Advice on GS450H

[Japcarsarethebest]

Morning all

First time poster so excuse me if this is in the wrong area.

Having driven various makes of Japanese cars over the years I have decided to bite the bullet and go for a luxury barge.I checked out the Honda Legend and Merc CLS, Initially looked at the GS300 but going for the GS450H due to the fact it is a Lexus , the running costs and tax are not bad considering the engine size and of course 0-60 in under 6 seconds. Found two potentials both 2006 models , one has 91k and the other 71k.

The higher mileage has service history with a new Battery fitted by Lexus in 2019, the lower mileage has 15 stamps with 13 from Lexus but looks to be on the original Battery. Common sense would normally state go for the lowest mileage on a vehicle but on the flip side that Battery may have issues and I assume a massive cost. I am not sure if the higher miler has been serviced by Lexus/independent or bit of both so that has to be considered.

The car will be mainly short commuting and long weekend drives but I don't envisage driving anymore than around 10k a year plus with Lexus reliability the higher miler is not really an issue.

So just reaching out to see what the members think? Any thing else to be wary of with these hybrid motors?  I read on here that Lexus will check the Battery for free or they charge to service it is that correct? Will they cover a vehicle of this age?

 

 

[Mr Vlad]

Hi Jason and welcome to the best Lexus forum there is. 

By new Battery on one of your shortlist. Ask the vendor what they mean. It could be that the 12v Battery was changed and not the main drive Battery.

You should look in the GS section of the forum and search there for known issues (if any)

As for the Battery check. Its actually a Hybrid Health check. Yes it's free but only as part of a Lexus service. I forget how much the Hybrid Health check is, if done as a stand alone thing, but £55 rings a bell. 

As for the car it's self. One helluva excellent car. You won't be disappointed. 

[Mossypossy]

New hybrid Battery. No brainer.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311174064692

[Japcarsarethebest]

Thanks for the swift response!  As both dealers are in the same area I am tempted to check both out, the low miler is in silver the high miler in black with chrome, TBH the black looks really nice and the 91k does not put me off especially on a Japanese car.

Mossy thanks for that, my first thought also new Battery hopefully less expense.

One other question how easy is it to source general wear and tear parts such as pads,discs, bushes, droplinks, shockers etc?

The high miler has the following on MOT that was Nov 21 , but no advisories Nov 23  :  

• Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))
• Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))
• Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))
• Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

That's not to say those shocks have been changed of course so I keep an open mind 

On the lower miler no advisories for the last two MOT's 

[Japcarsarethebest]

In terms of the CVT box when should the fluid be changed for this?

I have a local indie near me I have been using for years he is straight up when it comes to servicing and any maintenance , does not rip his customers off and his hourly rate is fair.

Can this car be maintained for for general wear and tear items by an indie or is a dealer/specialist best to go to? 

[Mossypossy]

You say high miler

 It is not. 

I had one for two years exactly same miles 90k when I bought it.

Nothing went wrong, except rusty exhaust. Sold for same as I paid

[Japcarsarethebest]

Thanks Mossy! Does it require a specialist exhaust on these models?

[Mossypossy]

I had a stainless one made up. Cheaper than Lexus mild steel one!

[Malc1]

On 1/11/2024 at 9:23 AM, Japcarsarethebest said:

checked out the Honda Legend

I too have a brilliant Honda Legend alongside my everlasting Ls400s

The Honda is indeed a very very rare car and mine has 148k now with Honda Main Dealer servicing stopping some 7 years back when I bought her from my bro in law 

A simple 3.5ltr petrol engine that will probably go on forever  ..  spares, well, never needed any apart from wiper blades, brakes and tyres and one screen wash jet from the Main Dealer  .....  my bro in law did however spend a lot of money with the HMD 🤑 BUT I knew I wouldn't have to, fingers xd

She's a brilliant car but I do so prefer my Ls400s .....  simple V8 4ltrs of course

Just for info if you reconsider !

Malc

[Spock66]

On 1/11/2024 at 9:23 AM, Japcarsarethebest said:

I read on here that Lexus will check the battery for free or they charge to service it is that correct? Will they cover a vehicle of this age?

It will be checked as part of the service, but the warranty is only for 15-years so any issues would not be covered.

You could pay for the check (about £60/£70 from memory) before committing to buy the vehicle.

[Japcarsarethebest]

Malc1 - Thanks for that info I located a 2008 Legend at a dealers close to me , a really great car and that 3L engine is something else , unfortunately did not provide finance or work with the finance company who approved me so had to let that one go. I appreciate the honest review and I did not doubt the reliability. 

I had my eye on a CLS but there is something niggling in the background about possible oil cooler/manifold issues so that is holding me back on that.

Having had both Toyota and Honda petrol engines in the past I know how durable they are only needing basic maintenance. As stated age and time is now right for a luxury barge and it's either a Honda or Lexus , TBH not really checked out the GS450 more the GS300 but after reading reviews/checking you tube etc the 450 is actually a good looking motor that is actually affordable to run on a day to day basis, yes the need for history is there but all in all a very good car. Trying to find one is another challenge , three months so far in looking dodging the backstreets , poor reviews and generally neglected places. It is a minefield for used cars and my aging Qashqai needs to be gone.

 

 

[Malc1]

Methinks avoid Mercs as the upkeep costs might bankrupt one 

Honda Toyota and Lexus are the way to go for your luxury “ barge “ 

I just would forever try to avoid all that modern electronic wizadry that’s going to cost you a small fortune down the line ……. whichever the Marque 

Malc 

My senior employee guy in Delhi has just taken delivery of a brand new Kia Carens 7 seater for him, his driver and his family ….. I’m expecting motoring longevity for sure 

[Japcarsarethebest]

2 minutes ago, Malc1 said:

Methinks avoid Mercs as the upkeep costs might bankrupt one 

Honda Toyota and Lexus are the way to go for your luxury “ barge “ 

I just would forever try to avoid all that modern electronic wizadry that’s going to cost you a small fortune down the line ……. whichever the Marque 

Malc 

My senior employee guy in Delhi has just taken delivery of a brand new Kia Carens 7 seater for him, his driver and his family ….. I’m expecting motoring longevity for sure 

Agree , I like the look of the CLS but even on the forums they flagged the potential for the oil cooler which is a £££££ job with the dealer, don't get me wrong I know if those hybrid batteries can go on the Lexus and they are ££££ but I trust Lexus build quality over Merc.

I also fancied an old Jag but again heard varying reliability stories with these.

I have my eye on a 450 at the moment but trying to get to see it is a nightmare, the dealer is not well and his son is supposed to call me this afternoon, I made a clear I wanted to view this weekend and would put a deposit down if all good...

One of the best cars I had was a Honda HRV 52 plate , cheap runabout at £700 been sat in a dealers for three months covered in moss and dirt but took a punt , washed it , serviced it , brakes and pads...ran it from 80k up to 164k flew through it's MOT's  , engine light came on at 164 but still ran me from the Northeast to Leeds ( in and around the city)  every day commuting , sold it for £900 with the light still on

Also a 2007 Honda Accord 2l petrol .....ran it from 90 to 170k , in that time just needed a rear brake caliper, was sad to let that go was such a great driver..

[serbarry]

Hi Jason,

I have a 2008 GS450H that I bought from a private seller 2 years ago. My suggestion is to check the shock absorbers, the exhaust system and the discs and pads. I had to fix all these in mine last year and only the exhaust was repaired and partially replaced by a specialized garage. The rest was done by the local Lexus dealer for a lot of money. I know I could have probably saved a lot of money by searching for spare parts on my own, but due to lack of knowledge and for peace of mind I preferred to go to Lexus.   

 

[Japcarsarethebest]

Hi Serbarry, thanks for the advice , the car I am looking at had all four shocks down as misting on the last MOT back in 2021 , the current MOT has no advisories so I would check paperwork to see if they have been swapped during that period

[serbarry]

Mine also passed the Irish NCT (MOT) with no advisories last October and in December I had to replace rear discs and pads which had been still fine at the last service in March 2023. And from March till December 2023 I only did 4,000 kms.   

[Malc1]

Remembering the MOT is just at that moment in time and sometimes, sadly, subject to possible bribery and corruption to get the " right " outcome by a devious owner / seller 

Often a good idea to have a fresh MOT undertaken by an independent and trusted MOT Tester  😉

Malc

[Japcarsarethebest]

Well I've bit the bullet and gone for it...put a deposit down. FSH , new Battery and the supplying garage put a fresh service and MOT on ...

[Japcarsarethebest]

Can I ask the members where they got car insurance from?  Any specialist providers for these type's of cars?  Going from a 1.6 Qashqai to the GS is obviously going to increase insurance so factored the cost in , at the moment with the main providers ( go compare etc ) I am seeing a monthly cost of £81 compared to £23 for the Qashqai that said I am adding my son on he is 26 with 7 years no claims so I expected the jump and it's no dealbreaker as it stands. 

[Malc1]

Insce is a quagmire and often no rhyme nor reason for different pricing between the insurers ……. try Chris Knott ….. honest and great reviews and answer the phone too 

Malc 

[Japcarsarethebest]

Thanks will give Chris a try

 

[Japcarsarethebest]

Another quick question! I tend to swap the normal 12v batteries on the used cars I purchase as you don't know when the last one was swapped , I can see some replies on the forum refer to specific Battery models for this car, do you need to perform any resets once swapped over? Is it likely to trigger anything by doing so?

[Malc1]

If you go to the Toyota Spares Dept and negotiate a fair price for your replacement Battery ( Yusua 5yr gtee. ) they might free-fit and take care to ensure all is in order …. If you remind them ….. whilst you’re sipping their free coffee ! 

And that disposes of your old Battery too of course 

Malc 

[Japcarsarethebest]

Cheers Malc1 - Forgot about Toyota dealership although I do have a Lexus dealer 9 miles away...will the Toyota spares also cover pads/dics or suspension components do you know? Bushes or track rod ends etc

[Malc1]

2 hours ago, Japcarsarethebest said:

Cheers Malc1 - Forgot about Toyota dealership although I do have a Lexus dealer 9 miles away...will the Toyota spares also cover pads/dics or suspension components do you know? Bushes or track rod ends etc

I really don’t know BUT I doubt the Lexus Main Dealer holds stocks of spares if the Toyota main dealer spares Dept is just 9 miles away, around the corner in dealership terms ! 

I’ve always found replacement “ big ticket “ spares are much better value from Amayama, Rockauto ,   LexusPartsDirect whatever 

Filters, oils etc  from most everyday Motor Factors too 

Malc