New GS450h owner comments and favorite features
03-14-08, 02:29 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: california
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New GS450h owner comments and favorite features
Just wanted to say hi to everyone. Great info on this site. Just bought a 2008 GS 450H and the car is incredible. Am loving it and when compared to the competition, I think nothing can compete with the GS.
When i was doing research, I got bogged down by what I truly believe is a bias the car magazines have towards german cars. They complain about the GS' electronic "nanny" feel. After having owned the car for a month or so, I really don't get it. I drove it through a canyon as fast as I could ever want to and I didn't notice any electronic control taking over.
And by the way, me being in my thirties, I don't mind if the car thinks I'm about to get into a crash and decides I'm better off backing off and it intervenes a little bit.
What I think is happening is these car magazines are drawing conclusions and making recommendations on cars by exploring the absolute outer limit of a car. That is all well and good but in day to day driving, that has nothing to do with how cars are driven in real world conditions.
Favorite features in no particular order:
1) ML Sound system off the charts.
2) Climate controlled seats
3) Gas mileage when you consider the power and performance of the gs450h
4) Interior storage bins a great improvement over my Audi A8
5) Love the quietness of the hybrid, really helps me relax in traffic.
6) The presumed reliability. I've purchased my last German car I was in the shop twice a month the last 6 years.
Take care.
When i was doing research, I got bogged down by what I truly believe is a bias the car magazines have towards german cars. They complain about the GS' electronic "nanny" feel. After having owned the car for a month or so, I really don't get it. I drove it through a canyon as fast as I could ever want to and I didn't notice any electronic control taking over.
And by the way, me being in my thirties, I don't mind if the car thinks I'm about to get into a crash and decides I'm better off backing off and it intervenes a little bit.
What I think is happening is these car magazines are drawing conclusions and making recommendations on cars by exploring the absolute outer limit of a car. That is all well and good but in day to day driving, that has nothing to do with how cars are driven in real world conditions.
Favorite features in no particular order:
1) ML Sound system off the charts.
2) Climate controlled seats
3) Gas mileage when you consider the power and performance of the gs450h
4) Interior storage bins a great improvement over my Audi A8
5) Love the quietness of the hybrid, really helps me relax in traffic.
6) The presumed reliability. I've purchased my last German car I was in the shop twice a month the last 6 years.
Take care.
03-14-08, 05:55 PM
#3
Lexus Test Driver
oscarmacho. I think you hit the nail right on the head. These car magazines takes sport sedans to the race track and compare them according to performance. That’s all good except 90% of the owners never drive their cars at that speed. Most magazine editors totally ignore luxury, comfort, ride quality, reliability, built material and built quality. I think as a car buyer, you need to know what your priorities are. If performance is a top priority and you plan to keep your car stock, then the GS is not the right car. To me, the GS is a Jack of all trades, it does every well but does not stand out in any one particular area.
03-16-08, 11:33 AM
#4
Rookie
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Congrats. Love my ride too. Agreed on most of the points, especially the quietness. My top pros are the immediate accelleration and the gas mileage, but I don't love the storage.
Ironically, we currently have an Audi and the storage in the Lexus is significantly better. However, I've had Acuras in the past and I think some of their interior features are better placed & the Nav is definitely better.
Ironically, we currently have an Audi and the storage in the Lexus is significantly better. However, I've had Acuras in the past and I think some of their interior features are better placed & the Nav is definitely better.
03-16-08, 02:38 PM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Congrats oscar on the GS450h. You were in the shop twice a month for 6 years with an A8!? 
What were the laundry list of problems?
What were the laundry list of problems?
03-16-08, 05:27 PM
#7
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: california
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
90 percent of the problems I had with the a8 were electrical. Always under warranty but always inconvenient. I would get the car serviced and two weeks later a light would go on the dash telling me to take it back in for service. The quality control of audi is terrible.
Trending Topics
03-16-08, 05:29 PM
#8
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just wanted to say hi to everyone. Great info on this site. Just bought a 2008 GS 450H and the car is incredible. Am loving it and when compared to the competition, I think nothing can compete with the GS.
When i was doing research, I got bogged down by what I truly believe is a bias the car magazines have towards german cars. They complain about the GS' electronic "nanny" feel. After having owned the car for a month or so, I really don't get it. I drove it through a canyon as fast as I could ever want to and I didn't notice any electronic control taking over.
And by the way, me being in my thirties, I don't mind if the car thinks I'm about to get into a crash and decides I'm better off backing off and it intervenes a little bit.
What I think is happening is these car magazines are drawing conclusions and making recommendations on cars by exploring the absolute outer limit of a car. That is all well and good but in day to day driving, that has nothing to do with how cars are driven in real world conditions.
Favorite features in no particular order:
1) ML Sound system off the charts.
2) Climate controlled seats
3) Gas mileage when you consider the power and performance of the gs450h
4) Interior storage bins a great improvement over my Audi A8
5) Love the quietness of the hybrid, really helps me relax in traffic.
6) The presumed reliability. I've purchased my last German car I was in the shop twice a month the last 6 years.
Take care.
When i was doing research, I got bogged down by what I truly believe is a bias the car magazines have towards german cars. They complain about the GS' electronic "nanny" feel. After having owned the car for a month or so, I really don't get it. I drove it through a canyon as fast as I could ever want to and I didn't notice any electronic control taking over.
And by the way, me being in my thirties, I don't mind if the car thinks I'm about to get into a crash and decides I'm better off backing off and it intervenes a little bit.
What I think is happening is these car magazines are drawing conclusions and making recommendations on cars by exploring the absolute outer limit of a car. That is all well and good but in day to day driving, that has nothing to do with how cars are driven in real world conditions.
Favorite features in no particular order:
1) ML Sound system off the charts.
2) Climate controlled seats
3) Gas mileage when you consider the power and performance of the gs450h
4) Interior storage bins a great improvement over my Audi A8
5) Love the quietness of the hybrid, really helps me relax in traffic.
6) The presumed reliability. I've purchased my last German car I was in the shop twice a month the last 6 years.
Take care.
03-16-08, 09:33 PM
#9
Rookie
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have had the 450h for over a year now. Everything is great, but my biggest complaint is the ride and the handling. It seems to excel at neither. The ride is somewhat harsh, and there is quite a bit of body roll in corners. This is my biggest complaint, compared to a BMW 5 series.
Other than that, everything else is great, including the quality, navigation, gadgets, fuel efficiency, power, etc.
Other than that, everything else is great, including the quality, navigation, gadgets, fuel efficiency, power, etc.
03-17-08, 08:36 AM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
I have had the 450h for over a year now. Everything is great, but my biggest complaint is the ride and the handling. It seems to excel at neither. The ride is somewhat harsh, and there is quite a bit of body roll in corners. This is my biggest complaint, compared to a BMW 5 series.
Other than that, everything else is great, including the quality, navigation, gadgets, fuel efficiency, power, etc.
Other than that, everything else is great, including the quality, navigation, gadgets, fuel efficiency, power, etc.
As for being 'harsh', maybe it could be hard tires?
03-17-08, 08:57 AM
#12
Lexus Test Driver
I have had the 450h for over a year now. Everything is great, but my biggest complaint is the ride and the handling. It seems to excel at neither. The ride is somewhat harsh, and there is quite a bit of body roll in corners. This is my biggest complaint, compared to a BMW 5 series.
Other than that, everything else is great, including the quality, navigation, gadgets, fuel efficiency, power, etc.
Other than that, everything else is great, including the quality, navigation, gadgets, fuel efficiency, power, etc.
Does any sport sedan compare to the BMW's ride and handling in this price range?
04-02-08, 09:06 AM
#13
I have had the 450h for over a year now. Everything is great, but my biggest complaint is the ride and the handling. It seems to excel at neither. The ride is somewhat harsh, and there is quite a bit of body roll in corners. This is my biggest complaint, compared to a BMW 5 series.
Other than that, everything else is great, including the quality, navigation, gadgets, fuel efficiency, power, etc.
Other than that, everything else is great, including the quality, navigation, gadgets, fuel efficiency, power, etc.
Audio... sounds great, but base vibrations transferred to your body from the door speaker are very uncomfortable...
Another thing that killed my very short happiness was creaking dashboard, which seems to be an issue for years now...
I hope reliability will stand to lexus's name... I had ZERO issues with bmw...
and expect same from lexus...
If you dont mind me asking, what did you pay for it?
