Lexus GS450h - alternatives?

[junglie]

I took a test drive in the GS450h today and thought it was a great car but seemed quite noisy on the motorway. I expected near silence but that was not the case. It was from a main dealer and had 66k on the clock. Conti Sport Contacts on the rear but something non branded on the front which may not have helped.

Is the LS430 and more refined? I have not dicounted the GS yet and may go for a GS430 as it has a V8

Whal alternatives exist (up to £12k and don't car about diesel vs petrol, auto vs manual or mpg. Will be mostly employed on the motorway. Mileage approx 10k pa)?

A8 - lovely looking but chocolate gearbox?
BMW 5 Series (E60) - again dodgy gearbox (auto)
BMW 7 Series - don't know much about them.
Mercedes - E class but seeem more prone to bork.
VW Phaeton - reliable?

The Lexus GS430 seems excellent vfm at £7000 for a low mileage example that has all the toys and legendary reliability.

I do not want an MX5 or mapped 335d

[selwonk]

Out of interest, can I ask you what you made of the available space in the boot? I'm interested in one of these and it's the only obstacle I can see to buying one.

[junglie]

GS450 is smaller than the 430 due to battery positioning. Smaller than you would imagine based on ratio of external / internal dimensions but fine for golf clubs, large suitcases etc. Quite regular in shape but not the best access ever.

[kVA]

GS450h should not be noisy - something is wrong! I did the launch training for this car and the quietness was one of its greatest assets!

As for the boot space - WTF do you guys carry around that needs more space than that? I really don't understand the British obsession with something that maybe gets fully used once a year for a family holiday! Also, on the bright side, if it's not full, you can reach everything comfortably, no matter how small, without physically climbing in yourself to retrieve stuff sent to the front every time you brake!!!

During the launch training, we set up a race with a 911 Tiptronic (same 0-100 kph time) and a diesel Mondeo (same Combined fuel consumption) and the Lexus won every time, up to about 40 mph - awesome acceleration around town, from the electric motors

If I didn't need a wagon or hatch, for the dogs, I would choose the hybrid Lexus over any of the others in your list.

[Stig]

Lexus over any of the alternatives you list. Try a few - plenty to choose from. 12k vs the selling price means that anything is a bargain!

[Toilet Duck]

Does the Lexus hybrid use batteries? Sorry for slight derail, but I've always wondered what happens when the batteries on a hybrid car die. I imagine it would be a world of wallet pain and probably write off a lot of older hybrid cars due to the expense. In fairness I have no idea how long the batteries on these things last or cost etc so I could be talking out of my poo chute.

[junglie]

Toilet Duck - a question that I would like to know the answer to which is why the 439 may be a good shout.

[Captain Cadillac]

I have a third gen GS, granted its a GS350 AWD, but a lot of the components are shared.

RUN, DO NOT WALK!

This car has been atrociously unreliable including a blown engine. Lots and lots of electrical and body hardware issues. It's like an old Alfa or neglected TVR.

[rijmij99]

I'd go for the phaeton out of all of those purely as you'll always be the only one in the carpark. plus everything i've read and heard is invariably good you should be onto a winner. as with purchasing any car you know nothing about take a look at the forums for honest assessments of reliability etc and drive at least two of each car

[qureshia]

junglie said:

Whal alternatives exist (up to £12k and don't car about diesel vs petrol, auto vs manual or mpg. Will be mostly employed on the motorway. Mileage approx 10k pa)?

Volvo s60 ...12k should get you into a 2010

[wheedler]

Can you buy a decent non s line audi a6 with small wheels for 12k, I doubt it.

Thing about lexus is that you get a lot more than competition on the used market and they are probably better than most anyway.

Tire noise can be as simple as getting new tires on there

[selwonk]

kVA said:

As for the boot space - WTF do you guys carry around that needs more space than that? I really don't understand the British obsession with something that maybe gets fully used once a year for a family holiday! Also, on the bright side, if it's not full, you can reach everything comfortably, no matter how small, without physically climbing in yourself to retrieve stuff sent to the front every time you brake!!!

I appreciate your point, but with a missus who won't drive anything bigger than a Swift and doing 2 or 3 self-catering holidays a year, it's something I need to consider.