My first time behind the wheel of a hybrid...
Discussion
... and I loved it. 
I drove two today - a previous gen Lexus 400h and a current gen 450h, probably the least PH vehicles in the world, I know, but damn I'm impressed.
They didn't have an LS600h which I'd love a go in, but they're comfortably out of my price range anyway. I've spent some time behind the wheel of a my folks' earlier RX300 a few years back the two I drove today are much better, especially the new 450h.
As well as being the first time I've driven anything 'hybrid', it's also the first time I've used a CVT gearbox.
I've always been under the impression CVT gearboxes are rubbish, but it seemed to work very well, I was expecting the fake, engineered 'steps' to simulate gear changes but there's none of that really, just one constant shove like an aircraft taking off.
There's something very odd about driving around at low speed and being able to hear virtually nothing at all, even with the window down it's still damn quiet. Does bloody well in the traffic light GP too for something that's got absolutely no sporty connotations at all otherwise.
Utterly boring, silky smooth and mashing the not-so-loud pedal from a standing start is really quite addictive. Without a doubt the most comfortable motor I've driven in a decade. Range Rover, daimlers, jags and various ubersaloons included. I think I finally get them. If you can disconnect that PH bit of your brain that demands driver involvement, noise and so on - the Lexus is stunning. If you can't - it's still impossibly comfortable and well equipped, but it's very boring and kind of synthetic feeling I suppose. I still think the acceleration is completely weird though, if you're unfamiliar with them watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFmvPhza1go - it's an LS600 but the effect is the same. I found I really wanted to change gear
I think I've found my mile munching nirvana, and it's a hybrid. Where do I hand in my PH card?
I drove two today - a previous gen Lexus 400h and a current gen 450h, probably the least PH vehicles in the world, I know, but damn I'm impressed.
They didn't have an LS600h which I'd love a go in, but they're comfortably out of my price range anyway. I've spent some time behind the wheel of a my folks' earlier RX300 a few years back the two I drove today are much better, especially the new 450h.
As well as being the first time I've driven anything 'hybrid', it's also the first time I've used a CVT gearbox.
I've always been under the impression CVT gearboxes are rubbish, but it seemed to work very well, I was expecting the fake, engineered 'steps' to simulate gear changes but there's none of that really, just one constant shove like an aircraft taking off.
There's something very odd about driving around at low speed and being able to hear virtually nothing at all, even with the window down it's still damn quiet. Does bloody well in the traffic light GP too for something that's got absolutely no sporty connotations at all otherwise.
Utterly boring, silky smooth and mashing the not-so-loud pedal from a standing start is really quite addictive. Without a doubt the most comfortable motor I've driven in a decade. Range Rover, daimlers, jags and various ubersaloons included. I think I finally get them. If you can disconnect that PH bit of your brain that demands driver involvement, noise and so on - the Lexus is stunning. If you can't - it's still impossibly comfortable and well equipped, but it's very boring and kind of synthetic feeling I suppose. I still think the acceleration is completely weird though, if you're unfamiliar with them watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFmvPhza1go - it's an LS600 but the effect is the same. I found I really wanted to change gear
I think I've found my mile munching nirvana, and it's a hybrid. Where do I hand in my PH card?
I'll happily admit I like the Lexus Hybrid cars, I think they're brilliant. Like the OP I have also been in a RX300, and I really liked it, very quiet smooth, scacious and pretty nippy. Im not a huge mechanic person but when I watched that video of the Lexus reaching its top speed I couldnt hear a gearchange, is this something to do with the gearbox?
Stu R said:
Nope, I've never had anything against them, aside of the cost of batteries and the playing down of their finite nature.
Some of those crazy cars are quickly reaching 10 years old , still haven't heard anything about replacing the battery pack . Maybe it could be because it's possible to replace just the damaged cell for little money if needed but don't think many need it . Not that anywYone here would know that ,all too busy managing managers,selling money, trading sun rays, buying porsches and the daily mailHave a go in gs450 and watch that cayman driver in the rear view mirror wonder if you got Duracell batteries under da hood
frosted said:
Stu R said:
Nope, I've never had anything against them, aside of the cost of batteries and the playing down of their finite nature.
Some of those crazy cars are quickly reaching 10 years old , still haven't heard anything about replacing the battery pack . Maybe it could be because it's possible to replace just the damaged cell for little money if needed but don't think many need it . Not that anywYone here would know that ,all too busy managing managers,selling money, trading sun rays, buying porsches and the daily mailHave a go in gs450 and watch that cayman driver in the rear view mirror wonder if you got Duracell batteries under da hood
Dalto123 said:
I'll happily admit I like the Lexus Hybrid cars, I think they're brilliant. Like the OP I have also been in a RX300, and I really liked it, very quiet smooth, scacious and pretty nippy. Im not a huge mechanic person but when I watched that video of the Lexus reaching its top speed I couldnt hear a gearchange, is this something to do with the gearbox?
It's the continuously variable transmission.
A normal gearbox is a collection of individual ratios. You go up the rev range in each one, before the next gear is selected- similar to what you'd do on a mountain bike, based on pedalling effort.
A continuously variable transmission is effectively like replacing the gear set on the bike with a cone- smoothing out the gaps between the cogs, then instead of running a chain, using a belt to run up and down the cone. This means it's gradually changing ratios, rather than going through set steps.
This allows the engine to run at its most efficient speed (i.e. rpm at which it makes most power) and the CVT translates this into the correct wheel speed.
frosted said:
Congrats, bet you commented plenty of times on hybrid threads saying they are rubbish . Dont worry , 99% of PHers are guilty of this too.
btw you drove the wrong car , the gs450h is the one to have
I've owned a GS450h for 2 years, and yes it's probably one of the least PH cars you could think of - until you've tried one. It's brilliant for just wafting along quietly, and then when you have to (or want to) you press the right pedal a bit more and it just takes off. Overtakes are piss-easy. So is passing an NSL sign and saying tatty-bye to the nitwit who has been tailgaiting you through a town (unless he's driving something particularly sportif, and is in the right gear etc to keep up). btw you drove the wrong car , the gs450h is the one to have
Superb car. Its only downside is the size of the boot - all those batteries gotta be stored somewhere.
Oh there's another downside - creeping death. You have to be particularly careful in car parks that you don't run over pedestrians who don't hear you, and don't look around.
So you like a £50,000 3.5 V6 SUV do you? What's the surprise there? I know it's nominally a hybrid, but you wouldn't buy one for economy would you? I know they claim some daft combined MPG figure but all the mags seem to struggle to better 32mpg on test. The hybrid bit is really just there to salve the consciences of the Kensingotn mothers who drive them. 
I'm currently driving a new RX450h on loan from Lexus Europe as I'm writing the product training material for the new GS.
Collected it from Brussels on Friday, taking it back this Thursday.
Worked out that you need to drive differently to get the best out of a full hybrid, its very much about lifting off the throttle whenever possible, its really fascinating watching the graphics showing just how the power is coming from / going to.
On the journey from Brussels back to Shropshire, not exactly hanging about I averaged 36mpg (not taken from the trip computer - properly worked out) - prettly impressive for a petrol 3.5 litre V6 SUV weighing over 2 tonnes.
Collected it from Brussels on Friday, taking it back this Thursday.
Worked out that you need to drive differently to get the best out of a full hybrid, its very much about lifting off the throttle whenever possible, its really fascinating watching the graphics showing just how the power is coming from / going to.
On the journey from Brussels back to Shropshire, not exactly hanging about I averaged 36mpg (not taken from the trip computer - properly worked out) - prettly impressive for a petrol 3.5 litre V6 SUV weighing over 2 tonnes.
Edited by andy665 on Monday 8th August 10:26
frosted said:
Congrats, bet you commented plenty of times on hybrid threads saying they are rubbish . Dont worry , 99% of PHers are guilty of this too.
I, like most educated rational people, have never said anything critical about high-performance high-end hybrids!Battery only powered cars however are still hopeless, and will always be as long as a KG of the best batteries available can get you 500 yards whereas a KG of petrol gets you 15 miles! And that’s after 20 years and £billions of dedicated research.
kambites said:
If people are stupid enough to step out into the road without looking, I don't think you can blame the car when they get run over.
True, but in this case it was driving the wrong way down a one-way street.
(I should mention this was at work and we have to turn large cars round else we can't get them in the workshop, and a fellow colleague was deliberatlety trying to s
t me up.)ADEuk said:
kambites said:
If people are stupid enough to step out into the road without looking, I don't think you can blame the car when they get run over.
True, but in this case it was driving the wrong way down a one-way street. (I should mention this was at work and we have to turn large cars round else we can't get them in the workshop, and a fellow colleague was deliberatlety trying to st me up.) Well you can hardly blame the car for that. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff