Ride Comfort of luxury cars

[rover3l]

Anyone compared the ride quality and silence of the top mass produced luxury cars that competed with the 1990 - 1996 Q45 and active models, versus equivalent generations of Lexus LS 400, Jaguar, BMW 7 series and Mercedes S class.

It would be cool if we could hook up with forums for these models and run a comparison test

[Jesda]

Personal experience tells me that the LS400 is a bit smoother, but doesnt handle as well.

[Q45tech]

Actually if you set the LS430 to the 1990 Q45 alignment numbers and substitute an equivalent tire 255/50/16" Pilot Sport or MXM [in a suitable 98-99 load index] the LS will out handle anything of equal weight including the BMW.

They make adjustable after market shocks and stiffer sway bars for the rear.

[Rex]

Do you mean current generation LS430?

[driverdriver]

Having been the passenger in my manager's LS a number of times, I would call the ride experience completely isolated from the road. The car is casket quiet inside. On the other hand, if you sit in the back seat of a Jag XJ8, its more of a first-class airline feel with a masseuse. Neat wood fold down tables with a power outlet for a laptop and built in back massagers.

[1992Q45A]

Sorry, but no way an LS430 is going to outhandle an M5 or CTS V or E55


Modified by 1992Q45A at 5:07 AM 9/27/2004

[Jesda]

Sorry, but no weigh an LS430 is going to outhandle an M5 or CTS V or E55

True, but those cars are on an entirely different level.

And the LS430 is only a couple years old -- the 1990-1996 Q45 isnt really in the proper context for comparison. I can't imagine spending so much on something so lifeless and soulless anyway. Toyota makes well-engineered appliances, not automobiles. There's the Maytag, then there's the Lexus.

[1992Q45A]

Jesda,

That wasn't my point

Q45tech said the following

Actually if you set the LS430 to the 1990 Q45 alignment numbers and substitute an equivalent tire 255/50/16" Pilot Sport or MXM [in a suitable 98-99 load index] the LS will out handle anything of equal weight including the BMW

The above cars I referenced are of equal weight

[Jesda]

Good point.

[louiegz]

Sorry, but no way an LS430 is going to outhandle an M5 or CTS V or E55

I would think that the fair comparison would be a 7 an S and a Q. The cars you mention are ligher than the LS430. A good M3 could out handle the cars that you mentioned, but that wouldn't be fair.

A friend of mine has a 98 740iL I took it for a short drive but I didn't think it handled much better that my 95 Q. I've never driven a Lexus. I went to a Lexus test drive event and I spent my time driving the competetor cars they had there to compare. When you have a Jag convertible and a 545i to drive, who wants to drive a Lexus. I'm going to a MB event this next weekend. The will have the C, E & S. Never driven an S. I'm looking forward to checking it out.

[louiegz]

My bad. The E55 is a little heavier than the LS430.

[rover3l]

Although I haven't had the chance to compare them I would think that an Active Q45 should have an overall ride better than any of these if you include the following factors:

1. Bump absorption2. General highway ride3. Floatiness4. Roll5. Pitch6. Dive

I can imagine though that perhaps some of these the LS400 especially has a quieter ride. On handling I think again the active Q should be at or close to the top of the pack.

[Jesda]

While the early (90-93) Q45 was louder than the Lexus, the 94-96 was the quietest of all luxury cars at the time.

[1992Q45A]

Which I find hard to believe, mine seems like it should be quieter

Maybe its just age

[rover3l]

I know what you mean but the road test I think car and drive did result in the Q being the quietest in terms of dBa readings. Mine is fairly quiet but not as I had read about Lexus 400's in road tests which seem to suggest that it is virtually completely silent.

[1992Q45A]

Yea if you check out q45.org it has a 4 or 5 way shootout. The Q was the quietest car which shocked the reviewers. Quiet then even the LS

My 94 seems relatively noisy at freeway speeds.

My moms bimmer is the icon of silent

[Rex]

Oddly enough the article "measures" the Q as the quietest, but the reviews "comment" about the LS's quietness???

[1992Q45A]

Seems like that review of the LS430 vs the 2k2 Q45

They said the Q45 let less wind in, but the LS managed the wind better

[Jesda]

I find the Taurus to be shockingly quiet. Its dumbed down with tons of sound deadening material (and crappy engineering), but by golly it works.

[elwesso]

Agreed...

Something Ive noticed as Im taking apart my Q is they have this thin, aluminum foil looking stuff that I presume is for sound deadening.... It doesnt look like it does much, as its very thin and if you tap on it, its like bare metal (IE like its not even there)....

Something I may try is with that insulation stuff, to surround it with some sticky aluminum tape or something and put it in the door panels. Might be a decent alternative to dynomat!!

Another thing Ive noticed is on other cars, they have this same insulation stuff on the insides of the door panels, and in the fenders.... The Q just has these little "foil things", and look marginally effective. I still dont like the hollow sound you get when you tap on the fenders, and on most other cars its a more solid sound....

[Q45tech]

How many of you are driving on the 94-96Q oem tire the Dunlop D80V4? A tire custom made for the Q45 and available only in ONE size 215/65/15!

Acoustic measurements with any other tire are not valid.

The real question is what if any measurement weighting factor was used on the SPL meter [flat, A, B, or C weighting]. Almost everyone's hearing sensitivity vs amplitude vs. frequency is different.........as we age or are exposed to loud sounds.

The D80V4 hasn't been available [made] since 2000........because 94-96 owners went for cheaper tires or they didn't understand the benefit.

Purchase a RadioShack [< $50] SPL meter which in C weighting mode is accurate +- 2 db.

After 6-7 years the rubber window seals get hard and need replacing if oem quietness is expected---------on ALL CARS! Especially the driver window one. Usually the greatest noise source is the outside mirror and the triangular area where it mounts to door and surrounding 3-6" positions.Thus thicker glass on 94-96Q.

An area of concern is using non oem glass for replacement. All aftermarkets are thinner [3-25%] and the glass is usually less dense and of different less costly composition. Fit is one thing, equality is another!

[greg_atlanta]

Having been the passenger in my manager's LS a number of times, I would call the ride experience completely isolated from the road. The car is casket quiet inside.

Very true about the casket. I rode in a Celsior (LS430) taxi in Tokyo and it's like going to heaven, even on crappy roads. If fatigue from driving is a problem, this is your car. If I drove 30K+ miles a year, I'd get an LS430.

Sharp handling is fun now and then, but total isolation is better most of the time.

[rover3l]

accepting the point about the natural ageing of rubber seals etc I wonder how a 94-96 LS400 compares with a Q of similar vintage

[rover3l]

Also Wes as you take apart your car let us all know if there are any obvious areas that could be easily improved in terms of sound proofing

[rover3l]

To Q45 Tech's point about tires, given that the OEM's are no longer available, what are the best current day compromise if low noise is a priority