The GS

Started by thewizard16, February 04, 2019, 09:26:03 AM

thewizard16

So it was a busy weekend between the Passat kerploding and some other issues going on, but not one to sit around and put a dangerous amount of thought into things, I immediately went out car shopping after I confirmed the Passat was DNR. It helped that I had been casually browsing off and on and had decided I wanted to go with a reliable but reasonably sporty sedan for my next purchase. A friend had just bought an Infiniti Q50 this week and I drove his, then drove a TLX, then headed to the Lexus dealership to check out a CPO GS 350 F-Sport they had in inventory. About 30 minutes later I bought it.

Here she is (apologies for the shit pictures, the weather here has been... well, shitty, lately):














Details:
-2015 Lexus GS 350
-306 horsepower
-All Wheel Drive
-F-Sport Package (aluminum trim, more garish/aggressive grille, lip spoiler, sport pedals, 16 way adjustable driver seat (I don't know how to use yet) with adjustable bolsters, Adaptive Variable Suspension with stiffer springs, upgraded stabilizer bars, larger front brakes, 19" wheels, etc.)
-Navigation, heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, "Climate concierge" (whatever the hell that is), power trunk, etc.

Overall I liked it far better than the other non-German competitors I was considering and I got a reasonably good deal on it with the CPO warranty and tire/wheel coverage included. Hopefully it's good to me, but I'm already having quite a bit of fun with it. I need to get the windows tinted but other than that I think it's a good fit.
92 Camry XLE V6(Murdered)
99 ES 300 (Sold)
2008 Volkswagen Passat(Did not survive the winter)
2015 Lexus GS350 F-Sport


Quote from: Raza  link=topic=27909.msg1787179#msg1787179 date=1349117110
You're my age.  We're getting old.  Plus, now that you're married, your life expectancy has gone way down, since you're more likely to be poisoned by your wife.

SJ_GTI

Very nice, I dig that interior.  :ohyeah:

cawimmer430

-2018 Mercedes-Benz A250 AMG Line (W177)



WIMMER FOTOGRAFIE - Professional Automotive Photography based in Munich, Germany
www.wimmerfotografie.de
www.facebook.com/wimmerfotografie

FoMoJo

Looks good.  What engine, transmission?
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." ~ Albert Einstein
"As the saying goes, when you mix science and politics, you get politics."

thewizard16

Quote from: SJ_GTI on February 04, 2019, 09:27:35 AM
Very nice, I dig that interior.  :ohyeah:
Thank you!

Quote from: cawimmer430 on February 04, 2019, 09:29:43 AM
Congrats!  :cheers:
Thank you kind sir.

Quote from: FoMoJo on February 04, 2019, 09:31:48 AM
Looks good.  What engine, transmission?
Thanks! 306hp V-6 (naturally aspirated), 6 speed automatic with manual mode/paddle shifters. The RWD version has an 8 speed auto but the AWD is a 6 speed. Even only being a 6, it seems pretty smooth even in sport mode on the shifts  :huh:.
92 Camry XLE V6(Murdered)
99 ES 300 (Sold)
2008 Volkswagen Passat(Did not survive the winter)
2015 Lexus GS350 F-Sport


Quote from: Raza  link=topic=27909.msg1787179#msg1787179 date=1349117110
You're my age.  We're getting old.  Plus, now that you're married, your life expectancy has gone way down, since you're more likely to be poisoned by your wife.

CaminoRacer

Very nice. Recent Lexus's are cool, as long as you avoid the ones that look too much like Predator.
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

Submariner

Pics aren't working.
2010 G-550  //  2019 GLS-550

FoMoJo

"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." ~ Albert Einstein
"As the saying goes, when you mix science and politics, you get politics."

BimmerM3

They're on Google photos, which doesn't always play well with direct linking. Usually best to re-upload to Imgur or something.

Xer0

Very nice!  Wheel and tire coverage in Chicago is a must  :lol:

12,000 RPM

Not a bad purchase at all... congrats!

These are solid buys and have always been on my radar, but I've concluded the premium for premium fuel isn't worth it on my commute... and that infotainment interface.... does it get better with more use? I'd love to eventually replace wifey's car with an RX but that touch pad seems like a deal breaker.
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

thewizard16

Quote from: CaminoRacer on February 04, 2019, 10:13:29 AM
Very nice. Recent Lexus's are cool, as long as you avoid the ones that look too much like Predator.
I thought this was agreeably predator faced without being too "I eat children for breakfast" like the newest ones can be.

Quote from: Submariner on February 04, 2019, 10:16:00 AM
Pics aren't working.
I reloaded them.

Quote from: BimmerM3 on February 04, 2019, 10:26:22 AM
They're on Google photos, which doesn't always play well with direct linking. Usually best to re-upload to Imgur or something.
...fine.  ;)

Quote from: Xer0 on February 04, 2019, 10:28:48 AM
Very nice!  Wheel and tire coverage in Chicago is a must  :lol:
That was my thinking. They're big wheels and our streets are total dogshit, especially now that they've had some deep freezes and thaws.

Quote from: 12,000 RPM on February 04, 2019, 10:34:00 AM
Not a bad purchase at all... congrats!

These are solid buys and have always been on my radar, but I've concluded the premium for premium fuel isn't worth it on my commute... and that infotainment interface.... does it get better with more use? I'd love to eventually replace wifey's car with an RX but that touch pad seems like a deal breaker.
The Passat took premium, which is like $4.79 a gallon downtown, and this actually gets slightly better city mileage so it didn't really bother me. The infotainment does take a little adjustment but I actually like it now. The problem with it is it isn't really a normal mouse, it's more like a virtual button selector (it guides itself) and if you try to use it like you would a normal touchpad/mouse you end up over compensating/selecting the wrong things/etc. After a few hours with it I'm not having any issues anymore. It's a little unusual but it's pretty intuitive once you stop trying to fight the way it auto selects buttons with minimal movement.
92 Camry XLE V6(Murdered)
99 ES 300 (Sold)
2008 Volkswagen Passat(Did not survive the winter)
2015 Lexus GS350 F-Sport


Quote from: Raza  link=topic=27909.msg1787179#msg1787179 date=1349117110
You're my age.  We're getting old.  Plus, now that you're married, your life expectancy has gone way down, since you're more likely to be poisoned by your wife.

12,000 RPM

OK that's helpful. We'd have to do an overnight test drive or something to push that button.

One good thing is Grom makes a cell phone interface so I think you can get Android Auto and Apple Carplay through the stock screen/touchpad. Simple install. Toyota supposedly isn't jumping on board with Android Auto because they don't like Google's use of data.
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

MrH

The predator face F-Sports get the cool gauges though!
2023 Ford Lightning Lariat ER
2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD
2023 BRZ Limited

Previous: '02 Mazda Protege5, '08 Mazda Miata, '05 Toyota Tacoma, '09 Honda Element, '13 Subaru BRZ, '14 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec 5.0, '15 Toyota 4Runner SR5, '18 Honda Accord EX-L 2.0t, '01 Honda S2000, '20 Subaru Outback XT, '23 Chevy Bolt EUV

thewizard16

Quote from: 12,000 RPM on February 04, 2019, 11:44:52 AM
OK that's helpful. We'd have to do an overnight test drive or something to push that button.

One good thing is Grom makes a cell phone interface so I think you can get Android Auto and Apple Carplay through the stock screen/touchpad. Simple install. Toyota supposedly isn't jumping on board with Android Auto because they don't like Google's use of data.
That's what I've heard too. It syncs smoothly over bluetooth for phone and music features and it has pretty good stock navigation but I'd prefer Android Auto. I'll have to look into this.

Quote from: MrH on February 04, 2019, 11:54:11 AM
The predator face F-Sports get the cool gauges though!
This one is the F-Sport (though not the absolutely insane GS-F, they had one at the dealership that you can catch a glimpse of in the first pic) and it definitely looks more aggressive than the base/normal GS inside and out.
92 Camry XLE V6(Murdered)
99 ES 300 (Sold)
2008 Volkswagen Passat(Did not survive the winter)
2015 Lexus GS350 F-Sport


Quote from: Raza  link=topic=27909.msg1787179#msg1787179 date=1349117110
You're my age.  We're getting old.  Plus, now that you're married, your life expectancy has gone way down, since you're more likely to be poisoned by your wife.

MrH

Yeah, if you got a post facelift F-Sport, you get the silly predator grill, but you get the moving tach LCD screen gauges.
2023 Ford Lightning Lariat ER
2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD
2023 BRZ Limited

Previous: '02 Mazda Protege5, '08 Mazda Miata, '05 Toyota Tacoma, '09 Honda Element, '13 Subaru BRZ, '14 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec 5.0, '15 Toyota 4Runner SR5, '18 Honda Accord EX-L 2.0t, '01 Honda S2000, '20 Subaru Outback XT, '23 Chevy Bolt EUV

thewizard16

Quote from: MrH on February 04, 2019, 12:05:28 PM
Yeah, if you got a post facelift F-Sport, you get the silly predator grill, but you get the moving tach LCD screen gauges.
Ooooh I gotcha. Well damn that's almost worth it. My residency director had one of those and I never thought it looked very good in the silver he picked but I'd forgotten about the gauges. Oh well, I'll just be a plebeian with fixed gauges for now.
92 Camry XLE V6(Murdered)
99 ES 300 (Sold)
2008 Volkswagen Passat(Did not survive the winter)
2015 Lexus GS350 F-Sport


Quote from: Raza  link=topic=27909.msg1787179#msg1787179 date=1349117110
You're my age.  We're getting old.  Plus, now that you're married, your life expectancy has gone way down, since you're more likely to be poisoned by your wife.

12,000 RPM

Here's a link to the Grom module

https://gromaudio.com/store/vline/lexus_2013-2015_grom_vline_infotainment_system_gen_7.html

They have it running on Oreo so I'd wager it's pretty secure. Better than the Tesla style radio for my car which is on Android 4.4.4 :facepalm:
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

veeman

Congratulations.  One of my relatives had a Lexus GS hybrid for a few years (his work paid for his lease and he could get almost any car he wanted). I think it was a GS450h.  I drove it a few times on back roads.  Loved it.  Very fast and very quiet and refined. A tippy SUV antidote. When he got his first kid he got rid of it and got the Lexus RX. 

thewizard16

Quote from: 12,000 RPM on February 04, 2019, 12:16:01 PM
Here's a link to the Grom module

https://gromaudio.com/store/vline/lexus_2013-2015_grom_vline_infotainment_system_gen_7.html

They have it running on Oreo so I'd wager it's pretty secure. Better than the Tesla style radio for my car which is on Android 4.4.4 :facepalm:
Not cheap but an interesting concept.

Quote from: veeman on February 04, 2019, 12:30:22 PM
Congratulations.  One of my relatives had a Lexus GS hybrid for a few years (his work paid for his lease and he could get almost any car he wanted). I think it was a GS450h.  I drove it a few times on back roads.  Loved it.  Very fast and very quiet and refined. A tippy SUV antidote. When he got his first kid he got rid of it and got the Lexus RX. 
Thanks! I have about a 0% chance of having kids any time soon so hopefully I can avoid buying any mommy wagons for the forseeable future.
92 Camry XLE V6(Murdered)
99 ES 300 (Sold)
2008 Volkswagen Passat(Did not survive the winter)
2015 Lexus GS350 F-Sport


Quote from: Raza  link=topic=27909.msg1787179#msg1787179 date=1349117110
You're my age.  We're getting old.  Plus, now that you're married, your life expectancy has gone way down, since you're more likely to be poisoned by your wife.

Submariner

Oh there are the pictures.  Looks sharp inside and out.  Congratulations.
2010 G-550  //  2019 GLS-550

CALL_911

Good to see you back, man! I love that GS- would buy one in a heartbeat. Prob my favorite interior in the segment.


2004 S2000
2016 340xi

12,000 RPM

Damn, I am a sucker for camelish colored interiors. Pics were blocked at work, looks great
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

68_427

I think the Lexus seats are more than just ventilated as well.  They are actually "cooled" IIRC.  Will be great in the summer.
Quotewhere were you when automotive dream died
i was sat at home drinking brake fluid when wife ring
'racecar is die'
no


Submariner

Quote from: 12,000 RPM on February 04, 2019, 03:58:33 PM
Damn, I am a sucker for camelish colored interiors. Pics were blocked at work, looks great

Me too.  I've always wanted to pick up a last gen 750i sport xDrive with the camel/black interior.  Looks delicious.
2010 G-550  //  2019 GLS-550

Gotta-Qik-C7

2014 C7 Vert, 2002 Silverado, 2005 Road Glide

CaminoRacer

When are the 24s going on?
2020 BMW 330i, 1969 El Camino, 2017 Bolt EV

12,000 RPM

Quote from: Submariner on February 04, 2019, 05:53:48 PM
Me too.  I've always wanted to pick up a last gen 750i sport xDrive with the camel/black interior.  Looks delicious.
I'm still partial to the Bangle Butt
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

thewizard16

Quote from: Submariner on February 04, 2019, 01:18:28 PM
Oh there are the pictures.  Looks sharp inside and out.  Congratulations.
Thank you!

Quote from: CALL_911 on February 04, 2019, 03:25:20 PM
Good to see you back, man! I love that GS- would buy one in a heartbeat. Prob my favorite interior in the segment.
Thanks! It's a clean design overall and I like that. A little Audi-esque in some ways (I love their interiors except for the tacked on looking screens).

Quote from: 68_427 on February 04, 2019, 05:24:18 PM
I think the Lexus seats are more than just ventilated as well.  They are actually "cooled" IIRC.  Will be great in the summer.
A friend who owned a Jetta, also with mediocre air conditioning, said "all those electronic gizmos and all you're going to notice is that you have real air conditioning" when I shared the pictures with him. I'm looking forward to those seats when it's hot out though.

Quote from: 12,000 RPM on February 04, 2019, 03:58:33 PM
Damn, I am a sucker for camelish colored interiors. Pics were blocked at work, looks great
Thanks!

Quote from: Gotta-Qik-C6 on February 04, 2019, 06:01:03 PM
Sexy.....
Thank you!

Quote from: CaminoRacer on February 04, 2019, 07:16:19 PM
When are the 24s going on?
As soon as my rap album drops.
92 Camry XLE V6(Murdered)
99 ES 300 (Sold)
2008 Volkswagen Passat(Did not survive the winter)
2015 Lexus GS350 F-Sport


Quote from: Raza  link=topic=27909.msg1787179#msg1787179 date=1349117110
You're my age.  We're getting old.  Plus, now that you're married, your life expectancy has gone way down, since you're more likely to be poisoned by your wife.

Submariner

Quote from: 12,000 RPM on February 04, 2019, 08:10:26 PM
I'm still partial to the Bangle Butt

There are 745's with 60k or so miles going for $6-7k...I know they're reliability nightmares but that's tempting...
2010 G-550  //  2019 GLS-550