Hi

Post no 1!! I have owned an 07 GS450h for 5 days! I am impressed as this is a different class of car compared to my previous motors!! I have a couple of questions on which I would like to seek your advice!

1) How do I drive it to get the best out of the hybrid system. I do about 30k miles per year, so may be should have bought a diesel!! Do I leave it in Hybrid PWr mode or std Hybrid??? I am getting 33-34mpg so not doing to bad!
I am adapting my driving style and trying to lift off earlier to keep it in the blue!!

2)Is the Sat Nav in Chinese!! It might as well be. Any suggestions! I dont have the book, so am on a loser to start with!

3) What the heck is the Tyre Pressure Warning System and how do I find it in the car? Do I do anything with it or just ignore it?

4) Does anyone use the voice command? If so, what commands is it good at! I have found the help section, but it clearly struggles with a Northern accent!!

Is there anything else I should know!!

Thanks for your help!!!

Cheers, Neil

[quote name='Spot441' date='18 March 2010 - 10:09 PM' timestamp='1268946545' post='714086']
Hi

Post no 1!! I have owned an 07 GS450h for 5 days! I am impressed as this is a different class of car compared to my previous motors!! I have a couple of questions on which I would like to seek your advice!

1) How do I drive it to get the best out of the hybrid system. I do about 30k miles per year, so may be should have bought a diesel!! Do I leave it in Hybrid PWr mode or std Hybrid??? I am getting 33-34mpg so not doing to bad!
I am adapting my driving style and trying to lift off earlier to keep it in the blue!!

2)Is the Sat Nav in Chinese!! It might as well be. Any suggestions! I dont have the book, so am on a loser to start with!

3) What the heck is the Tyre Pressure Warning System and how do I find it in the car? Do I do anything with it or just ignore it?

4) Does anyone use the voice command? If so, what commands is it good at! I have found the help section, but it clearly struggles with a Northern accent!!

Is there anything else I should know!!

Thanks for your help!!!

Cheers, Neil
[/quote]

Hi Neil, welcome to the club, i have only been a 450 driver for 3 months and loving it!
1) that pretty good going at 34mpg, thats exellent as i can only get around 26mpg... i think it is either i am driving too fast or there something wrong with the timing of the car!!
2)chinese? what do you mean... your sat nav is in chinese? shouldnt be... there is no chinese options, although i have also been checking in the far east for the software and no luck..
3)Check your tyre pressures mate... or take it back to lexus - i hope you got it from a dealer...
4) cant help you there on the voice... i dont use it because it too frustrating to get the right command sometimes, even for a southern accent... i suppose you need to have the Japlish to make it understand... i gave up... fastr doing it manually..

[quote name='Spot441' date='18 March 2010 - 09:09 PM' timestamp='1268946545' post='714086']
Hi

Post no 1!! I have owned an 07 GS450h for 5 days! I am impressed as this is a different class of car compared to my previous motors!! I have a couple of questions on which I would like to seek your advice!

1) How do I drive it to get the best out of the hybrid system. I do about 30k miles per year, so may be should have bought a diesel!! Do I leave it in Hybrid PWr mode or std Hybrid??? I am getting 33-34mpg so not doing to bad!
I am adapting my driving style and trying to lift off earlier to keep it in the blue!!

2)Is the Sat Nav in Chinese!! It might as well be. Any suggestions! I dont have the book, so am on a loser to start with!

3) What the heck is the Tyre Pressure Warning System and how do I find it in the car? Do I do anything with it or just ignore it?

4) Does anyone use the voice command? If so, what commands is it good at! I have found the help section, but it clearly struggles with a Northern accent!!

Is there anything else I should know!!

Thanks for your help!!!

Cheers, Neil
[/quote]
Hi and welcome to LOC, great choice of wheels for your mileage. I drive 40 to 50 K per year year and will never consider another diesel after 14 months in my 450h. Mid 30s MPG is spot on so you are driving it correctly. I leave mine in std on the power switch but set the suspension to sport as this slightly sharpens throttle responce but not as much as PWR.

Sat nav , just keep playing with it, not as easy as my Garmin but you will get there.

Ignore the tyre pressure warning system, it will advise you of a flat if it happens but if you have metal valve caps put a little grease on the threads as the corrode on

Voice commands, when stopped press Talk button then say " Help " for a list of functions but it is a bit of a toy, I only use mine to increase on reduce temperature.

Tyre wear is the only issue with mine but that is expected with power and weight.

Enjoy ! Tony

Cheers, Guys! Thanks for your comments.

I have learnt a bit more about the Sat Nav. Or at least, I have found the Suspend navigation button!! I am bit confused by the way points, but as you say I will get the hang of it!! The disk is 07, so its not as good as my TomTom anyway.

I guess I will have to be good at cleaning the beige carpets!!

Still getting 33.3mpg. So tbh I am quite chuffed with that! I'll try std hybrid mode for the next week, see how it goes. Its great when I get in to Derby in rush hour, I can drive from the a38 to work on the battery!

I'll ignore the TPWS and Voice Command!! but will grease the valve caps tomorrow! They are metal.

I did buy it privately, and for what I paid, I carnt get too concerned. Any car can deal you a big bill. There is obviously more to go wrong with this, but reliability doesnt seem an issue. I am a bit worried about serviceing costs. Any idea what these are? Its got 16k miles on the clock, so its next service is 20k.

Will price up tyres!!

Thanks again...

Neil

[quote name='Spot441' date='20 March 2010 - 10:02 PM' timestamp='1269122526' post='714357']
Cheers, Guys! Thanks for your comments.

I have learnt a bit more about the Sat Nav. Or at least, I have found the Suspend navigation button!! I am bit confused by the way points, but as you say I will get the hang of it!! The disk is 07, so its not as good as my TomTom anyway.

I guess I will have to be good at cleaning the beige carpets!!

Still getting 33.3mpg. So tbh I am quite chuffed with that! I'll try std hybrid mode for the next week, see how it goes. Its great when I get in to Derby in rush hour, I can drive from the a38 to work on the battery!

I'll ignore the TPWS and Voice Command!! but will grease the valve caps tomorrow! They are metal.

I did buy it privately, and for what I paid, I carnt get too concerned. Any car can deal you a big bill. There is obviously more to go wrong with this, but reliability doesnt seem an issue. I am a bit worried about serviceing costs. Any idea what these are? Its got 16k miles on the clock, so its next service is 20k.

Will price up tyres!!

Thanks again...

Neil
[/quote]

Hi again, service costs seem a bit varied across the dealer network so I bought a 40,000 service contract with Lexus Milton Keynes which conbined with 12 months extended warranty cost me £2000 (including breakdown cover for both of us in any vehicles ) May seem a lot but compared to how much she depreciated before I purchased seems good value to me, worry free motoring like having a new car and they will cover it up to over 200,000! All I buy is tyres(about £130 each) and brakes.
Regards Tony

[quote name='tonyricha' date='21 March 2010 - 09:31 PM' timestamp='1269207111' post='714484']
Hi again, service costs seem a bit varied across the dealer network so I bought a 40,000 service contract with Lexus Milton Keynes which conbined with 12 months extended warranty cost me £2000 (including breakdown cover for both of us in any vehicles ) May seem a lot but compared to how much she depreciated before I purchased seems good value to me, worry free motoring like having a new car and they will cover it up to over 200,000! All I buy is tyres(about £130 each) and brakes.
Regards Tony
[/quote]


Nice work on your purchase - we are really really loving owning the 450H, for sure one of the best motors we've owned. We are averaging 34mpg, which is fair. I hate diesel so it had to be the GS IMO.

I reckon on £230 a corner for tyres and will be sticking with the Yoko's on our '58 plate. The rears will need changing on the next service for sure...

for the beige mates - keep on top of them and you'll be ok, i'm cleaning ours once a month at the mo as i wear safety boots with dirty soles lol!

so are you happy with finding your way around the satnav? i binned the book and just played with the buttons and controls until i was happy, it's the best way for sure lol!!

You should also get a discount about 5% (I think) on any parts that are required... We have a service plan - £1200 for three servicings... i'm happy with that

Cheers!

This comes as one hell of a shock! I have been used to a 52 Passat tdi then a 05 Xtype 2.0d. Neither of which went near a main dealer. I was offered £3500 for the Jag at Available car, it wouldnt have made a jot of difference to its value if I had taken it to the Jag dealers for servicing!

So I have to re-familiarise with dealers and prices. lol. The most I have paid for a service over the last 4 years is £140.

I think I can find tyres for £170 each! Its a good job thatit has 4 good 'uns on it - not for long.

At which point in its depreciation cycle, is it not worth servicing at the lexus dealer???

......and you are correct. I will never have a diesel again! This is an unbelievable drive compared to the jag. Its different class.

I had an Xtype - lost 10K in 12 months with that one!!!!!! argghhhhhhh!!

So servicing - tough call! IMO I'd stay in the network unless you can find a specialist who understands the Hybrid system... you also have a 5 year warranty on the battery which would be compromised if you went away from the dealer.. I remind myself that the GS started life as a 48K motor, the running costs seem very decent then

just reading your Q up top there... i leave the PWR setting in normal standard. when i want a bit of fun, then sport on the gearbox and power on the settings..

And how cool do you find the front door glass? I love how nothing sticks to it! some sort of super Rainex treatment lol

[quote name='matt555' date='23 March 2010 - 08:32 AM' timestamp='1269333176' post='714664']
I had an Xtype - lost 10K in 12 months with that one!!!!!! argghhhhhhh!!

So servicing - tough call! IMO I'd stay in the network unless you can find a specialist who understands the Hybrid system... you also have a 5 year warranty on the battery which would be compromised if you went away from the dealer.. I remind myself that the GS started life as a 48K motor, the running costs seem very decent then

just reading your Q up top there... i leave the PWR setting in normal standard. when i want a bit of fun, then sport on the gearbox and power on the settings..

And how cool do you find the front door glass? I love how nothing sticks to it! some sort of super Rainex treatment lol
[/quote]



I was lucky with my xtype. It had already lost 16k in its first 3 years and thats when I bought it. I ran it for 30,000miles and sold it for £1500 less. It was very cheap motoring. I think your attitude is spot on to remind yourself that it started out at 40k+. The Lexus is going to be very different running costs!

I had not noticed the glass, but now you have pointed it out, it is weird.

I have guessed that it is ok to change the PWR and Sport settings whilst on the move!

Cheers

Neil

[quote name='Spot441' date='18 March 2010 - 10:09 PM' timestamp='1268946545' post='714086']
Hi

Post no 1!! I have owned an 07 GS450h for 5 days! I am impressed as this is a different class of car compared to my previous motors!! I have a couple of questions on which I would like to seek your advice!

1) How do I drive it to get the best out of the hybrid system. I do about 30k miles per year, so may be should have bought a diesel!! Do I leave it in Hybrid PWr mode or std Hybrid??? I am getting 33-34mpg so not doing to bad!
I am adapting my driving style and trying to lift off earlier to keep it in the blue!!

2)Is the Sat Nav in Chinese!! It might as well be. Any suggestions! I dont have the book, so am on a loser to start with!

3) What the heck is the Tyre Pressure Warning System and how do I find it in the car? Do I do anything with it or just ignore it?

4) Does anyone use the voice command? If so, what commands is it good at! I have found the help section, but it clearly struggles with a Northern accent!!

Is there anything else I should know!!

Thanks for your help!!!

Cheers, Neil
[/quote]

I have a 07 GS450h aswell and for almost a year now.

1. Leave it in standard mode. Accelarate very slowly, you will probably have a Ford Fiesta tailgating you if done correctly. Accelarate using engine, then lift off accelatator breifly and coast on batteries. Try not to use batteries running up hill. Dont use cruise control, as it revs engine too much when going up hill. Try and let momentum carry you uphill, rather than hitting more gas. I can get 36mpg if I drive like a nun, but its not much fun. I've checked the fuel from fill to fill and miles done, and found the mpg display is very acurate. Oh almost forgot, DO NOT use the heater when the car is cold, this keeps the engine running when it would otherwise turn off and kills ecconomy. Did you consider a Prius?

2. Sat nav is a nightmare to use, whoever designed it wants hitting round the head with a large bat :/ The advanced lane guidance works well though and the display is very clear once running. I found myself using a TomTom instead, so much easier to use, and will accept a full postcode.

4. I've only used one voice command since the initial play period, "Suspend guidance"

welcome to the loc.