serbarry

I fully agree with John.

Before buying the GS I have had a V2 Prius for nearly 12 years and when I sold it last December it was 18 years-old and had 267,000 kms. I used to drive it every day for commuting to work about 25kms per day and some days even 50-60 kms. In 12 years only one problem: I had to replace the power steering module found from eBay at 40 euros. If you treat your CT well, it will last another 10 years at least.

Does Paul McCartney drive a CT or I misunderstood you?

Hi Scott, the reason why I bought a hybrid car was mainly that in 2004 when the Prius V2 was released I was among a few customers in Italy to be drawn to have it for an entire week as a test drive. I literally fell in love with the Prius and generally with the Toyota HSD system. The Prius was so futuristic with the MFD and the energy screen showing the functioning of the HSD. The ride was so smooth and relaxing and the automatic transmission simply fantastic. It was the first automatic that I drove. When I returned the Prius to the dealer, my Civic coupé made me go back in the past 40 years. Unfortunately the Prius was too expensive for me as a new car, but when I moved to Ireland in 2007 and in 2010 was forced to scrap my Civic, I bought without thinking twice a 2004 Prius which was a Japanese import (MFD in Japanese so unable to understand some of the information). I have kept the Prius for nearly 12 years with absolute satisfaction. Fuel economy was outstanding with 4.4 litres/100kms. I always managed more than 1,000 kms with a full tank. In 12 years only one problem as I had to replace the power steering module, found from a scrap for 50 euros. I sold the Prius last December when I found a GS450H in the high spec that I had been looking for nearly a year. I would not have replaced the Prius if my wife had not started to push me for another car and anyway she is not happy that the GS is only 4 years newer than the Prius. I love the GS but the fuel economy is not as good as I thought it would be before buying it or maybe I am not capable of driving it properly to get the best of it. As for warranty: the Prius was only warranted 3 months from the seller (not Toyota dealer) and in 2010 Toyota did not offer the 10 years warranty. The GS next year will be out of the 15 years warranty or at least the one given to the battery pack every year with the hybrid health check. As Rayaan told you: I would not worry much about the fuel economy and I would not base my choice on it unless you do a very high mileage every year. I sometimes miss my Prius (especially its huge boot) I hope I will see her again one day on the road. One more thing: when my wife insisted that I had to replace the Prius, I put one only condition: the new car had to be either Toyota or Lexus hybrid, because after driving the Prius for 12 years I would not have chosen a conventional petrol car.

I don't know for GS300H.

Thank you. Anyway I would not be able to fix it myself so I will probably take it to the Lexus dealer.

I have a problem with my car as the rear left tyre (passenger side) is leaking air and the garage where I usually go for tyres, checked it and said that the valve is faulty and he told me that I have to go to the Lexus dealer to get a new one as he only has standard valves which are not suitable for my GS. Now does anyone know how much it could be to get it from the Lexus dealer? Do you suggest to go to the Lexus dealer or I may find a replacement valve somewhere online? I would go to the Lexus dealer for peace of mind even if it may be more expensive as I would not want to buy something which reveals not to be suitable. Any suggestions? Thank you

Hi Roy, compatible batteries should be: Varta Blue Dynamic E23 570412063 70 Ah 630A size (in mm) 261x175x220 Bosch S4026 70Ah 630A size 261x175x220 Yuasa YBX3030 12V 72Ah 630A SMF size 260x174x225 Double check with the garage/shop you are buying from as these 3 types were mentioned in this forum in another discussion that I cannot find anymore.

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

With only 4k miles per year is it worth to go for a premium brand? Moreover aren't CrossClimate 4 seasons tyres? I am not sure if Lee needs 4 seasons tyres. I personally would go for a medium brand.

Hi Mark, I just read your post. I bought a 2008 MK3 GS450H with 180,000km last December for 8,250 euros. It doesn't have full lexus service history and 4 owners before me. So far so good. Before buying it I had found another one of 2008 with 230,000 kms for 6,000 euros and I had already agreed with the seller that I would have bought it but suddenly the circumstances changed and the seller was obliged to keep the car for some more months. In Ireland there is a lot less choice of this model so those on sale are more expensive than in the UK. 4,500 £ for me is a great price but consider that I spent nearly double in euros for a GS in top spec after actively looking for one for nearly a year.

Congratulations for the car Shahpor!!! Is it automatic or manual gearbox?

Have you tried partfinder.ie? Sorry I actually checked and there is not any GS450H after 2008.

In addition to what has been said I would also consider Debica Presto UHP2. They are produced in the same factory as Goodyear, and it is a good compromise for quality and price if you don't want to spend for premium tyres.

Hi Vicentiu and congratulations on your purchase. It is always nice to see someone else with a MK3 GS450H. I bought mine last December after nearly one year search. I paid more than you but in Ireland they are rare especially in high specs and more expensive. I am sure that you will enjoy it as I do.

Well enjoy the sunshine and the good food then.

Stephen, £160 for all 4? £40 each? That's a great price! My garage quoted me 95 euros each!

John, I wonder why on your GS you have 205/55/17 while on mine I have 245/40/18? I thought the size was the same for all GS450H. Jeff I have Kumho Ecsta on my GS. The previous owner put them and I can't complain. If you don't want to spend for premium brand you may try Debica Presto UHP2: they are made in the same factory as Goodyear but they are cheaper than Goodyear (Goodyear actually owns Debica) even though the quality should still be good.

Just as a quick suggestion: I keep the jump leads on the floor under the driver seat, accessible from the rear seats. I started to do so when it happened with my Prius that the battery went flat and I could not access the boot to get the jump leads, even though there is a way to open the boot from inside the car with the battery flat, but I was unable to do it.

You are absolutely right Herbie: he refused even when I suggested not to show the number plate in the pictures.

Are you again looking for a RX300? I thought you had one and you sold it because of the high consumption.

In Cork in my usual petrol station petrol is 1.82 euros/ litre and diesel 1.95.

The difference is that he was not planning to buy the IS300H as it was ok as courtesy car but not owning. Instead he had some expectations on the RC300H with the purpose of buying it given the superb look of the car, but he was disappointed from the performance.

I still think that you don't need to own a car to be able to judge it: Linas said he has driven the RC300H for a day maybe? I think a couple of hours of driving experience may give you an idea of how the car drives. My friends drove my Prius for short distances and objectively the Prius is slow and probably does not give any excitement, but for me it was fine. There are plenty of cars testers who do not own the cars they test and give reviews.

I would like to defend Linas here as I think his judgement on the car should not be seen as an offence by the owners. I understand that someone may not like that the car he loves is "destroyed" by Linas and Lucas but the purpose of the forum (and maybe the richness of it) is to have different views and opinions which may contribute to inform the readers. I have never driven a RC300H even though I have always admired it as a stunning coupe. I am pretty sure it would satisfy my taste and it would be an excellent driving experience. But this is probably because I have driven a Prius for 12 years and in all these years the Prius was just good for me: roomy, comfortable with an unbeatable fuel economy, with a huge boot which proved very useful and practical in many occasions. Even though I have had colleagues and friends who told me that my Prius was a sh..y car: slow, boring, without any excitement in driving it, etc. I never got offended: it was their opinions and I never cared. They were driving diesel cars which for me were prehistory compared to the technology of my Prius. Now that I drive a GS450H I understand why the Prius was boring and slow but still my driving is mostly in the city with low speed limits where the Prius was just fine and where now I can't get the best of my GS which I love anyway (but as for the fuel consumption I still miss the Prius). Even if Linas and Lucas are drastic in their judgement on the RC300H, for some owners it will still be the best car they own, but probably Linas and Lucas have different priorities and expectations from the RC300H than the owners and personally I welcome different opinions and views in this forum, otherwise it would be kind of boring flattering opinions on how our Lexus are fabulous.