Jeremy Clarkson Actually Likes the 2016 Lexus GS F

By adpock - March 9, 2016

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Last time Jeremy Clarkson reviewed a Lexus F machine, it didn’t go so well. But apparently the GS F is a much different beast than the RC F.

If you didn’t know, the former Top Gear host and upcoming Amazon Prime car show host also writes reviews for the Sunday Times Driving. And being Jeremy Clarkson, he wields tremendous clout. So even though he’s kind of a blowhard, it’s nice to have the guy in Lexus’s corner, especially over in Europe, where the marque is still trying to stake its claim.

Unlike Clarkson’s not-so-favorable review of the RC F, his time in the 2016 Lexus GS F seems to have gone a lot better. He’s particularly enamored by the GS F’s “5-litre 32-valve double-overhead- camshaft V8,” which he likens to roux, as opposed to the BMW M3’s forced induction turbo, which “is to engineering what cornflour is to cooking. A cheat.” Clarkson even goes so far as to compare the GS F’s howling V8 to the Ferrari 458 Italia, which he considers “the highest praise.” Oddly enough, that’s the same engine as the RC F he trashed, but whatever, we’ll take it.

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Clarkson goes on to “heap praise” on the Brembo brakes, the eight-speed gearbox (another RC F hand-me-down), and the comfort and suspension.

Of course, Clarkson being Clarkson, he’s also got his problems with the car, like the steering at low speeds, the trackpad (surprise, surprise), and the wiper stalk, just to name a few of the things he’s obviously annoyed by.

But still, overall, it seems Clarkson was plenty impressed. So much so that’d he’d recommend it over the BMW M3 and M5.

“This is the best Lexus I’ve driven since the LFA, which is also riddled with annoying details, but remains my all-time favourite car,” writes Clarkson.

So yeah, it could have been much worse. At least he didn’t punch anyone.