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+--- Thread: LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? (/showthread.php?tid=8974)
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? - jimxms - 15-09-2019
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...
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? - purplewitch - 15-09-2019
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
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? - FirebirdPhil - 15-09-2019
Agree with PW (for once)
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? - jimxms - 15-09-2019
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
Well I'm pretty certain the GS430 will be my cuppa tea as it'll definitely drive more sportily than the LS and afaik it's got a similar sized boot to the IS which was fine for the buggy. Only issue is they seem extremely rare.
The GS450h is the one I'm not sure about.
But this is all in principal. If the buggy did fit, and if I did prefer the drive..would I still be mad for payign an extra £8k for what is essentially a lower-end car?
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? - Dark Samurai - 15-09-2019
If it ticks all boxes mate, you'd be crazy to pay 8k more for a lesser car, in effect.
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? - jimxms - 15-09-2019
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 ...
Yeah its all a gamble, although I heard that the batteries can be replaced a 'cell' at a time for about £100? Suspension is a bit like my LS430 - you don't even want to know how much new air struts cost if they go wrong (which they eventually do)!
I've got a dealer bringing one round my house tonight for me to test drive and check out the boot on. If the boot is stupidly small or I dont like the drive then I'll stick with my LS and mod it into something I like a bit more.
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? - FirebirdPhil - 15-09-2019
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.
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? - Stoney - 15-09-2019
Marsdendean I think the h will be quicker than the 430.
Isn't the GS450h even faster than the newer GS460?
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? - jimxms - 15-09-2019
Stoney Isn't the GS450h even faster than the newer GS460?
Yeah I think they are pretty similar if not. The GS450h is definitely quite considerably faster than the GS430 though for sure.
EDIT: Although I've heard that the h isn't consistently faster, in that the battery power quickly dies off if you are thrashing it about.
LS430 to GS450h/GS430 a downgrade? - speedfreek - 15-09-2019
8k is a lot of money just for a more sporty look.
In my opinion, don't do it - you will regret it.