New GS450h: No Compromises!
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 642
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
New GS450h: No Compromises!
Well, I never thought that I would fork over the extra money to join the "hybrid" bunch, but that changed today. Last week, I spotted a "dealer demo" 2007 GS450h in my local showroom. I had been interested in replacing my RX with a GS350, so I asked about this GS sitting in the showroom. It was the general manager's demo car, and it had under 6000 miles on it.
Fast forward one week, and I took it home at a price less than the new GS350 awd I was looking at in the first place. What a car!
Lexus has, bar none, the most advanced hybrid system on the planet in this car (and, I guess, the LS600h). Around town, this is an amazing car, unlike anything I have ever driven. IMO, the feel is superior to normal engine setups. Even without the additional gas savings/power maximization, the hybrid driving experience is worth it: No shifting, almost silent, ridiculous power, gadgetry beyond description.
If it wasn't for the info display showing where power is being routed, I would never notice the integration of the hybrid such as the engine turning on/off (it is a much more refined hybrid system than that in the RX400h I drove for a few days as a loaner). Unlike the RX-h, the brakes feel much more "real" too.
So what does all of this hybrid business really mean? POWER!
Floor the throttle, and after a brief hesitation (which only makes it feel more Warp-Speedish), the car rockets forward effortlessly with nearly as much grunt as my Z06! Whoo!
That's impressive!
This is one amazing machine! The only drawback to the hybrid is the limited trunk space, but every time I step on the gas (or visit the gas station), that becomes far less than an afterthought.
If anyone is in the market for the GS, I highly suggest checking out the "H." I am really impressed by this vehicle.
Fast forward one week, and I took it home at a price less than the new GS350 awd I was looking at in the first place. What a car!
Lexus has, bar none, the most advanced hybrid system on the planet in this car (and, I guess, the LS600h). Around town, this is an amazing car, unlike anything I have ever driven. IMO, the feel is superior to normal engine setups. Even without the additional gas savings/power maximization, the hybrid driving experience is worth it: No shifting, almost silent, ridiculous power, gadgetry beyond description.
If it wasn't for the info display showing where power is being routed, I would never notice the integration of the hybrid such as the engine turning on/off (it is a much more refined hybrid system than that in the RX400h I drove for a few days as a loaner). Unlike the RX-h, the brakes feel much more "real" too.
So what does all of this hybrid business really mean? POWER!
Floor the throttle, and after a brief hesitation (which only makes it feel more Warp-Speedish), the car rockets forward effortlessly with nearly as much grunt as my Z06! Whoo!
That's impressive!This is one amazing machine! The only drawback to the hybrid is the limited trunk space, but every time I step on the gas (or visit the gas station), that becomes far less than an afterthought.
If anyone is in the market for the GS, I highly suggest checking out the "H." I am really impressed by this vehicle.
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Well, I never thought that I would fork over the extra money to join the "hybrid" bunch, but that changed today. Last week, I spotted a "dealer demo" 2007 GS450h in my local showroom. I had been interested in replacing my RX with a GS350, so I asked about this GS sitting in the showroom. It was the general manager's demo car, and it had under 6000 miles on it.
Fast forward one week, and I took it home at a price less than the new GS350 awd I was looking at in the first place. What a car!
Lexus has, bar none, the most advanced hybrid system on the planet in this car (and, I guess, the LS600h). Around town, this is an amazing car, unlike anything I have ever driven. IMO, the feel is superior to normal engine setups. Even without the additional gas savings/power maximization, the hybrid driving experience is worth it: No shifting, almost silent, ridiculous power, gadgetry beyond description.
If it wasn't for the info display showing where power is being routed, I would never notice the integration of the hybrid such as the engine turning on/off (it is a much more refined hybrid system than that in the RX400h I drove for a few days as a loaner). Unlike the RX-h, the brakes feel much more "real" too.
So what does all of this hybrid business really mean? POWER!
Floor the throttle, and after a brief hesitation (which only makes it feel more Warp-Speedish), the car rockets forward effortlessly with nearly as much grunt as my Z06! Whoo! That's impressive!
This is one amazing machine! The only drawback to the hybrid is the limited trunk space, but every time I step on the gas (or visit the gas station), that becomes far less than an afterthought.
If anyone is in the market for the GS, I highly suggest checking out the "H." I am really impressed by this vehicle.
Fast forward one week, and I took it home at a price less than the new GS350 awd I was looking at in the first place. What a car!
Lexus has, bar none, the most advanced hybrid system on the planet in this car (and, I guess, the LS600h). Around town, this is an amazing car, unlike anything I have ever driven. IMO, the feel is superior to normal engine setups. Even without the additional gas savings/power maximization, the hybrid driving experience is worth it: No shifting, almost silent, ridiculous power, gadgetry beyond description.
If it wasn't for the info display showing where power is being routed, I would never notice the integration of the hybrid such as the engine turning on/off (it is a much more refined hybrid system than that in the RX400h I drove for a few days as a loaner). Unlike the RX-h, the brakes feel much more "real" too.
So what does all of this hybrid business really mean? POWER!
Floor the throttle, and after a brief hesitation (which only makes it feel more Warp-Speedish), the car rockets forward effortlessly with nearly as much grunt as my Z06! Whoo!
That's impressive!This is one amazing machine! The only drawback to the hybrid is the limited trunk space, but every time I step on the gas (or visit the gas station), that becomes far less than an afterthought.
If anyone is in the market for the GS, I highly suggest checking out the "H." I am really impressed by this vehicle.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
silent hybrids...?
Just a thought...
With all of the "almost silent" hybrids being built...will this make it more difficult for blind people to get around?
I think they use the sound of cars to decide when to cross a street...
With all of the "almost silent" hybrids being built...will this make it more difficult for blind people to get around?
I think they use the sound of cars to decide when to cross a street...
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Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 642
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Its Obsidian/Black. The beauty and the curse of having black.
As a result of the regenerative braking system engaging during braking, in the RX-h the brakes feel somewhat different than conventional disk brakes (because, of course, they are far from conventional: a magnetic energy generator is slowing the car down, not friction), though I can't describe that different feeling. It's something that took me a while to get used to when first driving the RX. It is not as noticible in the GS (even though it is still there).
Congrats on your purchase. I have noticed that there is very little sense of speed in the car, because I could be driving at any speed with the engine...off. That's a good thing and a bad thing. What color is yours? 
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 824
Likes: 0
From: VA
Congratulations on your car! I also got a fantastic deal on a demo GS450h a year ago, although mine had only 500 miles on it when I bought it. Got it for $53K, which was over $7,000 below MSRP. I've been very happy with the car except for the creaks and squeaks.
Keep in mind that as you get more attuned to this car, and as the car gets a bit older, you will notice the engine turning on and off a lot more. I'm not suggesting it will get annoying, but you will definitely notice it.
Enjoy your new toy!
Enjoy your new toy!
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