Yesterday evening was the 'New Model' preview day at my dealer for the HS250h, ISC Convertable, and the 450h. There was a good layout of food, wine, beer, & sodas.

What was funny was all of the RX450h models he's received rolled in and out like mine, pretty much with in a day or two of hitting the lot. It's good to know they're still coming in sold for the most part. On the showroom they had a GS450h '09 model instead of the RX 450h. The HS250h must have been a district car, it had a California tag and wasn't for sale. But to counter what a lot of folk have said that Lexus will have a hard time selling over the Prius, baloney!!! We're just a one car family now but if I needed two, that car would be high on the list. I'd say it's about the size of a Ford Taurus but screwed together and looking like a Lexus in every way.

They didn't have one to drive but they did power up the new fancy dancy INFORM system or what ever it's called. After the 1st year there is a fee but it's pretty neat. One of the customers called in on it and asked for directions to a Restaurant a few hundred miles away in FL. W/I a few seconds it seemed, the Nav system was programed to it. All the while communication was with a live person that spoke in very clear English (you won't get someone from India).

What I didn't like was they had a rep from the new Lexus 'communication' division to talk about it. When she found out I got the 1st 450h in Atlanta, she made a stupid comment like "I bet you wished you waited now, huh?" I said something about it to the GM and they discussed with her what she was to say and what 'not' to say.

But all in all it was fun. When very nicely asked by the GM and my salesman, I showed off the inside of our car and the features to a few folks. Having been in the business before, I know what it's like to throw a show and tell party and not have the 'show'

In the approx 90 minutes we were there, my salesman had two customers that placed orders (one for the convertible and one for the new HS 250h). I know a lot of other salesman were taking orders too.

There was no Recession/Depression at Nalley Lexus of Roswell last night

 

thx for sharing! i went to a similar function back in july. food, wine, classical music. obsidian and aurora white RX450h on display.

what's important is that we got what we wanted and we're happy with our decisions.

 

Although I do complain some issues on my RX10, I'm glad to have this car in a garage. It's really one of the best cars I have so far.

 

When I picked up my 450h this morning the salesman was going to the HS250 training and showed me the car. Not sure on the mileage, but it was very slick!

 

Thx for your impressions. I also attended a HS 250h preview event here in SoCal, they had an RX 450h on the floor there too. IMO the HS will sell fairly well; the RXh already has a successful 1st generation and now the 2nd is much improved, with a loyal customer base. Seems like that Lexus rep was a bit overzealous, the HS is filled with tech but the RXh is a class above in size, power, style, utility etc. It is the vehicle I think of first when I hear "Lexus hybrid."

 

Cruiter, one thing that dissapointed me....the 250h came out just a couple of months after the 450h, but it seems to be a much "greener" car. I got that impression after reading the brochure online.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by 'greener' unless it's that the 250h was designed from the ground up as a Hybrid. Other than that, it's a car with a 4cyl instead of 6 and has the same type atkinson cycle engine.

 

Lexus used a lot of recycled material inside.

 

Well, read through the brochure. Things like 30% plant plastics, fully recyclable materials, and supposedly a more advanced hybrid drive.

 

I saw the HS250h at my dealer this morning. I had passed on the preview drive a month or so ago. It's bigger than I thought it would be. But I'll stick with the 450h.

 

From what I understand, a LOT of the plastics and fillers on the 450h also come from recycled materials. This is a point not advertised well enough (in my opinion) for the 450h. Apparently the sales staff (at least in my area) aren't fully aware of the green materials in the 450h, however at the NYC auto show they were making a bit deal out of the green materials used in building the 450h. Don't feel too badly, you've got a great vehicle that's far greener than most on the road. So smile a green grin!