I own a Lexus 2003 ES300. Wanted to upgrade and hence took a
GS 350 for a test drive - Came back disappointed though.
There is no aux input in the GS so icannot connect my Ipod.
This to me was very very surprising because even cheap cars nowadays have the aux input!!
I tried to use a DVD (which had the mp3 songs created in data format)but
the so called mark levinson would not recognize it leave alone play it!
I was able to play the same DVD on a Camry though.
The cup holders on the drivers side is in a very inconvenient position.
It is great for the passenger but the driver will find it very inconveniently placed.
Then on my test drive, there was a rattle on the drivers side when i drove
the cars at around 30 miles an hour. At higher speeds, the rattle was not heard because the car was traveling at a much higher speed.
Then the rear seat can accomodate 2 passengers are best. The middle passenger will find it very inconvenient to sit because of the hump.
The rear seating is a joke. The seats are too cramped.
And finally the trunk is too small.
I love my ES and I may go back to get a ES 350 instead of the GS. The only
reason I was going for the GS was because I hear of too many transmission problems with the ES.
Does anyone know whether the 2008 GS comes with the aux input?

 

Honestly, even if the 08 GS350 comes with an aux imput, you have too many other issues you do not like about the car. Sounds like the ES350 is what you need.

 

Good idea.

I don't.

Even if it does that still leaves you with the MP3 problem, the cupholder problem, the hump in the back seat, the cramped back seats, the small trunk and the rattle.

Read some posts, ask some questions, and do some research before you tell me why you hate the car you apparentley think you still might consider buying....

 

Wow, if the lack of an aux input is the deciding factor, maybe this car is not for you.

 

So to summarize:
- Lack of aux input
- Didn’t recognize your MP3 CD
- Bad placement for cup holder
- Drive shaft hump
- Small trunk
- And the rattle (did you make sure there where nothing in the door storage ?)

You obviously do not need a high performance read wheel drive car, I suggest you get the Honda Element, it has all the things you need... (and you will have some money left for 124 years of large coke at McDo)...

 

A bit defensive, aren't we? He raises valid points that we've all considered at some point. The GS is far better looking than the ES, and that may be his primary attraction (it was mine). No aux, no mp3 on a high end, high cost audio system is kind of ridiculous and worthy of consideration when spending these kind of bucks. It really makes no sense (not to mention the sylish cassette player).

Ease up guys. This is his first post and he points out valid concerns.

 

Let's all hold hands and sing kumbaya while we're at it.

 

I agree that Aux input should be standard, but once you shelf $44k to $68k for a car you usually can afford $300 for Aux input or true iPod support (or both) for a VIAStech SoundLinkQ SLI.

Also MP3 CDs or DVDs are working just fine on the 07+ ML audio system.
Now if you really want to enjoy the ML system through in a DVD audio in there, you will understand what Premium means…

 

The Aux input is a valid point in that if an IS has a aux input Lexus should have made sure the GS has one also. In opinion if you are going to invest in a ML system then do yourself a favor and convert to wave format to get full benefits of a ML system. Bad placement of cupholder well this is a personal preference but can't say the GS is disappointing because of a bad placement of cup holder. Drive shaft well all rear wheel drive cars have the hump so don't consider any rear wheel drive cars. I certainly agree that the small trunk is definitely a negative for the GS compared to others like the E and 5 series. The rattle is also not acceptable in a car of this price and Lexus should really have gotten rid of it early but it seems like they are dragging there feet on this.
But if you ask me if I would rather have these problems or the tranny issue with the ES than I rather have these problems. I looked at the 5 series and the problems they are having with that car and I have an E-class and we are having a s**t load of problems with that car(tranny and electricals), and the GS looks like a winner.

 

To be honest, if you think the GS350 has a small trunk then you need to check out the trunk of a civic, camry, or legacy. I thought the trunk on my GS300 was big until I saw the trunk space on my grandmother's GS350. You may want to look at an SUV for larger trunk space. I mean how much space do you really need? You arent putting your washer and dryer in the back, at least I hope you aren't.

If you are upset that there isn't an aux input, you can go and buy an FM transmitter or a cassette input plug to connect your mp3 player.

Concerning the rattle, I have not noticed any rattling when I drive my grandmother around in her car. We usually do not have the radio on either.

As far as the drive train is concerned, the ES is front wheel drive while the GS is rear wheel drive. The ES, IMO, is more like a camry or an avalon. What ever you decide, good luck.

 

No offense to you but I took that as a b i tch session and nothing more. There was no asking for discussion and the feedback he got was in line with the post he started, in my opinion.

If I go on the ES board and type "I did not like the ES it sucks so I bought a GS" I would expect the feedback that would be coming my way.

Again, if he sounded remotely interested in discussion, it would have been handled as such.

Asking informative questions such as "Can you guys fit 3 people in the backseat is much different than (to me anyways) stating "the rear seat is a joke."

There are 20 lines or so in that post and one question mark...doesnt sound like he is very interested in feedback...

 

I thought I was the only person that caught that. The only question asked was whether or not the 2008 GS comes with aux input as if everything prior to the question was unimportant and the determining factor was the aux input. Hence my previous post.

Beachfront does have a point. For a 1st post, the OP didn't exactly win us over. He basically came in and said that the GS sucks, everything about it sucks, I hate it, it's ugly, it has poor build quality, but does the 2008 GS come with an aux input? As if the aux input would tip the scales and determine whether or not he bought one. Puhleez, if an aux input is that important.... add one.

 

It's funny that "houston200's" first post on Club Lexus is to complain about the 3rd GS. I hope your test drive salesman did not push hard to sell you this car...

 

I agree that the way houston200 posted his comments is a bit rude but I believe that he does have some valid points. Sure you can just add a Aux input from aftermarket but if an IS has one shouldn't the GS have one also especially since it is not that hard to incorporate from factory? Trunk space is small compared to other vehicles in this class. Someone asked what does he want to carry? well if a family of four wanted to go on a 2 week vacation I find it hard to fit all the luggage in this car. Lastly the dash rattle is a problem a lot of GS owners complain about and I have test driven a few 2007 with the rattle and Lexus should really have gotten rid of the rattle by the second year production. Are any of these problems major enough for me personally not to buy the car NO! But should these problems been addressed by Lexus definitely if they want a bigger share of the 5 and E class market.

 

I didn't consider "winning us over" as a criteria for a new board member to feel welcomed here. Like e-mail, the written word is not always an accurate representation of his/her real intentions.

None-the-less, it seems to me we should not expect to be won-over in any regard. To the contrary, I think it's more important to make new members feel welcomed, regardless of how they express themselves.