RE: Lexus GS F: Spotted
Monday 18th December 2017
Typically these classifieds-based features focus on older cars picked from PistonHeads, but this Lexus GS F was just too tempting to ignore. Even if the has actually only been on sale for just a couple of years. Is there a story to tell?
Rarity guaranteed, at leastMost certainly. The past 12 months has seen the arrival of both the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63, the latest generation of super saloons from Germany. Fantastic achievements they are too, packing huge technology and speed into incredible luxury saloons. But there's an argument to say they're now so super they're a bit silly - power is so high that they require four-wheel drive to be usable, they're fast enough to get you to ban territory in the UK in eight seconds, and what are you actually going to do with drift mode in a five-metre long, two-tonne car?
Could have straightened the wheel...It's also now a £40,000 car, making all those arguments about it being too costly against the opposition a lot less convincing. Sure, it's new versus used, but this GS F was registered last year and still has a four-figure mileage, so it's hardly on its last legs. And just be glad you're not the one who's lost £30K on it, if indeed it's had an owner after the dealership.
Looks wheely good value; not spoken for yet...Furthermore, while it will cost a fair amount in fuel, tax and whatnot, that's true for all of the GS F's rivals. And to get into any of those for £40K, you're looking at older cars (like this E63) or those with greater mileage (like this M5). Alright, they're faster cars too, but see the earlier argument about that. Though you can have an E63 estate...
Lexus GS F: Spotted
Down to £40K already for the GS F, but how much further can it fall?
Rarity guaranteed, at least
Now the Lexus GS F, while not old fashioned, does offer a more traditional - and some might say just as appealing - sports saloon package. Torque, kerbweight and tyre size are very similar to the E39 M5, for example, and how often do you hear that still mentioned as the definitive sports saloon? Without turbos you might have to work a bit harder for the performance, but all things are relative - this remain a 170mph, 470hp car.
Could have straightened the wheel...
It's a fantastic spec, in black with red leather, albeit one of the early and therefore one without the variable damper upgrade. Still, that's hardly the end of the world - this remains a fast, interesting, very talented sports saloon that remains different to the norm. You'd like to think it would be trustworthy too, being a nearly new Lexus and all.
Of course the concern remains about depreciation - where on earth will it end up if it's £40K already? Remember though that the old IS F hasn't yet gone below £15K that we've seen after 10 years on sale, no doubt helped by its rarity. You would have to assume (or hope, depending on whether you're observer or purchaser) that the same would be true for the GS. It will continue to shed value, if not all the way down to Shed money.
Looks wheely good value; not spoken for yet...
Truth is the GS F is never going to be the logical, rational, sensible choice, even amongst that small niche of 500hp saloons. That wasn't the case new, it isn't the case now, and it's unlikely to change in the future. It's an alternative, but then who doesn't like a selection to choose from when making a decision? More than that it's good enough not just to be a different option for the sake of being different. With a generous consumables allowance and an open mind, the Lexus looks like a fine way to travel for a good few years. Don't forget - depreciation doesn't matter if you aren't going to sell it!
SPECIFICATION - LEXUS GS F
Engine: 4,969cc, V8
Transmission: 8-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 477@7,100rpm
Torque ( lb ft): 391@4,800-5,600rpm
MPG: 25.2
CO2: 260g/km
First registered: 2016
Recorded mileage: 9,000
Price new: £69,995
Yours for: £40,991
See the original advert here.
Discussion
Really good shout on this car.
Interesting the comment about the turbo charged trend.
The MX-5 has stayed N/A and it seems is perfectly adequately economical proposition, and hugely popular. Any worse than the 1.4 turbo in the 124 ABARTH? I doubt it. More reliable, almost certainly.
Really like the GSF and the ISF, AND if you are forking out that kind of money and paying the insurance and the road tax to go with it, at least you could rest assured that, excepting of fuel, you should have a fairly easy ride in terms of running costs.
I do like the LEXUS way, but as the poster said they will no doubt get left behind because they don't follow fashion, such a a shame.
Interesting the comment about the turbo charged trend.
The MX-5 has stayed N/A and it seems is perfectly adequately economical proposition, and hugely popular. Any worse than the 1.4 turbo in the 124 ABARTH? I doubt it. More reliable, almost certainly.
Really like the GSF and the ISF, AND if you are forking out that kind of money and paying the insurance and the road tax to go with it, at least you could rest assured that, excepting of fuel, you should have a fairly easy ride in terms of running costs.
I do like the LEXUS way, but as the poster said they will no doubt get left behind because they don't follow fashion, such a a shame.
Frimley111R said:
Tuvra said:
sidesauce said:
As depreciation goes, that will take some beating. £30k in 12 months? Ouch!
Absolutely mental 
I don't think it's that different than you'd expect on an M5 or AMG E-class? just 4 weeks into ownership of a very similar car - 44k sept 2016, 6 k mileage
and it's great-
bought it for all the reasons mentioned NA, noise, having a chance to hear the engine before hearing the sirens etc....
like it - a lot is my summary
mine also has the conventional dampers but they work well, perhaps more body roll as I would normally like to but well controllable and very well put together, it has got torque vectoring diff and umpteen drive modes, too so still enough buttons to press
It really needs revving and the sound is glorious (even compared with my previous C63)
Did I mention the sound?
and it's great-
bought it for all the reasons mentioned NA, noise, having a chance to hear the engine before hearing the sirens etc....
like it - a lot is my summary
mine also has the conventional dampers but they work well, perhaps more body roll as I would normally like to but well controllable and very well put together, it has got torque vectoring diff and umpteen drive modes, too so still enough buttons to press
It really needs revving and the sound is glorious (even compared with my previous C63)
Did I mention the sound?
Want a 4 door V8 that you can spank on a daily basis and know that it'll do it day after day after day? That'll be the GS-F.
Warranty wise, I doubt you'll need to use it, but Lexus will sell you TWO years for about £900. How much would BMW / Mercedes / Audi etc charge for that?
Finally, as a road car, it's going to be difficult to use 470BHP (on the road). Why are the Germans back into a power war - makes no sense.
Warranty wise, I doubt you'll need to use it, but Lexus will sell you TWO years for about £900. How much would BMW / Mercedes / Audi etc charge for that?
Finally, as a road car, it's going to be difficult to use 470BHP (on the road). Why are the Germans back into a power war - makes no sense.
The GS F might not be able to quite compete in Top Trumps world with offerings from BMW/Merc/Audi, but as a used car ownership experience, as it gets older, it will beat them all hands down. This model has only sold 50 or so last time I looked so it will be rare as a 3 -5 year old. The IS F didn't sell in vast quantities new and only now as it gets older its quality and reliability is being recognised by a knowledgeable few and this is buoying the prices up. I think (hope) the same will be true of the GS F as I bought one at eight months old and less than 300 miles for a bit more than this one, mainly because it was a good deal and I didn't think I would have much of a choice of 3 year olds when the time came.
It might not go round the Nurburgring quite as fast as a M5/E63/RS6 but it will still be doing it when those cars are in the workshop being fixed and being NA it is much easier to drive day to day than a turbo'd car. Also it's probably the last of the NA V8 breed as emissions concerns are driving everyone down the turbo V6 route.
At £40K its a steal for what it is.
It might not go round the Nurburgring quite as fast as a M5/E63/RS6 but it will still be doing it when those cars are in the workshop being fixed and being NA it is much easier to drive day to day than a turbo'd car. Also it's probably the last of the NA V8 breed as emissions concerns are driving everyone down the turbo V6 route.
At £40K its a steal for what it is.
I would chop my left nut off for one. Especially one of the early orange ones. I had an original is200 and at a similar age to my dads 330 it just felt 'tighter'. If I had the money I'd have one in a heartbeat, but for now I'm just waiting for the Stinger to drop below 20k. As others have said, its made for the PH lot, it's the sort of car they all beg for, but then coo at the German higher power offering. I've never really driven anything much more powerful than my dad's 330 for any length of time, but have had a go on an E46 M3 and an RS3 and beyond the childish grin factor the first couple of times you put your foot time, to retain your license you have to been restraining yourself all the time. If it wasn't for all the electronic nannies none of these high power stuff would be at all manageable on the road. I remember the likes of the Lotus Carton coming out and all the stories if them biting back, so what a 600hp saloon would be like I dont know. It's all just a willy waving exercise. I bet the vast majority of M5esque cars will will never see a track or even get thrashed more than the odd blast down a slip road, so all the ring stuff is just nonsense. And even saying all that, I really don't think the UK, or even Europe, is its target market. The yanks do seem to love big Lexi, so I'd imagine they'd be lapping it up. As for fuel economy and tax costs, if I was in the market for this sort if car, then those costs should be irrelevant, anyone who says otherwise just can't afford to run them. It wasn't that long ago (including my afformentioned IS200) that normal saloons were lucky to get high 20s Mpg, so one of these doing similar is a bloody miracle. But in the days of 335ds being the performance and economy bench mark we've all forgotten how things used to be.
TeaVR said:
Want a 4 door V8 that you can spank on a daily basis and know that it'll do it day after day after day? That'll be the GS-F.
Warranty wise, I doubt you'll need to use it, but Lexus will sell you TWO years for about £900. How much would BMW / Mercedes / Audi etc charge for that?
Finally, as a road car, it's going to be difficult to use 470BHP (on the road). Why are the Germans back into a power war - makes no sense.
Warranty was 900 for three axtra years as you saidWarranty wise, I doubt you'll need to use it, but Lexus will sell you TWO years for about £900. How much would BMW / Mercedes / Audi etc charge for that?
Finally, as a road car, it's going to be difficult to use 470BHP (on the road). Why are the Germans back into a power war - makes no sense.
gazzarose said:
I would chop my left nut off for one. Especially one of the early orange ones. I had an original is200 and at a similar age to my dads 330 it just felt 'tighter'. If I had the money I'd have one in a heartbeat, but for now I'm just waiting for the Stinger to drop below 20k. As others have said, its made for the PH lot, it's the sort of car they all beg for, but then coo at the German higher power offering. I've never really driven anything much more powerful than my dad's 330 for any length of time, but have had a go on an E46 M3 and an RS3 and beyond the childish grin factor the first couple of times you put your foot time, to retain your license you have to been restraining yourself all the time. If it wasn't for all the electronic nannies none of these high power stuff would be at all manageable on the road. I remember the likes of the Lotus Carton coming out and all the stories if them biting back, so what a 600hp saloon would be like I dont know. It's all just a willy waving exercise. I bet the vast majority of M5esque cars will will never see a track or even get thrashed more than the odd blast down a slip road, so all the ring stuff is just nonsense. And even saying all that, I really don't think the UK, or even Europe, is its target market. The yanks do seem to love big Lexi, so I'd imagine they'd be lapping it up. As for fuel economy and tax costs, if I was in the market for this sort if car, then those costs should be irrelevant, anyone who says otherwise just can't afford to run them. It wasn't that long ago (including my afformentioned IS200) that normal saloons were lucky to get high 20s Mpg, so one of these doing similar is a bloody miracle. But in the days of 335ds being the performance and economy bench mark we've all forgotten how things used to be.
Did I say mine is sprectraflair orange?? Sorry!Vocht said:
And this ladies and gentlemen, is why everyone is going turbo. Evolve or get left behind like lexus.
It's a shame because this is a good engine but you do have to work it in the same way you had to work the E90 M3 but it's a cracking engine & actually suits the LC500, but Lexus are going to follow the rest with the introduction of a new 4.0TT V8.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff