GS350 or GS350 F Sport?
#1
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
GS350 or GS350 F Sport?
Hi everyone! Congrats to all on getting this amazing car! Test drove it today and loved it, but waiting to see what the new ES350 looks like before making a decision, but I'm sure it won't be the same. Practical versus fun is the decision I have to make. Is the F Sport worth the extra money? Sure does look nice! Appreciate any feedback or advice on your experiences
#2
Depends on what you want. I wanted the features that either F-sport or Luxury were offering so then the choice was which look was I wanting? More refined or more sporty? I chose sporty but that's a very individual decision. The car is great, that's a given! I think Luxury and Sport drive very similarly, just the interior trim and exterior front and rear spoiler...
#3
I plan to keep mine for ten years or longer, so I ordered an F-Sport with ML. The ship docked yesterday, and I hope to have the GS next week.
#4
Hi everyone! Congrats to all on getting this amazing car! Test drove it today and loved it, but waiting to see what the new ES350 looks like before making a decision, but I'm sure it won't be the same. Practical versus fun is the decision I have to make. Is the F Sport worth the extra money? Sure does look nice! Appreciate any feedback or advice on your experiences
#6
Pole Position
ML = Mark Levinson Sound System.
Here's a summary of the differences between F-Sport and non F-Sport. IMO I would get the F-Sport with DRS (Dynamic Rear Steering) :
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/7246375-post11.html
Here's a summary of the differences between F-Sport and non F-Sport. IMO I would get the F-Sport with DRS (Dynamic Rear Steering) :
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/7246375-post11.html
#7
The F Sport has different suspension settings altogether, including spring rates, damper rates and roll bars.
The F Sport also has 19" wheels with different tires, and upgraded brakes.
The F Sport also has electronically controlled electric power steering, and active rear wheel steering.
On Sport+ Mode, not only do the dampers firm up, the steering firms up as well, and the rear wheel steering kicks in for greater rear end stability at high speeds.
The F Sport also has different exterior and interior trim.
The Luxury has 18" alloys and tires, and electronically variable dampers that firm up when Sports+ is selected.
The Luxo also has fancy seats, and dedicated rear air conditioning controls etc.
There is a whole long list of other equipment in the Luxury version too.
The exterior and interior trim eg wood, is different.
ML stands for the Mark Levinson hi-fi option.
The Hybrid has LED lights...
The F Sport also has 19" wheels with different tires, and upgraded brakes.
The F Sport also has electronically controlled electric power steering, and active rear wheel steering.
On Sport+ Mode, not only do the dampers firm up, the steering firms up as well, and the rear wheel steering kicks in for greater rear end stability at high speeds.
The F Sport also has different exterior and interior trim.
The Luxury has 18" alloys and tires, and electronically variable dampers that firm up when Sports+ is selected.
The Luxo also has fancy seats, and dedicated rear air conditioning controls etc.
There is a whole long list of other equipment in the Luxury version too.
The exterior and interior trim eg wood, is different.
ML stands for the Mark Levinson hi-fi option.
The Hybrid has LED lights...
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#8
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
Realized that the Dark Graphite wheels are standard on the F sport and you have to pay for the Liquid Silver option. Hmm....I wonder if the Dark Graphite is a passing fad...and might not look as good depending on the color car you choose? More to think about....thanks again everyone!
#9
When I was comparing the AWD F Sport and Luxury models I realized that the F Sport provided no hugely significant performance advantages. According to Lexus's specifications, the suspension is "F Sport-tuned". The only other tangible difference is 19" wheel and tire package. Everything else seemed cosmetic.
F Sport additions over Base (not found on Luxury):
F Sport additions over Base (not found on Luxury):
- F Sport front bumper
- F Sport grille
- F Sport spoiler
- F Sport-tuned suspension
- F Sport 19" wheels and tires
- 16-way power driver's seat
- Perforated leather steering wheel
- Aluminum interior trim
- Aluminum pedals
- Adaptive Front Lighting System
- 18-way power driver's and passenger's seats
- Upgraded leather surfaces
- Wood trimmed leather steering wheel
- Upgraded interior wood trim
- Three-zone climate control
- Rear side window sunshades
Last edited by Outrage; 12-27-12 at 12:52 PM.
#10
I went with the F Sport because of the suspension and steering changes that take place in Sport+ mode that really do make the car hunker down when driving fast. I also wanted the Cabernet interior, which I love more everytime I get in the car and (unlike some others) I thought the aluminum trim was really sharp and lended to the sporty ambiance. It also looks great under the ambient light when driving at night. I could have lived without the F Sport grille, but now that I have it I love it.
I drove a Premium loaner car until my F Sport arrived, and although it was very capable it just didn't like to dance as much as the F Sport does.
I drove a Premium loaner car until my F Sport arrived, and although it was very capable it just didn't like to dance as much as the F Sport does.
#11
I got the F-Sport AWD over the Luxury AWD. I had originally wanted the Luxury AWD - mostly because of what Outrage stated above. The Luxury was only $1K more than the F-Sport and had many more "functional features". The rear side shades were the most important (one toddler in a car seat and hoping for another soon). The climate controls/heated seats in the back would have been nice, but with 1 (maybe 2) carseats - they would have gotten almost no use over the next 3-5 years.
So I didn't originally order an F-Sport because I felt silly paying a premium for purely cosmetic changes, even though I really like the F-Sport rims, the aluminum interior, and the grill. Anyways, on my original order my wife gave the ok and I ordered a white on black luxury.
Then my broker told me it'd be up to 3 months of a wait for my car. So a nice fellow on ClubLexus suggested a dealership that would match broker prices.
I walked in, and the first thing I saw was my red on cab F-Sport. I spoke to the salesperson, and 2 hours later we had a reasonable deal worked out. And I got delivery 2 days later.
Now I love all the F-Sport cosmetic changes, including the grill. I'm kind of glad I don't have foglights because they take away from the look of the car.
That's my story. And sorry if it makes no sense. Long day .
Regardless of what you choose, you won't be disappointed.
So I didn't originally order an F-Sport because I felt silly paying a premium for purely cosmetic changes, even though I really like the F-Sport rims, the aluminum interior, and the grill. Anyways, on my original order my wife gave the ok and I ordered a white on black luxury.
Then my broker told me it'd be up to 3 months of a wait for my car. So a nice fellow on ClubLexus suggested a dealership that would match broker prices.
I walked in, and the first thing I saw was my red on cab F-Sport. I spoke to the salesperson, and 2 hours later we had a reasonable deal worked out. And I got delivery 2 days later.
Now I love all the F-Sport cosmetic changes, including the grill. I'm kind of glad I don't have foglights because they take away from the look of the car.
That's my story. And sorry if it makes no sense. Long day .
Regardless of what you choose, you won't be disappointed.
#13
Pole Position
I think it comes down to Premium vs Luxury vs F-Sport.
IMO, the biggest difference between Premium and Luxury/F-Sport boils down to the adaptive dampers in Luxury/F-Sport. They make a huge ride/handling difference.
Then the difference between Luxury vs F-Sport lies in more convenience/luxury features (in the former) vs more performance features (F-Sport RWD). If your're getting AWD, then the differences are mainly cosmetic between F-Sport and Luxury. It's in the RWD configuration where the performance advantage of the F-Sport becomes significant (VGRS, 14.1 inch brakes, DRS, staggered broader rear wheels).
I'm not sure why Lexus didn't include the bigger brakes,VGRS and DRS in the AWD F-Sport. That's a mystifying decision penalizing those who live in regions with snow.
IMO, the biggest difference between Premium and Luxury/F-Sport boils down to the adaptive dampers in Luxury/F-Sport. They make a huge ride/handling difference.
Then the difference between Luxury vs F-Sport lies in more convenience/luxury features (in the former) vs more performance features (F-Sport RWD). If your're getting AWD, then the differences are mainly cosmetic between F-Sport and Luxury. It's in the RWD configuration where the performance advantage of the F-Sport becomes significant (VGRS, 14.1 inch brakes, DRS, staggered broader rear wheels).
I'm not sure why Lexus didn't include the bigger brakes,VGRS and DRS in the AWD F-Sport. That's a mystifying decision penalizing those who live in regions with snow.
#14
natnut: +1. I can understand no dynamic steering - but I feel we should get the bigger brakes.
As a note, in Toronto - we do have an option for a RWD F-Sport or other models. It's just no dealership orders them and it's a longer wait. Normally I'd have waited for the RWD, but with a growing family, common sense and safety take precedence over all the other selfish reasons .
FYI: My AWD F-Sport came with heated steering wheel. It's not listed in the brochure - so I think of that as a nice bonus, not sure if it'll be standard in all AWD F-Sports.
As a note, in Toronto - we do have an option for a RWD F-Sport or other models. It's just no dealership orders them and it's a longer wait. Normally I'd have waited for the RWD, but with a growing family, common sense and safety take precedence over all the other selfish reasons .
FYI: My AWD F-Sport came with heated steering wheel. It's not listed in the brochure - so I think of that as a nice bonus, not sure if it'll be standard in all AWD F-Sports.