Hi every one,
this is my first thread in CL, I have a question that is really confusing me, regarding the 2006 GS engines, I was checking the Lexus.com site and there it says the horsepower figures are
GS 430 = 300 hp
GS 300 = 245 hp

then I went to check the Lexus website for UAE ( Dubai) and I found totally different figures
GS 430 = 279 hp
GS 300 = 228 hp
you can have a look here ( http://www.lexus.ae)

So, what's all this about, any ideas ????
thanks in advance

 

Welcome to Clublexus. The USA ratings will be different than those overseas, thus the ratings are different but the power is the same. Its just calculated differently.

 

It may just be how they test for horsepower. I believe the SAE (Society of Automotoive Engineers) test method is different than the DOE (Department of Energy). Honda/Acura has lowered their horspeower numbers for 2006 but the engines have the same power. They are testing the engines to a different standard.

 

Actually I understand they may well different engines... Not quite sure, but apparently the GS300 for certain asia and middle eastern markets are without direct injection. Anyone can shed more light on this?

 

Thanks every one for the helpful replies,
but I still not getting this, why the ratings are not standarized globally, I hope they use the same engine that has 306 hp in the US ratings. becuase they are going to bring the IS to the Middle east markets along with the GS350 and GS460, they are so damn late to do that because BMW and Mercedes are eating the market here !!! you can't imagine how many BMWs and Mercedes you can see in short drive here in Dubai !!!!

 

GS300 in US, Europe uses 3GR-FSE engine (with gasoline direct injection, D-4), rated 245hp

GS300 in Asia-Pacific uses 3GR-FE engine (without gasoline direct injection, D-4), rated 228hp

 

LINUS is absolutely right - I got my GS 300 in Kuwait and was REALLY PI$$ED OFF when I discovered that we actually had some stupid Toyota Crown 2003 engine (3GR-FE) as opposed to the new 3GR-FSE with direct injection.

So in conclusion we pay more (my GS 300 cost US$ 50,750 fully loaded) than the US version and have following "benefits":

- NO Voice Activated Navigation
- NO tire pressure sensor
- NO smog detector
- Crappy 2003 Toyota Crown engine, with less power, less torque at higher RPM and less fuel economy!!!

Oh, and if you don't like the cashmere beige interior - too bad - none other is availble out here

 

The price of the GS300 wasn't that bad when compared to Hong Kong, our GS300 starts at ~$64,000USD, with the fully loaded at ~$73,000USD, and you won't get the navigation, TPMS or the smog detector even with the fully loaded version either...

 

hey, I would have to pay 100,000 USD for fully equipped GS300, with DI though :-).
Some countries in Europe have even bigger taxes - in Finland, GS300 fully loaded costs 150,000 USD.

So if you think you have it bad, you dont :-).

 

Thanks Guys for making me feel a little better. USD 150,000 for a GS3 in Finland! Jeez that's almost 3 times what I got for mine. I guess for a discount of USD 100,000 I could overlook the position of the fuel injectors

But I still reserve the holy right to be ticked off - our dealer (Mohd. Nasser Al Sayer & Sons) gave me the same rap about them calculating horsepower different in other countries and insisting the engine 'was the same' instead of telling the truth that they ship the cars here with a different engine. They did the same thing in the UAE (Al-Futtaim Motors) when I asked them. I only found out after I had paid for the car and was viewing the owner's manual (which incidentally rates the car at 231 hp, not 228).

In the UAE - there are a LOT of US imported GS3's - the younger Emaratis know a lot about cars and wouldn't be so easily fooled!

The following link gives a little more info on these engines:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_GR_engine#3GR-FE

 

Just out of curiousity, has anyone driven both versions? Have one on order in Singapore, about US$105,000, without direct injection, ventilated seats, tyre pressure sensors, active cruise control or reverse camera... It's a bit of bummer paying more but getting less, but guess that's how things are around here... The cheapest beemer 5, with a 2.3 litre engine costs US$110,000 - for which u get parktronic, leather seats and not much else (not even cruise control)...

Not sure if it's a good decision, perhaps should've stumped up for a 525 - around US$130,000???

 

I've not driven the DI engine, but I have driven the 525 - had one for a week in the UK and it doesn't compare to the GS3, even without the DI engine...

The GS3 feels more upmarket, expensive, is sexier (imo) and is much quieter and easier to live with. The navigation system, interior, stereo, after-sales service on the GS3 are miles better.

I was seriously considering a 525, an A6 or an E280 - the GS3 wasn't even on my shopping list, but when I saw a few GS3's driving around I loved the way they looked and thought 'what the hell, better check it out'. Once the test drive was done I was really impressed - this car wowed me like none of the other 3. I did my research and then ordered one - no regrets about not getting any of the other 3, they are all over priced, under specced and outdated. I actually had a 525 in the UK for a week and found it stressful - my first impressions were really bad - for the first 5 minutes driving in the UK, the car proved to be a nightmare - I couldn't figure out how to stop the signal indicator from flashing left or right, and setting the sat/nav was really cumbersome with that i-drive thingy - the GS3 touch screen is so much more functional and easy to use.

I don't think the GS3 even without DI feels any slower than the 525 - they are both a little gutless but at least the GS3 engine sounds expensive when thrashed and is otherwise very quiet - the GS3 Power mode really makes a difference to how the car feels.

When I first got my GS3 I wasn't happy with the firmness of the ride - I felt it to be too fidgety - more than the 525 - but this was remedied by setting the tire pressures as per the owner's manual.

A lot of GS3 owners complain about rattles, head room, poor illumination, that drop-down dash panel with all the buttons and trunk space. I personally get over my illumination problems by using the non-led lights that illuminate the sun-visors...I like the hunkered down look of the car and the eccentricity of the drop-down panel - I think it is special and lends the car character - I hope they don't change it - it is easy to get used to. The rattles can be dealt with by the dealer as have mine. Once you set the seat the head room doesn't really bother - I just sit less upright but found it to be very comfortable so I have about 3 inches of headroom.

I really love the Sat/Nav - I also found it really useful for marking radar traps - you can assign an audible directional icon whenever you mark radars so that the next time you approach, even if the sat-nav is off - you get an audible warning of an approaching radar...I love the way you get to see all those tourist attractions as you drive by - you just touch the icon on the screen and the car lets you call the place using the blue tooth connection to your telephone - very cool! I normally take about 15 minutes to demo the car to my friends - without driving it - they are always blown away...have fun!