For $500, its a no brainer. That self parking thing on the LS, thats a totally different story.

 

Like everyone else said, the Lexus Park assist is priceless. It's far superior to any other OEM park assist in the market. I didn't have park assist in my IS and grew to regret it, can't imagine not having it in my 3GS or any other Lexus. I have young kids and numerous young nieces & nephews, $500 is chump change compared to a potential catastrophic accident involving young kids . . .

 

Park assist is an awesome feature. I don't think I can buy another car without it. It's great that it also displays on both the nav screen and multi function display in the guage. It's a useful feature for any age, young or old. It is "intiuitive" for the general public to understand.

 

are we talking about regular parking sensors, or IPA in GS?

Because IPA is not just regular parking sensors. Difference is that IPA system knows how you wheels are turned and if you are going to clear the obstacle or not. If you are going to clear it, IPA will not show you any info on the nav screen or beep, it will just show it in trip computer screen - that way you know you will be passing something without hitting, even if you are just inches away. On the other hand, if your steering wheel is turned in a way that you will hit the obstacle, it will beep and show on the nav screen.

Difference between this and parking sensors is huge. It makes my life so much easier on busy european streets.

 

Not for me.

I would pay $500 for Parking Assist Sensors if I had a choice...

 

I use it and the backup camera all the time and feel it is well worth $500

 

+1 on parking assist. everybody agrees on this? what's fun about that?

even if you don't think you'll use it, unless you hate the bumper look an awful lot, doesnt seem worth it to spend time trying to find a GS without it.

 

I thought the IPA shows info on the nav screen and beeps as well as in the dash.

 

IPA is available on all 3GS models...there is no other one we're talking about?

 

^ I suppose he's talking about the crappy AM units that have non-color matching sensors drilled into the bumper and that only beep w/out a visual display. I know some Lexus dealers will try to install these for $500 on models that came w/out the factory park assist system . . .

 

The Parking Assist is one of my most valued features and stays on all the time. I have short garage and the PA allows me to park perfectly in the short space, within an inch or two, every time. There is no way I could do this without the PA.

The PA also prevents me from hitting high curbs and parking stops in parking lots.

 

a well priced and needed option.
Granted the camera helps you in the rear, but the front parking sensors are wonderful when parking in those tight sensors.

Only with they had a front camera as well.

front camera as well as back camera with both fron and rear sensors is ideal.

 

hehe, by then, people want side cameras as well (not like we don't have cars with that feature yet)

 

I leave it on all the time. Great accessory!! One day on the freeway the thing went off and it turned out a motorcycle was very close to me in my blind spot.

 

Theoratically you shouldn’t be looking at ur backup camera while you backing up. It makes backup camera literally useless when backing up. In this case, parking assist can helping you park and check surrounding by audio warning. Well, you get my point? If you really following the law, parking assist is more useful than camera.
The purpose of camera is let you know what’s exactly at your back, and parking assist is giving you an idea what’s around you. I believe anyone can park just fine with either system, or even without system. However, I still think it’s a nice combination.

So, I vote parking assist is worth the money