RE: Lexus GS F: UK Review
Discussion
A dark colour or even bi colour interior on this and it really is a handsome beast from the outside, maybe loose the boot spoiler too. The pictures do the dash and centre console more justice too.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
If I were in the market for such a thing, even being a huge BMW man, I'd take the New Alfa quadrafoglio - different. Probably less reliable (but who cares, it's not likely to be a daily, and Italian coffee and biscuits at the dealers would be a happy comprimise once in a while). Different, risiduals will be better and I'd imagine a whole lot less abundant.
ITP said:
Cheap interior? Have you just been transported from a 1975 Toyota to the present day?
You have clearly never been in a modern Lexus as the interior quality is several notches above any of the rival offerings.
No I haven't, but if its the same car as in these two photos then i'm not really interested in changing that anytime soon, maybe they are just bad photos at bad angles, but if you told me they were from a £70k car I'd laugh.You have clearly never been in a modern Lexus as the interior quality is several notches above any of the rival offerings.
And i'm not some German car fanboy either, My E92 M3 still had an amber heating display from a 1992 Maplins brochure which was laughable
Edited by ISO51200 on Wednesday 3rd August 10:07
ISO51200 said:
Looks quite nice from the outside, but yet again a cheap interior lets it down
I refuse to believe the equivalent M5/E63 is that much better on the grand scale of things. I really don't get the obsession over interior quality.Why is German the be-all-and-end-all these days?
Edited by culpz on Wednesday 3rd August 10:07
unpc said:
ITP said:
Cheap interior? Have you just been transported from a 1975 Toyota to the present day?
You have clearly never been in a modern Lexus as the interior quality is several notches above any of the rival offerings.
Quite, this interior will still be serviceable long after the German competition are in the breaker's yard. You have clearly never been in a modern Lexus as the interior quality is several notches above any of the rival offerings.
Dan Trent said:
Toilet Duck said:
Dan, as you've driven all the cars in this sector (GS F/M5/AMG), what would you personally choose out the three and why?
Well, I have to confess a long-held enthusiasm for AMG product, hence the reference to the old 6.3 E63 in the copy. And I guess we're kind of between E-Class AMGs at the moment so there's not one to consider as an alternative. Based on this experience with the GS F I'd certainly have it over an M5 and I really enjoyed the revvy V8 thing and the simplicity of the properly honed chassis, the details like the brake pedal and steering feel and overall sense it's a car built by engineers who get what keen drivers want. I rather fear the Germans have got a little obsessed with horsepower and gizmos and lost sight of the more subtle feelgood factors you need to have in a car like this to make it worth the investment. All relative but it's also pretty solid value given that £69,995 price is all-in; that 30 Jahre M5 we tested was optioned to £113K and even with both (both!) extras boxed ticked the GS F is still cheaper than an M5's base price before options.
Before driving it I'd have probably discounted the Lexus. With some miles in it I'd very much consider it a contender of equal worth and with way more character and depth than I'd have ever credited in my previously German-centric outlook on this sector.
A very pleasant surprise, in other words.
Cheers,
Dan
Few mentions of the Alfa Guilia QV - if we're talking Italian i'd much rather have a Maserati Ghibli S. Not that the QV is bad but in terms of image and feelgood the Maser wins hands down and performance wise there's probably not a huge difference. Also constant mention of the M5; if I was going to get a BMW it would be the M6 Gran Coupe- at least that looks like its worth £100K rather than a 520d M Sport. In this price range and segment the cars should have character, exclusivity as well as performance and I feel the GSF has that x factor along with those mentioned above. The E63 has character but again looks too similar to more ordinary E classes while the RS6/7 looks great and special but I don't have much feeling for the turbo
You can tell the German car fans are rattled here. When faced with the revelation that they're beaten on driving pleasure and dynamics, they produce their so-called trump card, interior quality. What a shame that Lexus have that licked too, their interiors are brilliant these days. Miles away from any memory of the IS200 you might have.
Miles Hardy said:
If I were in the market for such a thing, even being a huge BMW man, I'd take the New Alfa quadrafoglio - different. Probably less reliable (but who cares, it's not likely to be a daily, and Italian coffee and biscuits at the dealers would be a happy comprimise once in a while). Different, risiduals will be better and I'd imagine a whole lot less abundant.
I like the looks of Alfa, plus it sounds terrific.I also love the v8 XFR estate - best looking practical estate.
I like the fact this GSF has a large NA engine
I would really appreciate an Audi's RS6 4 wheel drive for winter and wet driving.
I like that the BMW M3 can still be had with a manual gearbox.
Alfa merged with Jaguar XFR estate bodywork, Lexus NA engine, Audi 4wd, and BMW manual gearbox - PERFECT!
Mosdef said:
You'd think so wouldn't you?!
Pace and character are not one and the same thing. at anything under licence losing speeds, the M5 didn't really excite me. The AMG was a bit better and the RS6 was somewhere in between.
That's the issue with opinions isn't it? They are often different, for me the current RS6 feels dead compared to the F10 M5 in terms of feel and excitement. Pace and character are not one and the same thing. at anything under licence losing speeds, the M5 didn't really excite me. The AMG was a bit better and the RS6 was somewhere in between.
ganser said:
Few mentions of the Alfa Guilia QV - if we're talking Italian i'd much rather have a Maserati Ghibli S. Not that the QV is bad but in terms of image and feelgood the Maser wins hands down and performance wise there's probably not a huge difference. Also constant mention of the M5; if I was going to get a BMW it would be the M6 Gran Coupe- at least that looks like its worth £100K rather than a 520d M Sport. In this price range and segment the cars should have character, exclusivity as well as performance and I feel the GSF has that x factor along with those mentioned above. The E63 has character but again looks too similar to more ordinary E classes while the RS6/7 looks great and special but I don't have much feeling for the turbo
Maserati Ghibli - No thanks. If I wanted a car that looks like a Vauxhal insignia from the rear, and has jeep parts bin slightly tacky interior, then yes. Also, it's just too big compared to the Alfa. Admittedly same size as GSF, and nice engine, front grille and badge, but can't see how anyone would take it over the stunning and over-endowed Alfa.
I drive a GS not an F but the 450h. Moved away from an M5. The car is beautifully made, fast enough, the dealer experience is unbeatable and inside it is a great place to spend time. When was the last time anybody spent much time thrashing a 50-70 grand car of their own hard? Most Uk driving today is on motorways or speed controlled roads where the quality of the air con and suspension far outweighs the engine noise and on the limit handling. Get into a Lexus, drive one for a week and the get back into your old car....be you think about a Lexus as your real world car purchase.
I really like it. Ok it has a few awkward quirks on the visuals and having previously owned a GS Lexus I wouldn't be surprised to still see some slightly typical japanese switchgear inside. It will doubtlessly depreciate pretty dramatically too, I would expect.
However, for a big brute of a car I think it's engine note / character would give it lasting appeal. I used to be an absolute BMW fanatic but their current big saloons are a few steps too far away from involvement and character, even if they are blisteringly fast.
This Lexus seems almost a Japanese take on something like the old Vauxhall VXR8. A bit left field but may be a rare gem for those who look beyond the obvious German rivals..
PS - We talk about Japan and Germany but what does good ol blighty have to compete? I'm a bit out of touch with Jaguar's big saloons but do they have something with character to take on the 'international' fight?
However, for a big brute of a car I think it's engine note / character would give it lasting appeal. I used to be an absolute BMW fanatic but their current big saloons are a few steps too far away from involvement and character, even if they are blisteringly fast.
This Lexus seems almost a Japanese take on something like the old Vauxhall VXR8. A bit left field but may be a rare gem for those who look beyond the obvious German rivals..
PS - We talk about Japan and Germany but what does good ol blighty have to compete? I'm a bit out of touch with Jaguar's big saloons but do they have something with character to take on the 'international' fight?
Edited by Fire99 on Saturday 6th August 10:54
mrfunex said:
I'm a Lexus convert through and through, but you've got to admire the refusal to admit Diesel engines into the lineup. (Excusing the arguably awful IS220d of a generation ago)
Yes, good on them for sticking with petrol and hybrids. The IS220d was a nice car ruined by a crappy engine.belleair302 said:
I drive a GS not an F but the 450h. Moved away from an M5. The car is beautifully made, fast enough, the dealer experience is unbeatable and inside it is a great place to spend time. When was the last time anybody spent much time thrashing a 50-70 grand car of their own hard? Most Uk driving today is on motorways or speed controlled roads where the quality of the air con and suspension far outweighs the engine noise and on the limit handling. Get into a Lexus, drive one for a week and the get back into your old car....be you think about a Lexus as your real world car purchase.
Yes, it does make me laugh. It almost seems like the pervading landscape is that we all live on the Nurburgring, we all work there, our kids go to school there, there are no speed cameras, and of course it goes without saying that we are all driving gods.Meanwhile, back in the real world...
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