Gs 450H Or 300

[Dracoro]

Having sold my current car, I'm am about to buy a GS (2007ish models)

I have 2/3 in mind that I have checked all all seems in order and are a mix of the 450h and 300 but I'm struggling to decide between them. All have ML stereo and spec-wise they're pretty much the same. Checked for recall (valve springs etc.). Mileage-wise they're all 30-60k.

There's a £1000 between the three so financially I'm happy with either of them so not down to price. The 450h will be less to tax of course.

I like the drive of the 450h, a little odd but in a nice way. I like the quietness when on batteries, the performance and the relative economy. Obv the boot space is less but still hatchback size so big enough for my needs (wife has CRV for load lugging!)

However, the 300 is likely to be more reliable? (less to go wrong). Is quoted mpg (28.8) realistic? I get that out of my current car (S2000) that is also quoted at 28 so I guess my driving is representative.

Do I really have to worry too much about the hybrid system? If it fails, can the car run on petrol only as if a normal car for example?

How much performance difference is there *really* between the two? (I've driven the 450h but not the 300). Performance that I "need" is more for overtaking (commute is a/b roads with some dawdlers and my current car, S2000, is great for this) rather than b-road blasts or traffic light GPs!

Also, do they cost the same come service time? Anyone know any specialists in Sussex area? Brighton Lexus is no more unfortunately.

So, basically I can't decide. Heart says 450h, head can't decide. Help! :)

Note I will be deciding/buying tomorrow (should have posted this thread earlier!!!) so any quick advice would be great.

[PJ S]

If your main journey is a bit of a run, then the 300 would make the most sense, even allowing for the extra £200 per annum on RFL.

Come 3 or so years down the line, who knows what extortionate price you'd be paying though, even if the hybrid's C02 level rises by the same percentage.

So if it rose to say £600, from its current £470, only you'd know if that was too much to continue with.

I want to persuade you to buy the 450, but the batteries on two 450s listed on AT this year, had been replaced, at a cost of £2000 inc any Lexus "goodwill". That's a bit unsettling as it would be hoped to have no such issues for at least 10 years, if not longer.

You'll also not benefit from London CC relief - they moved the goalposts a few years ago after entrapping buyers with a "lower" CO2 level at the time.

All in all, unless there's a lot of town/stop-start traffic encountered, the benefit of the hybrid is overshadowed by the lack of batteries concern and very doable 33-34 mpg [combined] with a light right foot (and oddly enough, plenty of cruise control usage!) in a 300.

[Dracoro]

Thanks. Do you know the mileage of the two you mentioned?

How wide is the performance gap between the two? I like something with a fair bit of overtaking ability.

All I am considering are from dealers (300 is from main dealer)

[dave1]

I would go for the 450h but it's a shame you need to buy so rapidly. Either car from main dealer gets 1 yr warranty while non franchise dealer 6 months generally. Performance wise the 450h is way better than GS300, it is also slightly quicker acceleration than a GS430.

If the hybrid batteries on the 450h were a problem then I'm sure the motoring press would have highlighted the fact given how, according to some LOC members, they slate Lexus at every opportunity.

[Dracoro]

Thanks. Sod's law would mean I get a duff one though, that's my worry and as 5+ years old, not covered by Lexus.

[Grizzly Man]

I track consumption in my GS300 "properly" using an app and am running at an average of 28.16mpg over the last 10,000km on a roughly equal mix of motorway / back road / city. I would say the 450H would return roughly the same. There is definitely a considerable performance advantage with the 450H, although the 300 is hardly lacking in power either!

[Dracoro]

Head overruled heart in the end so I went for the 300, lower mileage, from MD etc.

Now the wait! :D

[PJ S]

Thanks. Do you know the mileage of the two you mentioned?

How wide is the performance gap between the two? I like something with a fair bit of overtaking ability.

All I am considering are from dealers (300 is from main dealer)

The one at the time I was still looking, was a 56 plate with 90 odd thousand, iirc.

The other one was similarish high mileage, and 56/07, again iirc.

450h would be better in the overtaking stakes by a bit, but if it was a case of just making a manoeuvre possible, then I'd say it was never really on to begin with.

In other words, with proper planning and execution, you'll not find yourself sitting overly long in the time exposed to danger zone, and the 3L V6 gives a nice noise when you're planting it, even in ECT mode and not just Sport mode......which I've still yet to try after 2.5 months of ownership (I know! I know!).

The warranty a Lexus dealer provides, can also be purchased by you directly, as long as the car is under 7 yo at the time of doing so, so had you bought the 450h, you could've been covered for an additional year or two - but you'd have spent the same £2K plus for peace of mind.

Sod's Law dictates that it's after that expense and deciding to wing it, you'd unfortunately have an issue.

Anyway, congrats on the new purchase - get some photos up - and aside from having only 256 bhp/231 ft/lbs under your right foot, I suspect you'll not be disappointed.

[Dracoro]

Picked up yesterday!

Absolutely faultess, you'd think it was a new car.

Drives v well, enough performance for what I want so that's good news!

[PJ S]

Pictures, with or without the obligatory tin of custard....;)

[Dracoro]

Pics! (phone camera and poor light but pics nonetheless!)