GS450h. Why?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
good find. I guess the copper was just being nice to my friend in CA when e said "go ahead".
Here in CO, it's not based how many mpg you get in the car, it's based on if the hybrid gets over 20% more mpg than it's equivalent non hybrid in mpg.
That's why the GS450h passed here in CO, which is WONDERFUL on those morning and afternoon rush hour drives. I zip right by, when I venture into the city, leaving during those hours, with ease.
Another wonderful reason to live under the blue sky and mountain views of CO.
Here in CO, it's not based how many mpg you get in the car, it's based on if the hybrid gets over 20% more mpg than it's equivalent non hybrid in mpg.
That's why the GS450h passed here in CO, which is WONDERFUL on those morning and afternoon rush hour drives. I zip right by, when I venture into the city, leaving during those hours, with ease.
Another wonderful reason to live under the blue sky and mountain views of CO.
believe me, i did (very hard). the only car i threw out right off the bet was the gs430. it's a joke. our gs350 is going to be the car for holding stuff (if we have kids) so that's the ONLY reason why we couldn't get the 450h due to its stupid trunk.
otherwise? it's very likely we would have gotten the 450h.
otherwise? it's very likely we would have gotten the 450h.
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 30,277
Likes: 354
From: Canada
believe me, i did (very hard). the only car i threw out right off the bet was the gs430. it's a joke. our gs350 is going to be the car for holding stuff (if we have kids) so that's the ONLY reason why we couldn't get the 450h due to its stupid trunk.
otherwise? it's very likely we would have gotten the 450h.
otherwise? it's very likely we would have gotten the 450h.
The capacity & shape of the GS300/350 trunk is not that great either from what I remember, but still significantly better than the 450h I suppose ......
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,298
Likes: 4
From: CA
believe me, i did (very hard). the only car i threw out right off the bet was the gs430. it's a joke. our gs350 is going to be the car for holding stuff (if we have kids) so that's the ONLY reason why we couldn't get the 450h due to its stupid trunk.
otherwise? it's very likely we would have gotten the 450h.
otherwise? it's very likely we would have gotten the 450h.
lol while we are at it, why not camry or corolla or even prius j/k
yup, the 450h trunk is so retarded, no "good" stroller can fit in at all. not to mention if we have kids and there are other stuff as well.
lol, i wish. but it's my daily driver to work every single day. it racks up mileage just like everyone else. just that during weekends we drive the gs most of the time
seriously, if the timing was better and the gs460 came out earlier (no way i pay msrp for the car), i might have considered the gs460 instead. after owning the gs350 for couple of months now, the gas mileage is good but i don't feel it's dramatic over the ls460 (surprise). maybe it's my driving habits. but if gas mileage is really about the same, i would prefer the 460
j/klol, i wish. but it's my daily driver to work every single day. it racks up mileage just like everyone else. just that during weekends we drive the gs most of the time
seriously, if the timing was better and the gs460 came out earlier (no way i pay msrp for the car), i might have considered the gs460 instead. after owning the gs350 for couple of months now, the gas mileage is good but i don't feel it's dramatic over the ls460 (surprise). maybe it's my driving habits. but if gas mileage is really about the same, i would prefer the 460
Pit Crew
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 145
Likes: 3
From: nj
Thanks guys for the great answers. I get 26mpg in my 460 on the highway and the gas savings difference in a 450h would not be a swinger for me, nor would the performance difference (5.2 vs 5.4). I guess I'm just not yet totally comfortable with hybrid technology -- complexity, future reliability, batteries, etc.
In hindsight, I should have given the 450h more attention before making my decision. I was so hybrid-phobic that I never even looked at the specs or asked to look at one at the dealer.
In hindsight, I should have given the 450h more attention before making my decision. I was so hybrid-phobic that I never even looked at the specs or asked to look at one at the dealer.
Lead Lap
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 601
Likes: 1
From: brooklyn
i really wanted to get the gs430, but i ended up getting the 350. i wanted to get the 450h as well before all but i heard putting a sound system in a hybird car might cause alot of electric problems, so to be on the safe side i went with the 350
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20,237
Likes: 274
believe me, i did (very hard). the only car i threw out right off the bet was the gs430. it's a joke. our gs350 is going to be the car for holding stuff (if we have kids) so that's the ONLY reason why we couldn't get the 450h due to its stupid trunk.
otherwise? it's very likely we would have gotten the 450h.
otherwise? it's very likely we would have gotten the 450h.
And yes, I would like to get >14 MPG. Stupid European cities.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 0
From: GA
I am with SPWORLF, It is about saving the environment for another day. Yeah, it is nice to save a few bucks, but not at the cost of tommorow. I would have definitely gotten a GS 450h if it was AWD. The price would not have been a factor.
Yeah gas savings brings the price down some, but with the uncertainty of long term usage of the hybrid battery and having to keep it 5 years to realize the change, resale and gas savings are mute points.
I honestly was two steps from the RX, but too feminine for me and I would like more prestige than a Toyota Highlander. However, the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid is on the list as a strong possible for 2010.
Are there any other 350 AWD owners that would have gotten a GS 450h awd?
Yeah gas savings brings the price down some, but with the uncertainty of long term usage of the hybrid battery and having to keep it 5 years to realize the change, resale and gas savings are mute points.
I honestly was two steps from the RX, but too feminine for me and I would like more prestige than a Toyota Highlander. However, the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid is on the list as a strong possible for 2010.
Are there any other 350 AWD owners that would have gotten a GS 450h awd?
I have driven a GS 450h, GS 350 and GS 430 all for an extended period of time and quite honestly...I see no reason to buy the 450h unless you like the unique hybrid powertrain.
GS 350 returns 33MPG on the highway and I averaged 28mpg in combined driving, not to mention it rips from 0-60 in about the same time as the 450h.
The GS 450h I drove was a pretty flat 26MPH on the highway or city, never really varied. Torque is great, but the batteries have to be fully charged.
IMO with all things considered the best GS is the 350.
GS 350 returns 33MPG on the highway and I averaged 28mpg in combined driving, not to mention it rips from 0-60 in about the same time as the 450h.
The GS 450h I drove was a pretty flat 26MPH on the highway or city, never really varied. Torque is great, but the batteries have to be fully charged.
IMO with all things considered the best GS is the 350.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I don't know where people are getting the ideas about gas saving on 450h.
350 RWD, 19 city, 27 hwy
450h, 22 city, 25 hwy according to specs on lexus.com. Is real word mileage much different than this?
Driving 15000 miles per year all city, at $3.50/gallon, you would save about $378 per year. Image how many years you have to drive to recorver the added cost of hybrids. And by the time you recover that cost, it's time to replace the battery$$$. I am a fan of hybrids but 450h is built it for performance and being green at the same time but it's not built to save gas. It is no Prius.
350 does 60 in 5.7 seconds. 450h does it in 5.2 second. that's the reason you buy the 450h.
And it's cool and exclusive. But the trunk space was a deal breaker for me as I have to carry a stroller.
350 RWD, 19 city, 27 hwy
450h, 22 city, 25 hwy according to specs on lexus.com. Is real word mileage much different than this?
Driving 15000 miles per year all city, at $3.50/gallon, you would save about $378 per year. Image how many years you have to drive to recorver the added cost of hybrids. And by the time you recover that cost, it's time to replace the battery$$$. I am a fan of hybrids but 450h is built it for performance and being green at the same time but it's not built to save gas. It is no Prius.
350 does 60 in 5.7 seconds. 450h does it in 5.2 second. that's the reason you buy the 450h.
And it's cool and exclusive. But the trunk space was a deal breaker for me as I have to carry a stroller.