GS 450 F-Sport owners
09-11-17, 07:18 AM
#17
Thanks for the replies! Gas here is cUS$5 a gallon but not a huge factor in the purchase decision (I don't drive that far with an urban commute)
I am more interested in the bells/whistles and the experience. What do I mean? CVT is usually a non-starter but I think the F-sport have active suspension/throttle mapping which makes it punchy (from reviews I've seen). I had a GS400 2nd gen for reference so that's where I am coming from on my Lexus experience.
Just looking for opinions - thanks for the help
I am more interested in the bells/whistles and the experience. What do I mean? CVT is usually a non-starter but I think the F-sport have active suspension/throttle mapping which makes it punchy (from reviews I've seen). I had a GS400 2nd gen for reference so that's where I am coming from on my Lexus experience.
Just looking for opinions - thanks for the help
09-11-17, 09:02 AM
#18
If anything, the 450h is more responsive than the current refreshed GS350. The electric motor will respond immediately giving you movement before the engine fully spins up so when you stomp it in traffic, you don't have to wait forever for the transmission to kick down.
As for the droning, it sounds like an engine in its proper power band rather than one merely trying to stay in its powerband to me.
The real weakness of the 450h is its weight and the loss of the fold-down seats.
As for the droning, it sounds like an engine in its proper power band rather than one merely trying to stay in its powerband to me.
The real weakness of the 450h is its weight and the loss of the fold-down seats.
09-11-17, 03:19 PM
#19
Having test driven the 2013 GS350 (F Sport & non F-Sport).. and then eventually buying & owning a 2013 GS450h for almost 3 years now.. here's my brief opinion...
If you're going to be tracking a 4GS or driving aggressive on the road ways, don't buy the GS450h.. it's not the car for you. Get the GS350 instead and modify it to suit you & your application.
If you're going to use it for casual driving, want to have some fun every now & then, and also care about gas efficiency.. get the GS450h.
I don't hear any drone out my GS hybrid unless I'm gunning the throttle/going WOT.. if I'm driving casually.. it's actually quieter than the GS350.
As ChronoR stated, with the hybrid, you're compromising on weight (~300 heavier), a little less cargo space (and no center pass through in the hybrid), and price (the hybrids sell at quite a premium). Eventually you will need to replace the hybrid battery (which comes into play past 100K miles), but considering what 3GS hybrids owners have stated... the cost should either be fully covered by Lexus or partially covered.
What do you get with the hybrid over the GS350? A quiter car, better gas efficiency, more power (torque), and for the 2013 & 2014 models.. if the car has the luxury package, you get things like bamboo interior (i.e. steering wheel), LED headlights/headlamps, etc.
Keep in mind that BOTH are excellent cars.. it just depends what you are looking for/value in a car and how long you plan to keep the car.
My two cents,
~ Im2bz2p345
If you're going to be tracking a 4GS or driving aggressive on the road ways, don't buy the GS450h.. it's not the car for you. Get the GS350 instead and modify it to suit you & your application.
If you're going to use it for casual driving, want to have some fun every now & then, and also care about gas efficiency.. get the GS450h.
I don't hear any drone out my GS hybrid unless I'm gunning the throttle/going WOT.. if I'm driving casually.. it's actually quieter than the GS350.
As ChronoR stated, with the hybrid, you're compromising on weight (~300 heavier), a little less cargo space (and no center pass through in the hybrid), and price (the hybrids sell at quite a premium). Eventually you will need to replace the hybrid battery (which comes into play past 100K miles), but considering what 3GS hybrids owners have stated... the cost should either be fully covered by Lexus or partially covered.
What do you get with the hybrid over the GS350? A quiter car, better gas efficiency, more power (torque), and for the 2013 & 2014 models.. if the car has the luxury package, you get things like bamboo interior (i.e. steering wheel), LED headlights/headlamps, etc.
Keep in mind that BOTH are excellent cars.. it just depends what you are looking for/value in a car and how long you plan to keep the car.
My two cents,
~ Im2bz2p345
Last edited by Im2bz2p345; 09-11-17 at 08:10 PM.
09-11-17, 04:00 PM
#20
Lexus Champion
09-12-17, 01:31 AM
#22
Driver School Candidate
Had a 3rd gen 450h for 5 years, ~6 months now with a 4th gen 2016 450h - same engine/trans combo in both and can hardly add something useful to what Im2bz2p345 and MustangSal already mentioned, but out of my personal and long experience the 450h is a fantastic Dr. jekyll and Mr. hyde type of car - allows you to drive a most relaxing, plush, smooth, quiet vehicle when you want and with a flick of a switch and a press on a pedal it completely changes to a fast-forward experience when you want it. True 'sports' car? track super star? not what the Lexus engineers had in mind as highest priority and I'm sure anyone who considers a track car would not see a GS (unlike, maybe, the GS F) as an obvious selection.
I got used to the CVT after a few days - what you see in the 5th Gear video is an extreme, a place the GS 450h is not aimed to be at all so irrelevant for 99% of the time I drive my car and probably most - if not all - other 450h drivers.
Battery worries? I don't have any because where I live you can extend the hybrid batt cover after warranty is over for $99/year and until the car is 10 years old, unlimited mileage - battery and labor are covered, so no chance for any nasty surprises. Don't also forget that running costs of a 450h would be lower than 350 (gasoline...) and if you keep the vehicle for a few years you will feel a difference even if your annual mileage is less than average.
Lexus wanted to give the 4th gen hybrid a bit of sporty character (see video below) compared to the previous model and from my own experience I can tell you they have transformed the chassis and overall road feedback but managed to keep the limo virtues, and made them much better.
I got used to the CVT after a few days - what you see in the 5th Gear video is an extreme, a place the GS 450h is not aimed to be at all so irrelevant for 99% of the time I drive my car and probably most - if not all - other 450h drivers.
Battery worries? I don't have any because where I live you can extend the hybrid batt cover after warranty is over for $99/year and until the car is 10 years old, unlimited mileage - battery and labor are covered, so no chance for any nasty surprises. Don't also forget that running costs of a 450h would be lower than 350 (gasoline...) and if you keep the vehicle for a few years you will feel a difference even if your annual mileage is less than average.
Lexus wanted to give the 4th gen hybrid a bit of sporty character (see video below) compared to the previous model and from my own experience I can tell you they have transformed the chassis and overall road feedback but managed to keep the limo virtues, and made them much better.
09-12-17, 04:05 AM
#23
Hahaha. Never seen that vid. And wait...I thought the 5th Gear guys couldn't get it to fishtail drift? Same drive train so maybe the chassis?
I pretty much agree on all points. Jeckyl and Hyde.
I pretty much agree on all points. Jeckyl and Hyde.
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