I just don't like the way a CVT feels. I don't like the way they make the engine sound, I don't like the throttle feel or acceleration feel, I like the more precise feel of a normal geared transmission. I know exactly what I am talking about, we had a Prius hybrid with a CVT for 7 years. I haven't driven the GS450h but I have driven the ES300h, the RX450h and the CT200h and they all had the same characteristics of the CVT that I don't care for...so suffice it to say the GS450h will too. I had a Jeep Compass loaner when our Grand Cherokee was in the shop with a CVT and felt the same way about it.

You don't have to get so defensive, I just don't like the CVT and will not purchase another car with one. If you like it thats great.

 

And I have. Nuff said.

 

LOL, okay. I don't like CVTs, sorry.

 

Williakz, please exit this thread.

Absolutely no need to be so aggressively confrontational towards another members opinion.

 

Well you both are kind of wrong. GSh doesn't have CVT at all even if Lexus calls it CVT, instead it has planetary gearing which is something very different than your conventional CVT. Better term for Lexus hybrid transmission would be PCVT.

 

I understand that Toyota/Lexus' CVT is a planetary gear unit which is different from a conventional CVT as you would find in a Nissan or in the Jeep Compass I mentioned. My Prius also had a planetary gear unit, as did the ESh, RXh & CTh I've driven. I just don't like the way they drive.

 

I actually can't claim to have first hand experience. My experience in CVTs is limited to all the Nissan's I've driven as well as Prius'. I have driven the first LS600 hybrid and felt the transmission felt awkward. The car felt a lot slower than it should have and driving it almost back to back with the Maxima (by no means a GS, but still supposed to be a "driver's" car), it didn't feel like what a "car" should. That's just me.

But I do need to say that the technology has progressed a lot (that was four years ago) and I've never driven the GS450h. I have read a lot about it.. and everything I seem to read suggests that it's not quite a "performance" car the way Lexus is positioning it.

EDIT: Just read the planetary/CVT mentions and wanted to note that yes, I am bundling them together. What it comes down to is preference and I have yet to drive a CVT that impressed me.

 

I personally don't see a whole lot of feel difference between Toyota/Lexus' planetary gear CVTs and a traditional CVT as you find in Nissans.

 

I know that some of these videos are advertisements but I personally felt the second generation Lexus Hybrid Synergy drivetrain to be plenty sporty during my test-drive.

It was enough to convince me to get the GS hybrid over the conventional 3.5L V6 when it comes time to trade in my 2GS. I went into the test-drive of the GS hybrid as a formality as I already had my heart set on the GS350 F-Sport and I was in love with how the GS350 F-Sport handled and drove during my initial brush with the 4th Generation GS. Furthermore, common sense told me the heavier weight of the hybrid would tell against it during cornering and roadholding. On paper as well, the 0-60 of the GS450h appears too similar to the GS350 for any significant advantage.

Goes to tell you how misleading on-paper stats can be sometimes.

The GS450h F-Sport did not give up much to the GS350 F-Sport in negotiating tricky corners. (Maybe there will be a difference on the track but I doubt there is much difference during 99% of road driving.) But what blew me away was how effortlessly the GS450h overtook and got up to speed. The 0-60 may be almost the same but the power delivery is completely different.

 

Thats the low end torque of the hybrid motors, maximum torque is available at basically 1RPM.

 

I thought it was sporty too. The thing I noticed right away was the acceleration from a dead stop. I did notice the switching from electric to gas. I probably would have gotten the hybrid but the cost was far out greater then the benefits. To bad this new 300h doesn't look like its coming to the States. It seems on paper that the it is a great balance between sport and MPG.

 

double post

 

The ES300h is 1 second slower than the ES350 0-60.Just under 2 seconds slower in the 1/4 mile.The GS difference with a 2.5L will be greater.
Still would be a nice addition to the GS line up.

 

I seriously don't get the hate the CVT gets.
I think its what we always wanted in luxury cars. Seamless shifts. Now we got them and its not sporty enough. CVT is progress. Lets embrace it.
I for one love it. $0.02

 

Its not hate, I just don't like how they feel. Its not the feeling of the shifts, its the high engine speeds when driving at highway speeds or driving aggressively, the constant engine drone vs the variable pitch and tone as the drivetrain moves into different gears. I don't like how the acceleration feels while at speed when passing either.

I personally don't think a CVT is progress, its just different. Thats why we have options...