The 2007 Lexus GS is the GOAT
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,726
Likes: 552
From: Ca
GOAT = "greatest of all time" for anyone who didn't know, i didn't know until maybe a year ago when my friend described lebron as it lol...
anyway i disagree with you, but are you saying that just the styling is the greatest or the entire car as a whole is? very good car the GS but i wouldn't say THE greatest, especially since i have the LS which was literally designed to be better
anyway i disagree with you, but are you saying that just the styling is the greatest or the entire car as a whole is? very good car the GS but i wouldn't say THE greatest, especially since i have the LS which was literally designed to be better
However this matter is complicated by the fact that combined ES & GS sales have always outsold E Class & 5 Series.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,215
Likes: 250
From: New York
The greatest GS is by far the 2nd generation (MY 1998-2005).
I still see so many of them and would love to have one again and modify it with all the JDM aftermarket stuff - just need more garage space lol!
To me its still one of the best sedan designs and the interior was ahead of its time. The engines were also class leading back in those days.
The build quality and reliability of those cars is unmatched along with the LS of that era.
I still see so many of them and would love to have one again and modify it with all the JDM aftermarket stuff - just need more garage space lol!
To me its still one of the best sedan designs and the interior was ahead of its time. The engines were also class leading back in those days.
The build quality and reliability of those cars is unmatched along with the LS of that era.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,726
Likes: 552
From: Ca
The greatest GS is by far the 2nd generation (MY 1998-2005).
I still see so many of them and would love to have one again and modify it with all the JDM aftermarket stuff - just need more garage space lol!
To me its still one of the best sedan designs and the interior was ahead of its time. The engines were also class leading back in those days.
The build quality and reliability of those cars is unmatched along with the LS of that era.
I still see so many of them and would love to have one again and modify it with all the JDM aftermarket stuff - just need more garage space lol!
To me its still one of the best sedan designs and the interior was ahead of its time. The engines were also class leading back in those days.
The build quality and reliability of those cars is unmatched along with the LS of that era.
However, it may not be by far, because there is only roughly 3,000 units the difference, but one could always say that in the earlier days like 1998-2005, 148k units was a "relatively" larger volume than 145k in 2005-2012.
Yes, I guess the in-line six had straighter inlet ports for superior induction, and hence bottom end torque.
On the other hand, another person may say that 3GS suffered sales in 2008 GFC.
Thus, overall it's very hard to tell, especially when total sales figures so close to each other.
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Last edited by peteharvey; Feb 8, 2018 at 05:24 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,464
Likes: 251
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
2006-2007. With some exceptions, that was right around the time when we saw (or started to see) the last of the real Lexuses......about when the cost-cutting and increasing sport-orientation started.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: West Coast
I have a 3GS which I passed onto one of my staff to drive.
I was fine with the coupe-like design, the jelly bean shape, and the soft springs with the short suspension travel.
I thought the four headlamps were no longer symmetrical with the rear tail lamps, unlike the 2GS.
My biggest gripe was the lack of torsional rigidity and bending stiffness in this model, resulting in a lot of creaks and rattles over broken road surfaces.
There are many differing opinions regarding the 3GS styling and design functionality, but one thing that cannot be disputed is that back in 2005, the 3GS made a record debut with 33k+ units, against the E Class' 50k+ and the 5 Series' 52k units.
By comparison, my current 4GS has only achieved peak sales of 23k+ units, against the current record for both E Class and 5 Series at 69k+ and 56k+ units respectively - a record for both E Class and 5 Series achieved in 2013 at a time when 4GS was only chosen by 22k+ customers.
Six years ago, a number of forum members used to say that 4GS can no longer sell like 3GS because the market had contracted, or because of SUV's.
They were wrong, because both E Class & 5 Series achieved record sales in 2013...
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I was fine with the coupe-like design, the jelly bean shape, and the soft springs with the short suspension travel.
I thought the four headlamps were no longer symmetrical with the rear tail lamps, unlike the 2GS.
My biggest gripe was the lack of torsional rigidity and bending stiffness in this model, resulting in a lot of creaks and rattles over broken road surfaces.
There are many differing opinions regarding the 3GS styling and design functionality, but one thing that cannot be disputed is that back in 2005, the 3GS made a record debut with 33k+ units, against the E Class' 50k+ and the 5 Series' 52k units.
By comparison, my current 4GS has only achieved peak sales of 23k+ units, against the current record for both E Class and 5 Series at 69k+ and 56k+ units respectively - a record for both E Class and 5 Series achieved in 2013 at a time when 4GS was only chosen by 22k+ customers.
Six years ago, a number of forum members used to say that 4GS can no longer sell like 3GS because the market had contracted, or because of SUV's.
They were wrong, because both E Class & 5 Series achieved record sales in 2013...
.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: West Coast
I personally feel Lexuses post-2010 are far more attractive inside and out than their predecessors. They are more appealing to younger folks like myself and have nicer interiors without a doubt. 10 yrs ago Lexus interiors were definitely cheaper feeling.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 77
From: NJ
Interesting, did not know that.
Pman6, I agree, the Jag pulled off the look a bit better, it does look a bit more chiseled and lower to the ground. Still these are both really boring cars IMO from a time in really boring car design. Its kind of crazy how I think the larger Jaguar XJ that came out a couple of years later looks just the business, style wise its still my favorite car in the big sedan category.
Personally my favorite gen Lexus GS is the 2nd gen. Just something about it looks cleaner, like it was a lot more cohesive in the design themes throughout the car. The 3rd gen GS, its soft in a lot of angles, yet some elements don't make sense at all, like the headlights which look oddly integrated into the front end and have sharp edges in them, while the rest of the car is all rounded off. Also the 3rd gen GS looks a lot more slab sided, the 2nd gen car has a bit more glass area which I like.
Pman6, I agree, the Jag pulled off the look a bit better, it does look a bit more chiseled and lower to the ground. Still these are both really boring cars IMO from a time in really boring car design. Its kind of crazy how I think the larger Jaguar XJ that came out a couple of years later looks just the business, style wise its still my favorite car in the big sedan category.
Personally my favorite gen Lexus GS is the 2nd gen. Just something about it looks cleaner, like it was a lot more cohesive in the design themes throughout the car. The 3rd gen GS, its soft in a lot of angles, yet some elements don't make sense at all, like the headlights which look oddly integrated into the front end and have sharp edges in them, while the rest of the car is all rounded off. Also the 3rd gen GS looks a lot more slab sided, the 2nd gen car has a bit more glass area which I like.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,464
Likes: 251
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
2GS is by far the GOAT GS. No question about it. 3rd gen was just a let down in every way and 4th gen aside from GS-F is blah.
The 2006 GS300 is arguably the absolute worst year and powertrain combo that was ever equipped in ANY year GS.
Driving a 4th gen GS 350 F-sport was a complete snoozefest compared to my much older and 200k+ mile 03 GS430 with light mods (tanabe catback, SRT intake, LS400 BBK, suspension mods, etc.). I'd never trade for a 4th gen.
No wonder GS sales suck. the current model is just way too boring.
The 2006 GS300 is arguably the absolute worst year and powertrain combo that was ever equipped in ANY year GS.
Driving a 4th gen GS 350 F-sport was a complete snoozefest compared to my much older and 200k+ mile 03 GS430 with light mods (tanabe catback, SRT intake, LS400 BBK, suspension mods, etc.). I'd never trade for a 4th gen.
No wonder GS sales suck. the current model is just way too boring.
Last edited by 97-SC300; Feb 8, 2018 at 08:11 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,726
Likes: 552
From: Ca
Which is even more surprising to me given how much better a car the 4GS is over its predecessor. Way nicer to look at, nicer interior, more class-competitive driving dynamics and features, etc. I surely thought it would've attracted 5/E buyers who wanted a more reliable vehicle in the same segment.
I am glad that you love your 4GS.
However, I am a little concerned about how GS sales have plummeted nearly 50% from 2005's 3GS peak of 33,000+ units to a peak of just 23,000+ units for 4GS in 2012 - at a time when conservatively styled soft cushy E Class's achieved an all time record of 69,000+ units, and the conservatively styled cushy 5 Series also achieved an all time record of 56,000+ units in 2013, and President Akio was quoted as saying he wanted to axe the GS line due to poor sales.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,602
Likes: 89
From: Singapore
Take a look at the car in my sig. There's a reason why it's still there despite me driving a 2009 3rd Gen GS450h with way more hp.
I regret every day trading in my 2nd Gen GS300. Should have kept it somehow......
I regret every day trading in my 2nd Gen GS300. Should have kept it somehow......
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 674
Likes: 50
From: CA
Not in the years of IS300, GS300, and LS430 aka 2001-2005. I still remember my first ride in the IS300 and thought it was just as nice as a 3 series back then (but much cheaper).