sota

Harsh is probably the wrong word, but it definitely does not float and could not be described as plush. I used to have a 2006 GS450h and it's close to that but a little bit more controlled. In the 600hL I would never drive it aggressively - it just wasn't that type of car. The 500h is more fun to drive at the expense of comfort, but it's still a large luxury saloon. I tried the high mode on the 600hL but I preferred the standard height setting. Maybe the roads around here are a bit better 😃 In terms of performance, it's a bit behind the 5L V8 but it's not something I would notice 99% of the time.

I did this last June. I had a 2008 600hL which I really liked but the tax, insurance, fuel consumption & repair bills were getting hard to justify. I got a good deal on a 2019 LS500h Premium with 25k KMs and three year Lexus warranty. It's a completely different car to the LS600h, the ride is less plush and it feels more sporty. With the LS600h you wafted along on a cushion of air, but it was showing it's age with it's entertainment & navigation systems. With the LS500h the ride is a bit harsher and the quality of the carpets and seat leather is noticeably poorer. However, I still would not change back thanks to the heads-up display, 4 seat massage and the fit & finish of the interior. My biggest gripe is the display which is not touch sensitive and really should not be used while driving as you have to look away from the road while navigating menus with the touchpad. On a recent trip to the UK, I got just over 900kms on a full tank which was excellent and I arrived after a day's driving without a single ache or pain. So yes, I would certainly recommend it but you should test drive one first, and go for the latest model with the touch screen if your budget allows.

I switched from a 2008 LS600hL to an LS500h last year. I think he is spot on regarding most of the differences. The LS600hL felt a lot plusher and seemed to waft along on a cushion of air. The LS500h is a completely different car, less plush and a little bit more sporty. The carpets and leather are of inferior quality, and the user interface on the touchpad is borderline dangerous to use while driving. However, I still love it and the new safety features such as heads-up display, blind side monitoring, lane keep assist, etc are excellent. On a trip to France last year it was a joy to drive long distances and generated considerable interest. So, overall I've no regrets and still enjoy driving it.

Apologies guys, your replies prompted me to check this again. I had assumed that my iPhone didn't differentiate between volume settings on different devices, but it does. When connected to the BlueMusic module and I adjust the volume, that slider on the phone has a BlueTooth icon beside it. When I disconnect, the volume setting returns to it's previous level. Magic!

Yes, that does solve the problem but them my phone is at max volume and deafens me the next time I use it! The car is booked in with the local Lexus dealer for a service tomorrow, so I'm going to check if they can adjust the Aux channel volume independent of the other channels for CD and Radio.

Thanks @Exdee I took a chance and ordered one of these with the Y cable for my 2008 LS600hL and it worked great. The volume on Bluetooth is a fair bit lower than the CD or radio, but I don't see any way to adjust it seperately. However, that's a minor issue.

I was in this car on Friday. It's doing a tour of European dealers at the moment, so it was in Galway for a few days before moving on to Italy, I think. According to the dealer, it's a pre-production model, so not all features worked. Overall, I was very impressed with it although I didn't get a chance to drive it. Here are some of my impressions: The heads-up display is very nice. You only see it when you focus on the outside view rather the windscreen and it seems to provide a lot of information without being distracting. The sat-nav interface is much improved, and the external cameras can detect speed limit signs to warn you. The steering wheel is much smaller and sporty with up/down shift paddles. The 20 in. chromed wheels looked great, but could be a pain to clean. The interior felt roomier than my LS600hL apart from the rear. The boot is a lot bigger than the LS600h. The rear centre console has a touch-screen display for adjusting seats, entertainment, etc. Very intuitive with large icons. The biggest plus for me was the price, about €65k less than the current LS, and the road tax is also about €1,000 pa less. Given that it's a 3.5L engine, I would imagine that insurance would be cheaper also. The dealer expects to have demo models in the showroom in December. I took a picture of the spec sheet and price list, hopefully you can read it OK. Pat

In case you think I had any doubts about the LS600, it's the best car I have ever owned, absolutely no regrets!

Not so sure about the battery back, I have a 2008 LS600hL and my dealer says they have never had a problem with one. The main weakness at that age is the front suspension bushings which do wear and are expensive to replace. Also, check if the brake discs and pads have been changed recently, Have a look at the 12 volt battery in the boot, it should have a date code on to indicate if it has been replaced. When it fails, it can give really weird symptoms. All of this should also be in the service history. Check the bodywork very carefully for accident damage, it's a big car and prone to car park door slammers.

Thanks guys. Mark, the Avons don't seem to be available in my size so I'll keep looking.........

I just noticed the other thread here on tyres for the LS430, they seem to be recommending the Michelin Primacy 3. One thing that is a bit depressing is the difference in price between 18" and 19" tyres - £80 to £100, ouch!

Thanks for the warning! This is why I find buying tyres so frustrating, it's very hard to get definitive information on what works best. I may just stick with the Dunlops, unless anyone else has a better idea? Pat

My tyres are coming up for replacement shortly, does anyone have recommendations for an LS600? Currently, I have Dunlop 245/45ZR19 102Y XL fitted but I find them quite noisy and quick wearing. I was recommended the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance tyres but they are not available in 19". Thanks!

Mark, my local Lexus dealer, Tony Burke Motors in Galway are offering a 1 year/15,000 kms hybrid battery extended warranty for €50 on my 2008 LS600hL. I assume this is available nationwide and according to the service department, I can renew it every year for the same amount. Good value for some peace of mind. Pat

Also, make sure you get three keys with the car - two standard fobs and one credit card sized key.