Cheerio LS500h AWD Pleat Model

[SH20]

After 12 outstanding months of ownership I have traded my beautiful LS500h  and moved back/over to Toyota for the second time.  After 6 Lexus cars, five hybrids and one V8 4.6 litre LS460 SE L back in 2015 it is no great hardship to do this but without doubt the 2017 LS500h  was and is the best car I have ever owned.  

From  a sublime Plumb and black  leather interior and every option that exists in the Lexus Arsenal I will transfer to a sea of black and synthetic materials in my new CHR, my second so far. 

The Toyota dealer has a sister Lexus site and when my Toyota salesman called them to get an understanding of how much my car was worth to do a deal the Lexus salesman was very keen to secure my car.   He said at the time there was only one LS500h for sale in the entire Lexus UK network and when I checked he was right and that is still the case, a 2024  LS500h Takumi at Lexus Coventry.  He assured me he would sell my car in a matter a of days because of the price point it would be offered at as one of the first MK5 models and because it was the Pleat model.  I pointed out to him that my car was the Lexus Press Car for the first 6months of its life before the second owner took over and kept it for 5.5 years and then I acquired it.  

He was relieved to learn I did a deal and he will get his hands on it in due course.   I have a short holiday coming up in the UK and it will be my last week with the LS and it will be hard to look back at it when I drive  away in my Toyota.   

 

 

[cruisermark]

Hi

So what was the reason for not continuing to enjoy your LS500H?

Is there much difference between the LS430 and LS500H quality and refinement? 😆

[SH20]

It was a 2007  LS460 SE_L  my first Lexus and I was hooked, bought in 2015.  Quality and technical aspects were as good as the LS500h but the LS460 didn't have the RSR Ottoman option which is standard for the LS500h Pleat Model.   Twin screens in the LS500 for in car entertainment whereas the LS460 had the single screen mounted in the headlining.     Both cars have the highest level of trim with the LS500 simply being more up to date in terms of design and with a superior body design.

No big deal giving the LS500 up. We are going down to one car between the 2 of us as the wife stands no chance of dealing with a car over 5 meters long when she is coming out of a Toyota Yaris Hybrid.  We are both over 70 and a car like the CHR is a car she can drive if she needs to.  I've had a CHR before but the latest version has enough equipment but the interior is bland and synthetic.  We can save a fair bit of money too with one car as insurance premiums alone are getting out of hand and with what this draconian Government are going to do with road tax next year I'm not giving the Insurance companies or the Government more opportunities of putting their hands in my pocket for more cash than necessary. 

 

[MartinH]

Perhaps you might leave a pic of it here, as a memento?