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Absolutely agree with you. Why-o-why did Lexus not bring the GS350 here this year ? They may well rue that day they decided the US market deserves a 3L motor while Japan gets the 3.5L motor!
Length increases marginally from 189.2 to 190, and width grows from 70.9 to 71.7. Meanwhile front shoulder room shrinks from 57.7 to 56.3. Likewise for rear shoulder room.
And the trunk shrinks from 14.8 cu. ft. to 12.7.
What are they thinking? Why are they doing this?
Much to my chagrin car mfrs are going back to form over function with the chopped back end look.
Maybe. But there ain't no GS350 here to test.
Maybe the GS430 would be a better match for the M35/45?
I could not get a GS430 tester. The dealership told me they will be scarce to find, and may not be provided as a tester. But I would love to run the M45 against the GS430. That should be a closer match, I agree.
Comparing the 280HP M to the 245HP GS maybe unfair at this point, as far as driving impressions go
But I can only test what are put out. If Lexus does want to compete against the M, they better get the 350 over here quick, otherwise its lights out, goodnight GS.
Lexus need to play the HP game; that's what the market demands today, and the earlier they recognize that the better for us fans. I certainly wasn't happy to see my favorite company not step up with a competitive car in the GS300. Sure there are a lot of great things about the new GS, but Lexus skimped where it matters most - sportiness, and speed. The 6.8s for the GS300 is nothing to stand against the 6.3s for the M35, plus the M has a Sport package, while the GS has NO sport package. What gives ?
The mild upgrade in MY2007 should make things more interesting. On a good note, two GS300 were SOLD between the time I took the tester out and came back. Both retailed well over $50K. So they may sell these cars but for all the noise made by Denny Clements, methinks the car falls short of the mark.
They want to have something to offer in a facelift for 2007, I guess.
They'd be smart to offer a sports pkg. as well.
The word from the company is they want to sell more V8 GS, so I don't see why it's so hard to find them when people want to see them?
Seems like same old, same old to me. Very curious behavior from Lexus.
DrFill
The 5 is no Avalon either.
Drfill
2004 GS 300 weighed 3,649 lbs had 220 hp @ 5,800 and 220 lb-ft @ 3,800
2006 GS 300 weighs 3,536 lbs has 245 hp @ 6,200 and 230 lb-ft @ 3,600
The 2006 GS 300 hp/lb ratio increased by 15% and the tor/lb ratio increased by 7% - is this enough for Lexus to claim that the 0-60 time dropped from 7.8 seconds to 6.8 seconds?
The 2006 M35 hp/lb ratio is 5.5% better than the GS and the tor/lb ratio is 8% better. The M35 does 0-60 in 6.3 seconds.
And in some cases, # of tranny speeds.
Even the tires can enhance acceleration times!
Good to know the Lexus lost weight.
DrFill
For example, for '04 GS300, Lexus claimed 1/4 mile in 15.8, but the best Car & Driver could do was 16.1, and Consumer Reports, when they originally tested the car, got only 16.8
Same for 0-60, Lexus claiming 7.8, but C&D recorded 8.0 even and CR only 8.8.
So Lexus' claim for the new GS are undoubtedly optimistic. That was my seat-of-the-pants impression when I drove it.
By the way, the final gear ratio in the new GS is virtually the same as previously.
Lexus design has undoubtedly come on by leaps and bounds, but I'm not sure that it's there yet.
The best example I can give is last year's Guigaro design at Geneva, the Alessandro Volta - a concept to die for! But will they make it? You can bet your [non-permissible content removed] they wont!
ive been reading all these pages for a while, never posted - wanted to gather my thoughts. - VERY GOOD POSTS!
First, what maintainence is usually associated with gs 300 besides oil changes - I have a corolla
Is there a lexus site that can check service records for used lexuses?
Anyone buy a used lexus gs 300 2001-2004 recently and have anything to say? Any problems?
Does anyone know where these dealers get these used lexuses off lease? Damn dealers get them from auctions I think from toyota for 2000-3000 less than what they sell you!
thanks so much
lexy
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I'm going to look at Mecedeces too. Have you driven any?
Other dealers have told me that you have to take them the way they come. My feeling is that these dealers are either lazy or just want to sell what they've got or are too small and have very little clout with Lexus.
Has anyone here factory ordered a Lexus with a la carte options?
On a seperate note, i have driven the gs 300 (rear and awd) and the M35 (AWD). Though the M is more powerful, the dash is a killer, it was a big turn off. It was best put "it looks Like an ATM" in motor trend i believe. If the controls were placed lower by the shifter( I.e. IDRIVe and the audi a6) it would have cleared up room, instead it is a distraction to reach up and is very uncomfortable. The gs center console is extremely clean and easy to use. Though the Infiniti is a great car and have great powerful engines(strategy lexus should follow)the interior turned me away. I still need to test drive the rearwheel drive before i deside on either the lexus or M. Either way both cars are great.
On a side note, the lexus gs Mark Levinson 330w sound system is out of this world.
The hp conflict with the 430 is basically what all of us guessed awhile back. What I dont understand is, V8 sales are only maybe 10% if they're lucky, and when the V6 is NOT cannibalizing the V8s power. Why jeapordize the other 90% by using a much weaker engine than you have readily available for the purpose of protecting those measily 10%? Why not just introduce a GS350 as the sole option until the new V8 is ready?
However i did read that Toyota has reserved the rights for a GS350 and 450 i believe, not sure on the numbers but i would expect the change to be as an 08' or 09' model at the latest. Lexus doesnt want to unveil the bigger v8 until the new LS i would think.
Last week i test drove the New gs in AWD and rear, and the AWD didn't feel much different to my RX330. My salesman who i have used since 1989(when they were selling ls's out of a trailer) said that a reardrive would be decent in the snow with snow tires added. i dont know how right he is. All i know is my current GS is hooorrible in the snow. Any body with experience with snow tires?
Just to let everyone know, the New IS is to be unveiled at geneva march 1rst.
Hope this will help
Ken
Second, Check the specs on the 3.5L in the 2005 Avalon, by all indications this will be the engine in the GS300 update expected in model year 2007.
Putting a new V8, V6, and Hybrid in within 6 months doesn't make much sense, compared to what Clements said is the strategy.
One engine will have to wait for '08. My guess is it would be the V8. If it is running under 6 seconds now, there is no need to rush a bigger engine in.
My question is, as the LS has a history of appearing in redesigned form between mid-October and mid-Novemeber, when do you release new V6 in the GS?
I'd do it right around the first of the year, 2007.
The marketing blitz on the new LS has died down, the year end sales event is over, and it gives customers a reason to go to the dealership in the dark cold months of January and February.
I'd expect the Hybrid in Summer of '07, and the V8 a year after the six.
DRFill
Here is what we know. The new LS will come with the new V8 engine. Should arrive in dealerships by mid-October 2006 as MY2007.
The GS350 would have been around in Japan for 18 months by end of 2006, so maybe bring it in March 2007, as an early 2008 GS350. Maybe release the hybrid GS450h about the same time as this engine upgrade. Then bring in the GS460 before end of 2007 as an MY2008 release.
What do you think of this staggered guesses ?
I woant the GS to still have something going for it when the LS hits, so the GS isn't totally forgotten.
It would be best if Lexus would bring one new engine 2 months before the LS lands, so the GS can enjoy a strong close to '06, and have sustained momentum into another engine release in early '07, and get additional quality traffic, as the LS' market dominance continues to grow.
I don't think the car (GS) is competitive enough to go through Winter '07 without a new engine (3.0 notwithstanding).
I'd try to have the 3.5 ready just as the LS arrives.
The Hybrid would take away too much from the LS launch.
The 4.6 GS would do the same.
The 3.5 will be ready within a year. I'm hearing it's not just a straight swap out of Avalon, but more powerful. And the 3.0 may saty in the lineup.
Given the price of the GS430, the LS doesn't look like it'll go much past $60k base price. I thought they may go right to $65k, but $15k is too big a gap to leave.
One other thought is this structure:
GS300: 245HP - low $40's
GS350: 300HP - under $50k (Acura RL with more torque)
GS460: 350-360HP - $55-57k
2007 LS: 350HP - 20/28MPG - $65-85k
DrFill