Road&Track tested 2007 GS350 AWD
03-07-07, 09:41 AM
#16
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Businessweek did from their test : http://www.businessweek.com/autos/co...214_826825.htm
03-07-07, 10:42 AM
#17
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I don't necessarily think the major publications as more credible, as you can often see examples of sloppiness with their reports with regard to specs./facts about the cars they tested, & doing a comparison of production models vs. preproduction models in the same comparison test etc. etc. These publications are just a business whose primarily goal is to sell magazines, there's nothing definitive about what they published.
Some of them do correct for weather conditions & their published #'s are not really what they got in their actual tests.
Many of the test reports published so far on the LS460 are on pre-production cars anyway.
Anyhow, I don't even think it's too meaningful if actual #'s match or exceed what is claimed, if one driver weighs 250 lb. & another is a petite who only weigh 100 lb., so just because you read somewhere that a certain time can be achieved doesn't mean you can replicate that even under ideal conditions, so much for magazine racing.
Some of them do correct for weather conditions & their published #'s are not really what they got in their actual tests.
Many of the test reports published so far on the LS460 are on pre-production cars anyway.
Anyhow, I don't even think it's too meaningful if actual #'s match or exceed what is claimed, if one driver weighs 250 lb. & another is a petite who only weigh 100 lb., so just because you read somewhere that a certain time can be achieved doesn't mean you can replicate that even under ideal conditions, so much for magazine racing.
Last edited by Gojirra99; 03-07-07 at 08:15 PM. Reason: typo
03-07-07, 02:56 PM
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I'd love to believe those numbers but I'll wait until someone else can duplicate them. Looks like they may have tested on the same downhill track used for their recent test of the IS350 which got to 60 in 4.9. Those numbers are within a tick of an auto BMW 550i and as good or better than the fastest times i've seen for the new LS460 which sports a 10% better power-to-weight ratio & the new 8-speed trans. Historically, Lexus has not been conservative with their performance numbers. With the exception of IS numbers (magazine tests before R&T's last average about 5.2 vs Lexus claim of 5.3) and the new ES 350, I don't recall any other cars being able to beat performance claims. I've not yet seen one test that replicates the claimed 5.4 sec run by the new LS460, and before this, I've never seen a GS beat Lexus' numbers (including last 2nd generation). They used to claim 5.9 sec to 60 for the last LS430 and nobody ever came close.
If they can be verified, I may be a buyer, but they just seem to good to be true.
If they can be verified, I may be a buyer, but they just seem to good to be true.
As for these GS350 AWD numbers, incredible that it managed to dip into the 13s for the 1/4 mile.
03-07-07, 08:12 PM
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Lexus hasn't been conservative about performance numbers before? That's news to me. One of my friends (at the track) hit 0 - 60 in 5.8 sec in his LS430.
As for these GS350 AWD numbers, incredible that it managed to dip into the 13s for the 1/4 mile.
As for these GS350 AWD numbers, incredible that it managed to dip into the 13s for the 1/4 mile.
As for the 1/4 mile time, I agree - incredible. Which is why I questioned it in the first place. Seems almost too good to be true.
03-07-07, 08:34 PM
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Just saying that based on the numbers available in auto rags (I know not perfect, but at least 2 of them correct to standard atmospheric conditions, and probably one of the best sources available) you can compare results over the years to manufacturer claims and see a trend. Some, like BMW & Porsche appear consistently conservative. Others, like Lexus, less so.
As for the 1/4 mile time, I agree - incredible. Which is why I questioned it in the first place. Seems almost too good to be true.
As for the 1/4 mile time, I agree - incredible. Which is why I questioned it in the first place. Seems almost too good to be true.
It would be questionable if not one owner could achieve the claimed speeds, or tested speeds that mags got, but that mostly has not been the case with Lexus cars.
My friend in his GS400 has hit the same times as what mags have got, same with my friend in his LS430.
03-08-07, 05:59 AM
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When the IS350 was first tested by a mag (C & D) and showed that the car could run deep in the 13s all day long at the strip, a lot of people were skeptical. But plenty of IS350 owners, on these forums, or others like my.is have achieved the same results as C & D, and some better.
It would be questionable if not one owner could achieve the claimed speeds, or tested speeds that mags got, but that mostly has not been the case with Lexus cars.
My friend in his GS400 has hit the same times as what mags have got, same with my friend in his LS430.
It would be questionable if not one owner could achieve the claimed speeds, or tested speeds that mags got, but that mostly has not been the case with Lexus cars.
My friend in his GS400 has hit the same times as what mags have got, same with my friend in his LS430.
03-08-07, 11:24 AM
#24
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Road & Track's test driver usually have better 0-60 times than other publications like Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Automobile. The 0-60 times is only a good reference to me… 99% of our GS owners is not likely to launch our cars in the same fashion…
03-08-07, 04:29 PM
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Those are great numbers and should be comparable to the new 535i BMW coming out in a couple of months. The 535i will have the (advertised) 300hp engine that's in the new 335i. Since the 535i is only 120lbs heavier, you can assume that it will deliver a 0-60 time just a tad slower than the 4.9sec posted by the 335.
03-08-07, 10:17 PM
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I think you're missing my point. I'm just saying that historically, Lexus has not appeared to be conservative with their numbers (the new IS seems to be the one of the few exceptions). I define conservative as independent testers being able to better manufacturer claims with consistency. The fact that your friends were able to match times from the mags on those 2 cars is great, but how did the mags' times compare to Lexus claims? I bet they weren't better. If so, you can't claim Lexus was conservative. I have an 02 GS430. Great car. Lexus claimed 5.8 sec to 60 and a 14.3 1/4 mile. The fastest test I ever saw was 5.9 & 14.5 from C&D. Close enough for me, but no evidence there that Lexus was conservative in their claims.
03-09-07, 10:28 PM
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Just saying that based on the numbers available in auto rags (I know not perfect, but at least 2 of them correct to standard atmospheric conditions, and probably one of the best sources available) you can compare results over the years to manufacturer claims and see a trend. Some, like BMW & Porsche appear consistently conservative. Others, like Lexus, less so.
This is why, at times, R&T's results seem slow (0-60 in 6 seconds and the 1/4 mile in about 14.5 for their first IS350 road test and none of their Corvette Z06s have ever broken into the 11s in the 1/4 mile).
Agree that BMW and Porsche consistently underrate their performance - usually by a very wide margin - like .5 sec or more between mfg official time and the times the magazines get.
03-10-07, 01:32 PM
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The April 2007 issue of Road&Track (page 98) tested the 2007 GS350 AWD and results are impressive!
0-60 Mph in 5.3 seconds
1/4 mile 13.8 @ 101.8 Mph
Braking 60-0 in 119 feet
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=4851
That performance spanks the Lexus GS430 tested 6-05:
0-60 Mph in 5.7 seconds
1/4 mile 14.2 @ 99.5 Mph
Braking 60-0 in 126 feet
And is equal to the Audi S4 tested 8-05:
0-60 Mph in 5.3 seconds
1/4 mile 13.8 @ 101.7 Mph
Braking 60-0 in 119 feet
Not bad for a Lexus winter car!
0-60 Mph in 5.3 seconds
1/4 mile 13.8 @ 101.8 Mph
Braking 60-0 in 119 feet
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=4851
That performance spanks the Lexus GS430 tested 6-05:
0-60 Mph in 5.7 seconds
1/4 mile 14.2 @ 99.5 Mph
Braking 60-0 in 126 feet
And is equal to the Audi S4 tested 8-05:
0-60 Mph in 5.3 seconds
1/4 mile 13.8 @ 101.7 Mph
Braking 60-0 in 119 feet
Not bad for a Lexus winter car!
I did not see the temp and altitude listed in this short take - something tells me it was in the winter and the conditions were optimal.
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