Who is considering buying an HS?
Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,891
Likes: 606
From: USA
That's kind of like saying, Why buy a car when I can buy a bike? Dare I say... Why buy an IS350 when I can buy a Corolla XRS or a used SC400?
Me personally, I'd rather drive a new Lexus with a fresh factory warranty and high tech features that a Corolla or an old SC430 doesn't have.
Last edited by flipside909; Jul 23, 2009 at 11:28 AM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 15
From: wisconsin
I wonder if Lexus may have rushed this car to market so they could "be the first" with a dedicated luxury hybrid.
Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,891
Likes: 606
From: USA
It's all preference and what your needs are.
Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,891
Likes: 606
From: USA
To the general public, I'm sure many will look on it as a re-badged Corolla. While I haven't seen or driven one, I have a hard time with the pricing relative to a loaded Prius, and the 35mpg for a car like this is quite disappointing. I was also disappointed to see Lexus use their first 4 cylinder here.
I wonder if Lexus may have rushed this car to market so they could "be the first" with a dedicated luxury hybrid.
I wonder if Lexus may have rushed this car to market so they could "be the first" with a dedicated luxury hybrid.
I think Lexus picked a good powertrain for the HS. The 4 cylinder is pretty torquey...it drives smoother and is much powerful than the 2010 Prius. It handles way better than the Prius hands down. Sure when people buy these cars, they're ultimately looking for fuel economy. It really boils down to preference and need and what package fits them best. People in the entry level luxury market are most likely not cross shopping a Prius, but i'm pretty sure they have the IS250 and comparable in mind.
The HS....tt's a Lexus, it only requires 87 octane and achieves 35MPG plus. What more can you ask for in the mid 30k range? Toyota wont offer you a loaner car or a longer warranty period with the Prius or with any of their vehicles for that matter. You get what you pay for.
Last edited by flipside909; Jul 23, 2009 at 02:42 PM.
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 374
Likes: 1
From: California
To the general public, I'm sure many will look on it as a re-badged Corolla. While I haven't seen or driven one, I have a hard time with the pricing relative to a loaded Prius, and the 35mpg for a car like this is quite disappointing. I was also disappointed to see Lexus use their first 4 cylinder here.
I wonder if Lexus may have rushed this car to market so they could "be the first" with a dedicated luxury hybrid.
I wonder if Lexus may have rushed this car to market so they could "be the first" with a dedicated luxury hybrid.
If you want ultimate MPG the Prius is the obvious choice but from a pure driving standpoint, let alone features, content, and technology the HS is the clear winner.
To me the Prius still feels like an appliance. It's an amazing piece of technology and a great car (esp. at the lower price point) but it honestly doesn't feel like a real car to me. From the odd center guages to the horrible driving position and poor sightlines, it's compromised. The HS feels like a "real" car with good sight lines, decent handling, and the technology (remote touch, HUD, Mark Levinson) is light years beyond the Prius but for the solar panel that Toyota/Lexus has decided not to include on the HS but is included with the Prius.
Lexus has very low expectations for sales of this vehicle and I think they're going to easily sell every one of them. Many people (like me) want a vehicle for around town driving that is safe, drives like a real car, and has the luxury features we've become accustomed to.
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I've driven both the new Prius and the HS and they're completely different vehicles.
If you want ultimate MPG the Prius is the obvious choice but from a pure driving standpoint, let alone features, content, and technology the HS is the clear winner.
To me the Prius still feels like an appliance. It's an amazing piece of technology and a great car (esp. at the lower price point) but it honestly doesn't feel like a real car to me. From the odd center guages to the horrible driving position and poor sightlines, it's compromised. The HS feels like a "real" car with good sight lines, decent handling, and the technology (remote touch, HUD, Mark Levinson) is light years beyond the Prius but for the solar panel that Toyota/Lexus has decided not to include on the HS but is included with the Prius.
Lexus has very low expectations for sales of this vehicle and I think they're going to easily sell every one of them. Many people (like me) want a vehicle for around town driving that is safe, drives like a real car, and has the luxury features we've become accustomed to.
If you want ultimate MPG the Prius is the obvious choice but from a pure driving standpoint, let alone features, content, and technology the HS is the clear winner.
To me the Prius still feels like an appliance. It's an amazing piece of technology and a great car (esp. at the lower price point) but it honestly doesn't feel like a real car to me. From the odd center guages to the horrible driving position and poor sightlines, it's compromised. The HS feels like a "real" car with good sight lines, decent handling, and the technology (remote touch, HUD, Mark Levinson) is light years beyond the Prius but for the solar panel that Toyota/Lexus has decided not to include on the HS but is included with the Prius.
Lexus has very low expectations for sales of this vehicle and I think they're going to easily sell every one of them. Many people (like me) want a vehicle for around town driving that is safe, drives like a real car, and has the luxury features we've become accustomed to.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: CA
I was planning to use the Cash For Clunkers program to trade-in my clunker ('92 ES300) for an HS250h. My name is on my dealer's list, but there's a problem. The response to the Cash For Clunkers program has been overwhelming. So overwhelming that funding for the program could be exhausted way before the HS250h cars become available.
I hate leaving money on the table (we're talking $4500 here) and feel I will be forced to go with my second options instead (Prius or Camry Hybrid or Ford Fusion Hybrid). I feel like I need to purchase a car that gets at least 28 mpg, both because of the inevitable rise in the price of gas, and wanting to reduce my own carbon footprint. It's too bad Lexus currently has only one vehicle that meets that criteria (the RX450h), and that one is too expensive to qualify for the Cash For Clunkers credit.
Sigh.
I hate leaving money on the table (we're talking $4500 here) and feel I will be forced to go with my second options instead (Prius or Camry Hybrid or Ford Fusion Hybrid). I feel like I need to purchase a car that gets at least 28 mpg, both because of the inevitable rise in the price of gas, and wanting to reduce my own carbon footprint. It's too bad Lexus currently has only one vehicle that meets that criteria (the RX450h), and that one is too expensive to qualify for the Cash For Clunkers credit.
Sigh.
I was planning to use the Cash For Clunkers program to trade-in my clunker ('92 ES300) for an HS250h. My name is on my dealer's list, but there's a problem. The response to the Cash For Clunkers program has been overwhelming. So overwhelming that funding for the program could be exhausted way before the HS250h cars become available.
I hate leaving money on the table (we're talking $4500 here) and feel I will be forced to go with my second options instead (Prius or Camry Hybrid or Ford Fusion Hybrid). I feel like I need to purchase a car that gets at least 28 mpg, both because of the inevitable rise in the price of gas, and wanting to reduce my own carbon footprint. It's too bad Lexus currently has only one vehicle that meets that criteria (the RX450h), and that one is too expensive to qualify for the Cash For Clunkers credit.
Sigh.
I hate leaving money on the table (we're talking $4500 here) and feel I will be forced to go with my second options instead (Prius or Camry Hybrid or Ford Fusion Hybrid). I feel like I need to purchase a car that gets at least 28 mpg, both because of the inevitable rise in the price of gas, and wanting to reduce my own carbon footprint. It's too bad Lexus currently has only one vehicle that meets that criteria (the RX450h), and that one is too expensive to qualify for the Cash For Clunkers credit.
Sigh.
I fail to see why anyone would want to buy this small POS.
It not only suggests, but SCREAMS 'Corolla' just looking at it.
"Yay! Lets go buy an overpriced dishwasher on wheels ... except this one has a Lexus badge on it, that has to count for something! "
It not only suggests, but SCREAMS 'Corolla' just looking at it.
"Yay! Lets go buy an overpriced dishwasher on wheels ... except this one has a Lexus badge on it, that has to count for something! "
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 975
Likes: 6
From: CA
I was planning to use the Cash For Clunkers program to trade-in my clunker ('92 ES300) for an HS250h. My name is on my dealer's list, but there's a problem. The response to the Cash For Clunkers program has been overwhelming. So overwhelming that funding for the program could be exhausted way before the HS250h cars become available.
I hate leaving money on the table (we're talking $4500 here) and feel I will be forced to go with my second options instead (Prius or Camry Hybrid or Ford Fusion Hybrid). I feel like I need to purchase a car that gets at least 28 mpg, both because of the inevitable rise in the price of gas, and wanting to reduce my own carbon footprint. It's too bad Lexus currently has only one vehicle that meets that criteria (the RX450h), and that one is too expensive to qualify for the Cash For Clunkers credit.
Sigh.
I hate leaving money on the table (we're talking $4500 here) and feel I will be forced to go with my second options instead (Prius or Camry Hybrid or Ford Fusion Hybrid). I feel like I need to purchase a car that gets at least 28 mpg, both because of the inevitable rise in the price of gas, and wanting to reduce my own carbon footprint. It's too bad Lexus currently has only one vehicle that meets that criteria (the RX450h), and that one is too expensive to qualify for the Cash For Clunkers credit.
Sigh.
Guest
Posts: n/a
CFC runs out Monday...Lexus missed a big opportunity here