anybody know what these are like? my dad just payed up the deposit for a new one and he mentioned it is a hybrid but does 0-60 in around 5 seconds..

 

he is generaly not the racing type and had bought a new prius on launch... he looked at the new prius coming out however he said he wanted this as it looked better and as lexus are known for reliability (he says) so he decided on this

 

only problem is he will never accelerate the car to its ability and never drive hard and now wonders if it is worth buying?

 

he has asked me but i have never been involved with the world of lexus so i am unaware of their history or reliability

 

thought i would ask you guys on his behalf...

 

are these cars good and reliable and for a hybrid, is this a good choice?

 

honest answers welcome... . i don't like it however i must say for a hybrid i am still blown away at the performance for the 0-60 and would wonder what

Depends on whether you are referring to the RX450h or GS450h (the former being 4x4, the latter a sedan). I personally like the GS450h - it is ultra comfortable, superb build quality, and reliable to a fault! ;) The 0-62mph figure is irrelevant as your dad won't be "racing" anyone. What is more important are the in-gear figures, which are very good for this Lexus. As for the hybrid part - this is the first "full hybrid" vehicle that lexus/Toyota is marketing and the technology looks sound. It is in essence a 2.0L V6 petrol engine with an ultra efficient high output electrical motor. On its own the petrol engine is rated at around 290bhp whereas when combined the total output is closer to 340bhp. So you'll get V8 engine performance out of a 2.0L V6. Fuel economy wise he should be getting approx. 30mpg in town and upto 37mpg on motorway trips. In itself not a spectacular figure when compared to the likes of a Honda Civic or various Golfs but then the Lexus is a full four-door saloon that oozes quality and style (IMHO).

 

I think your father chose wisely. I would personally have gone for either a LS460h or LS600h but those are top executive cars and in excess of £70k new. I think you'll find that if you give the GS a chance you'll learn to like it. You won't be able to fault its ride quality and engine performance. Oh, and Lexus dealers have consistently been voted No.1 in the JD Power Surveys since they first started selling cars way back in the early 90's.

 

Regards,

 

Dan

cool i will let him know as this is his first lexus... not sure which one exactely he has all i know is it is around £44k but he got the main dealer to knock off £10k so maybe it is this model or the older one.......

 

surely they would not knock 10k off a new car unless it is older?

 

either way i hope he likes it and it serves him well.

 

i will find out exactely which one it is

cool i will let him know as this is his first lexus... not sure which one exactely he has all i know is it is around £44k but he got the main dealer to knock off £10k so maybe it is this model or the older one.......

 

surely they would not knock 10k off a new car unless it is older?

 

either way i hope he likes it and it serves him well.

 

i will find out exactely which one it is

 

Hi Damien,

 

If it was around £44k then it'll most likely be the GS450h SE. My parents recently bought a Lexus as well (first one) and are over the moon with it. As they are out in Dubai the model they bought isn't sold in Europe so can't compare. I did a lot of research for them before they bought it so I know a few things about all things Lexus (Lexii?);) I am convinced the car will serve your parents well for many years to come! :) As for dealers dropping the price - common practice at the moment. Even my local Range Rover dealer is doing upto 30% off deals on 09 Range Rover Sports! They have got so much stock sitting around that they'll do anything to shift them. I think getting £10k off a £44k car is excellent! nearly 25% off list price. Good for your parents!

Gee wizz thats some spec from a 2l :bow:

i just spoke to my dad and he said that he was told the car is a GS450 but a 3.5 litre........ i did say to him everyone else said 2.o litre but he is adament it is 3.5 litre one...

 

do you think garage is telling him porkies? you can tell my father knows bugger all about engines and i wonder if they are calling his bluff?

http://www.lexus.co.uk/Range/gs/hybrid-technology/index.aspx

 

This breakthrough hybrid saloon offers outstanding performance, thanks to the combination of a 3.5-litre V6 direct-injection petrol engine and a high-output electric motor. These two power sources work together in an intelligent and seamless partnership to produce acceleration that is both extraordinarily fast and effortlessly smooth. The system produces an output of 341 Bhp, rivalling that of a conventional V8 engine, but with the economy of a 2.0-litre petrol engine.

 

maybe he is right.......... except....... this one says 0-60 in around 6 seconds as opposed to 5.2 from the dealer that mentioned it

 

just read this so i am aware with what he is buying............ now i just need to beg to borrow it :rofl:

yup 5.2 0-60................. needless to say i wont go trying to thrash him anytime soon

NO shifting????????? WTF!!!!!

 

 

CVT is the future ;) Gears are so old fashioned :p

CVT is the future ;) Gears are so old fashioned :p

 

;) Back in 1993 Williams Renault developed one for it's F1 car. In pre season testing it lapped the Interlagos circuit in Brazil 4 seconds faster than the conventional 6 speed semi-automatic gearboxes of the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Needless to say it was banned even before the first race :( :mad: :nono: :headvswal :smash: