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It depends what you want out of the car.
If you want the sportier suspension and ride dynamics get the f-sport.
If you want the smoother ride get the non-fsport, preferably one with the luxury package.
If you want the quietest, smoothest ride, get the 450h, preferably one with the luxury package.
450h f-sport is a unicorn, good luck finding one.
2013-2015 fsport rides stiffer than 2016+, some will say it's the more engaging/connected f-sport. I would test drive these cars and see the difference for yourself. Obviously 2016+ has the updated tech and safety systems.
I made my 450h into an f-sport by changing the bumper to f-sport, and some other nice touches:
Please I need help, What year Lexus GS should I get
What year Lexus GS should I get, I am caught between the 15,16 and 17. I really need you guys help,
should I get an Fsport or not? ,
what package?
25 - 30k budget
Last edited by jaymula64; May 11, 2020 at 11:10 AM.
Just went through this a few months ago but things may have changed to your benefit in the past couple of months. At 25K you can find a 2016+ GS350 but it may have accident damage. I looked at a bunch but I am too picky and couldn't live with some of the repairs I saw. Most are still in the higher 20's for a 2016+ but a 2015 is comfortably in that price range. I personally prefer the non F-sport models since they fit better into my idea of what Lexus luxury is.
Oddly enough the main thing I don't like about the 2013-2015 models is the Christmas tree front LED array. Nearly every car from the 2010-2015ish era had these and they just drive me nuts. I am very glad manufacturers switched to the higher resolultion LED arrays.
I wanted the facelifted model but didn't want to spend more than 20k nor did I want to finance so I went with a GS200t. They are an amazing value and the engines are truly great for a 4 cylinder. Coming from a 575hp V8 engine, I don't have any issue driving it to work (and still having a bit of fun) and the engines actually make more torque than the V6 (and significantly more in the most used lower rpm range) when a simple tuning box is installed.
Get what you want and can afford, I don't like the 2016 change/"update" but if you like it then that is a option. Do you want a F Sport/sportier drive? They all have the same basic good reliability/features. If you get a RWD F Sport you won't be able to rotate tires because it is a staggard setup so it will cost you more in tires in the long run, they also have expensive Brembo brakes compared to the standard, AWD has a non staggard setup. Because of engine/transmission tuning 2016+ are slower then pre 2016's, it is noticeable.
Get what you want and can afford, I don't like the 2016 change/"update" but if you like it then that is a option. Do you want a F Sport/sportier drive? They all have the same basic good reliability/features. If you get a RWD F Sport you won't be able to rotate tires because it is a staggard setup so it will cost you more in tires in the long run, they also have expensive Brembo brakes compared to the standard, AWD has a non staggard setup. Because of engine/transmission tuning 2016+ are slower then pre 2016's, it is noticeable.
I'm not arguing with you as I've read this a countless number of times, however, my experience is quite the opposite. We have both a 2015 GS 350 F-Sport and a 2018 GS 350 F-Sport. Both are RWD and both have the 8-speed. The '15 obviously has the FSE motor and the '18 has the new FKS motor. Both I and the driver of the '15 feel as though the '18 is noticeably faster and peppier than our '15. It was the first thing the driver of our '15 GS commented on while driving my '18.
I daily drove the '15 when it was new and now daily drive the '18. That said, the transmission tuning is not the best in either. Both are tuned far too conservatively, even in Sport S+ mode. Noticeable improvements could be found in this area for sure.
I'm not arguing with you as I've read this a countless number of times, however, my experience is quite the opposite. We have both a 2015 GS 350 F-Sport and a 2018 GS 350 F-Sport. Both are RWD and both have the 8-speed. The '15 obviously has the FSE motor and the '18 has the new FKS motor. Both I and the driver of the '15 feel as though the '18 is noticeably faster and peppier than our '15. It was the first thing the driver of our '15 GS commented on while driving my '18.
I daily drove the '15 when it was new and now daily drive the '18. That said, the transmission tuning is not the best in either. Both are tuned far too conservatively, even in Sport S+ mode. Noticeable improvements could be found in this area for sure.
My experience, having owned a '15 and now a '19 basically echoes yours. Both of mine have had the 6 speed, and I don't feel any loss of performance on the '19, and if anything, it feels a bit better. I think the difference in feel really came back in '14 when they went from the 8 speed to the 6 speed in the RWD models.
My experience, having owned a '15 and now a '19 basically echoes yours. Both of mine have had the 6 speed, and I don't feel any loss of performance on the '19, and if anything, it feels a bit better. I think the difference in feel really came back in '14 when they went from the 8 speed to the 6 speed in the RWD models.
Deciding which GS to buy?? HELLPPPPPPP
