Anyone see / drive / own a base HS with sport package? My dealer gave me some BS about Lexus only shipping Premium models so far. So I ended up with one, but the 18" wheels don't seem to match the suspension, which the service manager claimed was *not* the sport springs/shocks/bars. The car doesn't handle all that well in corners, but these low profile tires make for a jiggly ride even on relatively smooth highways. Kind of the worst of both worlds.

And what's up with putting W rated tires on a car limited to 112 mph?

 

Yeah the HS250h w/sport package is a BASE model. Depending on the region you are in, the most popular combos are BASE w/Nav, BASE w/no-nav and Premium w/Nav. I find the HS to handle well in corners both base model, base/sport and Premium. It does pretty well in slalom tests considering the weight disadvantage:

HS250h Premium - Edmunds Inside Line:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYlF6GhnLQc

As for the W rated Toyos, that was the Chief Engineer's choice of wheel to help maintain good handling characteristics for the HS.


A way to tell if your car is a true HS250h Base w/Sport (aka Touring) is if it has the following on this list below:













Regular 18" below for comparison:

 

OK, thanks - must be a regional thing then. The two dealerships closest to me had nothing but Premiums on the lot (mix of Nav and no Nav), and claimed that's all they've ever gotten so far.

 

We have a red one with the touring package. I like the ride, I don't find it harsh or busy.