and displays to calculate instant gas mileage and date of the next oil
change. We didn't miss them. Some luxury cars have perhaps made themselves
seem complicated and imposing with all those high-tech toys.
The LS 400 does use buttons, instead of the usually easier dials, for
the heating and cooling controls, but they're huge and obvious enough to
not be a problem. Besides, the driver and front seat passenger each have
an automatic climate control. Punch in the desired temperature and the
car works the controls for you.
Below the climate controls is the seven-speaker, 195-watt AM/FM/cassette
sound system. The various knobs for volume and sound tuning are bigger
than you generally find, and easy to use. The six-disc CD changer (a $1050
option) is in front of the passenger seat, cleverly hidden behind a door
that looks like the glove box. The actual glove box, and it's a big one,
is just below that.
In the center armrest are two levels of storage bins. In front of them
are two cupholders that pop up at the touch of the finger. Actually, they
glide up at the touch of a finger, at the same elegant, controlled pace
as all the LS 400's gadgets. Even the coat hooks over the back doors deploy
with a calculated elegance that helps set the car's tone. So do the handsome
wood inserts on dash and doors.
Along the same line, the car gives a little beep instead of honking
when you use remote entry to lock and unlock the doors. One minor annoyance:
we thought the beep was too quiet, in fact, and found ourselves straining
to hear if the doors had locked.
All of the safety equipment you'd expect is here. Dual airbags, and
antilock brakes are standard, and this year side airbags are too. A sophisticated
traction control system is available ($2020) to help keep this powerful
rear-wheel-drive sedan steady on ice and snow.
We had no problem getting comfortable in the front seats of this car.
Two electronic levers will position the seats just about any way you want.
The seats are a wonderful blend of the cushy, recliner-like seats found
in American luxury cars and the firmer, heavily bolstered seats in European
sport-luxury cars. An unusal square button on the steering column will
tilt and telescope the wheel to any driving position you would like.
Riding in the back is a little iffier. Two adults will find the seats
more than comfortable, and there's plenty of knee and hip room. But anyone
over six feet tall will brush his head on the roof unless he slouches down.
Three adults is not a real option, because of the hump down the middle
of the floor for the driveshaft. Next Page