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Lexus GS 350

284 messages,  Last post on Sep 28, 2009 at 10:29 AM

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What is this discussion about? Lexus GS 350, Sedan


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#178 of 284
Re: What to get [asteinberg] by sasha5
Mar 15, 2008 (9:34 am)
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Replying to: asteinberg (Mar 15, 2008 7:55 am)

I had both cars and love Lexus more. The quality that goes into Lexus can not be beat.
#179 of 284
Re: What to get [asteinberg] by tntmyth
Mar 15, 2008 (7:06 pm)
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Replying to: asteinberg (Mar 15, 2008 7:55 am)

Well for me, the Infiniti G35 and Lexus GS350 happen to be two of the cars on my short list as I am also in the market for a luxury sports sedan.
 
My short list includes:
 
Infiniti G35
Lexus GS350
Cadillac CTS
BMW 5 Series
Audi A6
 
I realize that these cars are not necessarily all in the same class. But price is a factor in my decision.
 
In my area, South Florida there is an Infiniti dealer directly across the street from the Lexus dealer. So I had the chance recently to really have a close look at both the G35 and the GS350 in the same afternoon.
First let me say that they are both nice cars. I think it comes down to "how much do you want to spend?" You can get a base G35 for less than $33,000, and that includes the 306 hp engine, RWD, leather seats, push button start, alloy wheels and a decent stereo. You can load it up and get a Journey model with sunroof, upgraded stereo, navigation and 18" rims for about $37K. Very nice car and hard to beat for that price.
But if you take a close look and compare the two cars, the Lexus GS350 is simply much more car than the G35 is. And it costs about $12,000 more, as it should. I suggest to you...sit inside the Lexus, take your time to linger there and notice the attention to detail. The gorgeous wood on the console and dash, the perfect tactile feel of the buttons, the ashtray covers, the suppleness and rich smell of the leather, the perfectly comfortable seats, and just the overall richness of the vehicle. The G35 is nice, but just not up to the level of the G350. I note that the lexus GS350 is basically equal to the original GS430 with a V8 that came out in 2005. Edmunds gave the GS430 the nod in a comparison test over the Infiniti M45 and the Acura RL. See the test here. http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=104808/pageNumber=1
The new 6 cylinder in the Lexus GS350 is just as fast, maybe faster than the GS430 was and gets better gas mileage. And the GS 430 was a $60,000 car. For me, if you want the rationale for choosing the G350 over the G35, there it is. The GS350 is simply a gourgeous car and a higher class that the G35.
Again, this does not take anything away from the G35. The G35 is a super nice car for its class. It''s faster and handles better that the GS350. Its also about $12,000 less, optioned equally. If you are looking for a sports sedan with more performance and less, money, then the G35 is the right car. But if you can afford the extra $12,000, and looking for more prestige and luxury, it's worth the time to really compare and decide for yourself if you appreciate the difference between the two.
 
Another car you might consider which I think falls somewhere between the G35 and the G350 is the 2008 Cadillac CTS. You can get a CTS for between $35K and $45K. And it's a very nice car. IMHO, more luxurious than the G35 but not quite as refined as the Lexus GS350. Again the performance will be excellent, but not as good as the G35. The ride will be quieter.
You need to decide what you want out of the car you buy and which features are the most important, and in what order. Do you primarily want performance, price, prestige, nicer interior, sportiness, gas mileage? Then take a close look at your short list and make the best decision for you.
#180 of 284
Re: What to get [sasha5] by chucko3
Mar 15, 2008 (8:40 pm)
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Replying to: sasha5 (Mar 15, 2008 9:34 am)

What quality?
The front brakes make noise in cold weather.
The dashboard/lower windshield makes a tick noise in cold weather.
These issues have been carried year over year, model to model.
I wish I did some research before buying this POS.
#181 of 284
Re: What to get [asteinberg] by mlabrinos
Mar 16, 2008 (12:51 am)
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Replying to: asteinberg (Mar 15, 2008 7:55 am)

I think the G35 is more comparable to the IS350 than the GS350. I have owned two Lexus' in the past 5 years: the RX350 and GX470 (which I currently own). I must say the quality of Lexus has gone down over the last few years. I've had a number of issues with my GX. I'm shopping for a sedan right now, and I've test-driven the GS350 and the GS460, as well as other cars. I've come to the conclusion that the best car for the money right now is the Cadillac CTS. It's in the same class as the GS for the price of an IS. You can buy a fully loaded CTS for around $41-42k with the performance package and it's a much better value than anything in that price range. I figured why not support a domestic brand since they finally have a great car for a decent value.
#182 of 284
Re: What to get [tntmyth] by asteinberg
Mar 16, 2008 (8:03 am)
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Replying to: tntmyth (Mar 15, 2008 7:06 pm)

Thanks for all for the advice. I prefer sport, someone in my back seat probably wants luxury. Leather and wood don't matter that much, my kids trash things. But I don't want something tinny, that makes noise or is cheaply and incompetently assembled. Safety is important but the 3 cars below seem simillarly safe.
I can afford more, but I want value, related to how much the MSRP is discounted. Then, I need to know interst rate on purchase, vs. interest rate or money factor for lease. I can NOT yet get a fix on those numbers for Cadillac CTS, Lexus GS350, and Infiniti G35. I like all three cars. I've liked my BMW530I performance/handling but find its radio/satellite and navigation system dysfunctional; all three of these cars better in that respect. CTS dealer will install unotrusive blue tooth for $495, which actually is plus, giving me separate screen.
Overwhelming numbe of reviews favorable on all my choices, with a few people having problems with each of the three.
I don't care about price, nice interior (my kids mess it up). I want performance, user-friendly ergonomics and simplicity (example: quick to turn on defroster without looking for it repeatedly and taking my eyes off the road).
Gas mileage is a factor (tired of subsidizing Mideast oil).
All three have similar mileage, though G35 a bit better.
But CTS uses regular.
Thanks, everyone for your patience.
#183 of 284
Re: What to get [asteinberg] by tntmyth
Mar 16, 2008 (9:18 am)
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Replying to: asteinberg (Mar 16, 2008 8:03 am)

Check the gas mileage specifications on all 3 cars. According to EPA estimates, Lexus GS350 gets the best mileage of the three:
 
Lexus GS350 19 city 27 highway
Infiniti G35 17 city 24 highway
Cadillac CTS 17 city 26 highway
#184 of 284
Re: What to get [asteinberg] by caoyijian
Mar 17, 2008 (5:18 am)
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Replying to: asteinberg (Mar 16, 2008 8:03 am)

Infinitis have the worst gas mileage by far. If your choice is sporty, gas mileage number on the window sticker becomes secondary. It is highly dependent on how the car is driven.
#185 of 284
2008 Lexus GS 350 navigation system by patty17
May 21, 2008 (8:14 am)
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I want to be able to override the navigation system so the passenger can use it while the vehicle is being driven. Friends with a 2007 know how to break the code on their vehicle but it doesn't work on the 2008. Anyone know how?
#186 of 284
Re: 2008 Lexus GS 350 navigation system [patty17] by limaks
May 22, 2008 (1:40 am)
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Replying to: patty17 (May 21, 2008 8:14 am)

I'd like to ask you if it is possible to use GPS NAVIGATION from USA in EUROPE ?
 
I bought Lexus GS 350. I live in Europe. Please answer as soon as possible.
#187 of 284
Dynamic Cruise Control by tom17
May 28, 2008 (6:18 pm)
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Replying to: limaks (May 22, 2008 1:40 am)

I went looking for a GS350 with the dynamic cruise control option. My local dealer (Melbourne, FL) did not have a single Lexus (even the $120K+ LS600h) with the dynamic cruise control. Salesman said that people are not happy with it so they dont carry it. Has anyone bought a Lexus with this option? Are you happy with it? Salesman said that it is confused by cars in adjacent lanes. Is the system really that bad? I know the local BMW and Infiniti dealers have many cars with the option.
 
Thanks in advance.

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