Lexus Loaner

[Koz]

I just had some last min warranty work done on my IS350 before the non-drive train warranty expired. They gave me a HS 250h Premium as a loaner. I had the car for two days and I was somewhat disappointed. First off, the whole purpose of a hybrid is good gas mileage. I know I'm hard on the accelerator but the combined gas mileage was 22mpg. Where is the 35 city?

This vehicle starts at $37K and maybe I was expecting too much. The HDD nav works very well but the audio system was at best average for a standard unit. Maybe the Mark Levinson in my IS spoiled me but the HS's system was almost the 4Runner's JBL system (Even with less speakers). They located the nav screen high on the dash (Out of reach) and added a mouse type device to navigate on the screen. I got used to it but I'm still not sure if I would prefer it. Sunlight hit it and did cause the screen to be hard to see. The screen also folds/hides when the car is turned off. What I did like was the driver's seat moves back with the steering wheel when the car is turned off for easy egress.

The car had a noticeable vibration when getting started from a dead stop. The CVT took a little getting used to. Besides straining to get up to speed, it would seem like the trans was slipping at low speeds (Very high revs). There is no tach. I know that CVTs give that feeling but this seems more then usual.

The real bugger for me was the lump where the window controls are located on the driver’s door. The lump sticks out way to far into the tight space for you left leg and actually hurts my knee. There was nowhere I could put my leg that didn’t hurt (Are you listening Lexus). This alone would be a deal breaker for me!

You get the feeling of being in a spaceship with hybrid stuff being displayed.

I don’t see the cost of this vehicle!

Koz

 

[Thai]

My parents almost bought the HS. IMHO, it is a way overpriced Toyota Corolla-looking car. (Yes, i know that it is not a Corolla.) The thing runs from $33k (for base model, without wood, memory seat, etc) to upward of $48k for fully loaded (PCS, LEDs, ML sound system, etc.). HS Premium (wood, memory seat) runs around $37k. My guess is that your HS was mid/high-grade...with NAVI, but no Mark Levinson nor LED headlights. From what i hear, the ML system in the HS is actually quite good, but it is very rare to find one that has the system!

The problem with the HS is that it is ALREADY outdated the moment that it came out. It is using 3 years old hybrid powertrain from the Camry Hybrid...Lexus just made it a little smoother. Mileage is not all that great for a hybrid, esp. when you compare it to the Ford and Lincoln Hybrids. For the base price of the HS, i would rather get the fully-loaded Camry Hybrid, which has NAVI, better sound system to the base HS system, roomier, and does not look like a Corolla. Of course, the recent recall did not help. Resale value will tank with the HS. And you wonder why HS sales are not meeting expectations!

Now, the upcoming Lexus CT200h should be a winner...IF Lexus does not overprice it like they did with the HS. Here is more info: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/all-other-vehicles/69985-2011-lexus-ct200h.html

BTW, my parents ended up with a 2010 ES350 Premium...and it was $1k cheaper than the HS Premium.

 

[Koz]

My parents almost bought the HS. IMHO, it is a way overpriced Toyota Corolla-looking car. (Yes, i know that it is not a Corolla.) The thing runs from $33k (for base model, without wood, memory seat, etc) to upward of $48k for fully loaded (PCS, LEDs, ML sound system, etc.). HS Premium (wood, memory seat) runs around $37k. My guess is that your HS was mid/high-grade...with NAVI, but no Mark Levinson nor LED headlights. From what i hear, the ML system in the HS is actually quite good, but it is very rare to find one that has the system!

The problem with the HS is that it is ALREADY outdated the moment that it came out. It is using 3 years old hybrid powertrain from the Camry Hybrid...Lexus just made it a little smoother. Mileage is not all that great for a hybrid, esp. when you compare it to the Ford and Lincoln Hybrids. For the base price of the HS, i would rather get the fully-loaded Camry Hybrid, which has NAVI, better sound system to the base HS system, roomier, and does not look like a Corolla. Of course, the recent recall did not help. Resale value will tank with the HS. And you wonder why HS sales are not meeting expectations!

Now, the upcoming Lexus CT200h should be a winner...IF Lexus does not overprice it like they did with the HS. Here is more info: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/all-other-vehicles/69985-2011-lexus-ct200h.html

BTW, my parents ended up with a 2010 ES350 Premium...and it was $1k cheaper than the HS Premium.

You are right about the one I had, it was a HS Premium with no options except the nav (If nav was an option). No wonder they are not selling. I was so GLAD to get back in my IS.

Have heard anything about the GX's new ML (More speakers and power)?

Koz

 

[Thai]

You are right about the one I had, it was a HS Premium with no options except the nav (If nav was an option). No wonder they are not selling. I was so GLAD to get back in my IS.

Have heard anything about the GX's new ML (More speakers and power)?

Koz

Yeah, i figured...that is a popular combination apparently from looking at Clublexus owners. I have not heard anything about GX's ML, but come on, Koz, besides the RX's ML, when have you heard a bad ML system??!! GX faces stiff competition...so, i doubt that Lexus cut corners with the GX's ML. I believe that the GX's ML has a similar amp to your IS350's ML. Now, if only Lexus put in the top-dog REFERENCE ML system in the GX, then i would be drooling even more!

BTW, whatever happened to the website dedicated to Mark Levinson and Lexus?? I think that it was: marklevinsonlexus.com Now, it only leads back to Lexus.com. It was a nice site because it shows you where the speakers are, what the specs are, etc..

 

[Uneek]

I'd take a Prius over the HS any day. The CT IMO would be competition to the Prius. I would consider both the CT and Prius head to head if I'm shopping for hybrid.

 

[Mark86]

Koz, I had an HS once when our GX was in for service and I shared the exact opinion. The biggest disappointment for me was the power. That car couldn't move for anything. The car was also odd to drive for some reason.

IMO, the ML in our 2007 GX is good but not worth the money. When using the AUX port, it clips terribly at higher volumes. We already had one speaker replaced and the tweeter keeps clicking (which of course cannot be duplicated). The same songs sound perfect on my brothers Acura (equipped with the ELS). I think the ELS is the best radio I have heard in any car.

My dad is a big audio person and really wanted a ML on the new RX. Unfortunately, these vehicles are non-existant so we had to settle for the 12 speaker Pioneer system. There seems to be two options with Lexus: stripped or 75%t loaded

 

[Thai]

Koz, I had an HS once when our GX was in for service and I shared the exact opinion. The biggest disappointment for me was the power. That car couldn't move for anything. The car was also odd to drive for some reason.

IMO, the ML in our 2007 GX is good but not worth the money. When using the AUX port, it clips terribly at higher volumes. We already had one speaker replaced and the tweeter keeps clicking (which of course cannot be duplicated). The same songs sound perfect on my brothers Acura (equipped with the ELS). I think the ELS is the best radio I have heard in any car.

My dad is a big audio person and really wanted a ML on the new RX. Unfortunately, these vehicles are non-existant so we had to settle for the 12 speaker Pioneer system. There seems to be two options with Lexus: stripped or 75%t loaded

Hopefully, with the new ML, it should have a USB port, which should improve sound quite a bit over the AUX. I can tell you that it makes a difference in my Prius...USB sounds significantly clearer with more bass.

 

[Koz]

Hopefully, with the new ML, it should have a USB port, which should improve sound quite a bit over the AUX. I can tell you that it makes a difference in my Prius...USB sounds significantly clearer with more bass.

Yes it has a USB port. They also added speakers (17 from 14) and changed the amp (330 watts from 240). I can't get the specs but they may have put the new 10" sub in (or some of the other new speakers). What really makes any system sound better is a quiet cabin and allot more sound proofing has been added to the body and frame of the new GX. During my 2 hour test drive I was really impressed with how smooth and quiet the vehicle was. Way more quiet then my IS (which is quieter then the 4th gen T4R). The ML in the IS is more like the GX 470 but the cabin is allot smaller. I LOVE the ML in my IS! It would take allot more money to reproduce that sound with aftermarket components. I can use full volume with no distortion at all. You can’t even hear the Greddy exhaust, intake or even the radar detector. SWEET SOUND!

Koz

 

[Thai]

Yes it has a USB port. They also added speakers (17 from 14) and changed the amp (330 watts from 240). I can't get the specs but they may have put the new 10" sub in (or some of the other new speakers). What really makes any system sound better is a quiet cabin and allot more sound proofing has been added to the body and frame of the new GX. During my 2 hour test drive I was really impressed with how smooth and quiet the vehicle was. Way more quiet then my IS (which is quieter then the 4th gen T4R). The ML in the IS is more like the GX 470 but the cabin is allot smaller. I LOVE the ML in my IS! It would take allot more money to reproduce that sound with aftermarket components. I can use full volume with no distortion at all. You can’t even hear the Greddy exhaust, intake or even the radar detector. SWEET SOUND!

Koz

I believe that the hearing aid companies are banking on the ML sounding sweet to your ears, Koz!

 

[Koz]

I believe that the hearing aid companies are banking on the ML sounding sweet to your ears, Koz!

I should be deaf by now. I have always listened to music loud and most every vehicle has been modified to be louder then stock. Back in the day I would drive the streets with open headers. My motorcycles were always the loudest on the road. Even today, my current bike sounds just like an Indy car. No one wants to ride behind me. If into motorcycles it sounds like a Pro-Mod bike. Great sounding vehicles can give me goose bumps when they fly by. Some kids NEVER grow up, I'm living proof. With all that, I have perfect hearing.

Koz