4th Generation GS Reviews Thread
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 0
From: CA
^Yup. As BMW has demonstrated 8AT does have significant benefit to fuel economy, if not performance, even in models with smaller engines. I'm sure Lexus will give the GS a significant engine/transmission upgrade come the mid-cycle refresh. They probably just wanted to save some of the good stuff for the refresh to keep the car interesting throughout its life.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,481
Likes: 198
From: San Francisco, CA
forget the 8 speed and just put a 7 in there like everyone else. the 7 g tronic in mercs are pretty good and choosing the right gear. Its not as buttery smooth as lexus gears, but I love to turnover at 1800 rpm at 65 mph
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 0
From: CA
Not sure what you mean by "everyone else" because at this moment BMW and Audi have widely adopted 8AT while MB and Infiniti are using 7AT. Lexus already has a perfectly fine 8AT so there's no reason to develop/outsource a new 7AT.
Guest
Posts: n/a
^Yup. As BMW has demonstrated 8AT does have significant benefit to fuel economy, if not performance, even in models with smaller engines. I'm sure Lexus will give the GS a significant engine/transmission upgrade come the mid-cycle refresh. They probably just wanted to save some of the good stuff for the refresh to keep the car interesting throughout its life.
1. First with an 8 speed automatic.
2. First to have it in multiple vehicles (LS, IS F, GS)
3. Prove it helps with better MPG while also being lighter with less parts.
Everyone else followed this.
Its funny to me when the LS/IS-F/GS had 8 speeds YEARS ago people on the internet bashed it endlessly as having too much. Now that the Germans copied it and others are using it, oh, its now amazing and a marvel.
I get my laughs on the internet
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,481
Likes: 198
From: San Francisco, CA
I think 6 is a little dated now, and 7 should be the new "common" standard in luxury cars. Too many people complain about having 8 speeds and too many people complain about how 6 speed is antiquated. 7 seems to be the best compromise.Goldilocks.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 0
From: CA
Actually this was demonstrated by LEXUS as Lexus was;
1. First with an 8 speed automatic.
2. First to have it in multiple vehicles (LS, IS F, GS)
3. Prove it helps with better MPG while also being lighter with less parts.
Everyone else followed this.
Its funny to me when the LS/IS-F/GS had 8 speeds YEARS ago people on the internet bashed it endlessly as having too much. Now that the Germans copied it and others are using it, oh, its now amazing and a marvel.
I get my laughs on the internet
1. First with an 8 speed automatic.
2. First to have it in multiple vehicles (LS, IS F, GS)
3. Prove it helps with better MPG while also being lighter with less parts.
Everyone else followed this.
Its funny to me when the LS/IS-F/GS had 8 speeds YEARS ago people on the internet bashed it endlessly as having too much. Now that the Germans copied it and others are using it, oh, its now amazing and a marvel.
I get my laughs on the internet
BTW I'm a huge and loyal Toyota/Lexus fan if you haven't noticed, except that I'm also critical of things they could improve because I want to see them succeed instead of blindly accept everything they do/haven't done.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20,213
Likes: 261
My point is simply that other manufacturers have demonstrated that 8AT can be beneficial to smaller engines as well, while Lexus lead the way with 8AT in larger and only larger engines. No need to be so defensive.
BTW I'm a huge and loyal Toyota/Lexus fan if you haven't noticed, except that I'm also critical of things they could improve because I want to see them succeed instead of blindly accept everything they do/haven't done.
BTW I'm a huge and loyal Toyota/Lexus fan if you haven't noticed, except that I'm also critical of things they could improve because I want to see them succeed instead of blindly accept everything they do/haven't done.
If you are concerned about 1-2 MPG, then GS450h is there to keep it real.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 0
From: CA
Like the once-leading-edge 6AT, with economy of scale.the cost of 8AT will come down too if they apply it to more of their volume models. Lexus should not be about bean counting--that's what Toyota is for. Now that 6AT has been passed down to Toyotas, it's time for Lexus to stay on TMC's forefront and move on to 8AT as their main transmission of choice.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Lexus TX 550h+ (& 3 Reasons to AVOID!)
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyota Models of the 1990s RANKED!
Joe Kucinski
10 Great Toyotas That Could Have Been Lexus Models
Joe Kucinski
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Switzerland
I think the 8AT doesnt make much sense with NA V6. In general it helps to improve fuel economy by keeping the engine in low revs, but the NA V6 is not very efficient down there in contrast to the boosted engines from Audi and BMW.
That being said I would always go for a NA engine because of the instantaneous response which is much more important to me than 1-2 MPG. Not to mention the potential reliability issues of the turbo engines.
That being said I would always go for a NA engine because of the instantaneous response which is much more important to me than 1-2 MPG. Not to mention the potential reliability issues of the turbo engines.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20,213
Likes: 261
Like the once-leading-edge 6AT, with economy of scale.the cost of 8AT will come down too if they apply it to more of their volume models. Lexus should not be about bean counting--that's what Toyota is for. Now that 6AT has been passed down to Toyotas, it's time for Lexus to stay on TMC's forefront and move on to 8AT as their main transmission of choice.
would i spend 2k extra to get 4cly turbo in my car that gives me 1-2 MPG extra and 8AT, and all the refinement and instant response of 4cly turbo??
Nope.
I think Lexus did the right thing by keeping 350 and 450h as far apart as possible with the pricing (or rather kept 350 as low as possible).
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,459
Likes: 1
From: Makati, Philippines
What they do have instead is a 7-speed CVT (which can work for up 2400cc class displacement engines)
Our Corolla Altis has that (2.0 V) and it is a quantum leap over the 4-speed and 5-speed SUPER ECT autos.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,481
Likes: 198
From: San Francisco, CA
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 3
From: Canuckistan
Guest
Posts: n/a
Its sad that Lexus has listened to complaints and made the lightest car in class, arguably the SPORTIEST, with arguably the best interior with the biggest trunk and finally a true SPORT PACKAGE for those that have asked with class leading technology and all this is being glossed over.
What happened? No wonder people lurk and don't post. So sad.
This vehicle offers so much and no vehicle is perfect remind you we can find faults with them all. While I am disappointed with some decisions which I have been vocal about the constant complaining in every thread in this forum has gotten old fast.
2GS and 3GS didn't have this issue this early in their forum's life.
What happened? No wonder people lurk and don't post. So sad.
This vehicle offers so much and no vehicle is perfect remind you we can find faults with them all. While I am disappointed with some decisions which I have been vocal about the constant complaining in every thread in this forum has gotten old fast.
2GS and 3GS didn't have this issue this early in their forum's life.
Judging by the reviews, I think if the GS 350 had 25 more horespower and an 8AT, it would have been a complete knockout - some criticism of the transmission and a few mentions about the engine being a carryover that's just average on power.
Can't have it all, I suppose, but those two improvements would have been the icing on the cake (as many of us have mentioned).
I'm also a little concerned about the comments saying that aside from the grille, the rest of the design is pretty bland. I haven't seen the car myself, so I'll reserve my judgement until then.
Can't have it all, I suppose, but those two improvements would have been the icing on the cake (as many of us have mentioned).
I'm also a little concerned about the comments saying that aside from the grille, the rest of the design is pretty bland. I haven't seen the car myself, so I'll reserve my judgement until then.
8 speed auto would be proper if it had a V8 and wasn't targeted at a sporty midsize luxury sedan. It's too much for a V6 even with 25 more horsepower. It would be prone to gear hunting. 8 is already too much for an IS F. That's the biggest thing I dislike about my ISF, is the constant shifting between 6-7-8 on the highway. Sports driving is not fun with that many gears close together.
Last edited by rominl; Nov 28, 2011 at 12:09 PM.