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Really? The idea that Lexus copied the Jaguar X250 XF, when designing the S190 GS is absolute poppycock and I am only here to dispel that silly theory. It was somewhat the reverse and even admitted publicly in 2007-08. The final design for that generation GS was already locked in place back in 2002 (I have the photos) as the first product of L-finesse, which was well before Ford PAG's X250 "S-Type Redesign" programme got its design frozen in 2005.
The S190 GS was unveiled publicly in January 2004 at the NAIAS, 12 months before Job 1 and 14-15 months before global sales began in Spring 2005. The X250 XF was a styling mock-up, nearly 3 years away.
How does one arrive at the assumption that Lexus copied Jaguar? I ask this as someone that has worked at Whitley Centre and has been instrumental in the design and development of modern Jags and LRs. I am still objective enough to keep it straight. A little modicum of educated guessing or reading between the lines keeps things sensible.
Take it as rule of thumb (I have said many times), that it is generally 2-3 years between final design approval and actual start of production. Designers cannot base a car's design on a yet to publicized and launched competitor's design. To have copied the XF, Lexus designers (Sotiris Kovos and Yasuhide Hosoda, info I publicized years ago) would have to leave 2001-02, time-travel to 2004-05 and then return with information, for that theory to even compute, which obviously doesn't make sense.
It is why I shake my head at childish "copycat" or "looks like" accusations online/select face-to-face convos, when people lazily do not realise certain competive benchmarking isn't viable, because of a pesky thing called DEADLINES, that make earlier final committments an industry must.
Other than that, good post "theory" on explaining some aspects of the vehicle development process. On a separate note, a more accurate timeline with the so-called cost cutting concerns, did start in early 2005 with Job 1 of the 2006 MY S190, all the way through to the early 2010s. Akio Toyoda had limited influence for a brief spell in regards to effective product planning in 2009-10, with immediate results, so the L10 GS story has never really rang fully factual because of its context being somewhat vague.
Lots of cheap plastics I remember from my own experience. And agreed, without iDrive even worse if that is such a thing. Above and below the wood dash, around the shifter bezel, climate bezel, steering wheel bezel around the controls etc.. with the exception of the E60 M5 and its glorious V10, I preferred both E39 and F10 over the E60 in general.
Yes the window switches on the LS430 were those parts-bin Toyota ones. The NX, ES, and CT were also guilty of this rather than the nicer flush ones found on the IS, GS, GX, LX, LS etc.. (recent years)
That interior for that generation 5 series was so bad, I remember sitting in a new one with a co worker and we thought the owner got a really bare bones base model because it did not seem to have any features and it looked and felt so cheap inside, big step down from the E39. The E39 interior was so much nicer, I think the E39 and E46 is the best interior design for a BMW, much better then the newer ones.
I still get compliments and admiring looks on my 3GS. The design has aged well
See, I told you this car is GOAT. I get a lot of good attention in this car, too. It creates a sense of pleasantness and class that people can see and sense. The only draw back is that people like to cut you off because of envy. They also like to throw cigarette butts at you, and this car is as HUMBLE as they come.
Oh, another thing thats great about this car? HID headlights. Even the goddamn color of the headlights are classy, white with a hint of yellow. Non of that blue led bull****. Blue LED headlights look straight up goofy. Are you 17 with an identity crises?. BTW, thats why some Caddis and Jeeps use HIDs.
lol. i find that i get a lot of unwanted attention in my gs as well. i've had more people want to race, and cut you off in my gs than i have ever experienced in the 10 yr ownership of my sc. maybe it's that wet looking onyx black. not exactly sure why
I wouldn't say the 3GS is the "GOAT". Lots of issues with build quality, rattles, carbon buildup on the GS300 from 2006. While I like the styling, I think that particular model is a low point for Lexus.
Greatest Lexus ever built? I would say that is the 98-00 LS400.
Oh, another thing thats great about this car? HID headlights. Even the goddamn color of the headlights are classy, white with a hint of yellow. Non of that blue led bull****. Blue LED headlights look straight up goofy. Are you 17 with an identity crises?. BTW, thats why some Caddis and Jeeps use HIDs.
On base and F-Sport models I want to say yes (though someone correct me if I'm wrong). On Luxury package, that's full leather. On the 2016 refresh they might have changed it up I don't remember. Some models are also now using leather in the middle part of the seat, and NuLuxe for the sides of the seat for better durability over time due to ingress and egress.
All GS models had real leather until the refresh, the base GS200t comes with NuLuxe.
I wouldn't say the 3GS is the "GOAT". Lots of issues with build quality, rattles, carbon buildup on the GS300 from 2006. While I like the styling, I think that particular model is a low point for Lexus.
I liked the idea that the GS offered an inline 6 for a while as well as the 4.3 V8. Then they changed over to the 3.5 and 4.6 But I do agree, it was a somewhat low point.
Originally Posted by SW15LS
Greatest Lexus ever built? I would say that is the 98-00 LS400.
02-10-18, 03:27 AM
