Hi all,

Just joined the forum a few days back. Very impressed with the knowledge on here. I'm looking at buying a Riviera Red GS 350 f sport AWD. Looking for a fun to drive yet comfortable family car. While, there was no F sport available to drive, I was able to test drive a RWD GS 350 with luxury package and was impressed by the smoothness, interior quality build, and features along with the legendary reliability and reasonable price compared to it's peers. We currently own an 08 Odyssey touring which I plan on keeping. We also have an 04 MDX which I will be selling or trading in. My own personal drivers are a 2005 e46 M3 competition package and a 2007 Porsche C4S. Coming from those 2 cars, I thought the GS more than held it's own and was quite comfortable. I have an 8 year old, a 6 year old, and an almost 4 year old who were as happy as clams in the back seat.

My wife is not a big fan of the 5 series BMWs or the E class MB. She does like Audi and was tempted by the S4 though the rear seat is not as functional in those cars. Audi does not seem to deliver those cars with all season tires so folks here in northern California apparently will keep a separate set of snow tires and wheels and mount them in the winter. We will take a look at the S6 though I'm very concerned about the precipitous depreciation. It's also quite a bit more expensive than the Lexus.

Too make a long story short I was curious what forum members felt about the AWD GS cars. We would be buying one without driving it. With the release of the IS coming, the fact that the GS is the only sedan in the lineup remaining with a 6speed auto was bothersome. The dealer admitted he had no idea what would be coming. So my dilemma is pull the trigger now or wait and see if the 2014 will have an improved powerplant and tranny. If so, I could order in August since our desired color combo is out there... just without the Mark Levinson stereo upgrade. I did see the thread about 6 speed versus 8 speed and appreciate the comments in there. Thanks in advance!

 

Hey bud. I honestly don't have anything to share on the new model....most of the rumors are about the GS F. Lexus usually does a 3 year MMC so that might be 2015. Most here love their AWD, the only issue is if you mod, the springs are not for the AWD models yet.

I've driven the 6/8 speed many times, both are strong, reliable, smooth. The 8 does offer a slight MPG increase but it does make shifting more complicated with the 2 additional gears.

Good luck.

 

I love my GS... 6 speed AT and all... and I don't think there will be considerable improvements to the 2014 model, which probably won't be introduced until Sept/Oct. (That's only conjecture. I could be wrong.) The one car you might want to wait for is the new IS, just so you make sure you've tried all the options. It will have all the latest technology, and if the GS is any indication it should be quite the driver's car.

 

Whoa, Mike, is there more you'd like to share about the GS F????

 

If back seat space is an issue, the IS will NOT be what you want.

 

GS with the AWD is amazing. Add proper winter tires & the GS is a fast moving tank, on snow & ice. It's still winter up north, & temps do go well below 0 degrees!! When it snows here, we can get to as much as a foot of snow within hours (normal) & if it is not plowed it can sit for months, while being compacted or may even ice up if it can melt a little. With winter conditions like that, i'm one of the few people who can still drive posted speed limit & cut in & out of traffic. the 70/30 rear/front biased is so well balanced that you don't even need snow mode. If we didn't have winters like that, i would just opt for a RWD, with all-season rubber.

 

wonder if the GS350 next year will get the 8 speed transmission like the IS350 is getting

 

Thanks for the responses!!! I think the IS series has too small a back seat and would be similar functionally similar to my M3. I guess the best of all worlds would be a f sport 450h AWD or a GS-F AWD. I definitely need the car to be AWD and am looking for a mid sized sedan. I know they'll go to an eight speed and am wondering if I should at least wait till I can order a 2014. Decisions, decisions.

 

It's very possible but I'm thinking more mid cycle refresh.
If the 8 speed improves MPGs which it should,it may be in earlier due to CAFE requirements.

 

The new IS back seat has a lot more room than the previous model... plus the seats now fold down 60/40.