So with more of the prior generation GS owners making the switch I want to start a feedback thread for these prior owners only. Not interested in a comparison from an ES, RX, ect...(happy you stayed with the Lexus family) Also not looking for feedback from those that are new to the GS. I want the OG's that have been around this site and owned a prior gen GS or possibly every generation.

When cross brand shopping what did you like that the competition offered over your GS? ie. smaller key fob (its not a BMW forum so we can admit if we did like something better)


We all know this is a huge step for Lexus. I want to hear your impressions, good, bad, indifferent. The 2gen GS was a milestone for Lexus and is hard to replace. I was never fully impressed with my 3gen GS, it was a nice car don't get me wrong, but I was never wowed by the car. I have yet to drive or sit in the new GS. Been so busy that I haven't, yes this is a first, looked at any of the new models.

 

Ok, I'm coming out of a GS 450h so my comparison will be based only on interior and features. I can honestly say the car has made a huge leap from the 3rd gen to the 4th gen. The attention to detail and the craftsmanship as well as the materials used are top notch. My old GS rattled and creaked like a tin can and required more additions to improve handling, this car comes ready to go. The car is quiet and the leather dash adds to luxury. In terms of the competition I think they did very well, if not better than the BMW 5 and the Mercedes E class the car hugs the corners and is flat when cruising through curvy roads, compared to my old GS before I added F-Sport springs and sway bar felt loose and unstable. I have owned a 2006 GS 300 and a 2004 GS 430, I can say that Lexus is following back to there 2nd gen GS in terms of attention to detail which I think they skipped with the 3rd gen GS. This car in every way is a masterpiece and I think they hit it right on the money.

My issue with this car is that some of the features that came standard on my old GS didn't make it to the new GS. I mean fog-lights should have been standard and the soft close or even a power trunk should have been offered as well as the power folding mirrors. Last but not least my biggest issue power, the car should have been given more power at least the F-Sport, now don't get me wrong the car delivers when needed I would have never got the car if it didn't, just wish the numbers were there. I think, rather I hope Lexus makes a refresh to add these features and put more HP in this thing or at least come out with a GS-F but that's another thread. Sorry for the long post!

 

Mike,you may remember I had an '08 GS350.Kept it for a short time.I just didn't like it more and more after I bought it.
This GS I actually like more than the first week I got it.Just sit in one and check out the great interior and drive one,Mike.
IMO,it much better in every respect over the last generation GS.Except maybe for a couple of things not on the GS with luxury pkg.One being electric fold in side mirrors.

 

For some reasons, I thought you had a 4GS. Anyway, I didn't drive the 3GS much but we do have one in the family and this 4GS is completely different IMO. I think you've been here often enough to see and read others' comments. IMO, nothing is as good as your actual experience. Test drive it yourself to find out if you like it. I don't know how I came across but the saleman let me keep the demo overnight to try out. I didn't floor it but it gave me more than enough time to decide to get it the next day. Check with your local dealer. They may let you borrow it for a day.

 

Yea I was bummed with no V8 but holding off to see if a GSF does come to life. If the Hybrid was going to follow your previous car then I would be sold over the V8. After driving Neurocity's car I was shocked with how fast and nimble the car was. Wish Lexus did a better job with marketing the h as I would have purchased this over my GS any day of the week.

I wonder, with all the issues from the 3gen, they opted out on the auto fold mirrors. The power trunk I'm also surprised with. Its a nice feature to have especially when you have kids. Maybe the second year model will see some of these features. The fogs you can do them the right way, buy an HID kit and source the parts, think JoeZ has a thread about this.

I do recall Joe You have been all over since the IS and if I recall even went back to an IS If memory serves me right you enjoyed the ES better then your GS.

No, I have been reluctant, my first Lexus was an IS350 as when I drove the 3 gen GS back in 07 it did nothing for me. A close friend owns two Lexus dealers local to me and having been in several of the older gen models always liked the attn to detail but I always ended up in a German car. When I got married the wife was so/so on driving a manual and I was leasing a B6 Audi S4 and loved the car. Radio sucked and a few others things German cars always lacked but I was driving 30k + miles a year I got to enjoy this car. So I traded in my leased S4, made money, and took the IS. The wife loved the IS. I liked it after modding it but was never able to get over the rattles and creaks from the car. I traded out of it for the 3gen GS, kids, for more room and the wife hated the GS. I only got the car because of the deal I got as I wanted to go back to German but I just couldn't see buying/leasing one not being a manual. My GS was the same way with the rattles and issues. Looked great after modding it but just never was wowed by the car given the class. Bottom line I should have never purchased the car

I actually still haven't replaced the GS yet. I picked up an older BMW as a grocery getter and the wife loves how it drives and gives me crap all the time for dumping the IS. I have considered an ISF but the GS would be more practical having 4 kids. Not feeling the new IS body so I would target a used ISF. We currently have a Honda Odyssey as the family hauler and I HATE the thing. Right now its the best thing being 2 of our boys are twins just over 1 year so the auto doors and easy access does help out as much as I dread driving it. I still can't get over how overly priced these are either.

But grabbing one to drive for a few days won't be an issue, just curious to see feedback. There is a ton of info, good and bad, already but more curious to see what prior owners think now that they have had time to enjoy their GS and play around.

 

Yeah that thing has some real power the new GS h is toned down not like our 450h, they went more for economy, if they had the F-Sport package for the h I might have gone with that. The fogs are they plug and play or do I need to do some wire cutting. I need to get some ASAP! I need my car to stand out from the rest

 

Yeah,IS250 AWD (too slow)and IS350 RWD (very nice but too small).Liked the ES but not the new generation.
Didn't like the '08 GS but after a new GS test drive,big discounting and $1500 loyalty and Lexus first payment incentives in Dec got me to bite and I love the car.
Funny thing is I didn't like the new GS at first but it grew on me.You have to drive it.Still a few things I don't like about it but the interior,power and drive quality trumps any negatives I have.

 

I'm not sure, here is the thread. Its an F-Sport but you can get the idea. Can't hurt to pull off some covers and peak around. If its not pre-wired I would hit up our vendor XenonDepot (Steve) and he should be able to get you some PNP harness to work.

 

Ok thanks gonna pm Joe Z.

 

I went from 2007 GS450h to 2013 GS450h (by way of an Infiniti M35h cluster-fun). The 2013 is an improvement over the 2007 in every single respect except for one: the appearance. While I like the font end of the 2013 more, I believe the profile and back-end are a HUGE step down from the previous generation. Not only does the car looks much more generic -- same as many other cars across other brands, it also looks like the freaking ES now!

 

I agree

I have seen a lot of the new ES in my area and finally saw a GS yesterday locally. Have seen a few GS on the tollway but not many on the local streets. Given the area and income levels I'm a little shocked I haven't seen more of the GS. Saw an ESh at the gym and talked with the owner for a good 45 min in the parking lot and he was ecstatic with the new ES and direction of Lexus. I didn't want to break the guys heart when he told me the sales person told him its only $1,300 to replace the hybrid batter if it should ever go bad. In person its a sharp car!

 

Lol that salesmen either doesnt know his info or lied straight to his face. Amazing, from experiences I can say that the battery has never given me problems so I think its a reliable battery compared to the Prius.

 

Ok as a previous owner of the 450h what are your views on the power delivery does it still pick up the same, I also agree with you on that the front that's why I didn't go with it again, it would have cost to much to replace everything and match it to the F-Sport. Don't be shy post some pics of that bad boy!

 

I saw the es before I got the gs. I thought it looked sharp and all. Now I dont see it that way anymore. It is nowhere close to the gs, both interior and exterior. There is no flow in the design if you look at it more. Thats just me though.

 

I know that the power rating is lower, but I can't feel the difference. I'm an aggressive driver, and love to floor it. The S+ mode gives me all the response I ever need. I can definitely feel the difference between the Normal and S+ modes, whereas I could never feel noticeable difference in the 2007 GS450h.