05-11 - Gs460 And Gs450H Question

texasjohn · January 2, 2016

Evening folks,

After many years of German cars I am new here. Very taken by the GS as a value for money alternative to the usual suspects. Just looking for a nice comfy cruiser.

I have decided on a Lexus GS and as you know the 450h is probably the most prevalent.

Before I make the leap and buy a 450h I wondered if there are any members on here with the (rare) GS460 8-speed? I've been looking out for one but none have come up for sale, unsurprisingly.

I liked the car but not a big fan of the CVT gearbox on the 450h and a bit more boot space would be nice.

There is a 450h SE-L (ACC, ML, Sunroof) out there at the moment which feels like a super deal to me, an early 08 plate so 186g CO2. 12 months Lexus warranty, under £8k.

I will have a search on the forum but if anyone can advise what the best iPod connectivity solution is, I'd be grateful. Looking to connect digitally and have navi screen access to files and folders rather than having to select on the iPod itself.

If there is a Lexus kit then great, I will see if I can order that from the dealership.

OldTrout · January 3, 2016

You don't mention your mileage but your possible purchase sounds a good buy.

I bought an 07 plate 450h SE-Llast August having previously had a '98 GS300 for 10 years. Mine had done 104k miles and was £8.5k with 12 months Lexus warranty. It is an even better comfy cruiser than the GS300, although as you comment the boot is very small. However, unlike the earlier car, the boot hinges do not intrude into the space so you can use it all.

I'm still getting used to the silence at traffic lights - the A/C is is the only noise. The engine is very responsive, the power is awesome and the hike in mpg is very welcome. I am even less aware of the CVT than I was of the auto box on the old car i.e. not at all. I have not discovered all the gadgets yet.

I have had some queries and these forums have usually come up with the answers. I don't know if there is a solution to you iPod query but if there is somebody here will post it.

Good luck.

John

AmbroseJohn · January 3, 2016

If your only worry is the CVT, just buy it.

Other than the lack of gear shifts, there's no difference to a normal auto and there's less moving parts too.

texasjohn · January 3, 2016

Thanks for the comments. I have spoken to the dealer again today and intend to go ahead. They will have someone from admin call to take a payment tomorrow.

Mileage on the car is 69k. It's the silver car at Lexus Plymouth.

The only negatives are it has missed one service at some point in its life (around about 35000 miles) and two of the tyres are a brand called 'Greenway' which sound like rubbish.

The dealer for the 08 car won't budge at all on price or include additional warranty beyond 12 months or two proper tyres. But given local independents are selling older or higher mileage GSs for the same price (closest to me is a GS430 07/07 with 68k for 7990) I think it's a fair deal.

A white 2010 450h at my closest dealer has similar miles and is wearing a pair of 'primewell' tyres, which are of dubious quality too. That car is 12k though and in my eyes isn't good value and has no ACC or sunroof.

texasjohn · January 3, 2016

By the way, two questions

1. Does the navigation map have a perspective mode? I forgot to check when I went to look at the white car.

2. Is there any point to using the 'manual' +/- shift mode on the CVT? Does it act like a normal auto and hold the car in a lower gear ratio? It just seems pointless to have this facility on a CVT!

cruisermark · January 3, 2016

hi John

just looked up your car and i think that is a fantastic price.

on auto trader the other 2 closest cars are 08 plates with 100k plus miles or a nordic blue 56 reg with 76k from a private seller.

at least you have peace of mind buying from a dealer and if i were you i would look into a lexus extended warranty for piece of mind

all the best enjoy your car

OldTrout · January 3, 2016

Yes your price seems excellent - better than mine

My understanding of my warranty is that I can extend it for a further two years at any time before the present warrants expires. I think to cost was £1k.

I don't know what you mean by "perspective mode" but the manual +/- shift does what you say. Very useful to prevent speeding on Headington Hill in Oxford and charges the Battery as well.

Go for it and enjoy it.

John

rayaans · January 3, 2016

It should have a perspective mode - if you mean it changes the view from birds eye to other modes.

There's no point using anything other than P, D, R and N on these cars

It's a bit of a gimmick. Tricks you into thinking it's changing gears but it actually kills the power for a very short period of time

texasjohn · January 3, 2016

It should have a perspective mode - if you mean it changes the view from birds eye to other modes.

There's no point using anything other than P, D, R and N on these cars

It's a bit of a gimmick. Tricks you into thinking it's changing gears but it actually kills the power for a very short period of time

Yes, that's what I mean, most sat navs seem to have birds eye (north up), birds eye (direction of travel up) and some have a perspective or '3D' mode, although some older systems (older MB COMAND springs to mind) only have the first two.

I suspected that there was little point using anything other than D but useful to hear everyone's views on it.

I'm looking for a comfortable motorway cruiser with a bit of straight line speed and a decent stereo, so stirring the gearbox is not really in my list of needs.

Will probably put 17" wheels on it if a set come up on eBay cheap, I thought the ride could be improved a little particularly at low speeds. I drove a 650i yesterday (19s) which wasn't that much worse than the GS450.

At present I have a rented Hyundai i40 estate. It rides very well (16s) and is really quite a comfortable car, has all the toys but the stereo isn't up to much and it's gutless (1.7D).

texasjohn · January 3, 2016

Yes your price seems excellent - better than mine

My understanding of my warranty is that I can extend it for a further two years at any time before the present warrants expires. I think to cost was £1k.

I don't know what you mean by "perspective mode" but the manual +/- shift does what you say. Very useful to prevent speeding on Headington Hill in Oxford and charges the battery as well.

Go for it and enjoy it.

John

I don't think £500 per year is too much for the warranty, for peace of mind. It only takes something like a sat nav unit or amplifier to go 'pop' and you have covered your cost.

OldTrout · January 3, 2016

If by "perspective mode" you mean as if looking up the road ahead then yes. At least such a screen appeared automatically for me on the M3 approaching the M27 take off this week. The lane I needed to be in was illustrated very helpfully. Is this what is known as lane guidance? If so I'm not sure it was in the Satnav as delivered in 2007

I have a 2012 West Europe DVD and I think this updated the software when I inserted it.

If your car still has the original 2008 DVD you could ask Plymouth Lexus to throw in the latest one. My seller would not and (off the record) suggested I buy a DVD off eBay for a £5! This LED to all sorts of problems which LED me to these forums in the first place.

John

gdh300 · January 4, 2016

John, I'm following this thread with interest. Although I'm not planning to replace my IS yet, I always like to know what - if some disaster befell it - I would go out and buy, down to the a specific sometimes! Sad, but I don't get out much. The GS450h flits between first and third on my list of suspects on Autotrader and I'd seen that one in Plymouth and reckoned it looked exceptional value. I hope it all goes smoothly, looking forward to you next post.

texasjohn · January 4, 2016

Unfortunately it has all gone horribly wrong, it was sold to another buyer yesterday or this morning.

I told the dealer in Plymouth I'd buy it yesterday, but could not get down to pick it up (self employed so a day off work costs me more than delivery of a car) and would happily pay for delivery to my house. They would not sell it to me unless I picked it up, due to potential liability connected with Distance Selling Regulations, so I asked them to reconsider otherwise I may have to leave it.

I then went to another Snows group Lexus dealership in Hedge End, on my doorstep, yesterday afternoon and tried to buy it through that dealership, I waved my debit card at them but there were only salesmen present and they told me a manager at Hedge End would need to speak to a manager at Plymouth during normal working hours, although in principle they said it should be fine and agreed to speak with Plymouth this morning and arrange to have it shipped up.

I phoned the Plymouth dealership today and was told that it had now been sold to someone who was prepared to collect it.

So that's that. I am in the hire car until further notice. I could have put down a holding deposit but didn't want to until we had terms agreed, that I suppose is the risk you take.

To be honest, I'd rather have the GS460 but with only 15 or 20 ever registered I don't see one coming up in a hurry.

gdh300 · January 6, 2016

Well that's a shame, John. Hopefully something will turn-up soon, you never know.

steveledzep · January 6, 2016

In my experience, a holding deposit is also a refundable deposit. It guarantees you first refusal on the car.

Lesson learnt I suppose.

Another one will come along I'm sure.

gdh300 · February 7, 2016

On 04/01/2016 at 9:37 PM, texasjohn said:

So that's that. I am in the hire car until further notice. I could have put down a holding deposit but didn't want to until we had terms agreed, that I suppose is the risk you take

John, it's been a month so I don't know if you are still in the market, but I see this GS450h now listed at Lexus Exeter.

texasjohn · February 7, 2016

Hello

thanks for the heads up. I bought an E500 instead so no longer looking.

imadl4 · February 7, 2016

On 04/01/2016 at 9:37 PM, texasjohn said:

Unfortunately it has all gone horribly wrong, it was sold to another buyer yesterday or this morning.

Hi John .

I'm bought this car form Plymouth Lexus dealer. So far, I'm very pleased with it. Sorry you missed it ( or maybe I'm not )

gdh300 · February 7, 2016

3 hours ago, texasjohn said:

I bought an E500 instead so no longer looking.

Well, I'm glad you got sorted with a car in the end, even if it's the wrong make! Hope it works out.

11 minutes ago, imadl4 said:

I'm bought this car form Plymouth Lexus dealer. So far, I'm very pleased with it. Sorry you missed it

Looking forward to reading about your experiences Lukas; I had that GS on my radar for a while, as a sort 'what if?' purchase.

imadl4 · February 7, 2016

It was very spontaneous purchase, because I was looking to buy bmw 530i Face Lift (2007+) and I don't know how it happened, than I ended up with GS :) Never thought about Hybrid before.

It's fast and comfortable, full of gadgets and fuel economy is just mind blowing . (60mph-46mpg, 80mph-34mpg) What else do you need ? :)

I just hope, it will run without any major problems.