Helmar

Several of the reviews have included comments that question the price and value of the Lexus LS600hL.

If any of the reviewers are reading this group, I thought I’d list MY reasons for choosing the LS600hL.

Yes, the 600hL is very expensive. Since I plan on keeping this car for around 10 years, the cost will be about an additional $3,500 a year (over a 460L).

There are two questions here, why a Lexus LS, and why the 600hL.

Why a Lexus LS?

I look for the following minimum features in a car: AWD, Navigation system, active cruise control, quiet, safe, long term reliability, and large enough for my elderly mother-in-law (and her friends) to comfortably enter and exit the rear.

Noticeably absent from this list is handling and fuel economy. Emergency handling and control in any of the cars I’d consider (MB 550, BMW 760, Audi A8, Jaguar) is close enough to be equivalent.

Very few cars have ALL of the requirements.

The LS460 has all of them except AWD, which the 600hL adds.

The Mercedes S550 4-matic and the Audi A8 have all except the long term reliability. The other issue with these two cars is that they both use a non-touch screen. Having used both (Lexus LS430 and BMW i-Drive), there’s no question that the touch screen is far less intrusive to use while driving.

Also there is functionality that is difficult to duplicate in a non-touch screen. For example, when points of interest are displayed on a screen, touching one to see it’s name and phone number. Also being able to scroll around the screen, which is doable, but only after several push/pulls. Also touching a point on the screen to see how far it is from your current location. The list goes on....

Why the 600hL?

Simple. Only the 600hL version of the LS offers AWD. Here in Maine, that’s important. If the LS460 offered an AWD version, that would be my first choice.

HBH

Ay-nako

iTrader: (25)

good reasoning... and plus if you look at the following the gas econ is much better than the MB S6(V12) and better than the others that you chose as well..

RXSF

i would like to point out one flaw in that reasoning with the nav.

what about the lock out while driving? cant use any of the features... and no overide either

other than that i agree with everything you wrote. However, that is a steep price just for that AWD system, lol

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

its a different engine all together. 5.0L AWD V8 always sounds good to me.

Not to mention room for potential Modifications of the batteries on this car can make it a AMG killer. But I dont think anyone is going too for at least 4 years.

Nospinzone

You've convinced me HB. Order a second one and I'll take it!

Helmar

My '03 LS430 locked out the NAV system while moving as well, but I was still able to do the things I mentioned while moving. I just wasn't able to enter new destinations or change the POI settings.

I believe that the LS460L I recently test drove also allowed these things as well....

HBH

Nextourer

and the LED headlights and the HSD system heh.

Nextourer

No one said the Plug-in option for the Prius (CalCars/HyMotion) can't be adapted to the LSh.

RXSF

you mean the LHD (lexus hybrid drive) lol.

and yeah you get those too...but at the price, i expected it to include like all the packages except the executive.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

interesting reasoning there, i think it's very valid

to me (in cali i guess), it's all about exclusivity. it's not something lexus needs to see everywhere on the road anyway, that's not their intention.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Reasons I would get the LS600hL instead of the LS460:

[in order of importance]
1) Being green(er).
2) Exclusivity.
3) AWD.
4) Because I'm pimp.
5) Blue badging on the car is cool...

Gojirra99

You actually prefer that even in California ?

As for the rest, I would put being greener at the bottom. I would add the benefit of the extra torque during passing(50-70 mph, etc.), & having more leather on the dash/doors plus the LED's are nice too . . .

Nextourer

Fine haha.

Oh and what robarapta said, leather dash too.


In Canada it has all the features except the Executive Package (which also adds the driver monitoring system)

rominl

iTrader: (4)

hahhaha yeah, i was about to say that, awd in cali?

anyway, to me, it would be

1) cheaper gas price for the performance
2) great tq and speed (i hope)
3) exclusivity
4) led headlights