LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade?
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade?
As most of you will know, I bought an LS430 a few weeks ago.
While the car suits the criteria that I bought it for perfectly (lots of space inside for the kids, lots of toys, reasonably quick, relaxing), I'm really in two minds on whether to keep to as it just feels a little too 'grown up' for me and it's an absolute pain in the ass to park in multistories/shopping centres as its friggin huge.
I guess I kind of yearn for something a bit more sporty looking like my IS300, but bigger with more mod-cons.
This led me to the GS430 (2005+ model) or the GS450h. I really like the look of the new GS, especially the one with the boot spoiler, and as it seems bigger inside the cabin than the IS300, it ticks the boxes there.
The only thing stopping me from getting one (pending a test drive and buggy-in-boot test) is the fact that I'll have to PX in the LS430 and add about £8k in order to get one which may only be a year or two newer than the LS!!
Is it completely mad to spend £8k on a GS, when my LS is probably better built and has more toys? Or should I not put a price on being 100% happy with the car I drive?
Looking for voices of reason...
my voice of reason says ... not sure why you're even asking this if you haven't done the test drive and buggy in boot test as they may prove there is no question to ask
Agree with PW (for once)
purplewitch my voice of reason says ... not sure why you're even asking this if you haven't done the test drive and buggy in boot test as they may prove there is no question to ask
purplewitch my voice of reason says ... not sure why you're even asking this if you haven't done the test drive and buggy in boot test as they may prove there is no question to ask
If it ticks all boxes mate, you'd be crazy to pay 8k more for a lesser car, in effect.
Marsdendean See parth did not like how the gs450 drives but I love my old man's. He gets around 32mpg on average which is not bad, and I think the h will be quicker than the 430.
You have to consider price of batteries and if anything goes wrong its big money. My old man is having a motor fitted which controls the suspension to stiffen it up, its making a creaking noise and its 2500 just for tge part ...
Marsdendean See parth did not like how the gs450 drives but I love my old man's. He gets around 32mpg on average which is not bad, and I think the h will be quicker than the 430.
You have to consider price of batteries and if anything goes wrong its big money. My old man is having a motor fitted which controls the suspension to stiffen it up, its making a creaking noise and its 2500 just for tge part ...
Toyota and Lexus have yet to replace a single battery pack under warranty, they are in the region of $1300 to buy, and can be re-built for a fraction of that cost. There are far more expensive things more likely to fail then the battery's. Remember its not new technology its only a new application of an old well trusted technology.
There are step by step guides for DIY battery replacement, by selecting the cells that have failed and just changing them.
Stoney Isn't the GS450h even faster than the newer GS460?
Stoney Isn't the GS450h even faster than the newer GS460?
8k is a lot of money just for a more sporty look.
In my opinion, don't do it - you will regret it.