Carl911

I am 43 and drive a gs450h. I have had many cars over the years including several 400bhp + sports cars and a few years ago it come to a head when I realised on UK roads it's actually almost pointless having sports cars anymore. The roads in general are dreadfull plus as soon as you start driving quickly you are likely to find a set of blue lights behind. Sports cars attend to make you drive more aggressively and hence faster. Luxury cars attend to relax you and make you drive more conservatively. That said, the gs450h does both., it still makes me drive at a sensible pace due to its smooth drive and comfort but at the same time if you should need to over take something it has all the power and more than most other sports cars on the road. Carl

Yes there is certainly space in the glovebox although I'm not sure where you run the wires for that instal. I never really looked at it in detail as I didn't intend fitting there. The hardest part is having space to drill holes if necessary in confined areas. If the glovebox comes out then that might make things easier. I'm Sure someone will have done it and know the best route for the wires.

With regards to charging whilst using an extension, I have found no such problem whilst connecting my iphone 6. Carl

I decided to put it in the centre console because of something another forum member said regarding updating.If I needed to update for instance if the new IOS for iphone messes things up then access is easier in the centre console where as behind the stereo would require removing all the trims and stereo each time. That said, I may never need to update so that is all remains to be seen. Also, the only one space it would fit behind the stereo was tight and could lead to future squeaks etc even though I would have put a layer of felt over it. Believe it or not its a lot more work fitting it to the centre console, firstly you need to be able to plug in the main adaptor plug and the usb lead which happens to be one lead either side of the unit. There is just enough space in the centre console width to take these two leads, hence a bit of measuring and trimming to get things fitting well. Then you want a cutout to allow you to acces the cigarette lighter at the back of the centre console. My surround was made from several layers of foam board bought from a craft shop. I stuck them together then covered them in a stick on felt.. I had to make various channels to allow for the leads and wires. It all gets quite a tight fit when it goes in. The top part Is just a lid to cover everything with some black ribbon stapled in to help pull the tight fitting lid up again should I need to gain access. Of course as well as being able to plug in your iphone 4/5 or 6 you can also use your usb memory sticks with mp3 music in. These work particularly well and it's just like viewing a cd only more information available. So far, I'm very please with the vais unit. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Just keep one thing in mind when setting up the vais unit. Make sure the unit is up the right way or else your settings are in reverse and it won't connect up properly to the car. I made thus mistake as the instructions diagrams are not as clear as they could be. In fact, use the PDF download instructions of the vais site as these are clearer and you can zoom in for a closer look. Carl

Ordered the VAIS unit from the states because there seemed to be few decent options in the UK. Anyway, got around to installing it, initially I fitted it behind the existing stereo which there was just enough space but after giving it some thought I decided to move it to the centre console. I basically fitted the unfit within a foam surround then put a false top on do that it looks like the bottom of the centre console tray again albeit shallower. I also installed a usb socket so that I can plug in either the iPhone or usb memory stick with ease. There is a little pull tan so that I can easily pull up the bottom to access the unit beneath if necessary. All in all a tidy finish that looks more like the newer cars. Carl

Yes, they are expensive but that said they are good quality rubber mats and do have Lexus Moulded on them, lol.In some respects they are better value and will last a whole lot longer than the equally expensive material mats. Carl

I don't have any for sale but weirdly enough tne previous owner has Lexus rubber mats on top of Lexus normal mats. So the normal mats are in prestine condition. It was my intention to remove the rubber mats in favour of the beige standard mats but given the wet muddy conditions I have found the rubber mats to be a wise choice. Maybe once things dry up a bit I will remove the rubber mats until next winter. Anyway, guess my point is, rubber mars good for winter and standard mats good for dryer weather. Carl

I cant answer your question regarding reliability although I've not heard that many reports of its failure. My advice would be to take out a Lexus extended warranty. Yes, it's going to cost extra but if you work it I to the price then I think it'll give you piece of mind. I had a year lexus warranty with my gs450h and intend to extend it for a second year when that expires. Not much really goes wrong with these cars but if if does it usually cost in the £1000's rather than £100's. Carl

Ps- did you ever own a gs before buying your ls. I was very close to buying a ls but in the end thought the gs more practical for me. As yet I have not test driven the ls but have always wanted to see just how good they are. These days I just want a nice stereo and a quiet ride. The main reason I opted for Lexus in the first place. I still have an is250 which is a lovely car but when I get back in my gs450h it's just another level up. I imagine the same would be going from the GS to the LS.

I'm not sure what these updates would be but frankly as long as it continues to play my mp3's I doubt I will ever bother with them. That said, I could have the unit out in 10 minutes if it was really needed. Like you I thought about putting it in the centre console box. I was trying to think how I could put a false bottom over it so you would t see it. Bit of plastic with velvet stuck to top to match rest of box. Did you have tne same issue as me getting the two little switches the wrong way round. The pictures were very small and almost impossible to read with any clarity. I thought like you I would be giving them a call but fortunately had the brain storm to turn it over and do things in reverse which worked a treat. Just got to drill a hole in my centre box tomorrow to feed wire through and eventually when it arrives fit usb fitting. Carl

Ok, a quick update, I decided to fit the vais unit myself as it didnt look too hard. It was very easy getting the stereo unit out, probably ten minutes max. As mentioned by others, the key. Is being careful not to scag anything with the sides of the stereo assembly whilst moving things around. The vais unit itself due to its size only had one space it would fit without cutting holes to fit to glovebox etc. The position I chose was directly behind the stereo assembly as there was space if the vais unit was put flat upright at the back. I secured it with double sided tape and added some felt just in case anything like a wire should rub. With tension usb the leads will travel to the box in the centre console. Here I intend to fit a permanent tidy USB port when it arrives in the post. Will post a picture once fitted. It took me a few attempts to get the vais MML up and running correctly through the cars system but that was mainly due to the instructions not being too clear. Basically for the GS with ML You use tne MP3 setting from the manual. It says to flick the left switch down only and turn ignition on. You here a long beep followed by three short beeps. Turn ignition off then back on and hopefully all should work. The problem I had was its hard to tell which way is top of the unit and which is bottom which obviously reverses the switch positions. Once I realised it wasn't working I flipped things and all worked perfectly. You now hit cd twice taking you to aux. and everything can be controlled from the car. You get touch screen folders with all song info. The iphone 6 I connected now automatically sets volume and charges as well. So far all seems to be working well,and sound is perfect. Happy this far. I will update in a week. Carl

I'm no expert here but if you are talking gs models from 2005- then tne differences are quite minimal as compared to the IS. As far as I am aware the only physical differences between SE & SE-L are wooden steering wheel and gear knob and sun roof and I'm pretty sure you can have these as optional extras on the SE. Not sure about air suspension, thought that was just LS Models but I expect someone will clarify. My GS450H seems to be very well specified having more or less all tne same toys as my IS SE-L. the IS does have a bottom heated screen and illuminated door sills which the GS doesn't but tne Gs has illuminated interior door handles and tyre pressure sensors-lol.. Carl

That's good to hear,I have iPhone 6 and was concerned if it was not going to work ok despite being assured it will. Better to hear of someone who has installed it.

As a matter of interest, what iPhone have you connected to it. Is it the later smaller type connector as found in iPhone 5 & 6?

What is the black stuff you tied them with?

Gosh, those bundles look much thicker than I expected. I imagine the gap is quite tight to push that in. Did you use a screw driver to push it down the back. Did this cause the dash to mis shape or bend given its thickness. Did you soldo use one of these cushions near every clip to cure your rattles? Carl

Gosh, those bundles look much thicker than I expected. I imagine the gap is quite tight to push that in. Did you use a screw driver to push it down the back. Did this cause the dash to mis shape or end given its thickness.Did you also use one of these cushions near every clip to cure your rattles? Carl

That would be most helpful if you could. Carl

The only thing I have found that helps thus far is turning the radio up and planting my foot on the gas for some immense acceleration. Carl

Apparently when the removed the dash they added felt to the existing clips but clearly this did t work. Maybe they just didn't add enough. I'll have to have a search through the USA forums to see how they have applied the felt. Carl

The dash was out last week at Lexus and put back in again so if something was lodged it would have been moved I imagine. It's going back in again next week for a second attempt. Had to go through the same with the is when I first had it and that was cured eventually. Hopefully they will get there eventually. Other than that, love the car now.

I know its is cold weather at the moment but I have a continual rubbing type noise that seems to come from the dash where it meets the windscreen. It's a little like when you get creaking leather seats and it occurs over rough road surfaces and bumps. Is thus normal in the GS model hence my comments or should it be rubbing and rattle free. I know my IS does not suffer from this despite the cold weather. I love the GS in every other aspect but find thus very annoying. Is this a GS inherent problem and I just gave to live with it? Does your GS also produce a lot of creaking and rubbing this cold weather time of year and if so does it disappear once the climate warms up? Comments wrk one as I need to know it either needs fixing or I just gave to live with it. Oh, my GS is a 2007 gs450h. Cheers Carl

As title, ordered ipod integration Vais MML system today from the states so once it arrives will get it fitted and see how it sounds. Looking forward to being able to plug the iphone back into the car stereo system again. Carl

Mine is a 2007 plate and also doesn't have them but those are minor details compared to the rather enjoyable ride. Simply effortless driving with silly amounts of power on tap when required. Got to love it. I've had a courtesy car, ct200h for a few days and thought it was pretty decent until I got back in my gs and it was like getting into a luxury rocket by comparison. Carl