I test drove a 2006 GS 300 (rwd) today and enjoyed it. I found the dynamics of the car better than expected. The brakes were a bit touchy but strong and after initial grab, progressive. The steering was a bit light. Suspension was most impressive dynamic feature. It let you feel the road without letting the occupants become jarred going over potholes and the like. Very little side roll going around turns but I set off the ASC/TRAC each hard corner.

The engine was adequate. This is not bad and I could be happy with this performance given the mpg bonus. I was not surprised by more power than I expected from the stats though.

I love the outside lines of the new car (very BMW 5 series and 1st generation SC coupe front end) but was disappointed by the Mystic Metallic (silver) color on this car. The interior design was pure Lexus/Heaven.

I was VERY disappointed with the interior dimensions. My head scraped the border of the moonroof border cloth even with the seat full lowered and seatback tilted more than my usual. My left shoulder was too tight against the door and B-pillar area. Same noted when in the front passenger seat with my right shoulder. The rear roof is about 3 inches too low for me to sit up straight. I am 6'3" but still surprised as I fit fine in my Boxster and most others. The trunk also was very small for a four door sedan. (I think only 2 cu. ft. larger than the Boxster!)

Now, for my 'mistake'. I sat in an LS430. It was glorious. Inches of room top and sides leftover. The seats, particularly the front thigh supports, where better. GS and LS are both ventilated. Rear seats obviously were cavernous as was the trunk being nearly double the size. The exterior dimensions being 7 inches longer and two inches higher and width about the same as the GS. I took it for a test drive and found the acceleration much better than the GS (no suprise 0-60 5.9sec). What really suprised me was how much better it cornered compared to what I thought. While it was not nearly as good as the GS in cornering it made up for it (to my mind) with better ride and acceleration.

The shocker was that the 63K sticker leased out to $799/month inc. tax(36months/15Kmiles/month) while the non-discounted GS300awd was $854/month same particulars. Both had Nav/ML.

Needless to say, I am strongly leaning toward the LS430. While it has 'senior stigma' and no awd I can get past this. To be fair, if the GS 'fit' me then I never would have sat in or drove the LS. Bad things do happen for good reasons...

 

Picking the LS is a no-brainer if you don't mind that it looks more like an old person's car, I thought the 04/05 are much improved & the flagship is the best that Lexus have to offer

 

I would buy the LS over the GS all day long and I'm in my late 30's.

 

An LS lease is cheaper than the GS... I say go for it. The LS430 is far better than a GS3.
Can't go wrong with that

 

Well, call me crazy... but I just sold my 2001 LS430 Ultra Luxury to get a new GS430. It's my hold-over car until the new LS500 (or whatever it will be called) is released in two years. I loved my LS430... and I was only 29 when I bought it. It was fun to pull up to a ricer, look over and smile, and floor it right past them. So getting the LS is not a downgrade from a GS. If I didn't just sell one, I would have bought another LS. Can't wait to play with my new GS430. The dealer is telling me my delivery date for my Flint Mica is March 10th. Just wished it would be here by my birthday (March 3rd).

 

I half suspected to get crap/trashed for suggesting that the LS was a better choice (for me). I guess I spend too much time on lesser forums. Thanks all.

 

"old person's car"??? What's that mean? Growing old is inevidable, if you're lucky enough to live so long.

 

He means the LS430 is styled and marketed towards an older demographic than the GS430. Its true, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. I own an LS and a GS, I guess I'm officially middle aged .

 

The LS430 in its current form is the best value in the Luxury car biz. In 2004 many alterations and features were added making the content on the Modern Luxury package (MSRP $62,734} extensive. In the first block that I drove it while liberating it from the training center in Parsippany, NJ I noticed it was faster and firmer. This isn't some old fogey's car. They put high pressure gas filled dampers on it. They put a Limited Slip rear differential in. They put 18"s on most of the production. They changed the facial expression on the Headlight Pods to a glare from the bulbous generic shape of the '03. The tail lights were updated to LED's. The transmission was the best improvement and besides six gears it gave you a sequential slot to have fun with. Using the same engine it dropped from 6.3 seconds to 5.9 seconds in the 0-60MPH dash. This was the first Lexus to offer a Bluetooth phone. They upgraded the Nav. System to Gen 4 which has a processor ten times faster at calculating routes and reroutes. The Nav system has 10,000,000 phone numbers embedded within it. Rear sunshades and Sonar Parking assist on all models. The temperature controlled seats gave you a choice of Cold, Ambient Air, or heated Air. What's not to like and the price remained stable too. Since these two cars now can cross over each other in price it is only a matter of preference. If you are taller than the LS is more generous. If you have a family in the car a lot the LS can offer a large backseat with drop down Vanity mirrors. The Mob in New Jersey could fit a lot of ex Lieutenants in that trunk instead of the traditional Lincoln. However they just might escape by pulling the glow in the dark trunk release. Smart Access was added and freed us from the drudgery of digging our keys out of our pockets and dangling our life story from the ignition switch.

The GS430 is a spirited racehorse that makes a trip to the store an adventure. It has the same trans. as the LS430 but with some new enhancements for performance driving. It has this well lit instrument cluster that says "Rev me". Put your foot on the brake and the green light on the start button beckons to you to fire up the turbines. You instinctively reach out and touch it lightly and it faithfully fires up. You wait for the flagman to give you the clearance for takeoff. He drops his flag to the ground and you launch with what feels like catapault speed. No screeching of tires but just redline after redline until you reach nirvana......It is smooth over transitions, It is flat in the corners, It is unflappable. It gives you confidence as you calmly carve turn after turn. You're not moving an inch in your seat because even the door is sculpted to support you and the center armrest anchors your shift arm. The side bolsters cradle your torso and you are even ready for a barrel roll. You're heading down a side street and suddenly someone opens their car door in your way. You quickly flick the steering out and back and you're glad that a miss is as good as a mile. You find a street with no traffic and let the GS have some wind in its lungs. You come around a bend and find the sandtrap left by a construction truck. The car magically keeps its focus and all you hear is a little beep while you complete the turn at speed. If you like to take the road less travelled, the GS430 will make all the difference.

 

Rock,

You trying to transfer to the Lexus marketing department, lol

I love both cars (esp after the 04 refresh of the LS430) and Lexus is definitely trying to make the LS appeal to younger buyers with the sports suspension and those awesome 5 spoke wheels.

IMO the LS however will still sell better to older folks (not just because its more $$ and they typically are in a higher income bracket) and will never be able to fully shake the stigma of its 'more mature market'... it's more luxurious and smoother, less sporty handling. A beautiful piece of machinery and what I will probably buy next once the new version comes out.

Lexus dealers recognize this too... it's not just our forum members. Look at what some dealers do to make the car even more attractive to the blue hair set in Florida... I hope that I never see such a travisty on the new GS or I may have to switch over to SOB (some other brand).

 

I guess the Blue Hairs like their sleepers too. Reminds me of the Little Old Lady from Pasadena. (Jan & Dean, Drag City) I think it needs a set of Sprewells to go with the rhinestones on the poodle's collar. That is bad Karma man, really bad. J&M should just be ashamed....

 

I understand completely. In fact, we were leaning to the LS430 for many of those same reasons. But the car is mostly for my wife and she wanted something more "sporty" than the LS430 so we bought the new GS. On paper the LS is the better deal but this wasn't strictly a financial decision, it was more of getting what my wife really wanted. And she LOVES the GS.

 

I too love the LS430 and think it's an amazing car. I would get one when the time is right.

HOWEVER, I have this neighbor that has a brand spanking new LS430 and he's in his mid 30's (still a young guy), but when he pulls up in that large LS430, the guy looks so damn old for some reason. Like he's in his 50's.

Belive it, there is an old man's stigma this beautiful car, but if you don't care, then it doesn't even matter.

 

I JUST turned 23 and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be getting a loaded up 04 or 05 LS430 once the LS500 comes out and drives down the resale on the 430s.

 

If I wasn't going to give this next car to my son (college), I would be in an LS. But, the kid doesn't need a $60K car! (I know, $52K isn't a lot less, but it is better).

Anyway, good luck with whatever you purchase. Any Lexus is better than none at all! .

Good luck!