nquinn

Hi guys!

I'm looking around to buy a used IS350 or GS350, and am debating which generation to go with.

For the IS350, the older models use the well proven 2GR-FSE, which has been around since 2005 in the GS!

I see that the GS350 has had the newer 2GR-FKS since 2015 now, with the IS350 getting it in 2018. After 3 years, how is this newer engine holding up? From what I understand the short block is pretty much the same, but the heads are different.

Worth going for the newer tech now that it's 3 years in? Or stick with the older FSE for reliability?

Anyone seeing any better gas mileage on the newer models? One gripe is that I do mostly city driving, so these larger 6cyl engines look to get only 17-18mpg.

drgrant

This car is not a "city car for people who want to skinflint on gas" so whether you have an FSE or an FKS you're going to be a hurt puppy if you expect good in-town mileage, it ain't happening. If you lumber around between stoplights all day you'll be lucky if you even hit 18 mpg. On average the FKS will probably be slightly better MPG if you nurse it because of the tweaks with atkinson cycle and a slightly different design to improve efficiency.

That said you have to ask yourself if it actually matters- Look at things like your annual fuel cost and how many miles you actually clock, etc. If you're not doing a ton of miles every year its easy to write it off as noise. I do 25-35K a year (at last estimate) between two cars so the difference appears in numbers that actually are sizable. Thankfully I can justify it by getting other people to pay for my gas via my business a lot of the time.

Also if you're 90% city even the better cars are going to suffer huge fuel econ hits. Like if I had a 17 350 ES, I probably would be popping 28+ mpg with that thing on the reg with my driving patterns, but if I was 90% city the mileage difference between that car and my GS would become a lot narrower.

Either motor is pretty quality, though. The FSE has been around forever on the Lexus side on the GS and the FKS is used in tons of lexus and toyota vehicles. New ES, IS, GS, RX350, Toyota Tacoma, probably some others. (probably in the new Camry, too. ).

If I was in your shoes and I wasn't putting tons of miles on every year, I would just get the car, treat it well, and shut off the mpg meter and forget its there and just enjoy the car.... This car is about smiles per gallon not miles per gallon.

-Mike

Cwang

nquinn the bigger difference between the two cars are the transmissions hanging out the back of the engine. I much prefer the 6 speed mated to the FSE, no doubt others with the FKS prefer the 8 speed. The 8 speed will give better consumption figures.

JDR76

The 2GR-FKS has been used on various Toyota and Lexus products since the 2016 model year. So between the GS350, IS350, RX, Highlander, Sienna, Camry, and Avalon, there are likely hundreds of thousands of these engines out there in service now, and I have yet to read of any major issues.

I went from the FSE to the FKS, but both with the 6 speed. I have driven both the FSE and the FKS with the 8 speed. I have a slight preference for the 6 speed but would be fine with either transmission.

jtrue28

AWD uses 6 speed.

JDR76

Yup. It's a good transmission.

UDel

Newer engine/8 speed is noticeably slower then the pre 2016 6 speed/engine, even tests show the 2016+ GS350 to be a good deal slower to 60 then the 2013-2015. I don't think there is a big difference in fuel economy.

Boomin

I think it burbles more-now, I have joez axle back and the characteristics sound great.

drgrant

Even on a 0-60 manual mode run?

-Mike

Cwang

My brother test drove the RC 8 speed with the intent of buying, it was so poor it put him off the brand altogether. It all depends on what we're used to I suppose

ItzFilyO

The FSE on the RC is too underpowered and the RC is too heavy for it, FKS pulls better. U have to manually shift the 8 speed to wake it up and know how it behaves first, the automatic (D) mode is kinda slow.

UDel

Probably, all the mag tests pretty much show 2016+ being around half a second to a little less then half a second slower 0-60 then pre 2016's. I noticed during a test drive of a 2016 it just felt lethargic and way off what I was expecting or what the previous gen GS350 felt like but when I started test driving pre 2016's they felt quicker and much closer to my GS430/3rd Gen GS350, I was relieved my 2014 felt pretty quick on the test drive and not lethargic like the 2016 I test drove, I honestly thought I was driving a 4 cyl version or in some kind of really aggressive economy mode when I test drove a 2016 Lux, I immediately did not want a new GS after it though I liked the rear seat controls, handling, and the new features.

JDR76

After having had both engines, I prefer the FKS. The FSE was great, but I have found the FKS to be much quieter and smoother. I also get slightly better gas mileage in it. I have not experienced any less power or performance in my FKS over the FSE. This is when comparing my 15 GS350 AWD (6 speed) to my 2019 GS350 AWD (6 speed). The magazine tests do seem to show a slowdown on the RWD cars once they switched to the 8 speed (2014), but the data is fairly minimal. Not a lot of GS tests out there in the various configurations.