Zotto

Good choice, I am curious to read about the differences you feel between IS and GS .

If you talk about GS with HDD and Mark Levinson, it reads USB keys with mp3 audio and and cd/dvds (with video too), meanwhile it's possible to connect via BT a cell phone or tablet to listen audio sources from hem, such as internet radio broadcasts . The file management is not so easy to use but if mp3 files are correctly named you should be able to ask a specific audio file by name or author and system plays it, more difficult to see images of covers (not really sure it's possible).

Talking about differences between 3rd and 4th generation GS, I found that many tech improvements were made, but may be not all people could like them. Steering: former 450h had variable ratio, and I liked the SPORT ratio better than the normal one, in new 300h the ratio is that one I like (and only that). Ride is firmer but always comfy; I had adaptive suspensions in both cars, so I can't say if in 300h without them they are better or not, may be that another difference is given by wheels size, my 300h has 235/40 R19, but other versions start using 17 or 18, I suppose that they make a softer ride, in 450h I had 18" wheels. Fuel economy is far better, with 450h I made 12.5 km/l, with 300h 16 . With new gen 450h expect 13.5 (to obtain mpg multiply by 2,8 ). Mark Levinson in new 300h is better for mp3 and DAB radio, even if I slightly found better older ML in 450. Adaptive cruise control and security pack in newer GS are a big improvement for safety.

My experience is direct, as I traded in my 2008 GS 450h with a GS300h, so I know exactly the topic IS 300h I bought has all optionals (my one has also the night vision with IR camera that now is no more available), and I find it wonderful. It' superior to former GS 450h ,nonetheless, I sometimes miss the power ot V6 engine. Telling the truth, when I tried my GS300h the first time, I found it "slow" and I had some doubts about leaving my 450h, and sometimes I fancy to find a GS 450h FSport , BUT GS 300h has many pros. First, mpg are really better compared to previous 450h, the newer one has better than my 2008 but still thirstier than 300h. 2nd, in real world use 300h is not slow, it simply is not a rocket like 450h but the real 0-60 times are about 8,3-8,5 seconds, more than sufficient (for my use), also limited speed helps to save driving licence. Driving and handling are better too, and I find style more modern and original. Would I buy another 300h now? Keeping my bad boy silent and my brain fully awake, yes. But 450h also keep a place in my hearth, when I remember me watching the surprised expressions far away in my mirror all the times sport cars drivers thought to pass a quiet hybrid saloon car ;-)

Also 19" alloy wheels can be mounted, with 235/40 tyres.

I was talking of "problem" with FWD only because high power need to be transferred to wheels, and weight in acceleration goes to rear wheels, so a high power engine in in GS could not work well in a FWD; in cars with less HP FWD is sufficient but even if in normal use all this power is not so necessary the run to raise engines power is only in contrast with pollution fight, for german cars lovers my GS 300h is underpowered and slow... So, if Lexus plans to continue selling a GS 450h, it necessarily will be with more HP than the former, and not FWD, if not we will see a ES with smaller engines (and probably FWD). In this scenario the big one will be LS, and for sports oriented drivers RC, IS and LC (RWD o 4WD)

The main problem to have a single model ES/GS is FWD: if you want more power, let's say over 230 HP, it' absolutely better a RWD (or 4WD). So, if new platform (that one used on LC and LS) permits both solutions, a single model ES/GS could be made with different power steps. Another solution is to make a single model RWD, but if so the dismissed model would be ES, being the new one more similar to a GS with entry versions a bit cheaper.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

My GS300h has adaptive suspensions, so it's probable not possible lowering, but I don't feel the need indeed: if I want a firmer ride, it's sufficient SPORT+ mode, and 19" tyres. Besides, it already happens to touch with front bumpers driving down ramps.

You have to be sure that you phone admits DUN protocol, and abilitate the BT tethering on it. I hope connected services work better than here , as I have not succeded yet to make them work with my GS

When I traded my former 2008 GS 450h with a newer Gs300h, at the beginning I was a little shocked for the feeling of lack of power, and I must confess I sometimes still miss the 450h; nonetheless GS 300h is more than sufficient for daily use and you have less risk for your driving license: also running costs are better, and if I need some fun I can drive GS300h in S+ mode. But your new GS 450h is the right choice if you like sport cars and don' care to spend some more for fuel :-)

Provided that we are speaking about a hybrid, when I plan to listen ML audio for long time, I prefer to leave my GS 300h on in P , so to use electric power from HV battery without risk to discharge 12 V battery (the engine is usually off till it needs to recharge HV ). N has to be avoided, as in this position batteries can't be recharged, I use N only when car needs to be moved , like in washing tunnels.

May be there is something to fix in phone then...

Legal hour?

Totally different.

Do you mean HOLD switch? I use it seldom , happy to have not always on.

Welcome. About better energy recovery when braking , remember that low currents waste less energy in heat, and, this is most important, to recover all energy (and spare brake pads) you have to keep the charge indicator in charge area without coming to bottom extreme point, where traditional brakes start to work.

Often it happens, but the positive side of driving an hybrid is that if you keep your previous style will have better MPG compared to a traditional car.

About Marrat's question, if it it would not be so the best way to spare fuel should to drive always at full throttle, and you can see it is not true... The best is to have whole car working at it's best, keeping engine at rpm where thermal efficiency is better, not too low and not too high, and minimizing all losses from transmission, wheels friction and so on. So, while low rpm are not good for efficiency, too high one are not good too for all other reasons. So, my suggestion from a standstill is to accelerate at about 2500 rpm till the speed you like, then release right foot and press again just to keep speed, or if you are trying hypermiling techniques try to have zero electrical current (energy indicator at zero point between "charge" and "eco" area); speed will slowly decrease till next impulse given from thermal engine to reach again the proper speed.

It is only partially true, engine has better thermal efficiency only in a range of rpm (in Atkinson engines over 2000 rpm till about 4500), so, it's better to keep revs not too low, nonetheless strong acceleration requires more energy compared to slow increasing of speed, and this is the reason because cruise control is not so good when cruising with many decelerations caused by traffic, reaccelerating costs energy; cruise control is very useful to spare fuel with no traffic, keeping a fixed speed and then requiring a constant energy (at least in flat routes, down ad up hills this is not true but with energy recovering in hybrids what you loose going up you recover much going down). And this is another advantage of hybrids: driving in lands with many hills you obtain better mpg compared to cars where all energy downhill is lost in heat and brakes consuming.

To spare some fuel, it may be useful to not use the adaptive cruise control with intense traffic, because the car accelerates too much to reach the set speed (even if I find ACC very comfortable). Another trick is keep air conditioning on only when necessary; in GS when in ECO mode AC works only for occupied seats, I don't know if it is the same for IS too.

The temperature has an important role , winter time is worse for mpg, as much fuel is used during engine first minutes of warming and keeping also interiors warm. With my GS 300h I do 14,5 km/l in winter time while with external temp in springtime it rises to 17 km/l or more. With summer season, needing AC, there is a slight decreasing to 16,5. My best with light hypermiling techniques was 25 km/l. (to obtain mpg multiply all for about 2.8)

Welcome, enjoy your GS, I love mine one . Tip and tricks? My suggestion is to read all topics regarding hybrid driving techniques for good mpg, but before have fun knowing your GS.

AFAIK , no.

At the moment my ideal car , considering charging issues of a large capacity battery, would be a GS Hybrid plug-in, with a EV autonomy of 50miles or more that permits daily use and nightly recharge, and petrol for longer journeys. or, having a second car to use for any necessity, a electric vehicle like Tesla to charge overnight everyday.