RE: Shed of the Week: Lexus GS300

[WJNB]

Pipe-&-slippers indeed, nothing wrong with that. This is what 1970's on Rovers should have been like instead all we got is the plastic wood & embarrassing quality & reliability.
Lexus remains the most discreet premium brand, the thinking persons choice, all a million miles from the yoof yob image of BMW, crassness of Mercedes & arrogance of Audi.
The brand doesn't shout "Look at me I'm clever & rich".
Always gets top ratings when it comes to dealer serve & reliability & build quality.

[counterofbeans]

WJNB said:

Pipe-&-slippers indeed, nothing wrong with that. This is what 1970's on Rovers should have been like instead all we got is the plastic wood & embarrassing quality & reliability.
Lexus remains the most discreet premium brand, the thinking persons choice, all a million miles from the yoof yob image of BMW, crassness of Mercedes & arrogance of Audi.
The brand doesn't shout "Look at me I'm clever & rich".
Always gets top ratings when it comes to dealer serve & reliability & build quality.

This is all true - but very often, they're not very nice to drive. Mine isn't and nor was the wife's (she's changed it now).

[anonymous-user]

counterofbeans said:

WJNB said:

Pipe-&-slippers indeed, nothing wrong with that. This is what 1970's on Rovers should have been like instead all we got is the plastic wood & embarrassing quality & reliability.
Lexus remains the most discreet premium brand, the thinking persons choice, all a million miles from the yoof yob image of BMW, crassness of Mercedes & arrogance of Audi.
The brand doesn't shout "Look at me I'm clever & rich".
Always gets top ratings when it comes to dealer serve & reliability & build quality.

This is all true - but very often, they're not very nice to drive. Mine isn't and nor was the wife's (she's changed it now).

Seems there is quite a bit of reverse badge snobbery going on with this thread. While it's cheap and probably very reliable it's also pretty awful. Not one for me!

[Hoofy]

counterofbeans said:

This is all true - but very often, they're not very nice to drive. Mine isn't and nor was the wife's (she's changed it now).

That's a shame. How come? Too wafty or not wafty enough?

[counterofbeans]

Hoofy said:

That's a shame. How come? Too wafty or not wafty enough?

Mine - too heavy, no torque, witless auto box. It's like driving everywhere with the handbrake on.

[Jex]

The GS always seemed to me to be lacking something by comparison with the cars above and below it - I had reason to experience all three in the 90s. It was noticeably less refined than the LS above it and the Toyota Camry (a seriously underrated car in my opinion, marketed as a Lexus in the US), also seemed a better place to be. Nevertheless, at shed money it seems good value.

[st4]

counterofbeans said:

This is all true - but very often, they're not very nice to drive. Mine isn't and nor was the wife's (she's changed it now).

I don't agree.

My GS (MK4) is far more of a drivers car than my old E class and indeed C class yet offers a ride as good as a W221 S class. It steers better, doesn't roll as much, changes direction better and yet rides like a magic carpet. Refinement is naturally off the chart and yet, when driving sporty, the roar from the petrol V6 utterly intoxicating and the actual drive much more direct and enthusiastic than any Mercedes.

The gearbox is good and in manual mode even blips the throttle to rev match - no Mercedes, BMW or Audi does this and it makes for a great car to drive in a more progressive way. In my view no mainstream saloon in the segment comes close - except the 5 series. An A6 and E class are much more ponderous.

Cannot comment on the hybrids but suspect the actual handling/ride will be there but the drivetrain will be an acquired choice.

[marshall100]

An Alan Partridge car for modern Brexit Britain? Monkey Tennis anyone?

[seiben]

I've always rather liked these - an uncle of mine racked up just over 300,000 miles in his before deciding the inevitable suspension refresh required was the final nail in the coffin. IIRC it was 'Navigator' model - I helped him sell it via eBay, we still got 800-and-something quid for it as spares and repairs with no MOT. If ever I need a cheap, comfy barge this'll be my first port of call.

[AC43]

My boss got one a Mk 1 version of these as an upgrade on a trip to San Fancisco in 1994. At the end of course he left to go back home and I got to keep in on for a week's holiday. It was of course streets ahead of the usual bread an butter hire cars (and do it should have been at the price) and I really enjoyed tooling around in it up and down the hills to the south of the city. I've always been a sucker for a 6 pot and it was nice to be able to play tunes on one that was attached to something resembling a decent chassis. The slusher was a bit dim-witted and steering low geared but with enough timing, effort and practice I could unstick the back (just). I also remember it being crammed with toys. And also that the leather in the interior looked it like those cheap grey shoes that we popular at the time.

It's a shame that the Mk2 went a bit blobby styling-wise and I'm not sure I could like with those seats (!) but all in all not a bad place in which to waft about for absolute peanuts.

[Usget]

Probably quite a good shed but I have precisely zero want for it.

[st4]

marshall100 said:

An Alan Partridge car for modern Brexit Britain? Monkey Tennis anyone?

If Brexit means a few more Lexus and maybe Hyundia bringing us their Genesis make (google it) and means a few less BMWs, VAG cars and Mercedes on our roads - bring no deal on tomorrow

[BFleming]

Is anyone else amazed that in 1997 there was an interior as dire as this in a 'luxury' car? No wonder the thinking man bought a W210 or E39.

[Hoofy]

counterofbeans said:

Hoofy said:

That's a shame. How come? Too wafty or not wafty enough?

Mine - too heavy, no torque, witless auto box. It's like driving everywhere with the handbrake on.

Ah, you do have the hard top convertible if I have my facts right. That's going to make it really heavy.

Can't comment on the autobox.

I don't think people are buying the car you have for its sporting ability, though. I'm sure it's nice in summer.

[SidewaysSi]

Fabulous cars for shed money. I have often thought about picking one up for smoking around in. Probably should do very soon. Never owned a Lexus - they seem the new 124.

[Baldchap]

Hoofy said:

counterofbeans said:

Hoofy said:

That's a shame. How come? Too wafty or not wafty enough?

Mine - too heavy, no torque, witless auto box. It's like driving everywhere with the handbrake on.

Ah, you do have the hard top convertible if I have my facts right. That's going to make it really heavy.

Can't comment on the autobox.

I don't think people are buying the car you have for its sporting ability, though. I'm sure it's nice in summer.

I had an IS250 (a truly fabulous car to live with in its day) and drove the cabriolet version on a Lexus open day. The scuttle shake and lack of driving dynamics compared to the normal saloon were genuinely unacceptable. A terrible modification to an excellent car.

[MrBrown1980]

Looking at the MOT history, either the previous owner sent the car for a pre-mot every time or that is a very solid and reliable car

[st4]

BFleming said:

Is anyone else amazed that in 1997 there was an interior as dire as this in a 'luxury' car? No wonder the thinking man bought a W210 or E39.

Opinions differ but the E39 was very ahead of it's time - its interior was by far the best in its segment at the time. Compared to a contemporary A6 or W210 this is much of a likeness.

MrBrown1980 said:

Looking at the MOT history, either the previous owner sent the car for a pre-mot every time or that is a very solid and reliable car

They really are very reliable. There's nothing built as well as a Toyota/Honda or Lexus.

[mooseracer]

BFleming said:

Is anyone else amazed that in 1997 there was an interior as dire as this in a 'luxury' car? No wonder the thinking man bought a W210 or E39.

I don't dislike it at all, but then everyone's is different etc
Quite glad my drive is full as I'd be tempted by this for no reason whatsoever.

[alorotom]

WJNB said:

Lexus remains the most discreet premium brand, the thinking persons choice

...snip...

The brand doesn't shout "Look at me I'm clever & rich".

the thinking persons choice - what pretentious garbage!

and the ref's to BMW/Merc/Audi shouting - also bilge

o/t, lot of car for the cash, but not one for me either.