Who's planning on buying the GS this first year out? Do you think it's safe to buy in it's first year?

i think i am...i'm 90% GS, 9% RL, and 1% M35. I too had reservations about first year vehicles, but it's a lexus, and built in japan.... also i'm thinking about trading in sept 06 to buy the hybrid.

i already put down my a deposit a 2 dealerships.

Dont worry its completely safe i bought my 01 ls ultra and that was the first year soo far no problems.

60% GS, 40% Infiniti M
All others ruled out,:A-6, RL, 5 Series and anything American.

I must say, I saw an RL in a lot recently and took good close look at it. There is nothing IMO that is attractive about this car's exterior. It is NOT ugly....just blah - simply nothing exciting at all about it. Acura makes a nice product, but the styling leaves LOTS to be desired....IMO.

Same opinion as marcpitch, 60% G300, 40% M35.

All the other cars in this class are overpriced and/or unreliable.

I just hope the GS300 Pricing is similar to their current model pricing, MSRP $39,000, or I might have to seriously look at the M35.

I'm pretty much 50/50 between the GS430 and the M45 Sport, right now. ActualIy to break it down a little more it's 60/40 in favor of the GS exterior and 60/40 M45 interior, so that's how it works out to 50/50. I've read all the articles there are on the M45 at the moment and it sounds GREAT. Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything on the GS430, I'm hoping that I'll find some articles in the March Magazines. It will definitely all come down to test driving them, it just sucks that I have to wait so long.

Oh yeah the reason I asked if anyone was going to get it, was because when I was looking as the 2nd Gen GS forum, it seems that EVERYONE has or is ready to buy used GS's.

Count me out. The new GS430 is still 300hp. Granted, there's a 6 speed auto and some other nice goodies but I love my 01 GS430. Its got 41K and I see it lasting me at least another 4 or 5 years.
In the meantime, I will probably dump my wife's 2000 es300 , give her the GS while I go and replace my daily driver with an 06 C6 vette. If GM upgrades the auto to a 6 speed, I'll get auto, otherwise I'm looking at the 6speed manual. A few year after that, it will be time to replace the GS430 with another GS. By then the HP and performance should be far better than the 06 GS430

i too think that 300 hp for that price isn't worth it IMHO. Roughly 10k extra for 55hp, you might as well buy a turbo.

It depends on what you are looking for. You are talking about FI vs NA. Although the 10k may buy you a turbo, you've just killed parts of your warranty and will have smog issues when the time comes. Not everyone is comfortable with making the leap to FI.

As for buying, I will wait for the refresh. I don't have a problem with waiting since I still enjoy my 2nd gen. I bought this GS in 98, the first year it came out. Although it is still great, I do sometimes wish I had the "updated" version.

99.99% GS, but I will undoubtedly be waiting for the GS350. GSS300 is underpowered and the GS430 eats too much fuel. The 5 seems cheap, the E-class is for old people, S-type has bad styling and the A6 is just weird. We don't have the M down here and I'm not willing to pay big money for a Honda.

Havn't seen the car yet but I've already placed my order and delivery is expected in March in time for the global launch.

I have never bought a new car and this won't be the 1st. I am dying to drive it and will wait a year or 2 to get a nice, low mileage GS 430.

Care to share specifics? Exterior and Interior colors? 300 or 430? Options? Also, where are you and what dealer did you go through? What was amount and conditions of downpayment - fully refundable?

Yeah iv put my deposit at two dealerships in houston, texas. The first was at a dealership for 500.00 fully refundable..i am 15th on their list. So he told me pretty much Im guarantteed a car when it htis their dealer showroom.

The second place i put a deposit was only if the color i wanted with the options im lookign for was not avcaialble or sumthing on the first dealership - if that happened..( i put it down there too just to be on the safe side)

Im looking to go as cheap as possible....never owned a new car or lexus for that matter.

I have not seent he car in person at all, by the way.

I want a RWD base GS300...with wood steering and shifter as the options if they just offered those alone withouth any package. I dont want that lip spoiler either...i dont like the spoiler look. I hope it is not standard, for my sake. (cost wise and preference wise)

After seeing the colors, i think mercury metallic was absolutely GORGEOUS with light gray interior and birds eye maple wood

maybe flint mica - i havent seen what it looks like...but if it loosk as good as the mercury metallic - then maybe that flint mica with light gray interior and birds eye maple. =)


i cant wait for the car to come out.

I personally never purchase a vehicle in it's first year of production as they always iron out some bugs & eventually make some performance increases in the following years. I'm waiting for the GS 350 with the AWD!