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LS500H My thoughts after test drive

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Old Mar 1, 2018 | 06:27 PM
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Default LS500H My thoughts after test drive

I have been waiting and waiting for this NEW LS and one just like I wanted came to the car show in town then My dealer got it and ask me to come check it out. I was disappointed with the ingress into the back seats for one is terrible not as easy to get in as it should be, I think you can get in the back of my 16 es300 easier. my shoes marked up the door and back of front seat getting in and your feet can't even go under the front seat( why should they have to? no room and when you recline the back seat it gets worst the seat bottom goes forward choking you legs) But my main complain was the powertrain , gone is the smooth power that my 2016 Es300h has with the cvt and instant torque , The Ls500h shifts 3 gears when you press the gas and the v6 has ugly noise and the instant torque is not there cause it goes to shifting the cvt, the power deliver is not as smooth as my ES300h, I hated it and stop wanting the LS because its a 4 speed cvt with a trans? the shifts were soft, honestly they should have just but the none cvt trans in it and make the engine noise quieter, I was really hoping for another CVT that does not shift I am not a fan of what they have done, I will wait for a next ES maybe
I am a real Lexus fan I have a 2016 ES300h my wife has a 2015 NX300h and I love them both because the power is so smooth an no shifting of gears.and was ready to upgrade to the new LS hybrid
The ls500 did have a great ride nice heads up display , air suspension and after you got it to speed it was great and when stop so quiet like I am used to it was just getting there I did like
the dealer offer me 1100.00 off a 107,000.00 car lol. I understand new models and all get full price but I did not want it. And on my car offered to give me half what I paid for my 2016 ES300h with ultra luxury package and in excellent condition 35k miles. urrrggg
any how This caused me to look at a 2018 BMW 750ix it was a twin turbo v8 (there going let my try a 740E hybrid next) and the room in the back seats is really much better there is a foot of extra space and its easy to get in and has way more tech. it even has hand gestures you can twirl you finger in a circle to turn up and down the tunes and many more tech features even the speakers have led lights and the sun roof led light the key remote is led like a smart phone, go check the BMW 7 out for the similar price and 3 years maintenance free(Lexus will change you oil 2 times that it), I swore I never own another Mercedes or BMW but the BMW 7 series really has cool tech and ride and all even the front seat is easier to get in to the Lexus has a hi threshold in front . I am probably going stay with Lexus (why reliable and perfection)but not going bite on the Ls500h because of the hybrid trans,I do like the Lexus look better then BMW but the options you can get on the BMW are just crazy check it out, same kind of money
I might like the next gen ES Hybrid we will see and I my just may get a wild hair and get a loaded BMW 7 series about 112k its just a lot more car
I looked
by the way at the car show the s560 benz hand down had the most comfortable seats of all of them and the best dash board its all a led screen but a nice one loaded goes in the 120k's and

2016 ES300H
2015NX300H

Philip
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Old Mar 2, 2018 | 09:29 AM
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4 speed + CVT is the answer to a question no one has ever asked. I have no clue why they went to engineer such a complex piece instead of putting a bigger battery pack instead.
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Old Mar 2, 2018 | 10:19 AM
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The reason they did it was to try and attract people like me that hate CVTs. I hate the way basically all the Lexus hybrids drive because I hate the feel and drone of a CVT, ES300h, NX300h, RX450h, can't stand them.

Issue is, buyers like me just buy the gas car, we're always going to buy the gas car.

As for the 750, comparing a 750 to an LS500h makes no sense, you should compare it to the non hybrid LS. Pricing isn't similar either, optioned similarly to a $105,000 LS500 a 750 would be $125-$130k. You can buy a basic 750 for around $105k, but you're missing all the options the LS has at that price point.
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Old Mar 3, 2018 | 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
The reason they did it was to try and attract people like me that hate CVTs. I hate the way basically all the Lexus hybrids drive because I hate the feel and drone of a CVT, ES300h, NX300h, RX450h, can't stand them.

Issue is, buyers like me just buy the gas car, we're always going to buy the gas car.

As for the 750, comparing a 750 to an LS500h makes no sense, you should compare it to the non hybrid LS. Pricing isn't similar either, optioned similarly to a $105,000 LS500 a 750 would be $125-$130k. You can buy a basic 750 for around $105k, but you're missing all the options the LS has at that price point.
I think you are missing the options on these new BMW many more then the LS please check it out I did and I am a LEXUS fan you would be floored by it I was , 750 has active gestures you can spin your finger to turn up or down the sound very cool
please test drive one and go back with your thought
why would they want to make the new LS500 like the gas version?if that’s the case just buy the gas version.
I understand you don’t like hybrids but many do and like the smooth power delivery instant torque and quiet and told myself I never want to got back to shifting gears
I feel they should have but more electric in it and just made it better not make a CVT that shifts gears
by the way the 740e has a 4 cly twin turbo so the do have direct completion between the LS500h and the BMW 740e iperformance
I think I wait for the next gen ES maybe I will that that I love me ES300h 2016 just love it

2016 ES300h
2015 NX300h

Last edited by pgiinc; Mar 3, 2018 at 10:44 AM.
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Old Mar 3, 2018 | 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
The reason they did it was to try and attract people like me that hate CVTs. I hate the way basically all the Lexus hybrids drive because I hate the feel and drone of a CVT, ES300h, NX300h, RX450h, can't stand them.

Issue is, buyers like me just buy the gas car, we're always going to buy the gas car.

As for the 750, comparing a 750 to an LS500h makes no sense, you should compare it to the non hybrid LS. Pricing isn't similar either, optioned similarly to a $105,000 LS500 a 750 would be $125-$130k. You can buy a basic 750 for around $105k, but you're missing all the options the LS has at that price point.
Most of worldwide markets wont even get a LS500 as an option, or maybe they will get it but it will sell only few samples, since taxes are so high on regular gas cars and price of fuel is much higher than in the US.

For instance, Lexus sales in EU are 98% hybrid.
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Old Mar 3, 2018 | 06:03 PM
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Originally Posted by pgiinc
I think you are missing the options on these new BMW many more then the LS please check it out I did and I am a LEXUS fan you would be floored by it I was , 750 has active gestures you can spin your finger to turn up or down the sound very cool
please test drive one and go back with your thought
why would they want to make the new LS500 like the gas version?if that’s the case just buy the gas version.
I understand you don’t like hybrids but many do and like the smooth power delivery instant torque and quiet and told myself I never want to got back to shifting gears
I feel they should have but more electric in it and just made it better not make a CVT that shifts gears
by the way the 740e has a 4 cly twin turbo so the do have direct completion between the LS500h and the BMW 740e iperformance
I think I wait for the next gen ES maybe I will that that I love me ES300h 2016 just love it

2016 ES300h
2015 NX300h
I know the pricing of all of these cars backwards and forwards because I just shopped them all and bought a new LS460L last month. Yes the 7 series has more available options and features than the LS500, but that doesn't change the fact that when you option them similarly the 7 series is $20k+ more. I don't need to check the 7 series out, I've probably driven 6 of them, 740s and 750s.
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Old Mar 3, 2018 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
The reason they did it was to try and attract people like me that hate CVTs. I hate the way basically all the Lexus hybrids drive because I hate the feel and drone of a CVT, ES300h, NX300h, RX450h, can't stand them.

Issue is, buyers like me just buy the gas car, we're always going to buy the gas car.

As for the 750, comparing a 750 to an LS500h makes no sense, you should compare it to the non hybrid LS. Pricing isn't similar either, optioned similarly to a $105,000 LS500 a 750 would be $125-$130k. You can buy a basic 750 for around $105k, but you're missing all the options the LS has at that price point.
I drive a Lexus a hybrid too and was hoping for real advances from Lexus. In some parts of the world, like the UK where this Autocar review was written, the ttV6 is not offered.

Autocar quote:
The most obvious problem is the engine, which has to work far too hard to cart the immense weight of the LS from place to place. In the specification I drove, it weighed 2420kg, almost half a tonne more than the new Audi A8 when fitted with a similarly powerful V6 motor.

If this were a sonorous V12 or even a thundering V8, you might not mind too much, but it’s a coarse V6 that develops maximum torque at a sky-high 5100rpm, and not even ten gear ratios (four real, six virtual) can disguise the fact. On a steady motorway incline, it would at times have to rev to over 4000rpm to maintain progress, and it’s not shy about voicing its displeasure. It’s a shame to say it but, when all the mainstream alternatives have quiet turbo engines offering massive thrust from barely more than idling speed whether they be powered by petrol or diesel, this normally aspirated V6 is nothing less than inadequate for a car whose prices only start at £72,595 and extend all the way up to £97,995.

Disappointed. If this is the flagship hybrid, then what is there to look forward to in the upcoming hybrids from the rest of the Lexus range?

Last edited by webra; Mar 3, 2018 at 07:22 PM.
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Old Mar 8, 2018 | 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by pgiinc
I have been waiting and waiting for this NEW LS and one just like I wanted came to the car show in town then My dealer got it and ask me to come check it out. I was disappointed with the ingress into the back seats for one is terrible not as easy to get in as it should be, I think you can get in the back of my 16 es300 easier. my shoes marked up the door and back of front seat getting in and your feet can't even go under the front seat( why should they have to? no room and when you recline the back seat it gets worst the seat bottom goes forward choking you legs) But my main complain was the powertrain , gone is the smooth power that my 2016 Es300h has with the cvt and instant torque , The Ls500h shifts 3 gears when you press the gas and the v6 has ugly noise and the instant torque is not there cause it goes to shifting the cvt, the power deliver is not as smooth as my ES300h, I hated it and stop wanting the LS because its a 4 speed cvt with a trans? the shifts were soft, honestly they should have just but the none cvt trans in it and make the engine noise quieter, I was really hoping for another CVT that does not shift I am not a fan of what they have done, I will wait for a next ES maybe
I am a real Lexus fan I have a 2016 ES300h my wife has a 2015 NX300h and I love them both because the power is so smooth an no shifting of gears.and was ready to upgrade to the new LS hybrid
The ls500 did have a great ride nice heads up display , air suspension and after you got it to speed it was great and when stop so quiet like I am used to it was just getting there I did like
the dealer offer me 1100.00 off a 107,000.00 car lol. I understand new models and all get full price but I did not want it. And on my car offered to give me half what I paid for my 2016 ES300h with ultra luxury package and in excellent condition 35k miles. urrrggg
any how This caused me to look at a 2018 BMW 750ix it was a twin turbo v8 (there going let my try a 740E hybrid next) and the room in the back seats is really much better there is a foot of extra space and its easy to get in and has way more tech. it even has hand gestures you can twirl you finger in a circle to turn up and down the tunes and many more tech features even the speakers have led lights and the sun roof led light the key remote is led like a smart phone, go check the BMW 7 out for the similar price and 3 years maintenance free(Lexus will change you oil 2 times that it), I swore I never own another Mercedes or BMW but the BMW 7 series really has cool tech and ride and all even the front seat is easier to get in to the Lexus has a hi threshold in front . I am probably going stay with Lexus (why reliable and perfection)but not going bite on the Ls500h because of the hybrid trans,I do like the Lexus look better then BMW but the options you can get on the BMW are just crazy check it out, same kind of money
I might like the next gen ES Hybrid we will see and I my just may get a wild hair and get a loaded BMW 7 series about 112k its just a lot more car
I looked
by the way at the car show the s560 benz hand down had the most comfortable seats of all of them and the best dash board its all a led screen but a nice one loaded goes in the 120k's and

2016 ES300H
2015NX300H

Philip
Would you consider this generation GS450h? I moved from ES300h to GS450h Luxury Package and never looked back.

GS450h has the power of the LS and smoothness of this generation CVT. GS 450h Luxury Package is near LS pricing territory, you're basically getting a performance efficient hybrid, LS built quality that is better handling than the larger LS.
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Old Mar 8, 2018 | 07:45 PM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by myLexus007
Would you consider this generation GS450h? I moved from ES300h to GS450h Luxury Package and never looked back.

GS450h has the power of the LS and smoothness of this generation CVT. GS 450h Luxury Package is near LS pricing territory, you're basically getting a performance efficient hybrid, LS built quality that is better handling than the larger LS.
The only reason I didn't get a GS450h is because an adult can barely fit in the back seat and rear seat ingress egress is very bad to
I like to see the next gen ES plus I read the Avalon hybrid 2019 now has a trans that shifts Continuously-Variable Transmission’s six simulated gears , I hope its only a mode. but I am sure the next ES will copy the 2019 Toyota Hybrid System II,THS II uses two electric motors – MG1 and MG2 – to supplement the charging of the hybrid system’s Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack, while MG2 assists the engine.

2016 ES300h
2015 NX300h
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Old Mar 9, 2018 | 08:14 AM
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Just a question about the trunk space of the LS500H versus the non-H, is it greatly reduced?
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