes out!

Note- the new Lexus LS 460 L (Get it L? They're offering it in two lengths, ala BMW & Audi) looks like it will sever the head of BMW and Mercedes... Even though it looks like someone took the LS 430, and stretched it over the body of a 745. It's Bangelized too; call it what you (anyone) will though; I like it- and all of Bangle's bungles.

 

My boss had a 745 and now has the 750. I think the thing that impressed me the most was in the pouring rain, getting on a Dallas freeway needing to cross lanes to a left side exit in heavy traffic, he floored it and it hooked up immeddiatly, no tire spin. Just squated and went.

 

Kobi- Check the New Lexus... (I don't know if you saw my post a few days ago; these truck-driving, hay-bailers didn't pay it much attention)

 

Hey Hersh -

I'm aware of the upcoming LS460.

I have also been in the new next gen S Class . . . The S550 Mercedes.

Every dealer around here has one, and has had them for about three weeks now. We were going by AutoSteigler in Encino when we saw it and went in.

Talk about an overly complex car. There were two salesmen and one of the Execs. They were playing with the Merc's version of iDrive. And they couldn't figure it out. It sez a lot when the people who sell these things can't even change the radio band from AM to FM. You had to go three levels deep in menus.

I was playing around with it and had to show them how to do it. It took a little bit but was able to figure it out.

All this everything controlled from one **** in the center and having to scroll thru menus is BS . . . I'm waiting to see how many accidents happen becase people are watching the screen just trying to scan up the radio dial rather than watching the road.

The New S Class is very nice on the outside. Between it, the 750, and the New LS, it's the best looking (external) of the vehicles.

The interior is OK, but not as nice as the 750 BMW.

I never thought anyone made a better interior than Lexus, but after driving that 750i I have changed my opinion. I have seen photos of the new LS inside and out, and in great detail. It looks like a lot of the same as the current LS only more. Honestly, it doesn't impress me as much as the BMW.

Don't get me wrong. I still love my LS430. It was funny getting back in it after the 750i. Suddenly total sensory deprevation didn't seem as nice as it used to. There was something kind of cool about a little harsher ride (I guess I should say it was tighter) and such amazing handling for a car that size and still have total silence and an amazing feeling of solidness inside. It was even quieter than my LS.

I'm not even going to bother driving the new S Class. At 105,000 dollars it's out of my league and honestly, not worth it anyway.

ALthough not cheap, the BMW impressed . . . if only they would change the exterior (and yes, I've seen the next gen 7 Series . . . it's only a mild improvement).

I'm keeping the LS, bu I'll tell ya, if my working future changes as planned, I'm ditching the Lexus and getting the 7.

 

I hear ya.. I'm trying to be good, and if we can pay off the 3 cars we have; and I have another pesky bill that will be gone at the same time; we'll have about $2,000 of disposeable income per month, that we can play with.

As long as there are no layoffs in mine, or my wife's futrure, and unless we opt to upgrade to a nicer house; we'll more than likely move into an upscale automobile. I have been oh-so tempted to go snag a BMW 545i, they have some very approachable lease rates ($699/month) but, I know I'll feel stupid three years from now, should I lease the Bimmer at $699 and at the end, have nothing, when I could have held off for three and had my Expy paid off, and at least out-right own a car; for once...

My problem is, I LOVE new cars... My F-150 is the oldest vehicle I've ever kept, it's a 2001 with 44,000 miles on it.

Man... I love new cars!!!

PS- I saw the new S-Class in Freehold, NJ in December 2005... I didn't like it... I mean, I liked it, but it doesn't move me, like the 7 does, and to a lesser extent, the Audi A8L..

 

Stay away from the Audi A8L.

I repeat, stay away from the A8.

Unless they give it away (which they are pretty much diong with their leases), and pay you kickback money on the side, and offer to pay your insurance for you . . . don't do it.

Sure, it's an absolutely beautiful car, but that's no enough.

That is all.