Guys,

After a 6 year stint with SC's I decided to get a GS400. While looking for one I ended up getting a good deal on an LS ( which I had originally planned to sell for a friend, but I ended up buying it from him).

It is a 99 LS400 and I was planning on getting a 99GS400.

My question is this. I am literally amazed at the ride quality in the LS. It is everything I had imagined and more - a true pleasure to drive. Is the GS400 going to be the same, or did they sacrifice some ride quality for sportiness?

I am not asking for general differences in engine/body etc- I am talking purely ride quality and luxury appeal.

Thx,
Jonny

 

I have both the LS and GS... although my GS is a very stiff ride now due to coilovers and all sorts of braces and sways, the LS definitely has a cushier ride.

I never got comments about 'how smooth' the GS was when stock and almost everyone that rides in the LS (at least before my new aftermarket springs and shocks were added).

LS ride is world class, GS ride is 'just' very nice.

 

The GS4's ride quality will not be the same as the LS4's. Yes, it is partly due to sacrificing sportiness for luxury, and also due to the fact that the LS was built to be the flagship of Lexus...it was made for comfort and luxury (as suggested by it's earliest 1st gen commercial with the wine glasses on the hood of the car).

 

Dave/Brian,

Thank you guys! Guess I should enjoy this comfort while I still have it

Jonny

 

Excellent decision Jonny, the LS4 is my favorite out of them all. I guess it's because I have one lol.

--Jeff

 

While both are nice riding, there is a smoothness that the LS has that I noticed when I test drove several GS's then the LS. The whole combination the LS has is super comfortable.

Any of you think the seats are cushioned/sprung a bit different?

 

Not in the first gen...the seats don't even compare to 2nd through present gen LS's.

 

yeah, personally i dont like the LS first gen seats, if you drive for a long long time my butt starts to hurt, maybe its just me.

 

A big difference is in tires too. the LS has very fat sidewall 16" tires. The GS 400 is mostly equipped with low profile 45 series tires, which gives much more feedback.


And honestly, the LS suspension is just world class, every magazine is just amazed how supple it is. There is not much sport or feedback. The GS gives you much more, they drive very different as Dave has pointed out.

Finally the steering, some complain the stock GS steering feels lose for a sports sedan. The LS steering is much lighter.

 

The LS suspension soaks up road variations without a twitch. The first year I had it, we took a drive up California's HWY 395. As a photographer, I wasn't about to hoof it up the road to Bodie so I took it up that path and for as rough as that dirt road was, the ride was quite nice. I still have mine off-road when I do vineyard shoots but with the 18's, it is a different ride.

Agreed, the fat 225/60-16 is part of that great ride. At the current ride height with stock wheels, I could barely notice it was lowered. The 18's and shorter sidewall, changed that.

The seats, great. I've driven this for 7-8 hour pulls and while I do get tired and my backside may get a bit numb it is far better than many cars I have driven for lesser times.