Lexus GS 450H SE A For Sale

LOGIN REGISTER NEWSLETTER Home NEWS REVIEWS PRODUCTS COMPARE CARS VIDEOS BUYING USED CARS NEW CARS MOTORSHOWS COMPETITIONS 6 ISSUES FOR £1 Search Car Reviews: You're in - Car Reviews: Long Term Tests Lexus GS450h SE-L Our hybrid Lexus GS450H has impressive green credentials – but its blend of electric and petrol power also means immense pace Auto Express Car Reviews March 2007 Green or mean? Sometimes it’s tough to choose which word best sums up our Lexus GS450h.While Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are known the world over for their split personalities, even they have nothing on the way the character of our Lexus changes when you drive it hard. Against the clock, there are few other cars in the executive sector capable of matching its awesome pace. As a recent road test (issue 949) revealed, our Lexus will sprint from 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds, while its 0-100mph time – which was recorded at the test track – is even more incredible. It dispatches the benchmark in only 13.2 seconds. To put those figures into perspective, that makes the GS faster than cars such as the Subaru Impreza WRX. Of course, the source of this pace is no mystery – the GS450h develops a total of 341bhp. It’s split between two motors – one electric, one petrol – and as we described in our original report, they work in perfect harmony. Having now covered 11,000 miles, nothing has changed. The transmission is as smooth when shifting between power sources as ever. The flipside of its personality is that we’ve been getting a regular 28.7mpg out of the GS. Of course, no matter what Lexus’ official literature may claim, this is still bettered by many diesel rivals. But none, not even BMW’s 535d, can match the Japanese saloon’s massive acceleration. Yet driving it hard naturally affects the economy. During our road test, it returned little more than 26mpg, while the worst tankful was 21.5mpg, recorded on an A and B-road route. No doubt about it, when you use the centre console switches to turn the Lexus Hybrid on to Sport mode, you are guaranteed incredible low-speed urge due to the electric motor’s instant torque. But cruise gently and 30mpg is easily attainable. However, our time with the Lexus hasn’t always been plain sailing. The car’s electronic brain, the ECU, went haywire as I was driving to work a couple of weeks ago, leaving the anti-lock brakes and traction control out of action. We’ve had similar faults in cars from other marques, but to say we were surprised the Lexus went wrong would be an understatement – because the brand is renowned for its engineering skills. Mind you, the fault did give us the chance to check out Lexus’ legendary customer service. To be frank, it was an awesome experience, and one the firm’s rivals could learn from. A quick call to dealer Lexus Park Lane saw the car collected, fixed under warranty and returned within 10 hours – one of the most impressive displays of efficiency and professionalism we have ever witnessed. But could there be something of a blot on the car’s future appeal? In the past, we’ve made much of the GS450h’s attraction to London drivers, thanks to its exemption from the capital’s congestion charge. Yet it looks as if a rethink could be on the cards, due to its performance and £50,000 price tag. We will keep you posted in our news section as the story develops. What Next COMPARE CAR LOANS COMPARE CAR INSURANCE For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift! < Previous Next > 0 Comment Be the first to comment on this article You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join. Email: Password: Sponsored Results More LEXUS GS450H SE-L articles Car ReviewsLong Term Tests: Lexus GS450h SE-LFirst Drives: Lexus GS450h SE-L Social Bookmarks Link to this article: For more details about purchasing this feature and/or images for editorial usage, please contact the Dennis Syndication team on pictures@dennis.co.uk Email a Friend Print this Pictures - Advertisement - Sponsored Results Other Reports REPORT Engine: not only does the 3.5-litre V6 offer huge straight-line performance, it's actually very refined and economical, too. Luxury: the standard kit list is staggering. There's not a single executive toy missing from the car's interior, and they're all functional and simple to use. Image: despite its pace, the GS slides through traffic unnoticed. It simply doesn't carry the cachet of some rivals - a factor that has both positive and negative implications for Lexus. Practicality: to free up space for the electric motor's batteries, the 280-litre boot has been made hopelessly small, while we can't help feeling the rear seats could do with some more room, too. On fleet since:July 2006 Price when new:£46,808 Mileage:11,332 Costs to date:None Engine / Power:3.5-litre V6/341bhp Options Fitted:Metallic paint (£550) Trade-in Value Now:N/A Insurance Group / Quote:17/£724 Any Problems?:ECU glitch disabled ABS and traction control, but it was fixed under warranty – and in only 10 hours! - Advertisement - Company Website | Media Information | Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Subs Info | Voucher Codes | SitemapOur Other Websites: The First Post | Custom PC | Evo | IT Pro | IT Pro India | MacUser | Men's Fitness | Micro Mart | PC Pro | bit-tech | Know Your Mobile | Octane | Expert Reviews | Channel Pro | Know Your Cell | Know Your Mobile India | iGizmo | Digital SLR Photography | Den of Geek | The Week | Computer Shopper | Dennis Communications | Magazines | Mobile Phone Deals | Competitions | Health & Fitness | CarBuyer © 2010 Dennis Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.Licensed by Felden || LOGIN REGISTER NEWSLETTER Home NEWS REVIEWS PRODUCTS COMPARE CARS VIDEOS BUYING USED CARS NEW CARS MOTORSHOWS COMPETITIONS 6 ISSUES FOR £1 Search Car Reviews: You're in - Car Reviews: Long Term Tests Lexus GS450h SE-L The Lexus GS450h is starting to prove that it's cool to go green Auto Express Car Reviews Text: Dan Strong / Photos: Derek GoardOctober 2006 There's no doubt that the technology works, and there are serious cost advantages beyond a promised increase in fuel economyTo be perfectly honest, fashion and I have never really appeared particularly comfortable together - but even I know that, when it comes to trends in motoring, green is the new black. Which is why I have allowed myself to feel vaguely cool driving around in an executive Lexus.Ordinarily, the firm's GS would struggle to turn heads even if it was painted luminous orange. Yet fitted with an environmentally friendly petrol-electric hybrid powerplant, the new GS450h gets a welcome shot of desirability and credibility, thanks to its strong green aura. As a result, the big Lexus has wasted no time in acquiring some high-profile fans. But do the futuristic mechanicals really live up to their billing? That's what we aim to find out over the next year.There's no doubt that the technology works, and there are serious cost advantages beyond a promised increase in fuel economy. For company car drivers, the GS450h is one of the most tax-efficient models in its class, while motorists in central London will find their vehicle exempt from the controversial £8-per-day congestion charge. This makes the Lexus perfect for my daily commute to Auto Express's West End HQ. The electric and petrol motors work in perfect harmony, propelling the 1,930kg car through city jams and out on to the motorway with a minimum of fuss. Refinement is remarkable, particularly in heavy traffic. The near-silent electric motor allows the Lexus to cruise noiselessly, and means occupants can relax because the big machine is so effortlessly easy and undemanding to drive. But the GS450h is also fast. With nearly 300bhp, the 3.5-litre V6 offers V8 levels of performance, and surges away from traffic lights.So far so good... although the Lexus is far from perfect. For starters, we have yet to match the manufacturer's claimed combined fuel economy figure of 35.5mpg. The best we have recorded is 31.1mpg, and our average is 27.7mpg - well down on the class's best diesel models. Nor is packaging particularly good. Headroom is poor, and the space taken up by the hybrid drivetrain means the boot has shrunk to a mere 280 litres, making it less practical than your average supermini.Thank goodness the engine is so good. With its impressive performance, clever technology and enviable refinement, not to mention its tax advantages, the Lexus GS450h is starting to prove why it's cool to go green.Second opinionAny executive car should give an utterly cocooning drive, but the GS450h is on a new level. I like to get home from work as fast as possible with a minimum of fuss - and the Lexus is brilliant. Refinement is amazing and the powertrain slick. The sunroof robs a lot of headroom, though. Sam Hardy, motoring writer What Next COMPARE CAR LOANS COMPARE CAR INSURANCE For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift! < Previous Next > 0 Comment Be the first to comment on this article You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join. Email: Password: Sponsored Results More LEXUS GS450H SE-L articles Car ReviewsLong Term Tests: Lexus GS450h SE-LFirst Drives: Lexus GS450h SE-L Social Bookmarks Link to this article: For more details about purchasing this feature and/or images for editorial usage, please contact the Dennis Syndication team on pictures@dennis.co.uk Email a Friend Print this Pictures - Advertisement - Sponsored Results Other Reports REPORT Not having to pay the London congestion charge, strong performance, superb refinement, excellent build quality, easy-to-use LCD touch-screen controls Limited cabin space, poor headroom, extremely small boot, economy falling short of claims, vague steering On fleet since:September 2006 Price when new:£46,765 Running costs:115.4ppm Mileage:2,642 Costs to date:Four new tyres (£588), first service (£220) Engine / Power:3.5 litre V6 hybrid/292bhp Options Fitted:Sat-nav/CD changer (£1,845), multifunction steering wheel with cruis econtrol (£315), bi-xenon headlights (£725), luxury pack 2: electric folding mirrors with surrounding area lighting (£180) Trade-in Value Now:n/a Insurance Group / Quote:18/£595 Any Problems?:None so far - Advertisement - Company Website | Media Information | Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Subs Info | Voucher Codes | SitemapOur Other Websites: The First Post | Custom PC | Evo | IT Pro | IT Pro India | MacUser | Men's Fitness | Micro Mart | PC Pro | bit-tech | Know Your Mobile | Octane | Expert Reviews | Channel Pro | Know Your Cell | Know Your Mobile India | iGizmo | Digital SLR Photography | Den of Geek | The Week | Computer Shopper | Dennis Communications | Magazines | Mobile Phone Deals | Competitions | Health & Fitness | CarBuyer © 2010 Dennis Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.Licensed by Felden || Help - Search - Members - Calendar Full Version: Looking To Buy Used Gs 450h Se-l - Need Advice Lexus Owners Club > Lexus Models > Lexus GS 300 / Lexus GS 430 / Lexus 450h / Lexus GS 460 Club autobahn November 13, 2008, 7:57 pm I'm looking to buy a used GS 450h SE-L. I have a budget of around £30K. The best GS 450h SE-L that I can get from a Lexus dealer appears to be around two years old (56-plate) at close to 20K miles. I'm a bit confused with some dealer cars as one doesn't have the wooden steering wheel. I thought this was standard on the SE-L model? What i'd like to know is if a 2-year old GS450h comes standard with the following and which of these are options: 1. Wooden steering wheel 2. Adaptive cruise control 3. Mark Levinson music system 4. Parking sensors + rear camera 5. Xenon headlights Also, how much can I realistically negotiate with the dealer in the current economic climate? I'd like to get any scuff marks and stone chips repaired, a full professional valet, a service if the mileage is close to a service, new carpet mats, a years road tax included, satnav map upgrade CD/DVD and new tyres if the present ones are worn. And are dealers generally flexible on price? DJ Wozza November 13, 2008, 8:30 pm I'm dead jealous, I had a GS450h as a loan when my car was in for service, impressive motor !! I can't help with the specifications, but read on. In the current climate I'd suggest you can push hard to get the deal you want, it is worth going to at least 2 different dealers and push as hard as you dare for the the bits you mention. [quote]...any scuff marks and stone chips repaired, a full professional valet, a service if the mileage is close to a service, new carpet mats, a years road tax included, satnav map upgrade CD/DVD and new tyres if the present ones are worn[/quote] The worst they can do is try to knock you down a little on what you are asking for. The road tax should be included with an Approved Used Lexus I believe, so barter hard !! Don't be afraid to look like you are going to walk away, they need your business. Remeber, best poker face, and don't be afraid to try another dealer to get exactly what you want. There are many Lexus Dealers in London When I bought my used IS200 2 1/2years ago, it was up for £10,999, I paid £9,000 with the car serviced, New alloys, Mats, and my 1st service completely free !! I was originally offered the car with £1,000 off, and said I'd think about it. The following day I had a call with another £1,000 off as a 'final offer'. I then asked for the 1st service free. 10 minutes later I was called to say if I came that day to start the documentation I could have the deal that I wanted. That was in happier economic times, so push hard for your deal. Also anything you are getting 'extra' make sure they put that in writing on the sales document, I produced this when the presented me with a bill for my first service.. they were shocked in the service dept, but then went to check and I paid nothing Let us know how you get on. autobahn November 13, 2008, 9:15 pm Thanks for the advice, DJ Wozza. Oh, I forgot to mention that i'd like new wiper blades too! It's funny but one dealer simply wasn't interested in selling me a GS 450h. I tried another one and after the initial "we're a big dealership and have got the best stock" he found one with a few scuff marks and a couple of stone chips. But at least he was interested in selling me a car. It's a shame that the dealerships aren't networked so you're stuck with the very limited stock from individual dealerships. The mileage on the Lexus site for approved used vehicles also seems to be incorrect. I enquired about one car and found that the mileage advertised was lower by 1,500 miles than the real mileage. Anyway, i'm determined to find a decent dealership and get a GS 450h. Can someone clarify if road tax is included with an approved used Lexus? The dealer I spoke to today said I would have to add the cost of road tax to the purchase price. Parthiban November 13, 2008, 9:29 pm Hi there, notice you're in London, which dealers have you visited so far? If your budget is £30k, I think it may go a little further than you might be expecting. When I was at my dealer a few weeks ago, they had two '08' plate GS450hs (facelifted models), one an SE-L in white and the other a Sport in caspian sky both for £36k. They are now £33k and £35k respectively and I'm sure are very negotiable (yes that's right, just a few months old and well over £10k off list!). Therefore a 2006 car is easily mid-20s pricewise, and should be able to knock a few £k off that. As far as spec is concerned, I believe everything you've mentioned there is included on the SE-L except the wooden steering wheel, I think this was an option so will be there on some cars and not on others. Now is the time to drive a hard bargain, as the dealers are desperate to sell cars and the dealerships are like ghost towns regarding customers! Don't let them see how much you want it and you should be able to get an excellent discount. Yes they don't tax the used vehicles, so that's something you'll also need to negotiate into the deal autobahn November 13, 2008, 10:01 pm When did the facelift happen? I got two different answers from two different Lexus dealers! DJ Wozza November 13, 2008, 10:29 pm also try looking on the Lexus website for the car to narrow down your search, you can put in model and area, let their site do the searching for you !! DJ Wozza November 13, 2008, 10:35 pm just looked for cars in London (where in London are you ?) , £26,000 to £34,000 price range.. for £32,995 Mar 08 Black for £29,995 Nov 07 Black There is a big selection mate, and these are without haggling at all, so expect at least a grand or more off. [url="http://www.lexus.co.uk/used-cars/search.aspx"]CLICK HERE[/url] Mike246 November 13, 2008, 11:06 pm Hi Autobahn, Your post caught my attention as I bought a '07 GS430 three months ago. The reality of the fuel increase at that time (before the full impact of the crunch) was that the car was very diffcult to offload as only a lunatic would buy a V8. In fact the consumption is not bad at all as the engine never goes above 2,000 rpm - I get 31+ on the motorway. The goodies you mention are all on the 430 as standard. The wooden steering wheel is wonderful and makes the car delightful to use. The adaptive cruise control really works and radar locks onto a car at up half a mile - best not to use it near Chatham docks or any of the RAF bases! The Mark Levinson system is good and even plays DVDs on screen with the parking brake on. Not much practical use and shame there is no TV tuner or iPOD input. The reversing aid and steering-linked display are very effective but the car is a big lump to park in any event. I've owned a GS for 10 years and still can't get it right. The satnav has inbuilt traffic warning and is quite complicated to use. Apart from that you have voice control, effective cellphone integration (beware - model dependant), variable suspension setting and computerised almost everything. In particular the six-speed transmission is superb and well-matched with the V8 engine. You might want to consider the petrol 430 as an alternative is they will be much cheaper than a hybrid - either way you will still shed loads of money between buying and selling! Parthiban November 13, 2008, 11:08 pm [quote name='autobahn' post='604352' date='Nov 13 2008, 10:01 PM']When did the facelift happen? I got two different answers from two different Lexus dealers![/quote] It was the beginning of this year - I think '08' plate onwards. It's quite obvious to spot the difference though, facelifted cars have a different front bumper and indicators in the wing mirrors As Wozza says there's plenty to choose from, and if you can afford it I'd go for the newer ones and haggle like crazy as they've really taken a huge depreciation hit - comparatively the older cars are not as good value for money unless they knock a lot off the price. autobahn November 14, 2008, 7:46 am Thanks for all of the helpful replies. It's given me a lot of confidence to commit to becoming a Lexus owner finally! I will find some time over the next 3-4 weeks to locate a car and haggle hard. I am guessing that this is quite a good time to buy with the holiday season approaching. If I could get an '08-plate for as close to £30K as possible then that would be the ideal scenario but I can stretch my budget very slightly is need be (possibly up to £32K). I have to say i've been on many car forums over the years and i'm very impressed with the LOC. The friendliness and helpfulness is very much appreciated. I hope to be able to fill in the 'Lexus Model' part of my profile before Christmas! DJ Wozza November 14, 2008, 8:06 am If you get the car before Christmas, there is a big Lexus Meet on December 20th, click my signature below for more details..... Glad to have helped fella. Parthiban November 14, 2008, 9:26 am [quote name='autobahn' post='604456' date='Nov 14 2008, 07:46 AM']If I could get an '08-plate for as close to £30K as possible then that would be the ideal scenario but I can stretch my budget very slightly is need be (possibly up to £32K).[/quote] If that's your budget, you'll get an '08' plate no problem If you haven't already, make sure to pop into Lexus Woodford (as they have some cracking deals on) and if you go to Edgware Road, make sure to deal with AJ there............. Good luck with finding a car, I'm sure you'll be able to find one soon Huddy November 16, 2008, 2:31 am Autobahn I don't know if you've actually driven a SE-L. I have, and I couldn't live with it. The sunroof makes the headroom too low for me. I'm 6ft on a warm day and there are people taller than me, so I thought I should warn you. I had to opt for a SE, which has everything you list apart from the adaptive cruise control and the wooden steering wheel. I did quite fancy the auto cruise. Someone mentioned the six speed box (on the 430). The hybrid version doesn't actually have a six speed box. It uses a CVT, which works very well. The sequential shift function isn't a gear change as you may be used to in other cars. It reduces the ratio relative to the speed the car would have chosen had it been left to it's own devices. Using this causes the regenerative braking to come into effect. You can, (as I have often done without realising it ), drive around in a lower ratio and the car still operates normally, varying the ratio as you change speed. I sense that over time, if you had selected a lower ratio, the car raises it back to normal if you don't change it yourself. Maybe someone else can confirm this. Yes, it will have sensors and rear camera as standard. That wasn't a huge selling point for me at the time, but now I have it I can't live without it. The camera allows you to reverse out of your driveway while your back window is misted or frosted up. It's actually easier to reverse using the camera than using the mirrors. But you need to watch you don't swipe something with your front wing as you steer in reverse. I believe the Mark Levinson system is standard on the SE and SE-L. I don't rate it so highly. I don't enjoy listening to music on it, as it sounds flat. I also find the speed-related volume control is less than effective, and I'm constantly adjusting the volume when I stop at lights. I've heard better systems in run of the mill cars, and it irks me that Lexus make such a big deal about it. It certainly doesn't match Merc and BMW systems. You should get a decent car for much less than 30k. Try outside London, as I understand buyers are travelling north to buy their cars up here, as they are cheaper. We don't have the congestion charge up here. Yes, Lexus do tax the car for you. I think it's less than £200 anyway, so it wouldn't break your 30k budget. Good luck. braindead November 17, 2008, 9:27 pm I've had my 450h for just 3 weeks. It was bang on two years old with 39k on the clock when I bought it from Lexus Coventry. It was advertised as an SE but has ventilated seats so maybe it's an SE-L - I don't know. Paid just £20,700 for it and got new alloys and mats thrown in. They gave me £6,500 trade in on my 53 plate Prius (yes! Prius). The asking price was £21,900. I'm very, very happy with the deal and the car. Only slight downsides are minor scuffs where a roof rack has been attached I think (not surprising given the boot size) and a couple of scratches on the wood inside. I did the old trick of going in a few days before month end - that always seems to help as they try to hit their targets. What a car for the money. £46k new, £20.7k after two years. Huddy November 17, 2008, 10:36 pm [quote name='braindead' post='605818' date='Nov 17 2008, 09:27 PM']It was advertised as an SE but has ventilated seats so maybe it's an SE-L - I don't know[/quote]My SE also has ventilated seats, and I thought it was standard. If you need to know what spec you have, there is a plate on the driver's door pillar showing the exact spec. kns November 19, 2008, 10:03 am To awnser your questions, the pre-facelift GS450h SE-L (06 to beginning of 08) had all the items you mention apart from the wooden wheel. That item was part of the 'wood pack' which meant the wheel and gear selector - an option I specified when I bought my car. The post facelift deleted the wood pack option altogether, its now only available on the GS460, and the ACC and Sunroof became part of an option pack. Adaptive Cruise has always been an important feature for me, great if your a lazy driver!!!!!!! Regards Keith bob.grainger November 24, 2008, 5:05 pm I bought an '07 GS450-h SE-L, 25k miles with wood pack, about 6 months ago, from Lexus Coventry. It's in metallic Mesa Red with the light colour leather and looks absolutely superb when the sun catches it. I paid 31k but consider that fair because the car was in a superb almost new condition - it even still smelt new. For me two major plus points of the car are the adaptive cruise control (this is stunningly good) and the acceleration (when you put your foot down and you get both motors kicking in it feels like a rocket lift off). I took it down the Fosse Way a few weeks ago, a road notorious for lack of places to pass, and found that I could easily just zip past other cars that in any other car I would never have even dared to attempt. It's a very different car to any I have driven before, and I agree with the earlier comments about reduced headroom and small boot, but all in all I'm a happy bunny (and even better - my wife loves it also !) BTW Lexus Coventry offer superb service. This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here. Invision Power Board © 2001-2010 Invision Power Services, Inc. || ||