Helmar

I was the 1st person to receive a 600hL in Maine. on the day they were first available.

It's says 2008 on the window sticker.

I don't think there are any 2007's.

HBH

Johnny

Not here perhaps, but in some places it was available earlier...

Australia on the other hand, appears to have received theirs earlier, and I can only conclude New Zealand did as well. In Japan, the car began selling May 17th 2007, according to this article. How this affects a car's registration date may not be the same as here in North America. If my memory serves me right, Neiman Marcus released its edition as a 2007. This could all be conjecture anyway from our perspective, as I'm certain there were 600s as early as 2006, or possibly earlier at Toyota's manufacturing works.

This link to GM Inside News, has some early photos of the LS600hL posted back in August 2006. For the car to be at this stage of production, I would guess it must have been in production at least one year before it was eventually released to the media. Toyota has also stated the 460/600's were four years in planning, design, and production before they hit the NA market. Just looking at these, I can't for the life of me see anything that isn't on the cars now in the showrooms.

TNLS600hL

Yeah the car does have XM satellite radio, but I don't use it much. As far as the model year in the US it's released as 08, I don't think there are any 07's in the US. Although some people might got them as early as summer of 07 but it's actually an 08 model. Besides one can't tell the difference between the years anyway on a Lexus, at least not yet.

15951

Not to thread hijack, but I just wanted to point out that the Edmunds time for the IS350 is very slow. Usually the 350 is in the 5.3-5.4 range, with Car and Driver getting 4.9 out of a stock 350 a year or so ago.

Either way, the 600 is FAST for a big car!!

Helmar

Perhaps I'm in my 2nd childhood (do men really ever leave their 1st?), but I too really enjoy the stealth mode.

As I glide by, I enjoy the "Startle" on folks walking or standing that are looking away as I pass them.

If my windows are open, sometimes I can faintly hear a "What was that?"

Now if only I could get rid of the sound of the tires crunching on the road, the stealth would be complete.

The car is 1 year old, just had it's 20,000 servicing (at Toyota, MUCH closer and cheaper too). As with all of my previous Lexi, no need to visit the dealer except for scheduled maintenance.

I use snow tires in the winter, and the combination of AWD and snow tires may be overkill, but I doubt I'll ever get stuck in my driveway again like I did with my LS430.

HBH

HBH

LS600guy

HBH, you must love your LS600 - that's a high mileage for 12 months compared to me. Is that kms or miles?

--------------------------
2007 LS600hL, 5 seat
2000 Lexus LX470 (traded and missed)

Mercedes SL500 AMG (garage queen)
Mercedes SLK 230 (wife's toy)
Suzuki Grand Vitara (rain & runaround)

Helmar

It's miles. I took a 3000 mile road trip last year. It was grand!

Cruising over the Appalachian Mountains, listening to classical music on XM or a book on cd.

Lot's of use of the radar cruise control and navigation system on the trip.

The nav system even led me back to a restaurant 100 miles back when I forgot my credit card there! I didn't even remember which highway it was off of, but I had found the restaurant as a POI, so I just used "Previous places" to guide me back! Whew...

HBH

LS600guy

Nice!

I like the backtrack feature too.

This car is still giving me surprises.

--------------------------
2007 LS600hL, 5 seat
2000 Lexus LX470 (traded and missed)

Mercedes SL500 AMG (garage queen)
Mercedes SLK 230 (wife's toy)
Suzuki Grand Vitara (rain & runaround)

Johnny

Have you tried the multiple POI feature as well? I just discovered this recently (should have read the manual). The system will "chain" destinations so they can be entered all at once, or modified later if need be.

Helmar

I do use the multiple destination feature from time to time.

So far, the most I've had is four destinations.

HBH