HS250h - Weeks 5 & 6

[kgenaidy]

- In the DFW area it's starting to get cooler and the car's mileage is starting to take a dip. It's down to about 44.8 mpg for the last 2 weeks.

- I'm still trying to get a handle on how to manage the 41-50 mph range. I find this to be the most difficult range to drive for FE.

- Coming to the realization ... that more often than not ... I have to help the computer get the vehicle into the right "mode" to maximize FE. If no human intervention ... the computer is quite content remaining in less FE modes. This seems to yield about sticker mpg results.

- This is an excellent, FE, luxury car. I suspect it might get a "bad rap" from many individuals who won't take the time to learn what it is really capable of. I consider myself a novice ... in the hands of the true masters ... the results will be better.

[xcel]

Hi Kgenaidy:

___I would not call yourself a novice by any means! From all appearances ,you have and will continue to have the highest lmpg of any HS owner on the planet and I have to congratulate you for that! There may be some Japanese Sai owners with a better lmpg but given their PSL's compared to yours, you are doing spectacular!

___If some pulls the EPA at 35 from any lux automobile, I do not think they have much room to stand on regarding a bad rap as that would be an excellent result compared to the low 20 something automobile they were probably driving prior to HS ownership?

___What do you like and dislike about your HS now that you are into month number 2? Ergonomics, button placement, glare, Cupholder placement, C-Pillar and rear view, blind spots, warm-up, seat comfort, trunk cap, headroom, rear seat complaints or accolades, Enform and Connect services, XM Sat radio and the after purchase Lexus experience and corporate/dealership contact...

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[kgenaidy]

Let's see ...

I do like the interior and ergonomics. The HS250h strikes me as consistently "Lexus" like. I do like the navigation system w/the "mouse" ... less distracting then the "touch screen" method. Sometimes I wish I had the LED headlights ... but the "stock" ones are fine.

I am a bit of an audiophile ... and some may not care for the audio system. I really wanted the Mark Levinson audio system. I was told none exist in the US. My wife's ES350 has the ML audio and is quite nice and better sounding (Lexus are you listening?)

I find the visablilty quite good ... it is definitely better than it was w/my HCHII. Since it sits higher ... I find on-coming headlight glare to be less of a problem.

There is lot's of headroom (I'm 6'). I can't comment much on the rear seats since I'm mostly driving by myself. The few times I have had a passenger in the back seats ... they said it was "comfortable" ... but this was only for a few blocks.

If we take family trips ... we will take my wife's car. It has more rear seat room and a bigger trunk for 3 people. The HS will certainly work ... it just requires more careful planning and making do with less stuff (at least in our household).

I am a big fan of XM radio and pretty much listen to that exclusively. Only complaint is that while the antenna looks "cool" .... it does lose reception a little easier then the more conventional "stick type" antennas.

I do like the idea of the Lexus version of "On-Star". I haven't used the enform services yet. I may subscribe to the safety portion of this after the complimentary 1 year period is up.

The purchase experience was low key and pleasant.

I do find I am at odds with Lexus dealership maintenance costs. It seems to me that the dealership just charges way to much money for the work being done. I guess I just don't fit into the demographics they try to cater to.

Lexus parts costs are a bit surprising to me. I expected all "high". I have found some to be reasonable and others to be outrageous. The Toyota 0w20 oil is about 6.50/qt ... it's supposed to be synthetic ... that's not too bad. However ... the engine air filter was 28.95 ... that seems high to me.

I should have known ... just didn't think about it ... the after-market parts and accessories aren't here yet. I'm waiting for K&N to come out w/a replacement engine air filter.