Buying 2006 GS450H @147k miles advice needed

[nik95]

Hello guys, newbie here. Just registered because I need a bit of advice.

I'm considering buying a gs 450h at 147k miles for 3300 pounds (4250 advert and 500 part exchange my old toyota avensis and some additional price knock-off).

As you can see, it has full Lexus service history and supposedly only one owner. Checked the MOT history at totalcarcheck.com and it has passed most with small or no advisories, suggesting that it has been maintained well.  I already test drove it and didn't notice anything obviously bad. Overall pretty good condition. Couldn't check much of the engine because it had covers, but I saw the drive belt was in very good state (probably changed) and all fluids and oil seemed clean. No coloured smoke out of the exhaust and pads and discs were ok. That much about covers most of my inspection knowledge.

Anyway, my main concerns are the CVT and the batteries. Read that servicing it at Lexus gives you 1 year of warranty on the batteries until the car is 15 years old (7 more months to go). Is that always the case or are there caveats to it? And my biggest fear is the transmission - how likely is it that it hasn't been replaced at all and with proper maintenance (what looks like to be the case) and care, how much can it be expected to last? Scotty Kilmer says the V6 is great so I won't ask about that 

Any input would be appreciated!

Nik

[Steven Lockey]

Basically the same as what I got except mine was a year younger.

3300 Seems a bit much if its 14 years old to be honest unless it is in A++ condition.
Basically at 15 years old then the Battery is likely to need replacing a refurb at minimum (£700)
or a replacement (£2k). But if its had the hybrid check then yeah lexus will sort any problems
with the hybrid system for free till its 15 years old.

As a comparison, I paid £1700 for mine.  with 164k on the clock and 13 years old. It definitely sounds
like this is over the book price so I'd try and haggle it down a bit. If the dealer will give you a 2 year
dealer warranty including the Battery as part of the price, then its worth it. 

Basically unless you are very unlucky, the main issues with the GS450h are the suspension struts
and the Battery. Not heard many stories of the CVT going, the one on the GS450h very sold. You can
replace all 4 struts for about 1k + labour. 




 

[ColinBarber]

3 hours ago, Steven Lockey said:

But if its had the hybrid check then yeah lexus will sort any problems
with the hybrid system for free till its 15 years old.

Lexus will only sort out a Battery issue. Not a hybrid transmission, inverter, electric motor or control issue.

[Steven Lockey]

2 hours ago, ColinBarber said:

Lexus will only sort out a battery issue. Not a hybrid transmission, inverter, electric motor or control issue.

Really? Thanks for the correction. I thought the hybrid check covered the entire system!

[johnatg]

The Hybrid Health Check Confirmation document mentions specific points:

1) Diagnostic Trouble Code Check

2) Hybrid Battery with 4 sub-points: Internal Resistance, Internal Voltage, Variation Check and Battery Temperature

3) Battery Insulation - between different modules of the Battery

4) Hybrid Coolant Components - Pump, Fan and Coolant Level

and the Overall Test Status.

So basically Battery and its cooling system. And then you get the Lexus Hybrid Health Check Pass certificate.

[ColinBarber]

3 hours ago, johnatg said:

The Hybrid Health Check Confirmation document mentions specific points:

1) Diagnostic Trouble Code Check

2) Hybrid battery with 4 sub-points: Internal Resistance, Internal Voltage, Variation Check and Battery Temperature

3) Battery Insulation - between different modules of the battery

4) Hybrid Coolant Components - Pump, Fan and Coolant Level

and the Overall Test Status.

So basically battery and its cooling system. And then you get the Lexus Hybrid Health Check Pass certificate.

What is tested and what is warranted are two different things.

Quote

With each Hybrid Health Check, you receive an extra 1 year or 10,000 mile (whichever comes sooner) hybrid battery warranty extension