Got the car!
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 20
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From: OR
Got the car!
Last Saturday I picked up my new 450h ordered on July 27th. Pictures to follow soon.
Impressions
Exterior:
The black sapphire is striking. The color appears to change hue in different ambient light; almost black under florescent light or at night, cobalt blue to indigo in daylight/shade. The LED headlights not only look futuristic relative to incandescent, halogen or Bi-Xenon but provide greater visibility. All the other exterior lights are very bright. The doors extend closer to the ground than other SUVs.
Interior:
Who doesn’t like that new car smell? The parchment semi-aniline leather set against the charcoal dash and walnut trim looks and feels plush; plainly, what one would expect from Lexus. Engineers put a lot of thought into the lighting function, illuminating the areas that both driver and passengers use while entering, exiting and seated.
Driver functions/ electronics/mechanical:
Here we have a mixed bag, but much more good than not. Doors, windows, roof, glove box and visors open and close with a well constructed feel. Door storage compartments, rear seat folding mechanism and especially the spare tire compartment looks and feels cheap and functions poorly relative to the rest of the car. Lexus provides custom Styrofoam packing for the jack but no place to store a trailer hitch. The rear door closes electrically, but the other doors, unlike the LS, do not. The well crafted and placed buttons on the dash function flawlessly, but the shift lever obscures part of the dash. The steering wheel, like a Playstation controller has so many buttons and toggles that learning how to use them takes practice and patience. You must also practice to properly use the hill hold and EV mode (battery propulsion) utilities. Audio functions and sound quality from the Mark Levinson are superior. USB port and power outlets are below the center storage bin – poorly placed because the wires frustratingly fall back down below the bin. The Nav system while stationary works remarkably well, but voice commands while under way do not. Perhaps the road noise confuses the system. Over time I’m confident that it or I will improve. The backup and side view cameras are marvelous. The engine accelerates quite smoothly but is clearly made for efficiency not power. Other mechanical devices are first rate.
Noise/mileage/overall satisfaction
This is the quietest car I’ve ever driven. With 280 miles on the ODO I’m averaging 29.4 MPG in mixed hilly, flat and freeway driving, though I accelerate and break gently. To date, I am very satisfied. By the way, the MSPR was just under $60,000, my cost however was well under that, and few dealers were willing to meet my price.
Howard
Impressions
Exterior:
The black sapphire is striking. The color appears to change hue in different ambient light; almost black under florescent light or at night, cobalt blue to indigo in daylight/shade. The LED headlights not only look futuristic relative to incandescent, halogen or Bi-Xenon but provide greater visibility. All the other exterior lights are very bright. The doors extend closer to the ground than other SUVs.
Interior:
Who doesn’t like that new car smell? The parchment semi-aniline leather set against the charcoal dash and walnut trim looks and feels plush; plainly, what one would expect from Lexus. Engineers put a lot of thought into the lighting function, illuminating the areas that both driver and passengers use while entering, exiting and seated.
Driver functions/ electronics/mechanical:
Here we have a mixed bag, but much more good than not. Doors, windows, roof, glove box and visors open and close with a well constructed feel. Door storage compartments, rear seat folding mechanism and especially the spare tire compartment looks and feels cheap and functions poorly relative to the rest of the car. Lexus provides custom Styrofoam packing for the jack but no place to store a trailer hitch. The rear door closes electrically, but the other doors, unlike the LS, do not. The well crafted and placed buttons on the dash function flawlessly, but the shift lever obscures part of the dash. The steering wheel, like a Playstation controller has so many buttons and toggles that learning how to use them takes practice and patience. You must also practice to properly use the hill hold and EV mode (battery propulsion) utilities. Audio functions and sound quality from the Mark Levinson are superior. USB port and power outlets are below the center storage bin – poorly placed because the wires frustratingly fall back down below the bin. The Nav system while stationary works remarkably well, but voice commands while under way do not. Perhaps the road noise confuses the system. Over time I’m confident that it or I will improve. The backup and side view cameras are marvelous. The engine accelerates quite smoothly but is clearly made for efficiency not power. Other mechanical devices are first rate.
Noise/mileage/overall satisfaction
This is the quietest car I’ve ever driven. With 280 miles on the ODO I’m averaging 29.4 MPG in mixed hilly, flat and freeway driving, though I accelerate and break gently. To date, I am very satisfied. By the way, the MSPR was just under $60,000, my cost however was well under that, and few dealers were willing to meet my price.
Howard
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 177
From: NJ
Howard, congrats on your 450h. Make sure you post some pictures soon. With the black sapphire pearl you have a few colors in one. Pretty cool. Glad to hear your enjoying it. Best of luck.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,481
Likes: 198
From: San Francisco, CA
I really like that color! its a toss up between that and truffle mica for me. If was the price was just under 60K, looks like you got everything but the RSES! congrats on the fully loaded car.
p.s. Regarding the wires for the ipod/aux. Isnt there a little slot to slide open so that you can extend the wire into the cup holder and closing the storage lid without pinching the wires?
p.s. Regarding the wires for the ipod/aux. Isnt there a little slot to slide open so that you can extend the wire into the cup holder and closing the storage lid without pinching the wires?
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