alxm5

Yes the description is very vague, which is why I was fishing for user experience. A YouTube video online didn’t give much detail or hope about autonomous braking (it showed the brakes activate as the car made impact - ) Re specs - perhaps in the UK, although I wouldn’t know. In New Zealand I think it may have only been fitted to the limited model (we had base models and limited available) and I think sunroof was an standalone option. Mine is limited - has ACC/PCS, rear side seat airbags, and ML stereo, yet no GPS nor sunroof.

I’ve seen some refer to the PCS system as being able to brake if there’s a crash imminent. Is that’s actually the case? Obviously it isn’t AEB as fitted on more recent models, but will it break on its own at all? I can’t find any thorough discussion or detail on system at all On my GS I haven’t had any PCS intervention at all, but on a friends GS300 I borrowed for the weekend some years ago I had the seatbelts suddenly pull me back when I was fast approaching a truck to overtake in a small section of road. It gave me a huge fright and certainly distracted me. Anyone else have similar experiences? Does the PCS alert frequently or often? Or at all? As I said, I haven’t had a peep from mine some weeks into ownership.

Oh and I was hoping for DVD double layer 8.5GB discs - but this page leads me to believe that won’t be possible - is that right?

When you say you didn’t know there was a version without satnav... do you mean a version of the GS450h or a version with the ML without the satnav? In the New Zealand Market we at times get the cars sooner but for the first year or two they might have different packaging or be missing a feature. Since making this post I saw all the great things that the car can do with this... https://gromaudio.co.uk/products/vl1-infotainment-upgrade/lexus-toyota-2006-2009-grom-vline-infotainment-system-upgrade-video-interface.html#Contents I’d love to get that installed - but my car doesn’t have Navi. Would some features still work, or would it not function at all? Thanks for comments re files. I will make some effort on the DVD front.... :S for now at least...

Hi The sound system is great, but so far have not ventured into looking into modernising the formats it can play. I wanted some input from others' experience... Can the DVD system play a data DVD that has been written full of songs? Does it play iTunes AAC files? Is it possible to write a DVD as an MP3 DVD? Are others using the DVD function as an alternative to installing a GROM type device? Can anyone show how the GROM displays content / artists / albums on the Mark L. headunit? Not sure if I should hunt out my old external USB CD tray so I can write a DVD or CD, or if I should just bite the bullet and go for a GROM or similar. I'm with this system - photo attached Cheers

Good to know. We've got brake work noted in the future too.... So going from other threads that's 500 GBP per shock absorber on a fixed pricing? God - I hope that doesn't convert to NZD exactly - that puts it at $1,000NZD per unit. They were markedly cheaper on the IS300 from memory. A

Hello Just stumbled upon this thread after being advised that I will be in for a new shock absorber for my 60k km 2006 GS450h some time soon. Generally - does it appear that Lexus has problems with shock absorbers? I had problems with my IS200, IS300, LS400 and now GS450h shock absorbers. Mind you - the Lexus IS200 was in terrible condition with 250k km - the others much less on the odometer. Anyway, again the Lexus dealer has said it is weeping and will need to replaced. The consensus is that it is worth obtaining a second opinion before agreeing to replace the shock? I assume with 60k odd km, this would have to be the first shock problem with this car. Is it reasonable that such a low milage car would have shock issues? Will try and review history. Here we have great consumer law, if expensive would happily take a claim against Lexus for poor manufacturing standards if big bill - but at least for now, it's just one. A

Thanks so much for the information. Before posting my original I called our local Lexus dealer (the only place the car has been taken its whole life - there's a full history there thankfully) and they didn't have anything up front. However, a few hours later I received an email with details. It turns out that in 2011 the battery was replaced, and I assume shortly after that, when (also assuming) the new battery continued to under perform for the previous owner, the dealership also installed the 'battery minder', as they call it, and from the records they haven't had any issues or complaints related to the traction battery or main battery. So yes - it's what I'd call a trickle charger for the 12v battery. Without the exact timeframes or distances its hard to know, but it may just be that the car was used infrequently with such small trips (the previous owner lived in the very centre of the city - 1 or 2km from the centre) that the car never ran enough. As I've mentioned, the previous owner had a large highway car, and this was his city car, so it's possible it was just that. Given the battery is over 6 years old now, it could purely be a mix of coincidence, and the fact the car has hardly been used in the last year, that it went flat on us so suddenly. It might be that we need to change the battery and fingers crossed - that's it. The car does not have any modifications. I"ve looked in the boot and it has what I assume is the original Mark Levinston amplifier unit. The Lexus dealership did tell me that on their system it was noted, during the last service, that the front right shock absorber is weeping. Is this a common problem? I wonder what a repair entails. So starting the GS in the morning, it would be normal for the traction battery only to run things for a minute or so even when stationary? I suspect my (limited) experience with a late model Prius has coloured my expectations of the GS's battery. I will monitor the consumption monitor and EV mode times and see how we go Cheers

Quick sort of related question - what sort of economy do you achieve and what type of trip / style of driving is that with? Cheers

Hmm ok that doesn't sound good. You've looked into whether you have the benefit of any warranty or so? Does the car still shut over petrol engine at times, whats mpg? Have you decided what you will do?

Here are some photos of the unit in the back

Hi all I posted on this forum almost a decade ago when I bought my 1995 LS. Well, I've still got that and it now has 340,000km on the clock. A few hiccups along the way, but more or less what one would expect from such a distance. A few suspension problems (which are common but probably made worse with our earthquaked roads), a temperamental stereo and AC unit, and that's about it. I'm posting because I'm a bit worried about the new car I've bought - a 2006 GS450h with 64,000 KM on the clock (yes - KMs). It was owned by an elderly friend of mine who has had it more or less since new. In fact I remember driving it when he bought it wishing one day that I'd have such a car - and in the end, I have that exact one. My friend died actually, so we bought it from his estate. Of course we can't ask him about any of it now, and there doesn't seem to be record of problems at the dealer. Anyway, the point is the economy, even when driving sedately on highway averaging just shy of 30mpg - I had expected better (9.4l/100 after a 100km 70% highway 90kph trip). In fact, I can get 30mpg driving the same trip my 95 LS400. Also, this morning started the car the info display showed hybrid battery had all but 1 bar, and within 1 minute (not moving at all) hybrid battery emptied at engine started. Are these the same sort of symptoms one would expect with a dead hybrid battery? There have not been any warnings or issues with the hybrid system. At the same time, when was sitting in the car before 'starting' the ignition, within 10 minutes the battery went weak and I had several problems getting the ignition to start (I know this is not hybrid battery related). The car does have a wall plug in the boot. I guess this is a hybrid conditioner (which I've learnt about today), or perhaps it is a normal battery charger? The only other background I have (other than what's in the paperwork), which my friend mentioned several times, is that it always gets a flat battery (the 12v standard battery). I vaguely remember him saying that replacing the battery didn't help, but perhaps I'm imaging that. He only ever drove it for small trips in the city, because he had a larger luxury car for longer trips. If the hybrid system is dead - would I know for sure? Would that affect the 12v battery? I look forward to your help guys (and girls) Alex NB - photos below are of the far left inner part of boot - Car does shut off V6 when coasting and will stay shut off for a minute or two at traffic light. -Car did say check VGRS system, or something like that, when struggling to start after the battery went very low. - Car started fine the next few times on the same day

Hi Brian Would be interested to hear what the GS's symptoms are. I'm just about to make a post about my GS would be interested to hear your experience . Alex

Hi everyone. Sorry for not posting recently, have been too busy driving the lovely lex around the place. I had a horrible groaning noise from the front of the car a few months ago, which only required some lubricant to fix. However, NZ has recently suffered from severe downpours all over the place, and have discovered some serious leaks! The boot leak seems to be a common problem. (I found a pool of water underneath the carpet in the boot!). Thankfully I was able to clean up the mess when it was relatively fresh... anyhow the main problem is actually in the cabin. Near the passenger speaker water is entering the cabin, just to the left of the glove box (remember, that's on a right hand drive car) so right next to the passenger door. I'm not sure how the water gets there, but it does, and the passenger's footwell was honestly like a pool; I've dried it out twice now. Has anyone had the same problem? Would be excellent if they could, or someone who knows what might be going on, spend a minute to explain how to rectify the problem. I don't have the time or skills to do it myself, but thought I ought to try to understand what the problem is before spending bucket loads on understanding the problem. Just as a side note too, has anyone experienced a whistling/whining at city speeds? Between 55 and 58kph the car sometimes starts a whistling type thing - it's not anything to do with the aerodynamics, I'm sure, it seems to do it more when it's cold. Any ideas? It doesn't seem serious, and passengers often don't notice if the radio is on quietly. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone. My 1995 Lexus LS400 does this too - it will never occur on the highway either - although if I travel more than 20km or so the creaking starts to occur - it could almost be decsribed as a groaning - especially when cornering slowly going over a bump or something. For example my drive way is very tight and the back of the car goes over the curb with the front wheels on full lock - and it will make a horrible noise. I certainly hope this is something to do with the bushes.