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Comments
But, it's not the car, its the tires. The dealer was correct.
GM
Thanks
Jeff
Interesting point you make above about 0-60 not imp. for people commuting to office in their car. I do not see how the backside of a car can be more relevant than it's accelaration esp. when you are sitting INSIDE it and commuting...........
Looks are subjective and enough people have argued that GS rear looks like a hatchback
Thanks,
JV
If you're doing your own oil changes, I'd reccomend getting a one day subscription to the Toyota TIS (Technical Information System) for $10, and reading the lubrication section. It gives you a step-by-step guide.
Also, when you buy the filter, make sure you get the right one. The AWD filter is different from the RWD filter, and includes a pipe that you need to use to drain the oil. Also, you should know that Toyota is now reccomending 10W-20 instead of 10W-30 (there is a TSB on the site about it).
Things I like and problems:
1. GPS is to die for. Even with the extreme safety features inhibiting usage while driving, it is great and took me through the toughest areas with ease including back roads in the Appalachians. No more arguments with wife and no more stops for direction (when I did....)
2. XM radio is wonderful. Can listen to CNBC or news a couple of hours without stopping and the wife knows C&W will be back on shortly.
3. Left leg position on trips is not optimum.
4. Have a faulty tire pressure causing an alarm I can not turn off.
5. Cracked the windshield at about 700 miles of travel. Did not seem like that big a rock..... first cracked windshield in 30 years.
6. Either the downshifting or the throttle control is not performing well as the mountain driving resulted in sporadic but iritating jolts.
7. Smooth and quiet ride.
8. 35 mpg on the computer on the interstate.
10. Rear view camera worked well for parallel parking in tight scenic areas of old Charleston. Never thought I would use it.
Good car.
It would probably be a good idea to get an oil filter wrench as well. I don't know if standard filter wrenches would work. If not, there is a tool you can buy from Toyota.
It's all the other crap with this car that has me disenchanted. I never had a single squeek/creak/dash noise until after my 5K service. Now my dash creaks from 3 places, and my new seat belt mechanism sounds like an orchestra with all the noise it makes.
My car has serious transmission issues, and the dealer said "sorry, nothing we can do - maybe a software update next year". That was after keeping the car for 1-week, replicating the problem, getting print outs, phoning Japan, etc., etc.
It's really frustrating: ('06 GS300AWD) when doing a "rolling stop", of about 6-8 mph, then gradually, smoothly accelerating (or trying to), the car will first hesitate (like in neutral), then jump into 1st gear and LUNGE forward (like dropping a clutch on a standard), then it goes into the correct gear and it smooths out. This jolt is bad enough to get bad comments from passengers, as the car jumps gears 2 times in 15 feet. Again, this isn't my driving technique - Service experienced it in their test drive. It doesn't happen at 10+ mph, or if you come to a stop. Only at speeds of about 5-8 mph.
The regional field tech (?) calls the drivetrain engineers in Japan who blame it on the software, but can't offer a solution.
So just when I decide that the car is good enough overall that I can overlook these low-speed jolts and gear jumping, the friggin interior starts to sing, moan and groan, creak, rattle and roll. Absolutely inexcusable for a brand new Lexus to have these kind of interior noises.(still under 6K miles).
I need to talk to the poster who recently filed the formal complaint with Lexus. It's not that I don't want a new GS - I just don't like THIS one.
Excuse me? Did you just get here? Mine's been rattling on and off since I bought it in September, and I've had it back to the dealer five times just for rattles. And I'm not the only one.
Now, the seat is starting to make creaking noises when I make right turns.
If someone offered me $5K less than what I paid, I'd jump on it.
Drove my Jag today and it is smooth as glass.
Soooooo,,,,, the Lexus has better overall reliability but it is not perfect. Lexus should fix the problem.
Car was built in January.
It does sound like a software thing; the kind of problem they fix during routine service, and don't say anything about it.
But I guess a 9.8% improvement in FE is not to be ignored.
Toyota/Lexus have recently discovered why/how manual transmission drivers use the clutch to extend FE and they're trying to simulate the same effect in automatic transmissions.
Push in the clutch pedal as you coast down to come to a stop (while simultaneously downshifting for the upcoming acceleration). Toyota/Lexus' new transaxle/transmission control firmware(software) shifts into neutral for parallel effect.
To match speed, slowing, to merge into an adjacent freeway lane push in the clutch pedal for coastdown (while leaving the transmission in the lower gear appropriate to the possible need to quickly accelerate). T/L's firmware upshifts to simulate the clutch effect leaving you in the totally wrong gear for any upcoming need to accelerate.
So all this jerking (and totally wrong gear for acceleration) is the by-product of an attempt to increase fuel efficiency? Bad call, Lexus. If FE was my primary concern, I'd buy a Prius, not a new GS!
BTW, leaving the ECT in "Power Mode" eliminates the wrong gear for ramp-acceleration issue, but then it tends to get "stuck" in 4th gear as you're cruising at 80mph, with the tach around 4400...
If I am in heavy traffic and accelerate ever so slighly while at low speeds, the car jolts forward... Is this a design flaw or a possible problem with my vehicle?
then click search right hand side then go down and click new user form search basic then type Toyota type the T in capital letter the rest on lower case at the bottom you will see next list and there you!
And now, as I accelerate to CA-hiway speeds (aka 80 mph), the tranny will stay in 3rd or 4th gear. 80 in 3rd is near red-line, and 80 in 4th is about 4500 rpm. Yes, it's in "D", not S or a lower gear. It will stay there for MILES, unless I move the gear selector INTO "S", then manually bump up the gearbox to 6th.
And don't even get me started on all the creaks and rattles from the dash, the moonroof, the console, etc.
I think the car looks great. But from a driving enjoyment perspective, it's leaves ALOT to be desired.
Torque: 278(US) at 4800rpm
Introducing the new, incredibly powerful Lexus GS 350. The numbers speak volumes: 3.5-liter V6, 303 horsepower [1], 274 lb-ft of torque [1]. Numbers that translate into a potent experience at every green light, entrance ramp and passing lane.
Complementing the faster-than-fast new GS 350 is an inspired available Lexus voice-activated DVD Navigation System [3] with Generation 5 software capable of not just recognizing more than 100 voice commands, but realizing the need to offer directions as quickly as the GS is fast.
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No difference in pickup AND no difference in MPG
Is not lexus who is master or reverse engineering the competition's vehicls?...and aren't they supposed reproduce the better end result? and resolving the competition's design flaws.
It's fairly new - within the last six weeks or so.
I have to bring my GS in on Monday for a new set of tires, so I'm going to ask them for a roll of the felt tape they used to fix the rattling problems with my glovebox. I recently performed the NAV hack on my car, which involves removing the wood panel under the shifter, as well as the NAV unit itself. It is pretty easy to do, and I figured since I know how to take all that stuff apart now I can apply my own felt tape as needed to get rid of the rattles and squeaks.
I'm still amazed that the GS is a Lexus product. I've never had a car that made this much noise before.