The wife has been liking the GS and so today we stopped by to see one. She pretty much liked everything then I popped the trunk. The smile on her face just vanished. The short overhang looked tight for getting things in and out easily.

You thoughts regarding loading removing several cases of wine, 30" and 24" suitcases?

 

I had the same reaction as your wife, the first time I looked in the trunk. It reminded me of my parent's old '95 Accord. While the struts help save space, the opening is very small, but it can swallow a decent amount of cargo.

I'd still love an '06 430 though!?!

 

Robert DeNiro would like the generous LS430 trunk for body hauling... The GS has a deep hold but narrow entry. The wine and the suitcases will probably work but I was thinking of something in a big box like a TV set. The rear door probably has a bigger opening to work with. The car just drives like a cat and it is a mid size sport sedan and not a hatchback. You thinking of going to Napa Valley or something? Sounds like a nice drive in a GS to me.....Sigh.

 

Being able to lift out something placed in the middle or rear isn't too difficult in the LS. Maybe next time we stop by I can bring along the travel gear and do a test fit. After the Mrs. walked off, she was hovering by an '05 LS with a smile back on her face.

We do a handful of trips for spreads of 4-10 days so having an easy access trunk is a key criteria along with capacity. I have a suspicion where it is going to go but I want to see how the GS may be for a possible long distance car. The mileage numbers on the sticker are

We enjoy trips into the wine areas, we have visits to the central coast with trips into Napa, Sonoma and Amador County. Used to do Oregon but racking up 2,500 miles in a matter of 7-10 days was killer.

 

I missed going to Oregon this year for skiing. I used to be in the Restaurant and Catering business in between stints in the showroom. I have always wanted to visit the vineyards of my favorite wines like Zaca Mesa, Duckhorn and Chateau Montelena. There are of course many others and I like the French, Italian and Chilean wines too. BTW not many people will buy a case so that is why I figured you to be an Enophile. The LS is an awesome car in its current incarnation and costs about the same as a similarly equipped GS430. It comes stock with a limited slip rear, high pressure gas filled shocks and the wonderful six speed with sequential slot shift. It is just a couple of tenths of a second slower up to speed than the GS430. You can take a few more cases home with you and it will help the wine "travel comfortably" too. En Vino Veritas! (In wine there is truth)

 

Looks like this GS is out. I leaned into it today and the wife is short enough that she'd have to almost climb in to get a grip of the back area contents. Forget trying to wiggle out a couple of 45# cases of wine. For those with past injuries (like me), the risks to get stuff out don't seem good. I was really liking the car.

We usually hit 2-3 wineries a day and buy doubles of the ones we like. After a few days, we've accumulated close to two cases or so. When we get back home and given the bottles time to rest we drink again and decide on whether to buy case quantities.

I can only pray that when the new LS comes out, they don't give it an access area like this one.