my review on the gs350
11-29-07, 11:08 AM
#1
my review on the gs350
not too long of an ownership, just more than a week. but here's a short review of what we think on the 08 gs350
pros
- gas mileage is nice
- gas and trunk button finally outside of the pull down panel
- mirror turn signals
- very nice steering feel and handling
- nice suspension
- relatively quiet
cons
- engine not very powerful
- trunk is small
- nav screen is a bit small
- seats are a bit hard
- so-so ML performance
we mainly got the gs350 for its gas mileage. we thought about the ls430 (used) but my wife hates the style. we had gs400 but it's too old so it's time for a new car. the gs350 fits the category well.
not entirely unexpected, but given how fast the is350 is, we think the gs350 is a bit slow. don't get me wrong, it's still fast (and faster than our gs400 already 0-60), but we could really tell the difference between v8 and v6. coming from gs400, sc430, and our ls460l, the gs350 definitely need more push to get fast especially at higher speed. the day when we picked up the gs350, on our way back home, i was driving the ls460l and my wife was driving the gs350. she said she has a really hard time catching up with me since i was constantly 85+. she had to kept on accelerating to catch up. i told her i was just cruising and didn't even try hard.
the next day when i drove the gs350 for longer trip i felt the same as well. the car is very decent for its engine, but on freeway, it's definitely not as torquey. but again, we got the car for gas mileage, otherwise we would have picked the gs460 easily.
i never got a chance to check closely, but somehow we think the gs350 is a bit shorter than our gs400. if so, i wonder why. we realy wish the trunk of the 3gs could be larger. it's really no match to our gs400 trunk.
one big big plus on the car is steering, suspension, and handling. while it's nothing like bmw (and thank god, i don't want those rides), the steering of the gs350 is pretty tight and the suspension is just stiff enough for our taste. handling is very good for a stock car i think. our gs400 and sc430 was modded on suspensions, and i don't thikn the gs350 would lose on corners. big thumbup here
interior is pretty quiet. much quieter than our gs400, close to our sc430 i would say, but of course far from our ls460l. for what we got, i like how it feels when driving
a bit down side though, i personally wish the nav screen could be larger. i think the size itself it the same as the 2gs. wish they could go with 8" screen. but then the ls460 has 8" screen, so that's probably why they stay 7" for the 3gs. and also, the ML system could really use more work i think. maybe we are spoiled with the ML reference system on our ls460l. the system on the gs350 is just not powerful enough. and same with the base, it's lacking. sound is still crispy and clear, but just not enough.
there are pluses and minuses on the 07 and 08 changes so it was a toss up for us. the door sills, the gas/trunk buttons, no more i agree screen, and the side mirrors, those are stuff we like for 08. but the extra chrome around the grille, the steering wheel, we don't really care for.
overall, we really like what we got for the price we paid. my wife likes the gs350 a lot (her daily driver). with the gas price ever increasing, the gs350 is just perfect
pros
- gas mileage is nice
- gas and trunk button finally outside of the pull down panel
- mirror turn signals
- very nice steering feel and handling
- nice suspension
- relatively quiet
cons
- engine not very powerful
- trunk is small
- nav screen is a bit small
- seats are a bit hard
- so-so ML performance
we mainly got the gs350 for its gas mileage. we thought about the ls430 (used) but my wife hates the style. we had gs400 but it's too old so it's time for a new car. the gs350 fits the category well.
not entirely unexpected, but given how fast the is350 is, we think the gs350 is a bit slow. don't get me wrong, it's still fast (and faster than our gs400 already 0-60), but we could really tell the difference between v8 and v6. coming from gs400, sc430, and our ls460l, the gs350 definitely need more push to get fast especially at higher speed. the day when we picked up the gs350, on our way back home, i was driving the ls460l and my wife was driving the gs350. she said she has a really hard time catching up with me since i was constantly 85+. she had to kept on accelerating to catch up. i told her i was just cruising and didn't even try hard.
the next day when i drove the gs350 for longer trip i felt the same as well. the car is very decent for its engine, but on freeway, it's definitely not as torquey. but again, we got the car for gas mileage, otherwise we would have picked the gs460 easily.
i never got a chance to check closely, but somehow we think the gs350 is a bit shorter than our gs400. if so, i wonder why. we realy wish the trunk of the 3gs could be larger. it's really no match to our gs400 trunk.
one big big plus on the car is steering, suspension, and handling. while it's nothing like bmw (and thank god, i don't want those rides), the steering of the gs350 is pretty tight and the suspension is just stiff enough for our taste. handling is very good for a stock car i think. our gs400 and sc430 was modded on suspensions, and i don't thikn the gs350 would lose on corners. big thumbup here
interior is pretty quiet. much quieter than our gs400, close to our sc430 i would say, but of course far from our ls460l. for what we got, i like how it feels when driving
a bit down side though, i personally wish the nav screen could be larger. i think the size itself it the same as the 2gs. wish they could go with 8" screen. but then the ls460 has 8" screen, so that's probably why they stay 7" for the 3gs. and also, the ML system could really use more work i think. maybe we are spoiled with the ML reference system on our ls460l. the system on the gs350 is just not powerful enough. and same with the base, it's lacking. sound is still crispy and clear, but just not enough.
there are pluses and minuses on the 07 and 08 changes so it was a toss up for us. the door sills, the gas/trunk buttons, no more i agree screen, and the side mirrors, those are stuff we like for 08. but the extra chrome around the grille, the steering wheel, we don't really care for.
overall, we really like what we got for the price we paid. my wife likes the gs350 a lot (her daily driver). with the gas price ever increasing, the gs350 is just perfect
11-29-07, 02:54 PM
#5
Wow, lot's of people complain about the trunk size. I have never cared for using my car to haul things so I can't relate. When i take a trip I rent a car. To each his own though. I'm just now getting into electronics in a car so screen size doesn't even register in my mind yet. I only care about the sound quality of the music. I must say I have been discovering the toys this car has but in the end, I really only care about music when it comes to electronics.
Well Henry, it doesn't sound like you're too disappointed. Congrats on getting both cars and welcome to 3GS land.
I know there are some mods in store!
Well Henry, it doesn't sound like you're too disappointed. Congrats on getting both cars and welcome to 3GS land.
I know there are some mods in store!
11-29-07, 03:52 PM
#6
Lexus Connoisseur
Haha you're just biased...comparing your LS460 to the GS350. 
Having 2 less cylinders and different gearing attributes to how the 350 has a lack of power feeling compared to your old GS400 and LS460. The GS350 is plenty powerful...but it depends on who you ask.
Having 2 less cylinders and different gearing attributes to how the 350 has a lack of power feeling compared to your old GS400 and LS460. The GS350 is plenty powerful...but it depends on who you ask.
11-29-07, 05:25 PM
#7
Wow, lot's of people complain about the trunk size. I have never cared for using my car to haul things so I can't relate. When i take a trip I rent a car. To each his own though. I'm just now getting into electronics in a car so screen size doesn't even register in my mind yet. I only care about the sound quality of the music. I must say I have been discovering the toys this car has but in the end, I really only care about music when it comes to electronics.
Well Henry, it doesn't sound like you're too disappointed. Congrats on getting both cars and welcome to 3GS land.
I know there are some mods in store!
Well Henry, it doesn't sound like you're too disappointed. Congrats on getting both cars and welcome to 3GS land.
I know there are some mods in store!
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11-29-07, 05:33 PM
#8
Lead Lap
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11-29-07, 07:30 PM
#10
Thx for the review, rominl! I like the look of the GS 350. and I still think the NAVI screen is pretty big, but I guess that is in comparison to some older/other Lexus models...not the chart-topping LS.
11-29-07, 09:44 PM
#11
11-30-07, 02:09 AM
#12
Lexus Test Driver
lol dang... u get 24-25 on ur 350................i rarely every stay at 24-25 unless am on the freeway alot. BTW nice cars :P u pulled the obsidian trigger alright lol.....
