Is the GS450H right for me?

[MikeTangoWhisky]

Good morning all,

Seeking some advice from a knowledgeable audience:

Its time for me to say goodbye to my E92 Coupe 330d, I've owned it for six years and covered 50k miles in that time. Its been exceptionally reliable apart from the ABS pump which failed and was subsequently reconditioned. I now need something bigger (four doors for practicality and a large boot). There are a few other contenders in the running but both are petrol hot hatches (for the simple reason they wont be around much longer)

The majority of my driving is motorway based between the West Midlands and the south coast. We're talking about 300 miles at a time with a few A roads at either end. I've done a few trips to Europe and Scotland. So most of my car work is long distance. 

I've been tempted by Lexus for a long time since my fiancées brother and father both own them. I'm attracted to their reliability and comfort but I would be lying to say I haven't exploited the torque of my 3 litre diesel and the ease at which it cruises at outside lane speeds while delivering 45mpg- hence the interest in the 450h. 

Is the GS the right car for me?

My budget can stretch to a sub 50k mile, higher spec model from an independent, albeit a 2012/2013 model.

My concerns  are general cost of ownership. I would prefer to own this car for a long time. At least another six years and if its still going strong at that point I'll keep it further. However am I going to be stung along the way with high servicing and repair costs? Are the horror stories about shocks, batteries and other niggly bits all true? I would hate to drop 18k on a car to then be faced with a further 1200 quid for leaky shocks for instance. 

Any advice you could offer would be very appreciated and if you fancy swaying me further away from ze Germans feel free to regale me with stories how good your Lexus is.
 

[Mr Vlad]

Hi Mike. I'd forget the GS450H if boot space is important. Great car but let down only by the boot. RX450H is what you should be thinking of. HUGE boot same engine comfy as comfy can be. Great luxury reliable car. Neither car will be as fuel efficient as your 330d so be prepared for about 50 - 60% of what your beemer does, over an average.

[Spacewagon52]

16 minutes ago, MikeTangoWhisky said:

Good morning all,

Seeking some advice from a knowledgeable audience:

Its time for me to say goodbye to my E92 Coupe 330d, I've owned it for six years and covered 50k miles in that time. Its been exceptionally reliable apart from the ABS pump which failed and was subsequently reconditioned. I now need something bigger (four doors for practicality and a large boot). There are a few other contenders in the running but both are petrol hot hatches (for the simple reason they wont be around much longer)

The majority of my driving is motorway based between the West Midlands and the south coast. We're talking about 300 miles at a time with a few A roads at either end. I've done a few trips to Europe and Scotland. So most of my car work is long distance. 

I've been tempted by Lexus for a long time since my fiancées brother and father both own them. I'm attracted to their reliability and comfort but I would be lying to say I haven't exploited the torque of my 3 litre diesel and the ease at which it cruises at outside lane speeds while delivering 45mpg- hence the interest in the 450h. 

Is the GS the right car for me?

My budget can stretch to a sub 50k mile, higher spec model from an independent, albeit a 2012/2013 model.

My concerns  are general cost of ownership. I would prefer to own this car for a long time. At least another six years and if its still going strong at that point I'll keep it further. However am I going to be stung along the way with high servicing and repair costs? Are the horror stories about shocks, batteries and other niggly bits all true? I would hate to drop 18k on a car to then be faced with a further 1200 quid for leaky shocks for instance. 

Any advice you could offer would be very appreciated and if you fancy swaying me further away from ze Germans feel free to regale me with stories how good your Lexus is.
 

What Lexus cars do your future in laws have?

The best way to calm your concerns would be to buy from a Lexus dealer with a warranty. Anywhere else you will be taking the risk as independent warranties are worth about as much as a Weimar Republic Deutsche Mark! 

Test driving a Lexus is not the same as owning one - owning is MUCH better!

[Spacewagon52]

4 minutes ago, Mr Vlad said:

 RX450H is what you should be thinking of. HUGE boot same engine comfy as comfy can be. Great luxury reliable car. Neither car will be as fuel efficient as your 330d so be prepared for about 50 - 60% of what your beemer does, over an average.

That was what I should have said Vlad!

[MikeTangoWhisky]

9 minutes ago, Mr Vlad said:

Hi Mike. I'd forget the GS450H if boot space is important. Great car but let down only by the boot. RX450H is what you should be thinking of. HUGE boot same engine comfy as comfy can be. Great luxury reliable car. Neither car will be as fuel efficient as your 330d so be prepared for about 50 - 60% of what your beemer does, over an average.

Got it! I knew that they wouldn't be as efficient owing to their weight but that's quite a considerable drop. Thank you.

6 minutes ago, Spacewagon52 said:

What Lexus cars do your future in laws have?

The best way to calm your concerns would be to buy from a Lexus dealer with a warranty. Anywhere else you will be taking the risk as independent warranties are worth about as much as a Weimar Republic Deutsche Mark! 

Test driving a Lexus is not the same as owning one - owning is MUCH better!

They actually have quite the fleet. RX300, RX450H and GS300H. They had an IS300H at one point too.

I've only ever test drove the IS300H from Lexus Hedge End. Really enjoyed the hybrid drivetrain but the car was a little smaller than what I was looking for.

Thanks for the heads up on the warranty!

[royoftherovers]

1 hour ago, MikeTangoWhisky said:

Good morning all,

Seeking some advice from a knowledgeable audience:

Its time for me to say goodbye to my E92 Coupe 330d, I've owned it for six years and covered 50k miles in that time. Its been exceptionally reliable apart from the ABS pump which failed and was subsequently reconditioned. I now need something bigger (four doors for practicality and a large boot). There are a few other contenders in the running but both are petrol hot hatches (for the simple reason they wont be around much longer)

The majority of my driving is motorway based between the West Midlands and the south coast. We're talking about 300 miles at a time with a few A roads at either end. I've done a few trips to Europe and Scotland. So most of my car work is long distance. 

I've been tempted by Lexus for a long time since my fiancées brother and father both own them. I'm attracted to their reliability and comfort but I would be lying to say I haven't exploited the torque of my 3 litre diesel and the ease at which it cruises at outside lane speeds while delivering 45mpg- hence the interest in the 450h. 

Is the GS the right car for me?

My budget can stretch to a sub 50k mile, higher spec model from an independent, albeit a 2012/2013 model.

My concerns  are general cost of ownership. I would prefer to own this car for a long time. At least another six years and if its still going strong at that point I'll keep it further. However am I going to be stung along the way with high servicing and repair costs? Are the horror stories about shocks, batteries and other niggly bits all true? I would hate to drop 18k on a car to then be faced with a further 1200 quid for leaky shocks for instance. 

Any advice you could offer would be very appreciated and if you fancy swaying me further away from ze Germans feel free to regale me with stories how good your Lexus is.
 

MikeTW,

Welcome. Vlad and David have given sound sensible contributions as usual.

I would ask you if you are ready for a Lexus ?

It is a world away from any German car and possesses characteristics that are welcomed by some and despised by others. You really must test drive several models and decide for yourself.

My GS 450h is now 11 years old and been mine for nearly 9. It has covered 63,000 miles and averaged 35 mpg according to the on board computer. It will do 0-60 in 5.9 secs and is Limited to 155mph. If that is the sort of performance you require, I advise you to buy another BMW.  Lexus owner`s behaviour is influenced by the car!

I have a Service Plan which costs £34 per month. If you have yours serviced by Lexus, they will then give you 12 months warranty cover on both the car and its Hybrid Battery. The warranty on the car will/can last until 100,000 miles or 10 years since first registration. The warranty on the car can last for 15 years.

Is Lexus reliable? Yes it is

Does it have the sort of performance you are used to ? No it won`t.

Do I really want an automatic that`s unlike any other automatic ? Take a Test Drive and find out.

Please do report back and let us all know what you decide.

Thanks for reading.

 

[MikeTangoWhisky]

49 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

MikeTW,

Welcome. Vlad and David have given sound sensible contributions as usual.

I would ask you if you are ready for a Lexus ?

It is a world away from any German car and possesses characteristics that are welcomed by some and despised by others. You really must test drive several models and decide for yourself.

My GS 450h is now 11 years old and been mine for nearly 9. It has covered 63,000 miles and averaged 35 mpg according to the on board computer. It will do 0-60 in 5.9 secs and is Limited to 155mph. If that is the sort of performance you require, I advise you to buy another BMW.  Lexus owner`s behaviour is influenced by the car!

I have a Service Plan which costs £34 per month. If you have yours serviced by Lexus, they will then give you 12 months warranty cover on both the car and its Hybrid Battery. The warranty on the car will/can last until 100,000 miles or 10 years since first registration. The warranty on the car can last for 15 years.

Is Lexus reliable? Yes it is

Does it have the sort of performance you are used to ? No it won`t.

Do I really want an automatic that`s unlike any other automatic ? Take a Test Drive and find out.

Please do report back and let us all know what you decide.

Thanks for reading.

 

John thanks for the honest appraisal.

Some interesting points I hadn't considered there. Especially performance: my 330d is an older model with 231bhp. Whilst numbers aren't especially important to me I think the Lexus may have my old car well trumped in that regard. That said nobody ever does 0-60 or get anywhere near the top speed. I enjoyed the 330d because the roll on between 50-70 was easy and very common on motorways. A test drive will reveal how comparable they are. I'm not opposed to the tranquillity I experienced in the IS300H and would probably welcome the GS's quiet confidence and ability. 

 

I think the takeaway point so far is definitely investigate warranty options from a dealer.

 

 

[royoftherovers]

5 minutes ago, MikeTangoWhisky said:

John thanks for the honest appraisal.

Some interesting points I hadn't considered there. Especially performance: my 330d is an older model with 231bhp. Whilst numbers aren't especially important to me I think the Lexus may have my old car well trumped in that regard. That said nobody ever does 0-60 or get anywhere near the top speed. I enjoyed the 330d because the roll on between 50-70 was easy and very common on motorways. A test drive will reveal how comparable they are. I'm not opposed to the tranquillity I experienced in the IS300H and would probably welcome the GS's quiet confidence and ability. 

 

I think the takeaway point so far is definitely investigate warranty options from a dealer.

 

 

You should get 12 months free at purchase and all subsequent ones are free to up to 100,000/10 years.

Acceleration is measured and linear! Put your foot down and not much will happen except a crescendo from the transmission.

[Mossypossy]

Gs450h acceleration is as rapid as you want it to be. Seldom does it leave you wanting more.

Boot space is the only gripe. RX450h may have the boot space but loses it big time in the looks department compared to the GS.

[-Error-]

Hot hatches, whichever ones you are looking at will never provide you with the same class of comfort inside. Even the F Sport boasts luxury of which the spartan hot hatches will leave much to desire. If you are looking to get a hybrid and are worried about performance/MPG - it's probably one of the worst choices you can make. The car will not bring you great fuel consumption numbers if it is being driven like a diesel and you will simply find yourself not doing the fast lane speeds because there is nothing in the car to make you desire it. The gearbox feels sluggish as there's no kick in the back but don't be fooled, the BHP numbers do not lie and the 450h can shift just as well as the rest, only not as suddenly.

Driven reasonably you can start seeing >40MPG but your partner will start calling you granddad - just like your mates will when they see you pull up in a Lexus.

However, I bought mine whilst comparing it to a BMW 5, Audi A6 and a Merc E - all of which I've driven and considered for a long time. The performance wasn't on par with the 3L drivetrains (especially as I've gone for the gs300h), however it was an all round better package - no brand could match the interior design and ride comfort and that was the winning argument for me.

Reliability wise it will take you further than most others, consumption will be really good once you've driven it for a while and possibly changed your habits. Just don't fool yourself thinking you'll be able to use it to carry anything more than a few passengers and a suitcase. I do around 25-30k annual motorway miles and couldn't think of a better car to choose - it's quiet, comfortable and reliable. Plus a good Mark Levinson is better than the same age B&W or Bose.

[superatticman]

On 6/13/2021 at 9:24 PM, Mossypossy said:

Gs450h acceleration is as rapid as you want it to be. Seldom does it leave you wanting more.

Boot space is the only gripe. RX450h may have the boot space but loses it big time in the looks department compared to the GS.

I quite like the RX450h. However as a statement it's still a bit 'family with 2.4 kids' for my liking. The GS still has that slightly 'lower middle aged executive' look and feel. Just in my opinion. 

 

[Phil xxkr]

43 minutes ago, superatticman said:

I quite like the RX450h. However as a statement it's still a bit 'family with 2.4 kids' for my liking. The GS still has that slightly 'lower middle aged executive' look and feel. Just in my opinion. 

 

Crikey Adam if looks were the critical criterion however did Cyrano de Bergerac ever make out 🤣

[MikeTangoWhisky]

Turns out the answer to the original question was yes.

Very happy to say I put a deposit on a 2012 GS450H F Sport yesterday after a test drive. Everything you guys mentioned turned out to be correct. I really appreciated the quiet confidence of the car and the overall comfort. Ill take a hit on equivalent boot space and maybe some in cabin features like Android Auto but tell the truth the overall package is extremely compelling.

Very excited for collection.

[royoftherovers]

29 minutes ago, MikeTangoWhisky said:

Turns out the answer to the original question was yes.

Very happy to say I put a deposit on a 2012 GS450H F Sport yesterday after a test drive. Everything you guys mentioned turned out to be correct. I really appreciated the quiet confidence of the car and the overall comfort. Ill take a hit on equivalent boot space and maybe some in cabin features like Android Auto but tell the truth the overall package is extremely compelling.

Very excited for collection.

Very pleased for you Mike. Congratulations upon joining an exclusive club.👍👍

[b4u2]

2 hours ago, MikeTangoWhisky said:

Turns out the answer to the original question was yes.

Very happy to say I put a deposit on a 2012 GS450H F Sport yesterday after a test drive. Everything you guys mentioned turned out to be correct. I really appreciated the quiet confidence of the car and the overall comfort. Ill take a hit on equivalent boot space and maybe some in cabin features like Android Auto but tell the truth the overall package is extremely compelling.

Very excited for collection.

congrats

let's see some photos!

[Vlady]

2 hours ago, MikeTangoWhisky said:

Turns out the answer to the original question was yes.

Very happy to say I put a deposit on a 2012 GS450H F Sport yesterday after a test drive. Everything you guys mentioned turned out to be correct. I really appreciated the quiet confidence of the car and the overall comfort. Ill take a hit on equivalent boot space and maybe some in cabin features like Android Auto but tell the truth the overall package is extremely compelling.

Very excited for collection.

Congratulations! What mileage does it have and what colour? 

I moved myself (3 years ago exactly) from BMW 5 series with 3ltr diesel. No regrets! Only on motorway you can see the diesel benefits, in town or short trips 3ltr diesel won't give you great mpg.

So what were your thoughts during test drive? How di you find a gearbox in Lexus? Tbh, when I drive my wifes BMW now I hate feeling changes while the in town, Lexus is so smooth! 

Now as a driver car as BMW but your F-Sport should be not far away, my Premier model is like a barge and hates to be pushed but still can go really fast!

When are you getting the car? Remember to attach photos of your new toy!

Stay Safe

Vlad

[royoftherovers]

Vlad, A great post.

I`ve just put your name forward as our Representative on the "LET`S TELL LEXUS WHAT WE WANT ADVISORY PANEL" for the UK.👍👍

[MikeTangoWhisky]

3 hours ago, royoftherovers said:

Very pleased for you Mike. Congratulations upon joining an exclusive club.👍👍

 

1 hour ago, Vlady said:

Congratulations! What mileage does it have and what colour? 

I moved myself (3 years ago exactly) from BMW 5 series with 3ltr diesel. No regrets! Only on motorway you can see the diesel benefits, in town or short trips 3ltr diesel won't give you great mpg.

So what were your thoughts during test drive? How di you find a gearbox in Lexus? Tbh, when I drive my wifes BMW now I hate feeling changes while the in town, Lexus is so smooth! 

Now as a driver car as BMW but your F-Sport should be not far away, my Premier model is like a barge and hates to be pushed but still can go really fast!

When are you getting the car? Remember to attach photos of your new toy!

Stay Safe

Vlad

I didnt find the gearbox as unnatural as a lot of journo's make out. Its very smooth and suits the character of the car. I was surprised by how much the car follows the camber of the road, especially under braking. I initially mistook it for wheel alignment until I noticed it in both directions. So much so that I had to call future brother-in-law (who also owns a GS) to see if this was normal. Turns out it is- has anyone else noticed this?

I think youre right about the feedback the car gives you. Certainly in the BMW there's a better feeling through the steering wheel as to what is going on with the wheels. I found the Lexus to be a bit more vague but its equally as competent. I didnt get chance (or really have the inclination) to floor it so I'm yet to really see how quick they are. I do recall getting up to motorway speeds was a complete non-event. The car wasn't phased in the slightest. No increase in engine noise and only a slight increase in noise from the Bridgstone potenzas its wearing. 

2 hours ago, b4u2 said:

congrats

let's see some photos!

 

 

Thank you very much guys.

Its a nebula grey pearl with 47k on the clock. I'm picking her up next week after she's had a service at Lexus. Will post plenty of photos then. 

[MikeTangoWhisky]

On the first drive back my overwhelming feeling was that I made the right decision. Through the speed controlled area of the M6 it returned 51mpg. I'm amazed how composed it is and perhaps now I understand how it changes your driving style. 

I should probably mention EliteVenture in Leicester who seem to sell quite a lot of Lexus stock. They took the car to Lexus Stoke for me and put another stamp in the book which has earnt the car a year on Lexus Relax- lovely to have peace of mind in that way and the whole transaction was very easy. 

Another happy convert. Pictures later today!

 

[Vlady]

On 6/18/2021 at 12:30 PM, MikeTangoWhisky said:

 

I didnt find the gearbox as unnatural as a lot of journo's make out. Its very smooth and suits the character of the car. I was surprised by how much the car follows the camber of the road, especially under braking. I initially mistook it for wheel alignment until I noticed it in both directions. So much so that I had to call future brother-in-law (who also owns a GS) to see if this was normal. Turns out it is- has anyone else noticed this?

 

I noticed that on my first drive too, I told about it to the garage I bought the car from and after checking MOT history which said that the front left calliper was sticking a bit the garage agreed to look at it.

They probably did look at it as the car was not too bad when I picked it up but it wasn't linear on the road as BMW was. 

I cleaned then brakes myself (helped a little), took it to Lexus to wheel alignment and even changed tyres but I still have now and then when the car follows the camber of the road, it does a little bit more to the left for some reasons.

I just know it does it (rarely) and stop paying attention to it but I still do brake cleaning twice a year.

Vlad