Buying GS450H Gen3 Looking a bit of advice

[Deet27 3]

Hi Everyone,

Currently own 03 GS300 which I use as a Taxi (Mileage 225k), I am sticking with Toyota/Lexus and was considering getting a Prius or Hybrid (Would like to save on fuel costs)

The amount of comments I get from customers of how Nice/Comfortable the car is you would not believe, and considering that the car is 15yrs old and I spend all day in the car I like the comfort too, So would like to stick with the GS. I currently get 22 MPG on my current car and considering most of my driving is city Stop/Start and Waiting on customers (Urban is listed as 17MPG) I am quite happy.

I have seen lots of posts on what people get on motorways and commutes to work but was wondering what most of you get driving around town?

Also, on test driving a GS450H is there anyway on testing the Hybrid/Battery without plugin in a scanner i.e. driving on EV mode if it has one

 

Many Thanks

[Deet27 3]

Apologies for the shameless bump, But would really appreciate some input.

Basically was just wondering what kind of mpg I can expect from driving around town (I don't drive it like I stole it!)

Also, if I buy from a private owner - is there any way I can test the Battery without having to plug in a scanner??

 

Like I say - would be really grateful for some pointers.

 

[royoftherovers 595]

In Town only, I got 28mpg last week covering 107 miles.

In colder weather, just in Town I expect less, perhaps 23/24 mpg. Mine is a GEN 3.

Hope this helps.

[Farqui 832]

Although i don't do much pure town driving I would say that i'd get 30mpg and over 2 years I've averaged 35mpg mixed driving (tank to tank based).

 

The mk3 GS450h benefits from just a little stop start and if you can keep rolling then all for the better. The Battery isn't capable of pure EV mode for long and works best assisting you.

 

Recently i've been experimenting with steady cruise speeds and find 65-70 yields a fairly constant combustion cycle around 37mpg (ish). Whereas driving slightly faster means lifting off more and overall gives a better mpg. I've tried this over numerous trips rather than just noticing it once.

 

I really need to get the Hydrid Assistant app running again and get a few more hrs experience with it to see if that helps to show how the systems work best together.

 

 

[Deet27 3]

Thanks for the help, looks like i should see a slight improvement over the Gen2 GS300. (Well at least its not worse)

[royoftherovers 595]

An update for Deet.

 I filled the GS 450h (Gen 3 ) with Shell Super V and  travelled from Wirral to St Andrews in Fife last Monday morning  via the new Queensferry Bridge a distance  totaling 290 miles.

I have  covered 100 miles locally with School runs, trips to local Cubs and Rainbows groups and local shopping and have just filled up with 52.8 litres of Tesco Momentum.

 52.80 litres divided by 4.546, gives 11.6 gallons into 390 miles gives 33.62 mpg.

My overall mpg over 55,000 miles gives 34.7 according to the OBC. If I assume a not unreasonable  8% error in the OBC, I arrive at 32mpg overall.

For a V6,  providing a sublime ride in near silence with performance available whenever and wherever I want it , that is the "price " I pay.

The Gen 4 version is somewhat more frugal, but not ecstatically so, and I am sure that other members can provide their own stats.

[mrdoofa 178]

I used to average around 30mpg from my 2006 GS450H day to day on a 10 mile commute to work and back. The GS450H is more of a performance hybrid than economy and therefore doesn’t really operate in pure EV mode much at all, you can accelerate extremely gently and I mean gently to about 20mph for about 1 mile before the engine kicks in as the Battery soon depletes, of course the engine still turns off whilst coasting and braking to save fuel. These cars are also extremely fast with astonishing acceleration available which you will enjoy using thanks to the instant torque of the electric motor and CVT transmission acceleration is constant and seamless like a train!!!

There is no real test of the hybrid system you can do other than see if everything seems to operate as it should, you can do this by keeping an eye on the screen on the dash. A recent hybrid healthcheck certificate would be nice to have although it only covers the Battery and not the rest of the hybrid components and the warranty only covers you if the car is less than 10 years old and less than 100k as far as I know even with a hybrid healthcheck being done.

The shocks are different on the GS450H to normal GS’s and are a known weak spot with replacements being very expensive at around £400 each, the Y join on the exhaust can also blow, rear brakes are prone to seizing due to under use as the car uses regenerative braking from the hybrid system. Check for rust along the leading edge of the bonnet. Also the batteries steal a lot of boot space so something else to be aware of. TPMS sensors can also fail.

They are a technologically amazing car offering a virtually unrivalled combination of performance, economy and refinement but can be very costly should anything go wrong.

Good luck!!!

[hybridbatterysolutions 76]

My GS450h SE is just lovely, on hindsight though, i would probably would have preferred the SEL model as the Radar Cruise on those is superb - technology that was far ahead of its time at the time! Reliability I don't think you can knock it really. All the points raised above are reasonably common but should not put you off, shame you didn't ask a while back as i knew a chap who was downsizing as his wife didn't like driving larger cars - I did the works on his hybrid Battery & she was in beautiful shape. I have a nice silver one in at the moment from the Isle of Wight which, at 12 years old, will soon be running & looking like new again.

All the best

Richard

[steveledzep 476]

14 minutes ago, hybridbatterysolutions said:

 i knew a chap who was downsizing as his wife didn't like driving larger cars - I did the works on his hybrid Battery & she was in beautiful shape.

[black400 26]

My next car so very interested  in this tread I have a 2007 GS300 love it , but road tax 1499 euro GS450H  2008 on 750 euro.our car taxation  is a disgrace a 2006/7 GS450H  will set you back 1809 euro in tax go figure .

[royoftherovers 595]

On 1/18/2019 at 12:49 PM, royoftherovers said:

An update for Deet.

 I filled the GS 450h (Gen 3 ) with Shell Super V and  travelled from Wirral to St Andrews in Fife last Monday morning  via the new Queensferry Bridge a distance  totaling 290 miles.

I have  covered 100 miles locally with School runs, trips to local Cubs and Rainbows groups and local shopping and have just filled up with 52.8 litres of Tesco Momentum.

 52.80 litres divided by 4.546, gives 11.6 gallons into 390 miles gives 33.62 mpg.

My overall mpg over 55,000 miles gives 34.7 according to the OBC. If I assume a not unreasonable  8% error in the OBC, I arrive at 32mpg overall.

For a V6,  providing a sublime ride in near silence with performance available whenever and wherever I want it , that is the "price " I pay.

The Gen 4 version is somewhat more frugal, but not ecstatically so, and I am sure that other members can provide their own stats.

Another update for Deet.

Return journey gave 32 mpg brim to brim.

These are real World figures Deet. No kidding, no imaginary "are buts".

Brace yourself. The warmer weather will bring an improvement ,but not a quantum leap!

Deet have you gone to sleep as you`ve not posted for 15 days?

[Initial P 23]

Most I ever got on my GS300 was 42 mpg on he way to my best mans the day before my wedding, St Albans to Reading keeping to the limit.

[hybridbatterysolutions 76]

On 1/27/2019 at 6:19 PM, Initial P said:

Most I ever got on my GS300 was 42 mpg on he way to my best mans the day before my wedding, St Albans to Reading keeping to the limit.

I have had 48mpg fresh out of repair on a 450h!

[royoftherovers 595]

3rd update for Deet.

Covered 220 local miles giving 27mpg brim to brim.

[royoftherovers 595]

Just now, royoftherovers said:

3rd update for Deet.

Covered 220 local miles giving 27mpg brim to brim.

4th update for Deet.

Covered 330 miles on another trip to Fife giving 35 mpg.

[Deet27 3]

Really appreciate the updates and further information, going to view a GS450H tomorrow and came back to the post to refresh myself.

I was unaware that there had been new post as i was not getting notifications through my phone. 

 

Thanks Again

 

[wendle 174]

Make sure the boot is big enough if you're going to use it as a Taxi, ( Airport runs ) the GS 450h has a smaller boot that the GS300, the GS 450h Mk4 boot is larger than the MK3.