LS600hL too expensive and of questionable value ....?
#1
Lead Lap
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LS600hL too expensive and of questionable value ....?
Several of the reviews have included comments that question the price and value of the Lexus LS600hL.
If any of the reviewers are reading this group, I thought I’d list MY reasons for choosing the LS600hL.
Yes, the 600hL is very expensive. Since I plan on keeping this car for around 10 years, the cost will be about an additional $3,500 a year (over a 460L).
There are two questions here, why a Lexus LS, and why the 600hL.
Why a Lexus LS?
I look for the following minimum features in a car: AWD, Navigation system, active cruise control, quiet, safe, long term reliability, and large enough for my elderly mother-in-law (and her friends) to comfortably enter and exit the rear.
Noticeably absent from this list is handling and fuel economy. Emergency handling and control in any of the cars I’d consider (MB 550, BMW 760, Audi A8, Jaguar) is close enough to be equivalent.
Very few cars have ALL of the requirements.
The LS460 has all of them except AWD, which the 600hL adds.
The Mercedes S550 4-matic and the Audi A8 have all except the long term reliability. The other issue with these two cars is that they both use a non-touch screen. Having used both (Lexus LS430 and BMW i-Drive), there’s no question that the touch screen is far less intrusive to use while driving.
Also there is functionality that is difficult to duplicate in a non-touch screen. For example, when points of interest are displayed on a screen, touching one to see it’s name and phone number. Also being able to scroll around the screen, which is doable, but only after several push/pulls. Also touching a point on the screen to see how far it is from your current location. The list goes on....
Why the 600hL?
Simple. Only the 600hL version of the LS offers AWD. Here in Maine, that’s important. If the LS460 offered an AWD version, that would be my first choice.
HBH
If any of the reviewers are reading this group, I thought I’d list MY reasons for choosing the LS600hL.
Yes, the 600hL is very expensive. Since I plan on keeping this car for around 10 years, the cost will be about an additional $3,500 a year (over a 460L).
There are two questions here, why a Lexus LS, and why the 600hL.
Why a Lexus LS?
I look for the following minimum features in a car: AWD, Navigation system, active cruise control, quiet, safe, long term reliability, and large enough for my elderly mother-in-law (and her friends) to comfortably enter and exit the rear.
Noticeably absent from this list is handling and fuel economy. Emergency handling and control in any of the cars I’d consider (MB 550, BMW 760, Audi A8, Jaguar) is close enough to be equivalent.
Very few cars have ALL of the requirements.
The LS460 has all of them except AWD, which the 600hL adds.
The Mercedes S550 4-matic and the Audi A8 have all except the long term reliability. The other issue with these two cars is that they both use a non-touch screen. Having used both (Lexus LS430 and BMW i-Drive), there’s no question that the touch screen is far less intrusive to use while driving.
Also there is functionality that is difficult to duplicate in a non-touch screen. For example, when points of interest are displayed on a screen, touching one to see it’s name and phone number. Also being able to scroll around the screen, which is doable, but only after several push/pulls. Also touching a point on the screen to see how far it is from your current location. The list goes on....
Why the 600hL?
Simple. Only the 600hL version of the LS offers AWD. Here in Maine, that’s important. If the LS460 offered an AWD version, that would be my first choice.
HBH
#3
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i would like to point out one flaw in that reasoning with the nav.
what about the lock out while driving? cant use any of the features... and no overide either
other than that i agree with everything you wrote. However, that is a steep price just for that AWD system, lol
there’s no question that the touch screen is far less intrusive to use while driving.
other than that i agree with everything you wrote. However, that is a steep price just for that AWD system, lol
#5
You've convinced me HB. Order a second one and I'll take it!
#6
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
I believe that the LS460L I recently test drove also allowed these things as well....
HBH
#7
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#8
No one said the Plug-in option for the Prius (CalCars/HyMotion) can't be adapted to the LSh.
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and the LED headlights and the HSD system heh.
and yeah you get those too...but at the price, i expected it to include like all the packages except the executive.
#12
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As for the rest, I would put being greener at the bottom. I would add the benefit of the extra torque during passing(50-70 mph, etc.), & having more leather on the dash/doors plus the LED's are nice too . . .
#13
Oh and what robarapta said, leather dash too.
In Canada it has all the features except the Executive Package (which also adds the driver monitoring system)
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