Freds430

I have a 2013 ES300h and a 2015 RX450h. My ES, I am thinking about trading in. I was looking at another ES but today discovered the GS comes in the 200t version. For those owners, I need your help. Do you like it? Do you wish afterwards you got the 350? What kind of gas mileage are you getting? What did you pay? Thanks so much in advance for any info!!!

bb700092

I own a 2016 GS 200T with the Premium Package. I love it. According to the trip computer, I am averaging 31.5 mpg over the last 7500 miles (50% hwy, 50% city). I drive 75% of the time in Eco mode and the rest in Sport; almost never use the Normal. Coming from a 290 hp Maxima, I feel the GS 200T has enough power and torque for everyday driving, especially if you drive in Sport mode. The ride is quiet and luxurious. It has a good blend of smoothness (going over bumps, potholes, etc.) and sportiness (does not drive like a boat, unlike the ES and RX). The interior quality is much better than the ES.

I never had buyer's remorse after buying my 200T. I had test driven the GS 350 before deciding to buy the 200T and I do not find any difference in everyday driving. If I could change one thing about the 200T, I would reduce its weight by about 200 lbs (currently it is ~3800 lbs) for more nimble handling. The first thing to do in that direction is to get rid of the moonroof (which adds anywhere between 50 and 100 lbs) at least in the base model. Eliminating the moonrof will not only save weight but will also make the body stiffer, safer (in case the car overturns), increase interior volume and reduce the cost of the car.

Also see this thread: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...00t-on-cl.html

AJLex19

Not sure if it will matter for you, but the GS 200t only comes in rear-wheel drive. The ES you own is FWD and the RX is most likely AWD or FWD.

jpg4867

I bought a GS200t this spring for a round 43K or so (with Nav and bigger wheels). No regrets about my purchase. Do I wish it had a little more power? sure. But it wasn't worth the extra 5K or so for the 350. It still blows away my previous cars in terms of performance (Grand Cherokee, Civic, CRV) and not to mention comfort.

My MPG is a little disappointing as I average 22-23 MPG due to a lot of stop and go traffic. When I went on a long car trip a couple months back on mainly open highways I was averaging almost 30 MPG going mostly 80.

tonyxcom

I spent a few days in a IS 200T loaner car. It could barely walk a Tacoma on the freeway.

The gearing is crap over 80mph.

PAPI007

I had a GS350 before I traded it on an RC350, for the weight of the car, I would think the GS200t would be a real slug! Go for the GS350 if looking to upgrade.

sueszo

I have a GS200t and really like it. I feel that it has enough power for me but at times I still feel a very slight turbo lag that can be a little annoying. The dash is well laid out and I find it easy to read. It handles nice. The car for $50,000 should have leather seats. The suggested fuel is premium so that costs extra at every fill up. I've gotten some nice compliments on the car and people seem to like the aggressive front end. Good luck and keep us updated!

Freds430

Thanks for everyone's help. Going Friday to look and test drive.

vuong05

Yeah, best bet is to test drive both and see if it is adequate for yourself.

peteharvey

Both IS200t & GS200t idle impeccably well, with a lot of sound insulation too.
The GS200t is not so nice at low rpm pottering around town.
At low rpm and small throttle openings, it is laggy, bit weak [both because the turbo is NOT on spool], and has a throbby engine note.
That said, the GS200t has more firewall insulation than the IS200t.
However, open the throttle wide, and the turbo response is quite immediate, with bags of torque and power, and it's pretty smooth and refined for a four cylinder, with plenty of sound insulation.

The GS350 idles poorly - it has both more vibrations, and audibly loud.
However, at small throttle openings and low rpms around town, the 3.5 V6 is instantly responsive, powerful, silky smooth, and reasonably quiet.
However, at wide throttle openings and high rpm, I find the 3.5 becomes powerful only high up the rpm range, and not quite as meaty as a turbo, and the 3.5 is a bit harsh compared to many previous 3.0 V6's I have owned.
To make matters more complicated, at wide throttle openings and high rpm, the GS350 can be smooth or rough - I figured out that it depends on the 8 speed auto tranny's ability to kick down.
From standing starts, with wide throttle, it tends to be smoother.
Meanwhile the 8 speed auto tends to be reluctant to kick down, unideally chooses a higher gear, hence not much kick down power, and rather rough to rev.
Another thing, despite the V6's loud idle, the loudness is only average at full throttle, and the GS cruises very quietly at 40 or 60 mph.
At hi rpm's, I prefer the 4 cylinder turbo more.

Overall? Me? I prefer the 3.5 V6 more, because at small throttle openings around town, it is so much smoother. I just have to live with the at times rough yet constantly loud idle; the service depo says they've tested and nothing wrong with the engine. I don't do wide throttle much these days, so I don't have to worry about hi rpm smoothness.
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