riknchar

Interesting article on USATODAY.com today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...erado/8817007/

The bottom line is that the big hybrids are not selling well compared to their non-hybrid siblings. According to the article, Lexus only sold 9 hybrid LS's last month vs total LS sales of 706...

Wonder how long Lexus will continue to produce the LS600H with such low sales???

Tee

Well the 600 is a performance hybrid not a economy one like the ES and CT or cousin the Prius. Also all 600's are built to order so it's not like they are sitting on dealer lots, I don't know the total sales outside the US market in other regions but sales could be better. I'm sure Lexus did forecast how many they would sale based on previous data etc and I doubt it was a lot.

CJITTY

Simply a lack of ballers lol

Nospinzone

I didn't realize sales of these were that low. However, as long as the current model is being produced, there would be no reason to discontinue it. All the R&D has been spent already.

When they come out with the next generation LS model, that will be decision time.

CJITTY

Or folks will just let others take the $70K depreciation hit and folks like me will scoop up 2013 models in 2016/2017 ;-)

peteybabes

i'm with you there brotha!

LexFather

This article is very poorly written. Expensive hybrids are not just about fuel economy, its also about a feel good factor, quietness, lower emissions, making a statement, rarity and in most cases more power than the normal one.

The article didn't even mention Porsche now has a plug-in hybrid Panamera. And yes it starts at 105k. Also BMW, Benz etc now all have hybrids to battle the GS 450h. There is also a Cayenne Hybrid.

Owning my GS 450h was a joy and to this day its amazing the misconceptions people still have about hybrids. Considering mine is modified it makes peoples heads explode. To this day some people just hate hybrids and come up with a multitude of reasons on why they stink.

Quote:

Lexus sold only nine hybrid models of its big LS sedan last month, only about 1% of the 706 LS sedans sold overall. The big issue is cost. The hybrid version can add $6,000 or more to the price of the LS, says Bill Kwong, a Lexus spokesman. By contrast, other Lexus models, where the added expense isn't as great, such as the ES midsize sedan, sell about one of four as hybrids.

I wasn't aware I could get a LS 600h L that cheaply. What the article fails to mention is the LS 600h L is basically special order only. It also fails to mention that initially sales were far past expectations. The car is old now with a very limited audience and the first of its kind. It won several awards when it debuted.

When people see the technology in the new generation of hybrids it will blow them away.

FYI a loaded 2014 LS 600h L is 132k. I'm the biggest fanboy there is and I wouldn't pay that.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Well, the 600h is a hybrid and people's memories of high gas prices are fleeting. The $50,000 price difference is difficult to swallow when there's little to be gained in performance or economy.

CJITTY

At the end of the day, I am glad I bought my 2008 600hL back in 2012. After 26 days of email negotiations, getting the price down to the equivalent of "trade in value" pricing for a CPO car, two one way tickets paid for by the dealership for my wife and I to come get it and talking them down to around $1500 extra to extend my CPO coverage, I had to get this car. Two years later, my car is still worth more than what owe on it. If I had to do it all over again, I would have to get a smokin deal like I got with my current one to consider another 600. I bought mine mainly because I wanted every option..unfortunately I jumped the gun and didn't get the advanced PCS and massaging seat back, but I have everything else.

But LexFather is right on the money. Having a rare car (I never see any on my side of town) is really a good feeling. The torque and power of the 600 vs my old 460 is quite a bit different for the better and the car is stupid quiet. Folks always ask me if my car is on lol. It is a tank and feels great on the open road with the added weight the 600 has. I have seen non CPO 600s selling for mid 30s through auction in some cases, so there are some great deals out there. A warranty is a must though. If you got a 2008 600hL used, it has a factory hybrid component battery warranty of 8yrs/80K miles. I have not heard of anyone having an issue with the 600 batteries or hybrid components on CL anyway.

But for brand new, to pay the premium price tag for the added features, CVT transmission, hybrid wow factor is something that wouldn't interest me even if I had the money. I just can't justify the cost, but once they come off lease, it is a whole new ball game and thrifty folks such as myself can come up on some monster deals.

peteybabes

...and the TFT gauge cluster and leather stitched dash and steering wheel.

i'm picking on you nicely CJITTY, lol. I'm just itching for the day i trade up (3 years or so out)

Nospinzone

Yea, but for what you saved, you could hire a masseuse once a week!

(Now two of us are picking on him.)

hfahmy

So, I owned one 07 SWB, 08 LWB and 10 LWB over the past three years all less than 50k miles and now 600 and can tell you for sure that there is huge difference in the quietness, power and feeling true luxury in the 600... After driving 2014 S550 for a day I was pretty much sold but the 600 won my back to the Lexus camp hands down!

greg3852

I swear I am going to never come to this site again. I love my SWB more than anything, now I come here and keep reading about the 600. I can see myself getting one in a couple years now. Thanks guys. hahaha

hfahmy

You don't have to wait http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...ear=1981&Log=0

35% of the original price

hfahmy

So, for folks who say that 600 is not cost effective, I agree if you are buying new.

On the other hand, when I wanted to upgrade my 07 SWB to LWB, I found that it will be ~$35K to get clean 07-08 LWB with less than 50K miles vs. $41K for LS600hl with 25K miles, so decsion was no brainer...