LexIS200Sport

Well, long story short, I went ahead and bought it :) Did feel a bit heavy-hearted leaving the IS200 behind though... I've elaborated a little more on the GS450h in my new member's thread here.

So... three years later and my trusty IS200 Sport has been swapped for a GS450h SE-L. Wise move? Only time will tell :) I've only had the car for about two days, but everything that I've read about it appears to be true so far; it's fast, smooth, and very relaxing to drive. The brisk acceleration from any speed is certainly its party piece, and watching the hybrid system in action is very interesting. Average consumption has been 35 mpg (according to the computer). A totally different animal to the IS200 then, to put it another way. That said, I do feel that the GS450h lacks the overall solidness of the IS200. What used to be a reassuring "thud" in the IS (when shutting the boot, closing the doors, etc) feels more like a "clunk" in the GS. And its interior certainly creaks a lot more than the IS. Now for some pics: I also just realised one more thing: the IS200 had a silver exterior with a black interior, which made it easier to keep it looking spotless for longer. The GS450h on the other hand has a dark exterior with a bright interior... happy days :P

Thanks Jon, I'm also eager to see what it's like. :) Will definitely update this space with tomorrow's outcomes!

This is a very interesting question. I am in the market for a used GS hybrid so am keen to learn more too. Assuming both cars have full service history and good maintenance record, I would guess that the lower mileage one would be the slightly better of the two. The battery pack health shouldn't be that far off from each other. This is based on my observation on a couple of high-milers; for example, Tonyricha's GS450h is nudging 200k miles and he doesn't appear to comment on the lack of performance due to battery degradation. However, when time comes to resell your vehicle, the lower-mileage one could be more attractive to buyers. That's just my guess/opinion, so I am very keen to hear more from others :)

After months of deliberation, I have decided to treat myself to a GS450h. On Monday, I will be viewing one at a Lexus dealer with the intention of replacing my ever-rugged IS200. The GS450h in question was first registered on January 2007, is an SE-L spec, finished in Windsor Blue, and looks like this: This car has travelled 67k miles, has full Lexus service history, and one previous owner. I was also told that the valve-spring recall has been carried out on this car. Apart from the usual inspections for used cars, I gather that the following two points are of specific interest to the 3rd-gen GS: - creaks and rattles from the interior - seizing rear brake calipers I will insist on a (suitably) long test drive to look out for these points. Apart from that, is there anything else that I should be aware of? Hopefully it all goes well - Monday couldn't come sooner :)

Could I be put down as maybe? :) Won't be camping, so thinking of attending just one of those two days if that's okay.

Hi John, welcome to the club. That's a nice colour on a GS :) Yes, to remove the gear knob, simply unscrew it. This video confirms it, at around the 30-second mark:

Good to know, thanks Adrian :)

That was helpful, thanks Mike :)

Hi all, just wondering if it is possible to drive a 3rd-gen GS without the TPMS sensors? Will the car throw a fit and enter limp-home mode or will it just show a warning light at most? Also, is it possible to disable the system alltogether (using the TIS software or otherwise)? Many thanks :)

Out of curiosity, what is the limit for the number of TPMS units that can be programmed into the car?

Has anyone seen this one? The V10 is insane!

This could be useful: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/104-5th-6th-generation-2002-2006-2007-2011/407784-toyota-camry-c-button-flashing-blinking-repair-13-99-instead-1200-a.html http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/86-sequoia-forum/401925-if-your-ac-light-blinking-check-first.html

Does this apply to all dealers or just Lexus Woodford?

I don't see why not ;) It is essentially an LS coupe isn't it?

Can't seem to access the ad :(

I can relate with my intro post from three years ago. Felt warmly welcomed by a lone reply :P (thanks Kevin :)) http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=72065 Will also make an effort to be more welcoming :)

Another fan of the chrome detailing on the IS. I think it has just the right amount to give it a premium feel. :)

That's pretty neat, wish we had it here! It pisses me off slightly when people change my optimised seat settings. :P

Nah, I say you should get a V8. Now's your chance!! ;) You have already experienced the 1st gen IS, so what not experiment with something else?

So I viewed a GS450h today, and fell in love! It was very smooth to drive, handled well, and had impressive acceleration. The boot wasn't as small as I thought it would be; in fact, for my purpose I was pretty happy with it. The steering also had decent feedback and I kept my ears alert for any rattles but there were none. That said, I'm going to have a look at two or three other cars before making up my mind. :) By the way, while looking around, I noticed this sensor in the boot next to the spare wheel. Anyone knows what is it for?

Thanks Colin :)

Is it safe to drive the car with a malfunctioning transmission pump?

Thanks for sharing, Chris :) Another question: did the size of the boot remain the same throughout all the model years? For some reason, the article on wikipedia about the GS450h states that there was an increase in boot space from the 2009 model year onwards. Can anyone relate? Thanks again

Thanks for the feedback gents, I think I have found the answer. It appears that Lexus has moved the trim level one notch lower for the 2008 model year onwards. In other words, the base model was renamed "SE", and what used to be the "SE" is now the "SE-L". The top of the line model is the "SE-L with ACC+PCS+sunroof". Attached are the specifications for the pre-2008 (credits to tonyricha) and post-2008 GS450h line-up. Therefore, from 2008, SE-L doesn't imply ACC. The ACC (bundled with the sunroof) was an option, as mentioned by Colin. GS450h pre-2008.pdf GS450h post-2008.pdf