lexus_stl

I am having a hard time deciding between the 450h and the (hopefully) soon to be released 460. I currently drive an e55 which i love but am having way too many issues with reliability. I am looking for something that is going to be fun to drive, RELIABLE and has a nice silky ride. As i understand it, the gs460 won't be out until spring 07 so i guess it boils down to if the performance and handling of the gs460 is worth waiting for over a gs450h.

BossGS4

iTrader: (2)

Why put a perfectly good 450 through a winter when a shiny new 460 is waiting for you next spring ?

Hameed

Welcome to ClubLexus!

I say wait for the 460 to come out. The 460 will have close to 400 HP and an 8-speed tranny and is well worth waiting for.

Handling wise, they will probably be the same - just make sure you get the active stabilizers option.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

The GS 460 will be packing 375-390HP (considerably more than the GS 450h), and will weigh hundreds of pounds lighter. And many of us are hoping for a sports package option, but who knows.

I would definitely, definitely wait. It will be less of a transition going from an E55 to a GS 460, performance wise .

Hameed

The engine puts out 380 HP in the new LS. I would suspect it will be higher for the GS as it usually is when it gets transplanted into the GS.

hsk73

Well... power of V8... with mileage of V6!!
Why wait!! Get the GS450h!!

The really question is... are we going to see GS600h??

Hameed

I don't think mileage is a priority for him. He has an E55 after all, plus he specifically asked about power and handling only.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

With my above post, I must also admit that the GS 450h is a blast to drive because all of the torque is available from 0RPM. Gun it from a stop or coming out of a curve, and the car feels like a plane touching ground. There is INSTANT and EXPLOSIVE power, but it will not be as powerful as the GS 460 top end, or in acceleration.

They're the same car, but at the same time, they're very different. I loved driving the GS 450h at the Taste of Lexus event though. The hybrid experience feels unlike anything else.

lexus_stl

my initial though was to wait for the GS460 but after reading the torque available in the 450h i started having second thoughts. I am going to test drive a 450h tomorrow so i should be able to get a better feel for that car.

does anyone know when the 460 is expected to hit the showrooms and if any dealer are taking orders for them yet? I called a couple of dealers locally and neither of them knew what i was talking about and tried telling me that there is a LS460 and no such thing as GS460 and neither expected lexus to change the 460 either.

Hameed

Let us know what you think of it!

There is definitely a GS460 coming out. The Lexus dealers you talked to, obviously don't know what they are talking about.

I don't know when it will be available though.

LexFather

We heard spring 2007 as a 2008 model, the GS 460.....it is confirmed it is coming.
GS 450h is MORE THAN ENOUGH power for most people and fuel economy is best in class. The trunk is only 7 cubic feet though.

I know one or the other is pretty much my next car in a couple years and even now I can't pick which one.

ic144

To answer your question, wait for the GS460.

The GS450H's performance will be in 2nd place when the GS460 comes out.

Unless you really care about the environment and work for Greenpeace, there's really no point to buy a hybrid at this price point when there's something even more powerful.

The GS450h is more fuel efficient, but who gives a hoot if you have the money to afford a car like that?

When the GS460 comes out, it'll sell more units than the GS450h, assuming the price comparison is reasonable.

The GS460 will have more power, more torque and you get the truck space back.

But don't expect the GS460 to be comparable to the E55 AMG. I highly doubt the GS460 will shoot 0-60 in 4.5 seconds. If you'd like a equivalent comparison to the E55 AMG, check out the BMW M5, or Audi S6. Their reliability status is no where comparable to Lexus, but they seem to be better than Mercedes-Benz.

RandalR

People who waited for the GS350 (myself included) over the GS300 are extremely happy that they did. I think the incremental refinements alone would make the GS460 worth the wait, plus the undoubtedly lower MSRP, greater horsepower, more trunk space, and no need to worry about future battery reliability. If I had to have a V8-caliber car right now, I'd be waiting for the GS460. I even saw my first LS460 last weekend and wasn't impressed with the way it looked - I'd rather have a GS460 than an LS460.

Gojirra99

Has anybody heard whether the GS460 is confirmed to get the new 8-speed transmission or only the 6-speed auto (at least initially) ?

I agree, the **** option is a must IMO, if you test drive, try to get one with that option to drive.

Faheta

I would wait for the GS460. Along with the engine & transmission update, the GS is also due for a mid-cycle update as well. I'm not sure what's in store but it's fairly safe to assume that Lexus will address some of the complaints (weak brakes, rattles) that troubled some GS owners.

I would be very disappointed if Lexus doesn't have a comparable AMG/M Sports package for folks like yourself who are looking to trade in.

The Sports Package on the IS gives you 255-wide rear tire. I'd like to see 275 option on the GS460. This gives GS both the look and the handling it deserves

(If I remember correctly, the Sports Package on the BMW 550 has 275mm rear tire)