{"id":1757,"date":"2013-06-28T23:46:26","date_gmt":"2013-06-29T06:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rickdebruhl.com\/?p=1757"},"modified":"2013-06-28T23:51:41","modified_gmt":"2013-06-29T06:51:41","slug":"road-test-2013-lexus-gs-460","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carcentrick.com\/?p=1757","title":{"rendered":"Road Test: 2013 Lexus GS 460"},"content":{"rendered":"

My test week with the Lexus LS 460 gave me something I had yet to experience: a flat tire in a luxury car. I\u2019ll talk about the LS 460\u2019s highs and lows in a moment, but first let\u2019s talk about the flat tire.<\/p>\n

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2013 Lexus LS 460<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Short of using run flat tires (and getting the bonus stiff ride), there isn\u2019t much you can do to avoid picking up the occasional road debris that pierce the rubber layer between your car and the asphalt below. I picked up what appeared to be about a four-inch nail that shot thru the tread and out the side wall of the tire just below the rim. It was impressive looking.<\/p>\n

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Tire warning shows when pressure is low<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The interesting thing was that I didn\u2019t discover the flat because of the way the car drove. I figured it out while sitting at a stop light and suddenly my dash display switched to show the tire pressures. Three of them were in the mid 30s, and one said \u201c4\u201d. At first I thought it must be a mistake, but I whipped into the first parking lot on the other side of the intersection and pulled in. Sure enough, the tire was seriously flat.<\/p>\n

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That’s one big nail sticking out of that tire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Having worked my way through college as a tire buster at Sears Automotive, I\u2019m not afraid of changing tires. I promptly\u00a0whipped out the spare and the jack. That was my next pleasant surprise. Not only does the LS 460 have a full-sized spare, it\u2019s also mounted on an alloy rim (with “liquid graphite finish”)\u00a0instead of some stamped, painted metal piece that screams \u201cI have a flat in the trunk\u201d as you drive by.<\/p>\n

I can tell you the jack worked well. It scissored up right away without extreme effort. A few minutes later I had the new (nice looking) tire mounted and I was back on the road. I\u2019m sure I could have called Lexus roadside assistance, but even a quick response would have taken much longer than it would take me to swap tires. After the\u00a0spare was mounted and I was on\u00a0my way,\u00a0I also noticed that when the tire was in the trunk the instrument display showed regular pressure on the four mounted tires, and zero pressure in the trunk. It\u2019s nice to know that you\u2019ll have a reminder if you forget to get it fixed.<\/p>\n

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2013 Lexus Rear View<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OK, now let\u2019s talk about the how the LS 460 drove.<\/p>\n

First, what\u2019s not to like about 388 horsepower? There\u2019s always someone who will complain that a car this big needs more. I\u2019m not one of them. I\u2019m a big believer that you simply need to match the power to the car. The folks who buy the LS 460 aren\u2019t likely to hot-rod around town. This 4.6 liter\u00a0V8 gives you enough power so that you can get up to speed quickly and whip around any rolling chicanes along the freeway that get in your way. It has an eight speed transmission that smoothly gets you where you need to go. Mileage isn’t bad for a big car, 16 mpg in own and 24 mpg\u00a0on the highway. Want more performance, opt for the F Sport version.<\/p>\n

Matching the suspension to the driver is another tricky affair. I\u2019ve read other reviews that knock the LS 460 for it\u2019s less than nimble ride. I put it in the “nimble enough” category. Like most drivers, I didn’t push it beyond the normal bounds and it did just fine. It had the proper luxury car softness. Of course you can choose your preferred suspension setting. Lexus lets you choose between normal, eco and sport modes. The LS 460 also has Toyota’s Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management. Think of it as a guardian angel that is wired into the steering, brakes and engine. It’s supposed to anticipate rather than just react. Fortunately I didn’t have to use it.<\/p>\n

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Lexus Remote Touch System on the Right<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This was the fourth Lexus I\u2019ve driven with Remote Touch system. Reviews from other writers tend to fall into the love or hate category. Personally, I love it. I like the fact that you simply rest your hand on the controller in the center console. It acts like a mouse and lets you move across the display as you work your way through the car\u2019s various functions. What you don\u2019t get is a touch screen display, but that\u2019s just fine with me. It means you don\u2019t have to lean forward to manipulate the controls. They\u2019re right where your hand is probably already resting. It may take a little getting used to, but I think it\u2019s a solid system. It runs a 12.3 inch wide display screen that allows you to divide the screen into two different functions. While I may like Remote Touch, I can\u2019t say that the Lexus navigation thrilled me. Having said that, I find most manufacturer installed navigation systems wanting so the Lexus version wasn\u2019t better or worse.<\/p>\n

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Check out the Shimamoku Steering Wheel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the Shimamoku wooden trim. Watch this video<\/a> and you’ll feel a compelling urge to buy a Lexus LS just so you can get the steering wheel. Lexus claims it takes 38 days to build.<\/p>\n

Base price on the LS 460 is $71,990. In that price range it’s amazing how quickly the options can move the price needle. My text car stickered at $78,584 with LED headlights, an upgraded Mark Levinson sound system and a comfort package that heated and cooled the seats.<\/p>\n

The LS 460 is the big dog in the Lexus lineup. It’s supposed to compete against the best luxury cars on the market. Having just recently driven an Audi A8, I thought\u00a0the LS 460\u00a0was a\u00a0solid\u00a0option. Especially if you have a flat.<\/p>\n

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