I am thinking about going from my 2007 LS 460 (which I love) to a 2009 GS hybrid. The following are my expectations:

About the same standing stop acceleration
A bit rougher, less comfortable ride (even w/o run flats)
A couple of more miles per gallon (I get 21.9 on the LS460)
The fun of the CVT
The fun of going hybrid
A few more options than I have now because of special ordering (I can wait)
Much smaller trunk

I just bought a 2008 RX 400h for my wife and we both like it very much. So I am jealously figuring out how to go hybrid without sacrificing power. I am worried about the less comfortable drive. I have not yet driven the GS hybrid.

Please comment on my expectations and tell me about other surprises I have not anticipated.

Thanks in advance.

 

i think u meant LS460 not GS

also, i wouldnt do this trade, but that's just me, why downgrade?

 

Yes, sorry. 2007 LS 460 to 2009 GS 450h. I edit-corrected the original. Thanks.

Another change I added: much smaller trunk.

 

If you're worried about the less comfortable drive, I would stick with the LS.

There's not a ES hybrid that I'm aware of, unless you meant GS.

 

Yes, I meant GS. Edit-corrected. Thanks. My typing was always bad, and now my proofreading is going... LOL

 

i'm sorry...is LX400H out already? I sure did not know about that. ^^

 

LOL.. this guy is totally confused with his lexus models

 

i had ls460l, i have gs350, and i have driven 450h a few times. this is what i think if you go from ls460 to gs450h

1) much stiffer ride, it's quite noticeable
2) quite a bit less space in the gs (head/shoulder)
3) more road noise
4) absence of trunk pretty much
5) cvt smoother than 8 speed
6) accel sound is quieter
7) more road feel, steering feel
8) better handling
9) far less rear passenger space
10) smaller nav screen
11) not as cool gauge cluster
12) easier and more nimble to drive
13) not as good audio (assume you have ML with your ls460)
14) cheaper oil change

 

I wouldnt do it. If you are concern about ride quality, stick with the LS. Maybe save up for a LS hybrid

 

I WOULD buy a LS hybrid, but: 1) I very rarely have back seat passengers, so I don't need the extra length and emphasis on back luxury, 2) it cost a lot more, 3) the trunk is very small, 4) the power-performance is no better than my LS 460. With all these disadvantages, it doesn't make sense to me to purchase the LS hybrid. If they had a SWB LS hybrid I would snap it up in a heartbeat.

 

Agree with the others, I wouldn't downgrade from a 4LS to a GS450h (period). If you follow Consumer Reports, they loathe the GS450h while the LS460 is their highest scoring car ever. The LS is Lexus' flagship and deservedly so. If you want the GS only because it's a hybrid, why not wait a few years and pick up a nice LS600h CPO when they start coming off lease . . .

 

if trunk space is of your concern, then the 450h shouldn't be on your list right? the 600hl has larger trunk already

 

Keep the LS460.

 

Sounds like you're in the same boat as my dad. He loves driving on electric in the RXh and would like his own hybrid, however he doesn't need the speed capabilities that the GS450h offers.

Here's an interesting article from R and T
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=3367

They've seen as high as 33 MPG hwy, pretty good for a vehicle that can hit 60 MPH in just over 5 seconds.

 

doesn't LS gets better HWY MPG than 450H?? I get almost 30 MPG.