Downgrades from 3GS to 4GS
what's the inconvenience though? now you actually don't even have to do anything, as soon as you pull in the guy can just push and pop the gas door. i am also from hong kong, when i am there i see them do that on bmw and mb all the time, drivers just sit there
Driver
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 100
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From: HKG/YVR
I borrowed a W212 for a while from a friend while he was on holiday- no interior fuel door release (or at least none I could find). I'd pull up to the pump, switch off the engine which automatically unlocks the doors (which in turn unlocks the fuel door), give my fuel card to the attendant telling him/her to fill er up and most of the time they'd walk to the fuel door, notice it was closed, turn right around and tell me to open the lid. I'd then have to tell them to push on the door to open it.
Perhaps they assumed that it would have a fuel door that could only be opened from the inside like many new luxury cars? At that time the W212 had just been released so maybe they were just unfamiliar with it.
At any rate it's just a minor niggle, nothing major.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20,238
Likes: 274
I read that the Lexus engineers developing the 4GS went on a weight saving operation to keep weight down on the 4GS so that it would be bigger and more spacious than the 3GS but no heavier.
That involved trimming weight in both exterior as well as the interior trim. So as far as possible they went for lighter materials. That explains the new headliner material and lighter metal accents/trim.
That involved trimming weight in both exterior as well as the interior trim. So as far as possible they went for lighter materials. That explains the new headliner material and lighter metal accents/trim.
If anything, 3GS was pretty lacking in that department - sure plastic was nice, but the noises were not and seriously, now there is leather everywhere. I cant understand someone honestly complaining how 4GS has worse interior than 3GS, it doesnt. Not by a long shot... heck even discussing it seems silly.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,459
Likes: 1
From: Makati, Philippines
Minor downsides (so far):
-No Mark Levinson audio (Philippine version) = unlike other markets, we're stuck with the 12 speakers only. No 17 speaker ML audio system for us
-No eight cylinder engine atm (though it *might* come in the form of a GS-F........hopefully)
-Our local F-sport gets those ****ty wheels
-F-sport units for overseas do not have front fog lamps............but the JDM versions in Japan debunk this (somewhat). You can modify and make the necessary installations if one wishes to do so.
Thankfully, everything else at least meets or exceeds what the 3GS offered. 4GS>3GS (in more than 90% of the time)
Btw:
The fuel door thingy won't be a problem for me. Where I'm from, it's also full service.......so in that case, you can just tell the "gas-boy" (as we call them here) to push the fuel door for you
As for the interior, I can't give a rat's *** if veneer is real or fake. All I care about is Piano Black
-No Mark Levinson audio (Philippine version) = unlike other markets, we're stuck with the 12 speakers only. No 17 speaker ML audio system for us
-No eight cylinder engine atm (though it *might* come in the form of a GS-F........hopefully)
-Our local F-sport gets those ****ty wheels
-F-sport units for overseas do not have front fog lamps............but the JDM versions in Japan debunk this (somewhat). You can modify and make the necessary installations if one wishes to do so.
Thankfully, everything else at least meets or exceeds what the 3GS offered. 4GS>3GS (in more than 90% of the time)
Btw:
The fuel door thingy won't be a problem for me. Where I'm from, it's also full service.......so in that case, you can just tell the "gas-boy" (as we call them here) to push the fuel door for you
As for the interior, I can't give a rat's *** if veneer is real or fake. All I care about is Piano Black
Maybe I just get incompetent attendants?
I borrowed a W212 for a while from a friend while he was on holiday- no interior fuel door release (or at least none I could find). I'd pull up to the pump, switch off the engine which automatically unlocks the doors (which in turn unlocks the fuel door), give my fuel card to the attendant telling him/her to fill er up and most of the time they'd walk to the fuel door, notice it was closed, turn right around and tell me to open the lid. I'd then have to tell them to push on the door to open it.
Perhaps they assumed that it would have a fuel door that could only be opened from the inside like many new luxury cars? At that time the W212 had just been released so maybe they were just unfamiliar with it.
At any rate it's just a minor niggle, nothing major.
I borrowed a W212 for a while from a friend while he was on holiday- no interior fuel door release (or at least none I could find). I'd pull up to the pump, switch off the engine which automatically unlocks the doors (which in turn unlocks the fuel door), give my fuel card to the attendant telling him/her to fill er up and most of the time they'd walk to the fuel door, notice it was closed, turn right around and tell me to open the lid. I'd then have to tell them to push on the door to open it.
Perhaps they assumed that it would have a fuel door that could only be opened from the inside like many new luxury cars? At that time the W212 had just been released so maybe they were just unfamiliar with it.
At any rate it's just a minor niggle, nothing major.
All I see load of leather and wood where there was plastic in 3GS. So I hope they apply same savings throughout the range :-).
If anything, 3GS was pretty lacking in that department - sure plastic was nice, but the noises were not and seriously, now there is leather everywhere. I cant understand someone honestly complaining how 4GS has worse interior than 3GS, it doesnt. Not by a long shot... heck even discussing it seems silly.
If anything, 3GS was pretty lacking in that department - sure plastic was nice, but the noises were not and seriously, now there is leather everywhere. I cant understand someone honestly complaining how 4GS has worse interior than 3GS, it doesnt. Not by a long shot... heck even discussing it seems silly.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,459
Likes: 1
From: Makati, Philippines
Seriously, if it were possible (or if it can be made possible), I'd definitely have Piano Black instead of aluminum for the F-sport version.
Piano Black > Aluminum
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 13,441
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From: Under an IS F since 2008
I've been driving for approx. 18 years.... I've used SELF SERVICE pumps almost 99% of the time..
I know some countries and some US states have strict laws about self serve pumps (like NJ), but I just can't deal with a fuel attendant touching my cars...
DIY "Gas-Boy" LoL
~ Joe Z
I know some countries and some US states have strict laws about self serve pumps (like NJ), but I just can't deal with a fuel attendant touching my cars...
DIY "Gas-Boy" LoL
~ Joe Z
Last edited by Joe Z; Mar 9, 2012 at 09:55 AM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,763
Likes: 6
From: TX
I've been driving for approx. 18 years.... I've used SELF SERVICE pumps almost 99% of the time..
I know some countries and some US states have strict laws about self serve pumps (like NJ), but I just can't deal with a fuel attendant touching my cars...
DIY "Gas-Boy" LoL
~ Joe Z
I know some countries and some US states have strict laws about self serve pumps (like NJ), but I just can't deal with a fuel attendant touching my cars...
DIY "Gas-Boy" LoL
~ Joe Z
but in hong kong, most gas stations are served. in fact i don't recall seeing one that's not
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 13,441
Likes: 1,080
From: Under an IS F since 2008
So it did happen a few times in my life when I got gas in NJ.. By LAW they have to pump it for you..
~ Joe Z
Last edited by Joe Z; Mar 9, 2012 at 01:52 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,277
Likes: 3
From: USA
To start, I really like the new GS. The new interior is great, and the elevated sense of refinement compared to 3GS is very noticeable. However, I'm surprised that there were several downgrades:
Gas Door
The 4GS gas door can be opened from the outside. Why? I don't know if there's some magic combination of door locks and other adjustments that will prevent people from opening it while the car is parked on the street, but this seems like a downgrade from the 3GS design where it's opened from the driver's seat.
Trunk Strut
The 4GS went back to traditional hinges while 3GS had the tighter struts with auto-close. The hinges felt cheap and comparable to the likes of Corolla and Yaris. I realize that not everyone appreciated how "heavy" the trunk lid was on the 3GS as a result of using struts, but I thought it gave the car a more refined feel.
Cheap Interior Accents
The 4GS has these fake-metallic accents on all doors (at least for 350 with Luxury). They look really, really cheap and something found on sub-20k cars. In comparison, the same accent around the center console on the 3GS looked at least better (though still fake).
Am I the only one who felt these were noticeable downgrades?
Gas Door
The 4GS gas door can be opened from the outside. Why? I don't know if there's some magic combination of door locks and other adjustments that will prevent people from opening it while the car is parked on the street, but this seems like a downgrade from the 3GS design where it's opened from the driver's seat.
Trunk Strut
The 4GS went back to traditional hinges while 3GS had the tighter struts with auto-close. The hinges felt cheap and comparable to the likes of Corolla and Yaris. I realize that not everyone appreciated how "heavy" the trunk lid was on the 3GS as a result of using struts, but I thought it gave the car a more refined feel.
Cheap Interior Accents
The 4GS has these fake-metallic accents on all doors (at least for 350 with Luxury). They look really, really cheap and something found on sub-20k cars. In comparison, the same accent around the center console on the 3GS looked at least better (though still fake).
Am I the only one who felt these were noticeable downgrades?
To me the main downgrade is the loss of 2 gears and loss of 2 cylinders in the power train.