Buying GS450h 2006, reliability advise plz

[shahed26]

Hi 

I found a low mileage GS450h 2006 (56k mileage)with full lexus history. I will be part exchanging my current RX400H 09 plate with 196k current mileage.

Just wanted to know how reliable are these vehicles, really cant find much info about these compare to other Lexus's. I just want a reliable motorway cruiser and some city/town driving.

 

Any experience advise would be much appreciated. Thanks

[royoftherovers]

1 hour ago, shahed26 said:

Hi 

I found a low mileage GS450h 2006 (56k mileage)with full lexus history. I will be part exchanging my current RX400H 09 plate with 196k current mileage.

Just wanted to know how reliable are these vehicles, really cant find much info about these compare to other Lexus's. I just want a reliable motorway cruiser and some city/town driving.

 

Any experience advise would be much appreciated. Thanks

I`d avoid anything prior to 2009, if you can find one within your budget Shahed.

[Steven Lockey]

10 hours ago, shahed26 said:

Hi 

I found a low mileage GS450h 2006 (56k mileage)with full lexus history. I will be part exchanging my current RX400H 09 plate with 196k current mileage.

Just wanted to know how reliable are these vehicles, really cant find much info about these compare to other Lexus's. I just want a reliable motorway cruiser and some city/town driving.

 

Any experience advise would be much appreciated. Thanks

GS450h got top marks for reliability multiple years in a row so you aren't going to get that much better.

You do have a few things likely to fail: 
Traction Battery - Around £700 for a refit for £2200 for a replacement. Either will come with a warranty but avoidable if your car is eligible for
the lexus hybrid checkups which guarantee it. 
Exhaust - This is going to rust from the cats back. Fortunately you can get the entirely exhaust system replaced for £500ish. Just don't go to lexus
as the front section includes the cats where as an exhaust specialist can just chop of the bad section and replace it instead of replacing the cats as
well.
Suspension - Well it's a heavy car and that takes its toll on the shocks. Costs around £2000 to replace all 4. They are going to go at some point 🙂

Other than those bits, it's probably one of the most solid cars on the road mechanically. Generally even if something does
go wrong, it'll give you more than enough time to get home before dying at the very least. Basically everything is engineered
with a much higher margin/tolerance than most other cars so even after a long time its still unlikely anything will go wrong.

Mine is 2007 at 190k+ miles and other than the 3 bits above and normal wear and tear components its still in perfect running order (touch wood)
and mechanic reckons it's good for at least another 100k minimum. 

[serbarry]

12 hours ago, Steven Lockey said:

Mine is 2007 at 190k+ miles and other than the 3 bits above and normal wear and tear components its still in perfect running order (touch wood)
and mechanic reckons it's good for at least another 100k minimum. 

Steven, so you have had the traction Battery, the suspension and the exhaust all replaced? 

[Steven Lockey]

11 hours ago, serbarry said:

Steven, so you have had the traction battery, the suspension and the exhaust all replaced? 

Yep. Exhaust from just before the resonator back (cats were all fine)
Shocks only, the rest of the suspension is fine. 
Traction Battery I could of got repaired but decided a new one was better given the longer warranty.

Given I got it for £1700, then they refunded £700 when the traction Battery was confirmed faulty (after much pushing by me)
I can't complain, it's still a very nice car for the £5500 I've effectively paid for it over the last 3.5 years. (not including MOT, servicing
and tyres)

[shahed26]

On 7/4/2022 at 2:04 AM, Steven Lockey said:

GS450h got top marks for reliability multiple years in a row so you aren't going to get that much better.

You do have a few things likely to fail: 
Traction battery - Around £700 for a refit for £2200 for a replacement. Either will come with a warranty but avoidable if your car is eligible for
the lexus hybrid checkups which guarantee it. 
Exhaust - This is going to rust from the cats back. Fortunately you can get the entirely exhaust system replaced for £500ish. Just don't go to lexus
as the front section includes the cats where as an exhaust specialist can just chop of the bad section and replace it instead of replacing the cats as
well.
Suspension - Well it's a heavy car and that takes its toll on the shocks. Costs around £2000 to replace all 4. They are going to go at some point 🙂

Other than those bits, it's probably one of the most solid cars on the road mechanically. Generally even if something does
go wrong, it'll give you more than enough time to get home before dying at the very least. Basically everything is engineered
with a much higher margin/tolerance than most other cars so even after a long time its still unlikely anything will go wrong.

Mine is 2007 at 190k+ miles and other than the 3 bits above and normal wear and tear components its still in perfect running order (touch wood)
and mechanic reckons it's good for at least another 100k minimum. 

Thanks for the advice, considering its 06 plate i am currently looking at with low mileage, I just cant justify spending half the value of the car for faults like traction Battery or suspension if it was to go wrong.

Wow 2k for suspension, my rx400h had front and rear suspension replaced for almost half that.

Lets see If i can get the dealer to lower his asking price.

[Steven Lockey]

6 hours ago, shahed26 said:

Thanks for the advice, considering its 06 plate i am currently looking at with low mileage, I just cant justify spending half the value of the car for faults like traction battery or suspension if it was to go wrong.

Wow 2k for suspension, my rx400h had front and rear suspension replaced for almost half that.

Lets see If i can get the dealer to lower his asking price.

Check with lexus if its still eligible for the Lexus Hybrid checks, if it is, you'll have the Battery covered for £60 every year. So if it goes, Lexus pay for it. 

Yep the shocks weren't cheap, that did include labour. One of those things that goes with mileage so shouldn't be a worry if this is a low milage one. Worth
watching out for through before you purchase. There are cheaper options like the non-adjustable ones available as well. From what I've read, the shocks
tend to start going between 120k-150k miles so you may have a way to go before you have to worry about that.
 

[shahed26]

Thanks, will definitely check with lexus regards the Battery warranty. If they will cover the Battery, then I will most probably go ahead with the purchase. 

Its a 1 owner only GS450H from new. Full lexus history and the low mileage is whats tempting me.....

Thanks so much for your advice, much appreciated.