$20K for a more powerful DD.... WWCSD?

[12,000 RPM]

I can't do 3rd gear VTEC pulls when I'm on creatine. Overloads my CNS

[12,000 RPM]

So a dealer down the street from my job has a ~12-14 SE V6.... went for a test drive today on my lunch break. I took it on a familiar loop of highway, backroads and surface streets. Took about 20 minutes.

Interior was pretty nice, though not a ton bigger than the Civic, which kind of surprised me. I was a little disappointed with it in that regard. Materials and layout were nice and the center console was nowhere near as Fisher-Price "My First Infotainment System" as the pictures looked. Visibility out was great from all angles too.

As far as how it drove.......... it was not bad. Best way to put it was "easy". For example the manual mode of the transmission was not super responsive, as expected. No worries... in "S" mode just giving it enough gas made enough haste. Found myself having to back off at highway speeds which was encouraging. On the back roads it actually held its own. Obviously doesn't have the tactility or nimbleness of the Civic, and it actually was a little choppy over bumps.... but low speed damping was solid and body roll was kept in check. Crucially it could cover ground at 5-6/10ths effort at the same pace as the Civic at like 8/10ths. Only real downer was road/wind noise were not exactly where I wanted them to be. I guess I'd have to drive it back to back with the Civic but it was still a bit loud.... louder than my wife's Rabbit from what I can remember.

I would say it's not off the list, but it's not quite at the top either. I definitely want to check out the G37 and maybe an E60 535i if I can find one. Damn shame the last GSs are so G-D ugly, those would be perfect.

[Cookie Monster]

IMO the third gen GS (06-11) is a very handsome car, and the fourth gen pre facelift (12-15) looks pretty nice as well. You can get a '10-'11 GS350 or maybe even an earlier GS430 for $20k easy.

[MrH]

Don't buy all your ricer mods and spend the money on a better car and get this:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=45342&endYear=2017&driveGroup=RWD&modelCode1=GS_MODELS&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&showcaseOwnerId=69568033&makeCode1=LEXUS&startYear=2012&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=200&showcaseListingId=0&mmt=%5BLEXUS%5B%5D%5BGS_MODELS%5B%5D%5D%5D&listingId=429963895&Log=0

[12,000 RPM]

New GS is getting within shooting range as are F30 335is.... we will see where we are next year when it's time to purchase

[Cookie Monster]

C'mon son

[12,000 RPM]

Too much jelly bean

Also



vs



New GS is worth the premium for the interior alone
There's no fixing that old interior

[Cookie Monster]

I mean, I agree the new one is vastly better but you chose the most bargain basement, boring interior for the third gen GS.



Not so bad, IMO.

[12,000 RPM]

Then you buy one

[Cookie Monster]

Then you buy one

Yeah, but I don't want an automatic snooze-mobile.

[Raza]

Don't buy all your ricer mods and spend the money on a better car and get this:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=45342&endYear=2017&driveGroup=RWD&modelCode1=GS_MODELS&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&showcaseOwnerId=69568033&makeCode1=LEXUS&startYear=2012&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=200&showcaseListingId=0&mmt=%5BLEXUS%5B%5D%5BGS_MODELS%5B%5D%5D%5D&listingId=429963895&Log=0

Fast, luxurious, comfortable, Japanese. Ticks all the boxes for him.

[Raza]

Yeah, but I don't want an automatic snooze-mobile.

My mom used to have a GS. 300, I think. First gen. I liked it a lot, but I was a small child.

[MrH]

Too much jelly bean

Also



vs



New GS is worth the premium for the interior alone
There's no fixing that old interior

Yeah, that old interior is rough.

That whole generation of Lexus interiors are bad.  I'm just reminded of my idiot coworker from back when I worked in car interiors.  We were both in the same group, fresh out of college, making under $60k a year.  She had student loans out the wazoo, two mortgages (she was trying to rent one of them, to her ex none the less ), and was only 23.  She bought a used IS250 AWD in white for like $30k, on a 72 month loan and thought she was sooooo cool

Now that whole generation of Lexus interiors just reminds me of financial suicide

[12,000 RPM]

My mom used to have a GS. 300, I think. First gen. I liked it a lot, but I was a small child.

One of my best childhood friends' first car was a ~2000 GS300. He got his money's worth out of that car. Honestly I would rather a GS4xx from that era than the one Cookie posted. Major downgrade in and out in my opinion. Plus I can put a new head unit in the old one. Middle one not so much. Dat gas mileage tho.

[r0tor]

We all know he is doing the typical smoke and mirrors and will wind up with - surprise, an Acura

[2o6]

We all know he is doing the typical smoke and mirrors and will wind up with - surprise, an Acura

I'd be ok with an Acura over a Camry

[Cookie Monster]

I'd be ok with an Acura over a Camry

Why do you really care either way?

[12,000 RPM]

Why do you really care either way?

This is the real question

I will take donations lol.

[Raza]

This is the real question

I will take donations lol.

Because we want you to be happy. And no one who owns a Camry is happy.

[12,000 RPM]

Only people unhappier than Camry drivers... are those unhappy that people drive Camrys

Like.... someone has gotta be pretty unhappy period for other people's car choices to weigh on them to any meaningful degree. There is a lot of joy from other things. Like bikes

[Raza]

Only people unhappier than Camry drivers... are those unhappy that people drive Camrys

Like.... someone has gotta be pretty unhappy period for other people's car choices to weigh on them to any meaningful degree. There is a lot of joy from other things. Like bikes

Hey man, we just want what's best for you. That doesn't make us unhappy because of your bad choices. Just......disappointed.

[Char]

Hey man, we just want what's best for you. That doesn't make us unhappy because of your bad choices. Just......disappointed.

Extremely.


(I voted N55 335i or G37)

[GoCougs]

Well, this all went about as expected.

Camcord V6 is a fine choice. With virtually 100% reliability (both here and IRL) those that have such vitriol against them not incuriously also own an "enthusiast" car that would get beat badly by such a beast, at least in a straight line.

The best choice here is of course a slightly used G37/Q40. So not only is it the last great Japanese car, it's tops in the class for driving experience + performance + reliability + value. Nothing comes close really. There is virtually unlimited supply in the $20k range with well less than 40k miles.

[2o6]

Idk man, I like my steering to have some sort of heft or feel. The Camry is lacking, and I have never understood the fuss about the G cars. (I also don't like the VQ)

[Eye of the Tiger]

I'd be ok with an Acura over a Camry

At least Acura pays some attention to the driver. Also, certainly a superior mechanical design, and IMO better asthetic design.

[MrH]

Wow. These have really depreciated.

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/5829576435.html

That's a great deal

[GoCougs]

Idk man, I like my steering to have some sort of heft or feel. The Camry is lacking, and I have never understood the fuss about the G cars. (I also don't like the VQ)

I'm not a fan of the G coupe but the G sedan is the best of poser bunch, esp. once reliability/durability is factored in.

The VQ is a gruff old lump but it fits the G37's raw character perfectly. Plus it's got lots of power, and is as reliable as a hammer.

[GoCougs]

Wow. These have really depreciated.

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/5829576435.html

That's a great deal

Says rebuilt title but still, picking that up for say $9,000 or so, it would be worth it at that point, if the repairs were done well.

[MrH]

Ah I missed that.

[12,000 RPM]

Wow. These have really depreciated.

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/5829576435.html

That's a great deal

Something is wrong. That's a 15-20k car down here. Dishonorable title?