askad007

Hi all,
Last time I visited Lexus showroom in Dubai, they opened new section to sell and buy Lexus Certified cars. Now I found GS350 F sport 2013 with all option (without night vision) is offered 51000$ (189000 AED) and GS450H 2013 F sport with all option(without night vision) is 49000$ (179000 AED). Both cars used by showroom and mileage still under 5000KM.
The price of new car is GS350 2014 gas engine is 66500$ and Hybrid is 70000$ and we know 2014 has gearbox is 8 speeds and night vision is available now.

Here in the UAE gas is quite cheap only 46 cent per liter. The problem here no body wants to buy hybrid because is new to the country and dealer, price is higher in showroom.
Do think is good to buy gas model or hybrid?
please I want your advise and comment if possible?
Thanks,
S.A

Afrosheen

If gas is cheap, go for the GS350 F Sport. The hybrid will be heavier and less sporty. Drive both of them, hard, and I bet you will go home with the F Sport after driving it in sport s+ mode.

natnut

The GS450h has more torque at low revs, zero revs actually because of the electric engine and is faster at the top end and has a higher top speed. Passing and overtaking performance in the hybrid will be better as well.

Since both are F-sports, the main difference will be in braking feel due to the heavier weight of the hybrid. I test drove both GS450h F-Sport and GS350 F-Sport and would buy the GS450h F-Sport. Don't forget the hybrid has the cooler looking LED headlights.

Afrosheen

He's in the UAE so both probably have LED lights. I wouldn't get the hybrid based on the regenerative braking feel alone, plus the battery weight. I think the gas model would be more nimble regardless of the extra torque of the 450h. Problem with hybrids is that due to the way the electric motors work, you can't just dyno both cars and declare a winner.

My mentality = simpler, well known gas engine drivetrain = less stuff to break. No batteries to worry about exploding in the UAE heat due to cooling failure. (Now this is PURE CONJECTURE, I have no facts to back this up, just considering possibilities). The 3.5l gas engine is what, 6 years old now, so all the bugs are gone. Hybrid drivetrains are still new and complicated.

With all this being said though, I drove the Infiniti Q50 and Q50S H back to back, and the hybrid smoked the gas model, but with the odd braking feel.