jacksonlui

I'm looking at the GS350 versus the GS450H:

The hybrid is $7k more.
I commute 50 miles a day which is at least 13k a year. It'll take me roughly 7 yrs to break even at $4 a gallon. I usually chamge cars every 6-10yrs.

Isn't going to the hybrid a no brainer or am I missing something?

I'm not interested in the F-Sport since gas mileage is somewhat of a concern.

thanks
J

rominl

iTrader: (4)

you also have to factor in potential extra maintenance cost on hybrid (if any) and also resale. from my experience (at least when studying ls600hl when i was interested), luxury hybrid tends to depreciate a bit faster

jacksonlui

i'm not familiar with the extra maintenance of hybrid vehicles although depreciation might be a concern.
I guess savings $1k a year isn't really a good justification on getting a hybrid. Perhaps it may just be the coolness factor and the convenience of not having to fill up every few days. The extra trunk space is always helpful in the GS350. Not a clear choice atm, most likely leaning towards a GS350 luxury.

natnut

Consider the extra low end torque and the high end superiority of the hybrid

ie buy the hybrid for the extra performance. The better fuel economy is just a bonus.

Splashman

I have the 450h and my wife has 350 AWD Luxury. She was not comfortable with the 450h's lack of AWD or she would have liked one too. She averages around 20 mpg while I'm averaging 31+ mpg over 3000 miles. I have spent plenty of wheel time in both vehicles. I love my 450h. It feels a little more powerful while giving me great gas mileage.

dseag2

The bamboo interior trim is not my thing, although many people on here don't care for the aluminum trim in my F-Sport, so to each his own. Aside from that, I see no reason not to go for a GS450H.

jtrue28

+1 on the awful bamboo.

Splashman

Some like the bamboo...some don't. I have the black interior in my 450h and the bamboo adds a nice contrast.

spwolf

there is less maintainance on a hybrid, not more... significantly less.

as to the resale, it should lose less value not more... you were comparing $120k car to $70k with LS.

mehran888

IMO if you're not interested in F-Sport, the trunk doesn't bother you and you see the payback, get the GS450.

You get better performance as well, and as someone above mentioned, it may be less costly to maintain (he said it is, but I'm not going 100% on hearsay until I own a hybrid). But listening to the shop down the street from me (family owned garage), they service a lot of hybrids, and the servicing is easier. Less wear on general components, specifically the breaks, and he says the same about fluids. They don't do the battery maintenance (the Prii? they work on go to Toyota for any battery related maintenance).

aypues

One of the main advantages of the hydrid model is its supreme SILENCE...no engine noise at low speeds because it's off!

natnut

One thing I'm truly thankful for is that I can get both F-Sport and hybrid. Yep the GS450h F-Sport is available in my country.

Chris8152

We don’t get a lot of choice here in the UK, its either the GS 450h or the 250 petrol, but we do get the f sport.
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gkcmilner

Actually, a comparably equipped GS 450h is about $10k more than a GS 350 (I had priced Luxury packaged cars when I bought mine). Since it doesn't provide any noticeable performance advantage (like the previous GS 450h did) it's going to be more about fuel economy and being "green". Oh, and that it drives amazing! To me the GS 450h is the most successful interpretation of how a hybrid luxury car should drive. I just wish Lexus didn't put such a ridiculous price premium on it.

natnut

I have to respectfully disagree. The GS350 may match the GS450h 0-60mph on paper but there are 2 points to note :

1) It doesn't in real life :


2) The GS450h annihilates the GS350/ BMW 335i and all other comparable 6 cylinder sedans when accelerating from speeds >60mph . The hybrid engine truly shines at the top end :