I know someone is going to say that. I should have been more clear. I already mentioned extra power. AVS? $600 option on GS350. APSSS is $3320 option on 450h and 460 so if we leave these out and just compare the base model to base model, no navigation etc, the difference is even more minimal. Better leather, 18" hybrid exclusive wheel, standard park assist, VGRS and standard AVS all for $10K?
Of course not because you are paying $4000-$5000 for the hybrid powertrain alone (motor, invertor, batteries). Still, with everything fairly considered, 450h over 350, gas saving is not worth the premium. But performance advantage? sure. So it's still a same story.

I am not a 450h hater. I love it and wish I waited little longer and bought a slightly used 450h for the price I paid for a new 350 awd and not carry the stroller around. But I wanted to get the record straight. Lexus designed 450h to have the 4.5L V8 performance with gas mileage of V6. You buy it over 350 and pay premium for the coolness of having hybrid, extra gadgets not available on 350 and extra performance but don't expect to save any gas money over it. Again, my argument is only limited to the original poster's "450h vs 350 = gas saving = $10K??" question.

 

LOL, your dry humor seems to escape most here. . .

 

In Florida the list is much greater.
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/html/06_07_ILEV.pdf

It ALMOST got me to get the 450h over the 350, but the lack of trunk space and 8k price difference deterred me. Plus, the 350 is still pretty damn sporty.

 

nice, wish the list is longer here in cali. but then again, if the lists get that long, then the carpool is pretty much "useless" as well (not like it's very useful now anyway)

 

Ok, just for S&G, I did the math. If you do an apples to apples comparison, the 450h is apprx $800 more than a comparably equipped 460. Of course in some regions, the 450h will be bundled with more options, but the base 450h is $800 more than a similar 460. Since the $ are insignificant, the real issues are: V8 vs V6 hybrid, 8 spd vs cvt, 13 vs 7cf trunk, 190 lbs, mpg (?), everything else is pretty much identical. Let the debate go on . . .

 

A big part of the GS 450h is that is shows how technologically advanced Lexus is. It was the Worlds First RWD hybrid car. Until the LS 600h L, it was the most advanced car in the world.

It promoted Lexus "h" and hybrids....Lexus is THE hybrid leader.

The GS 450h has also been raced and won in its class.

 

I don't look at the new car costs of the GS450h because there's one on eBay going for something like 48k. Yeah, not new but eh, I'm too practical to buy a brand new car and there's a local LS460 that's tempting me like CRAZY going for 53k with 10k miles... Not bad but with the economy going to crap, if anything, the price will be going lower as we push through 2008.

I'm not worried about the reliability of the vehicle since Lexus/Toyota has been cranking out the Prius for so many years. I'd just be hesitant due to the limited trunk space. It's almost as small as a 1st gen SC trunk.

 

***actually***
I get to drive in the HOV lane anytime I want, with only myself in the car, because it's a hybrid.
I don't need a sticker here in CO, but I do get the equal benifits as a prius and civic hybrid when it comes to the carpool lane.
It's not well advertised, but when I called the state to see, they said yup, I get the same benifits.

 

to be precise, i was quoting mesca, who is in CA

 

I know, I was just saying.....
I had a friend in CA and he said it was the same, although in everything he read, it said only civic and prius, that when he called, they confirmed if you were to get pulled over, just show the cop that it is a true hybrid, by engine cover and any badging, or the registration with the "h" or something that can't be modded, and is a true "h".
YOu will get off every time.
Just what I heard, not from experience, try at your own risk.... he said it worked for him.

 

wow really? hey, someone in CA with the 450h should try

 

I'm not sure I want to take the risk to try that, the less I deal with cops the better I feel :-P

 

Have you ever considered the GS450h when shopping for your GS ?

 

There are two busy highways in Northern Virginia (DC area) where GS450h is still allowed to use the HOV lanes. I bought mine last January, and thought they will terminate this exception in June, but they extended it for another year. It goes without saying that I was thrilled and have been enjoying the hell out of this exception. I do feel like they will now terminate it once it's up for renewal this June....

By the way, I have to pay $25 extra annual registration fees for the "Clean Fuel" plate. Of course, I'd gladly pay twenty times as much to continue riding the HOV lane. That is, until it is completely clogged up by hybrids, which is going to happen pretty soon. Already at certain times the HOV lane is slower than the other three lanes on the Dulles Toll Road.

 

please note that no lexus hybrid qualified for the HOV (carpool) lanes in CA

hybrid vehicles must have at least 45mpg or higher to qualify among other things

http://arbis.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm