Any of these luxury saloons is worthy of a towkay living large in his house of prosperity, with a long driveway and an even longer drive on his favourite fairway. Assuming that he prefers to take the wheel himself rather than depend on a chauffeur, which limousine should he acquire to further improve his quality of life?
If outright value for money is a priority, then he should park the Lexus LS460L on his front porch. No matter how he works out the sums, the Grand Seiko of modern limos is ahead of its two German rivals. On the basis of dollars per horsepower, for instance, it’s the only one to dip under $1,000. Factor in the first-rate V8 performance, amazing refinement, advanced amenities and granite-like construction, and the LS460L is clearly the leader here in cost effectiveness.
If the towkay in question wants ultimate comfort and ever-reliable relief from the trials and tribulations of corporate combat, rush hour traffic and shopping mall crowds, then he should go for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. This iconic saloon from Stuttgart is Smooth, Spacious, Safe, Serene and Special. That’s what the S stands for, we reckon. The S350L is also a Sweet Spot in the model range, offering noticeably more performance and equipment than the S300L, yet costing not much more by Mercedes standards. This mega-refined ride is an automotive Rolex.
And the BMW 740Li is like an Audemars Piguet, then. Technologically accomplished, effortlessly sporty and confidently stylish, this machine is a road pilot’s delight. It’s chunky, but it somehow shrinks in corners to become a nimble number, with plenty of power and outstanding roadholding. Admittedly, the ride is less pliant than the S350L and the cabin is less cosseting than the LS460L, but the electronic goodies on board make up for these weaknesses.
At the end of the day, BMW’s all-rounder with an athletic edge is our recommendation to the hypothetical towkay, okay?
Mercedes-Benz S350L 3.5 (A)
ENGINE
Capacity 3498cc
Cylinder layout V6
Valves 24, DOHC
Bore x stroke 92.9mm x 86mm
Compression ratio 10.7:1
Power 272bhp at 6000rpm
Torque 350Nm at 2400-5000rpm
TRANSMISSION
Type 7-speed automatic with manual select
Driven Wheels Rear
PERFORMANCE
Top Speed 250km/h
0-100km/h 7.3 seconds
Consumption 10km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front Multi-link, air springs, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar
Rear Multi-link, air springs, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
Front Ventilated discs
Rear Ventilated discs
TYRES
Type Dunlop SP Sport 01
Size 255/45 R18
SAFETY
ABS Yes
Airbags 9
Traction Control Yes, with ESP
MEASUREMENTS
Length 5226mm
Width 1871mm
Height 1479mm
Wheelbase 3165mm
Kerb Weight 1955kg
Power to Weight Ratio 139.1bhp/tonne
Turning Circle 12.2m
BUYING IT
Price $325,888 incl. COE
Warranty 3 years/100,000km
+ Silky ride and tidy handling, absolute comfort in the cabin, prestige and sense of occasion
– It’s large and flashy, options cost a bomb, some bits are not upmarket
Lexus LS460L 4.6 (A)
ENGINE
Capacity 4608cc
Cylinder layout V8
Valves 32, DOHC
Bore x stroke 94mm x 83mm
Compression ratio 11.8:1
Power 380bhp at 6400rpm
Torque 500Nm at 4100rpm
TRANSMISSION
Type 8-speed automatic
Driven Wheels Rear
PERFORMANCE
Top Speed 250km/h
0-100km/h 5.7 seconds
Consumption 9km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front Multi-link, air springs, adaptive dampers
Rear Multi-link, air springs, adaptive dampers
BRAKES
Front Ventilated discs
Rear Ventilated discs
TYRES
Type Bridgestone Turanza ER33
Size 235/50 R18
SAFETY
ABS Yes
Airbags 12
Traction Control Yes, with VSC
MEASUREMENTS
Length 5150mm
Width 1875mm
Height 1465mm
Wheelbase 3090mm
Kerb Weight 2065kg
Power to Weight Ratio 184bhp/tonne
Turning Circle 11.2m
BUYING IT
Price $356,000 incl. COE
Warranty 3 years/100,000km
+ Acceleration and refinement, creature comforts galore, unimpeachable build quality
– Overall design is a non-event, high performance is low in emotion, more buttons than a space station
BMW 740Li 3.0 (A)
ENGINE
Capacity 2979cc
Cylinder layout Inline-6
Valves 24, DOHC
Bore x stroke 89.6mm x 84mm
Compression ratio 10.2:1
Power 326bhp at 5800rpm
Torque 450Nm at 1500-4500rpm
TRANSMISSION
Type 6-speed automatic with manual select
Driven Wheels Rear
PERFORMANCE
Top Speed 250km/h
0-100km/h 6 seconds
Consumption 10km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front Double-joint struts, coil springs
Rear Multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
Front Ventilated discs
Rear Ventilated discs
TYRES
Type Goodyear Excellence
Size 245/50 R18
SAFETY
ABS Yes
Airbags 8
Traction Control Yes, with DSC
MEASUREMENTS
Length 5212mm
Width 1902mm
Height 1478mm
Wheelbase 3210mm
Kerb Weight 1970kg
Power to Weight Ratio 165.5bhp/tonne
Turning Circle 12.7m
BUYING IT
Price $338,800 incl. COE
Warranty 3 years/100,000km
+ Performs like an urgent sports saloon, pampers like an indulgent limousine, poses like a giant German supermodel
– A little less interior room than its rivals, ride is rather busy in urban conditions, badging is confusing for some towkays
