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As you may know, Europe has a Pedestrian Protection Standard that is to keep a soft
body from impacting a hard object such as an engine. Many cars simply have enough
clearance between the comparatively soft hood and the engine and radiator but the new
LC500 and LS500 have a nice swoopy low hood line. Solution? How about four (4)
pyrotechnic charges in the hinges and just pop the hood up to cre
ate the space?
Here are a couple of shots of an LS that hit a goose, not a scratch on the car. The
owner said that it was not particularly loud and he drove it into service the way you
see it.
In early October, I hit a deer about a mile from my Ohio home, on my way to Florida for the winter. The hood popped up. Not knowing what to do, I took to Lexus Service and they told me to take it to the Lexus Collision Center. No one at either place had ever dealt with the Pop-up hood. It took about a month to get it fixed and Cost about $11,500 to replace the pop-up cylinders ($1800 ea), the hood ($1100) damaged when they popped up, and the pedestrian safety system computer ($800) - plus labor. Additionally, I had to drive another car to Florida and it cost $1800 to ship the LS and return the RX350. If it wasn't for the hood popping, I would have driven the LS to Florida. What an expensive safety feature for which I still don't fully understand the value. I have Leased a 2007, 2010, 2013, 2015 LS460 and 2018 &2019 LS500.
I love the car and it's performance, appearance, etc. However, this feature and related inconvenience will weigh heavily on my decision, the next time I change cars.
In early October, I hit a deer about a mile from my Ohio home, on my way to Florida for the winter. The hood popped up. Not knowing what to do, I took to Lexus Service and they told me to take it to the Lexus Collision Center. No one at either place had ever dealt with the Pop-up hood. It took about a month to get it fixed and Cost about $11,500 to replace the pop-up cylinders ($1800 ea), the hood ($1100) damaged when they popped up, and the pedestrian safety system computer ($800) - plus labor. Additionally, I had to drive another car to Florida and it cost $1800 to ship the LS and return the RX350. If it wasn't for the hood popping, I would have driven the LS to Florida. What an expensive safety feature for which I still don't fully understand the value. I have Leased a 2007, 2010, 2013, 2015 LS460 and 2018 &2019 LS500.
I love the car and it's performance, appearance, etc. However, this feature and related inconvenience will weigh heavily on my decision, the next time I change cars.
Im sorry what $1,800 ea for just the hood prop ups and $800 for computer is crazy.
As you may know, Europe has a Pedestrian Protection Standard that is to keep a soft
body from impacting a hard object such as an engine. Many cars simply have enough
clearance between the comparatively soft hood and the engine and radiator but the new
LC500 and LS500 have a nice swoopy low hood line. Solution? How about four (4)
pyrotechnic charges in the hinges and just pop the hood up to cre
ate the space?
Here are a couple of shots of an LS that hit a goose, not a scratch on the car. The
owner said that it was not particularly loud and he drove it into service the way you
see it.
This seems like a pretty stupid feature although I can understand the thinking and intent behind it. But because it costs over $10,000 to fix, it's stupid because that is essentially the down payment for a starter home, or the cost of a new transmission which is a very complex piece of equipment. Is it possible for you to just pay them to pop the hood back and forgo putting in 4 pyro charges?
In early October, I hit a deer about a mile from my Ohio home, on my way to Florida for the winter. The hood popped up. Not knowing what to do, I took to Lexus Service and they told me to take it to the Lexus Collision Center. No one at either place had ever dealt with the Pop-up hood. It took about a month to get it fixed and Cost about $11,500 to replace the pop-up cylinders ($1800 ea), the hood ($1100) damaged when they popped up, and the pedestrian safety system computer ($800) - plus labor. Additionally, I had to drive another car to Florida and it cost $1800 to ship the LS and return the RX350. If it wasn't for the hood popping, I would have driven the LS to Florida. What an expensive safety feature for which I still don't fully understand the value. I have Leased a 2007, 2010, 2013, 2015 LS460 and 2018 &2019 LS500.
I love the car and it's performance, appearance, etc. However, this feature and related inconvenience will weigh heavily on my decision, the next time I change cars.
ouch. Pricey indeed. Did it also show up on the carfax as an accident?
Pedestrian Protection in action
