2GS to 3GS -> VERY Disappointing!
12-15-07, 09:50 PM
#1
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2GS to 3GS -> VERY Disappointing!
Well, after owning a 98 GS300 for almost 10 years (recently gave my 98 to my son), I purchased a 2008 GS350, and so I've been driving it for a few days now. My initial impressions are quite negative. Okay, I fully realize that as I drive my new car more, I may grow to get used to its flaws, but here are my initial impressions:
Most of all (in decreasing order of importance to me):
1. The seat is much, much less comfortable than the 98, especially in that the bottom seat cushion feels shorter and most of all less padded, making my thighs quite uncomfortable, sometimes so much so that they start cramping. I'm still trying lots of different driving positions to overcome this obvious design defect. [This item is by far and away my biggest problem with the 3GS.]
2. The inside overall feels much more cramped. [The headroom feels lower, although, according to the specs, the headroom is roughly the same.]
3. The visibility is not nearly as good, especially on the front and on the sides. You just can't see as well, so it makes driving a bit more dangerous and less fun.
4. The ride is harsher than my 98, which had 16" wheels while my 2008 has 18" wheels. I feel this on the highway and in town.
5. I would rather hold leather than plastic when driving, even if the plastic is coating some very pretty wood on the steering wheel. (Actually, this is one of the few things that I think I'll be able to learn to live with.)
Of course, my new car has a much sexier look, much better gadgets (especially the Bluetooth) and a more powerful engine. But knowing what I know now, I think I would have gotten a better car overall -- even forgetting entirely about the lower price -- by buying another 2GS
Here's hoping that I can learn to live with a car that wasn't designed for driver comfort nearly as well as its predecessor. To me driver comfort should be close to the top of the list in a model redesign. I have no idea when Lexus took such a huge step backwards with the 3GS.
Finally, I'm really hoping I will be able to change my mind on some of this in a month or so. We'll see, but I'm not very optimistic so far.
P.S. Yes, perhaps I should have noticed the issues above more on my test drives. But driving around with the salesman in the car makes it very hard to evaluate everything, and I didn't like a lot about the seat cushion while test driving. Some things just take a lot more driving to properly evaluate.
Most of all (in decreasing order of importance to me):
1. The seat is much, much less comfortable than the 98, especially in that the bottom seat cushion feels shorter and most of all less padded, making my thighs quite uncomfortable, sometimes so much so that they start cramping. I'm still trying lots of different driving positions to overcome this obvious design defect. [This item is by far and away my biggest problem with the 3GS.]
2. The inside overall feels much more cramped. [The headroom feels lower, although, according to the specs, the headroom is roughly the same.]
3. The visibility is not nearly as good, especially on the front and on the sides. You just can't see as well, so it makes driving a bit more dangerous and less fun.
4. The ride is harsher than my 98, which had 16" wheels while my 2008 has 18" wheels. I feel this on the highway and in town.
5. I would rather hold leather than plastic when driving, even if the plastic is coating some very pretty wood on the steering wheel. (Actually, this is one of the few things that I think I'll be able to learn to live with.)
Of course, my new car has a much sexier look, much better gadgets (especially the Bluetooth) and a more powerful engine. But knowing what I know now, I think I would have gotten a better car overall -- even forgetting entirely about the lower price -- by buying another 2GS
Here's hoping that I can learn to live with a car that wasn't designed for driver comfort nearly as well as its predecessor. To me driver comfort should be close to the top of the list in a model redesign. I have no idea when Lexus took such a huge step backwards with the 3GS.
Finally, I'm really hoping I will be able to change my mind on some of this in a month or so. We'll see, but I'm not very optimistic so far.
P.S. Yes, perhaps I should have noticed the issues above more on my test drives. But driving around with the salesman in the car makes it very hard to evaluate everything, and I didn't like a lot about the seat cushion while test driving. Some things just take a lot more driving to properly evaluate.
12-15-07, 10:15 PM
#2
Hey,
I feel sorry for you. I have never owned a 2 gen GS, but I tell you they are a beaut. I have fallen in love with the GS back in 1998 and wanted one for so long. I have never driven the 2 gen GS but only the 3rd Gen, so its hard for me to compare both. I do hope for your sake that you will get used to the 3rd gen. Maybe purchase the new 17 inch wheel design with tires from the later 2008 GS sedans to help soften the ride. I am 5 8 so the interior is a bit small compared to my A8L, but cozy enough. Would you consider upgrading to the LS at all? Just curious.
I feel sorry for you. I have never owned a 2 gen GS, but I tell you they are a beaut. I have fallen in love with the GS back in 1998 and wanted one for so long. I have never driven the 2 gen GS but only the 3rd Gen, so its hard for me to compare both. I do hope for your sake that you will get used to the 3rd gen. Maybe purchase the new 17 inch wheel design with tires from the later 2008 GS sedans to help soften the ride. I am 5 8 so the interior is a bit small compared to my A8L, but cozy enough. Would you consider upgrading to the LS at all? Just curious.
12-15-07, 10:22 PM
#3
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Hey,
I feel sorry for you. I have never owned a 2 gen GS, but I tell you they are a beaut. I have fallen in love with the GS back in 1998 and wanted one for so long. I have never driven the 2 gen GS but only the 3rd Gen, so its hard for me to compare both. I do hope for your sake that you will get used to the 3rd gen. Maybe purchase the new 17 inch wheel design with tires from the later 2008 GS sedans to help soften the ride. I am 5 8 so the interior is a bit small compared to my A8L, but cozy enough. Would you consider upgrading to the LS at all? Just curious.
I feel sorry for you. I have never owned a 2 gen GS, but I tell you they are a beaut. I have fallen in love with the GS back in 1998 and wanted one for so long. I have never driven the 2 gen GS but only the 3rd Gen, so its hard for me to compare both. I do hope for your sake that you will get used to the 3rd gen. Maybe purchase the new 17 inch wheel design with tires from the later 2008 GS sedans to help soften the ride. I am 5 8 so the interior is a bit small compared to my A8L, but cozy enough. Would you consider upgrading to the LS at all? Just curious.
BUT I am hoping that I'll learn to live with my 3GS's flaws. I do love its gadgets. Still, I like and expect to be comfortable while driving. (The harshness of the ride isn't high on my list of complaints.) Most of all, it is the seat's poor design relative to the 2GS
12-15-07, 10:33 PM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
I got rid of a 2003 g35 sedan that was pretty tuned for the gs350. I noticed immediately that the brakes were in my opinion very weak(mind you the old car had a brake kit on it), and I felt the car understeer and roll to hard into corners. OVERALL ITS AN AMAZING CAR. Even in terms of handling, it will roll and lean, but will still take corners at the same speeds as my lowered g35 with a harsh ride
12-15-07, 10:38 PM
#6
1. The seat is much, much less comfortable than the 98, especially in that the bottom seat cushion feels shorter and most of all less padded, making my thighs quite uncomfortable, sometimes so much so that they start cramping. I'm still trying lots of different driving positions to overcome this obvious design defect. [This item is by far and away my biggest problem with the 3GS.]
and that's one lucky son.
12-15-07, 10:40 PM
#7
Lexus Connoisseur
I got rid of a 2003 g35 sedan that was pretty tuned for the gs350. I noticed immediately that the brakes were in my opinion very weak(mind you the old car had a brake kit on it), and I felt the car understeer and roll to hard into corners. OVERALL ITS AN AMAZING CAR. Even in terms of handling, it will roll and lean, but will still take corners at the same speeds as my lowered g35 with a harsh ride
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12-15-07, 10:44 PM
#8
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I got rid of a 2003 g35 sedan that was pretty tuned for the gs350. I noticed immediately that the brakes were in my opinion very weak(mind you the old car had a brake kit on it), and I felt the car understeer and roll to hard into corners. OVERALL ITS AN AMAZING CAR. Even in terms of handling, it will roll and lean, but will still take corners at the same speeds as my lowered g35 with a harsh ride
I think its the feel of the brakes, the GS 350 has 4 pots to the G35s 2 pots (and 2GS 2 pots)....
12-15-07, 11:19 PM
#10
Lexus Connoisseur
O/T Tein CS coilovers are not really built for handling. Hence the name CS = Comfort Spec.
12-15-07, 11:23 PM
#11
However I just sat in the rear for the first time in awhile. It's very very comfortable
12-15-07, 11:26 PM
#12
Lexus Connoisseur
I'm with you. My 2nd gen seat doesn't feel good either. I can't drive for more than 20 minutes without my butt hurting. I feel like I'm sitting on cardboard. No matter what position I'm in, it's not comfortable.
However I just sat in the rear for the first time in awhile. It's very very comfortable
However I just sat in the rear for the first time in awhile. It's very very comfortable
12-16-07, 08:07 AM
#13
I'm with you. My 2nd gen seat doesn't feel good either. I can't drive for more than 20 minutes without my butt hurting. I feel like I'm sitting on cardboard. No matter what position I'm in, it's not comfortable.
However I just sat in the rear for the first time in awhile. It's very very comfortable
However I just sat in the rear for the first time in awhile. It's very very comfortable
12-16-07, 08:17 AM
#14
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i had a 2nd GS too but no way would i trade my new GS in for a 2nd GS. the 2nd GS is still one of my fav cars but no match for the 3rd gen. or maybe its me when i test drive a car an if there is one thing that i noticed that bothers me i dont buy the car. plain and simpe. i dont care if the VP of lexus is my saleman im buying the car not him. sounds like u was sold a car. theres a difference from buying a car vs bieng sold a car.
12-16-07, 08:30 AM
#15
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Well, after owning a 98 GS300 for almost 10 years (recently gave my 98 to my son), I purchased a 2008 GS350, and so I've been driving it for a few days now. My initial impressions are quite negative. Okay, I fully realize that as I drive my new car more, I may grow to get used to its flaws, but here are my initial impressions:
Most of all (in decreasing order of importance to me):
1. The seat is much, much less comfortable than the 98, especially in that the bottom seat cushion feels shorter and most of all less padded, making my thighs quite uncomfortable, sometimes so much so that they start cramping. I'm still trying lots of different driving positions to overcome this obvious design defect. [This item is by far and away my biggest problem with the 3GS.]
2. The inside overall feels much more cramped. [The headroom feels lower, although, according to the specs, the headroom is roughly the same.]
3. The visibility is not nearly as good, especially on the front and on the sides. You just can't see as well, so it makes driving a bit more dangerous and less fun.
4. The ride is harsher than my 98, which had 16" wheels while my 2008 has 18" wheels. I feel this on the highway and in town.
5. I would rather hold leather than plastic when driving, even if the plastic is coating some very pretty wood on the steering wheel. (Actually, this is one of the few things that I think I'll be able to learn to live with.)
Most of all (in decreasing order of importance to me):
1. The seat is much, much less comfortable than the 98, especially in that the bottom seat cushion feels shorter and most of all less padded, making my thighs quite uncomfortable, sometimes so much so that they start cramping. I'm still trying lots of different driving positions to overcome this obvious design defect. [This item is by far and away my biggest problem with the 3GS.]
2. The inside overall feels much more cramped. [The headroom feels lower, although, according to the specs, the headroom is roughly the same.]
3. The visibility is not nearly as good, especially on the front and on the sides. You just can't see as well, so it makes driving a bit more dangerous and less fun.
4. The ride is harsher than my 98, which had 16" wheels while my 2008 has 18" wheels. I feel this on the highway and in town.
5. I would rather hold leather than plastic when driving, even if the plastic is coating some very pretty wood on the steering wheel. (Actually, this is one of the few things that I think I'll be able to learn to live with.)
The 3GS is a great car but it's not a 2.5GS it's an entirely new vehicle so it was bound 2b different than the 2GS.
1. The seats are new I think this just have 2b broken in. After 10 years ur old seats prolly had your body pretty much imprinted in them.
2. I havent noticed a difference here.
3. I agree 100% with you here, I drove forever with my 2GS rear headrest up and no problem. I tried that with the 3GS and I was nearly blinded. The sideview also has a bigger blind spot but I thought the bigger mirrors on the '08's would have fixed this problem. After a couple months fof driving my 3GS i have become used to the visibility change and I can say driving is still fun.
4. Your still in the break in period, and you are coming from 16's. I'm sure you will get used to it. In my case I feel the ride is just as good as my 2GS
5. I love my wood wheel but after 6 years of grippin the leather in my 2GS ummmmm the leather was slowly but surely disapeering lol