My "new" GS450h - purchased by an average guy
#16
Lexus Test Driver
Very, very nice!
Enjoy that bamboo!
Enjoy that bamboo!
Last edited by bclexus; 12-23-14 at 01:09 PM.
#17
Instructor
Thread Starter
Wow, beautiful pictures bclexus! Where did you come across them if you don't mind sharing?
I think while I was researching, I came across a video saying that each bamboo steering wheel is hand polished, glossed by hand, and then stitched by hand.
I'll post the videos that I have loved & "favorited" of the 4G GS350/GS450h tonight.
~ Im2bz2p345
I think while I was researching, I came across a video saying that each bamboo steering wheel is hand polished, glossed by hand, and then stitched by hand.
I'll post the videos that I have loved & "favorited" of the 4G GS350/GS450h tonight.
~ Im2bz2p345
Last edited by Im2bz2p345; 12-23-14 at 01:47 PM.
#18
Lexus Test Driver
Wow, beautiful pictures bclexus! Where did you come across them if you don't mind sharing?
I think while I was researching, I came across a video saying that each bamboo steering wheel is hand polished, glossed by hand, and then stitched by hand.
I'll post the videos that I have loved & "favorited" of the GS450h tonight.
~ Im2bz2p345
I think while I was researching, I came across a video saying that each bamboo steering wheel is hand polished, glossed by hand, and then stitched by hand.
I'll post the videos that I have loved & "favorited" of the GS450h tonight.
~ Im2bz2p345
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mrplesh (11-13-19)
#19
Instructor
Thread Starter
Thanks for the additional pictures bclexus! Those are amazing sir.
As promised, here are my favorited videos on the GS450h (some deal with the GS350 too). Enjoy everyone!!
As promised, here are my favorited videos on the GS450h (some deal with the GS350 too). Enjoy everyone!!
#20
Lexus Test Driver
That last one (Heartbeats) was really good!
#22
Instructor
Thread Starter
Amazing! Given that my car is fairly new with only 6K miles, it averages somewhere around 31-32 mpg with mixed driving (50% city, 50% highway). And that's not me driving like a grandma either - I like to have fun with it on occasion.
Lexus' official EPA numbers are 29 City/34 Highway for the GS450. Naturally, people have often get more on the higher end of the spectrum if they do a lot more highway driving.
Keep in mind the GS450h is about 200lbs heavier than the GS350. It has about 30 horsepower more than the GS350, but puts down a lot more torque due to the hybrid system.
I found it to be an amazing compromise of being a daily drive with great MPG numbers, while also having the power & handling for when I want things to get a little more exciting. Keep in mind, the car isn't something that I would want to track (I've owned/driven cars that are more specific for track use), but the GS450h/GS350 are amazing cars for the normal roads/highways that you'll spend 99% of your time on.
Hope this helps,
~ Im2bz2p345
Lexus' official EPA numbers are 29 City/34 Highway for the GS450. Naturally, people have often get more on the higher end of the spectrum if they do a lot more highway driving.
Keep in mind the GS450h is about 200lbs heavier than the GS350. It has about 30 horsepower more than the GS350, but puts down a lot more torque due to the hybrid system.
I found it to be an amazing compromise of being a daily drive with great MPG numbers, while also having the power & handling for when I want things to get a little more exciting. Keep in mind, the car isn't something that I would want to track (I've owned/driven cars that are more specific for track use), but the GS450h/GS350 are amazing cars for the normal roads/highways that you'll spend 99% of your time on.
Hope this helps,
~ Im2bz2p345
Last edited by Im2bz2p345; 01-25-15 at 12:24 PM.
#23
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: NC
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Amazing! Given that my car is fairly new with only 6K miles, it averages somewhere around 32-33 mpg with mixed driving (50% city, 50% highway). And that's not me driving like a grandma either - I like to have fun with it on occasion.
Lexus' official EPA numbers are 29 City/34 Highway for the GS450. Naturally, people have often get more on the higher end of the spectrum if they do a lot more highway driving.
Keep in mind the GS450h is about 200lbs heavier than the GS350. It has about 30 horsepower more than the GS350, but puts down a lot more torque due to the hybrid system.
I found it to be an amazing compromise of being a daily drive with great MPG numbers, while also having the power & handling for when I want things to get a little more exciting. Keep in mind, the car isn't something that I would want to track (I've owned/driven cars that are more specific for track use), but the GS450h/GS350 are amazing cars for the normal roads/highways that you'll spend 99% of your time on.
Hope this helps,
~ Im2bz2p345
Lexus' official EPA numbers are 29 City/34 Highway for the GS450. Naturally, people have often get more on the higher end of the spectrum if they do a lot more highway driving.
Keep in mind the GS450h is about 200lbs heavier than the GS350. It has about 30 horsepower more than the GS350, but puts down a lot more torque due to the hybrid system.
I found it to be an amazing compromise of being a daily drive with great MPG numbers, while also having the power & handling for when I want things to get a little more exciting. Keep in mind, the car isn't something that I would want to track (I've owned/driven cars that are more specific for track use), but the GS450h/GS350 are amazing cars for the normal roads/highways that you'll spend 99% of your time on.
Hope this helps,
~ Im2bz2p345
#25
Lexus Test Driver
Yeah that standard Japanese quad projector arrangement is awesome. Really wish my GS F Sport came with it.
BTW, beautiful car. I sat in one of these first at the dealer and the bamboo is really striking. Reminds me of the bird's eye maple I had in my G35 (which was a fairly rare option too, real wood).
Like others have said, the Hybrid is rare as hen's teeth here in DFW. I think the price delta, when new, wasn't worth it for most people, and a world full of sluglike Prius have turned people off to the word. Little do they know what you know now, the GS450h is no slug.
BTW, beautiful car. I sat in one of these first at the dealer and the bamboo is really striking. Reminds me of the bird's eye maple I had in my G35 (which was a fairly rare option too, real wood).
Like others have said, the Hybrid is rare as hen's teeth here in DFW. I think the price delta, when new, wasn't worth it for most people, and a world full of sluglike Prius have turned people off to the word. Little do they know what you know now, the GS450h is no slug.
#26
Instructor
Thread Starter
Thank you for your appreciation of the headlights. That's one of my favorite parts of the car! They perform amazing and really gives the front end a lot of "character."
BTW, beautiful car. I sat in one of these first at the dealer and the bamboo is really striking. Reminds me of the bird's eye maple I had in my G35 (which was a fairly rare option too, real wood).
Like others have said, the Hybrid is rare as hen's teeth here in DFW. I think the price delta, when new, wasn't worth it for most people, and a world full of sluglike Prius have turned people off to the word. Little do they know what you know now, the GS450h is no slug.
Like others have said, the Hybrid is rare as hen's teeth here in DFW. I think the price delta, when new, wasn't worth it for most people, and a world full of sluglike Prius have turned people off to the word. Little do they know what you know now, the GS450h is no slug.
We need to seriously organize some type of Lexus meet in TX - I'm back & forth between SA and Austin. Would love to meet more owners (especially those that own the latest IS, RC, and GS generations). I would imagine there are a lot of us here in Texas.
~ Im2bz2p345
Last edited by Im2bz2p345; 01-07-15 at 10:50 PM.
#27
Lexus Test Driver
I still moderate the q50 forum once in awhile, mainly nuking spammers. Yep, jumped from that to this because my dealer screwed up the preorder and the sale. Think this car fits me just fine.
#28
Lexus Test Driver
That really is a lot of bamboo
I'm driving the GSh's slightly frumpier ES300h cousin and I also love what Lexus have done with these big hybrids. Mine has only 200hp but the midrange torque from the electric motor is astonishing. It must be mindblowing on the GSh when both gasoline and electric power are unleashed.
I've only seen one GS450h, it blasted away from a traffic light and disappeared fast. Beautiful cars.
I'm driving the GSh's slightly frumpier ES300h cousin and I also love what Lexus have done with these big hybrids. Mine has only 200hp but the midrange torque from the electric motor is astonishing. It must be mindblowing on the GSh when both gasoline and electric power are unleashed.
I've only seen one GS450h, it blasted away from a traffic light and disappeared fast. Beautiful cars.
#29
Instructor
Thread Starter
That really is a lot of bamboo
I'm driving the GSh's slightly frumpier ES300h cousin and I also love what Lexus have done with these big hybrids. Mine has only 200hp but the midrange torque from the electric motor is astonishing. It must be mindblowing on the GSh when both gasoline and electric power are unleashed.
I've only seen one GS450h, it blasted away from a traffic light and disappeared fast. Beautiful cars.
I'm driving the GSh's slightly frumpier ES300h cousin and I also love what Lexus have done with these big hybrids. Mine has only 200hp but the midrange torque from the electric motor is astonishing. It must be mindblowing on the GSh when both gasoline and electric power are unleashed.
I've only seen one GS450h, it blasted away from a traffic light and disappeared fast. Beautiful cars.
I actually test drove a 2014 ES300h (since my local dealers did not have any GS450h's in stock/on hand.. I believe you have to special order them now). The ES300h is an excellent car for what's it is designed to do/purpose it was built. The car has decent power in Sport mode & I can compare it to a higher end version of the Toyota Camry Hybrid (which my parents own). It delivers excellent MPG at 38+ mpg, is smooth, comfortable, etc. Being that it's a 4 cylinder and FWD, it's a great daily drive vehicle that I would consider for my girlfriend/wife/etc (someone who could care less for additional power, greater handling, etc).
I was looking for something more on the "fun" and "sporty" side.. a performance oriented car that could delivery great MPG numbers while also being luxurious.. and that's exactly what the GS450h is. It has a powerful V6 + electric motors, RWD setup, luxurious GS interior, tons of features, etc.
I kid you not when I saw that there is only one other 4 door, luxury, efficient (mpg wise), performance oriented car that I would consider purchasing for long term ownership over the GS450h and that's the Tesla Model S P85+ or P85D, but those Tesla's run over double what I paid for my car! Maybe in the future
~ Im2bz2p345
Last edited by Im2bz2p345; 01-08-15 at 03:11 PM.