From GS to ES ?
05-09-16, 10:21 PM
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
From GS to ES ?
Has anyone gone from a 2013 or newer GS 350 to a new(er) ES and regretted it? I am having a problem with the driver's seat comfort on my 2014 GS F Sport. I suffer from what appears to be sciatica and the very firm bottom cushion causes severe discomfort after about 40 minutes. We drive to Florida 2-3 times a year from Ohio and this is going kill me. I just ordered a gel seat cushion. If that doesn't help then I may trade for a new ES or a slightly used LS. It's a shame because I absolutely love driving the GS. I've only had it 6 months and hate to take a beating on trade, which I know I will.
Last edited by dano; 05-10-16 at 01:58 PM.
05-10-16, 04:14 AM
#2
Lexus Test Driver
I'm a bit confused about which car you have. You went from a GS to ES, or an ES to GS?
The GS seats are firmer than the ES. On the ES, the seat is more comfortable with the thigh cushion extender option.
If you have the GS, I don't know what you can do to get a softer cushion short of adding some padding.
The GS seats are firmer than the ES. On the ES, the seat is more comfortable with the thigh cushion extender option.
If you have the GS, I don't know what you can do to get a softer cushion short of adding some padding.
05-10-16, 05:04 AM
#3
You have an F-Sport, so your seats will be firmer. You didn't notice any issues during your test drive? The Luxury packaged GS has much more comfortable seats. The UL ES has the seats with the cushion extender and are semi-aniline. They will be more comfortable than your F-Sport, too.
I wish you luck with your gel cushion, because trading it in now would be costly!
I wish you luck with your gel cushion, because trading it in now would be costly!
05-10-16, 01:40 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Even the luxury package GS has very firm seats. They have a lot of adjustments and IMHO are really comfortable, but they are firm and my wife thought they were too firm. The F Sport seats are basically the same seats as the luxury just without the articulating backrest, without the butterfly headrests and without the semi-aniline leather.
The GS is more dynamic than the ES, and the GS is more solid and substantial feeling, GS' interior is better but the 2016 refresh solved a lot of my issues with material quality and presentation.
I would do some longer test drives of the ES to see what you thought of the seats. The seats in my LS are softer, but I would rate the luxury model seats in my GS as better overall, as I would rate them better than the seats in the GS but you may feel differently if you feel the seat bottom is too firm. Definitely make sure you drive a UL with the seat extender, IMHO that makes a big difference in seat comfort.
I will tell you though, you will get KILLED trading your GS in. Because of the steep discounts on the GS new resale wise they don't hold value like the ES or LS.
The GS is more dynamic than the ES, and the GS is more solid and substantial feeling, GS' interior is better but the 2016 refresh solved a lot of my issues with material quality and presentation.
I would do some longer test drives of the ES to see what you thought of the seats. The seats in my LS are softer, but I would rate the luxury model seats in my GS as better overall, as I would rate them better than the seats in the GS but you may feel differently if you feel the seat bottom is too firm. Definitely make sure you drive a UL with the seat extender, IMHO that makes a big difference in seat comfort.
I will tell you though, you will get KILLED trading your GS in. Because of the steep discounts on the GS new resale wise they don't hold value like the ES or LS.
05-10-16, 01:53 PM
#5
Driver
Thread Starter
You have an F-Sport, so your seats will be firmer. You didn't notice any issues during your test drive? The Luxury packaged GS has much more comfortable seats. The UL ES has the seats with the cushion extender and are semi-aniline. They will be more comfortable than your F-Sport, too.
I wish you luck with your gel cushion, because trading it in now would be costly!
I wish you luck with your gel cushion, because trading it in now would be costly!
Last edited by dano; 05-10-16 at 01:55 PM. Reason: Typo
05-10-16, 02:12 PM
#6
Driver
Thread Starter
Even the luxury package GS has very firm seats. They have a lot of adjustments and IMHO are really comfortable, but they are firm and my wife thought they were too firm. The F Sport seats are basically the same seats as the luxury just without the articulating backrest, without the butterfly headrests and without the semi-aniline leather.
The GS is more dynamic than the ES, and the GS is more solid and substantial feeling, GS' interior is better but the 2016 refresh solved a lot of my issues with material quality and presentation.
I would do some longer test drives of the ES to see what you thought of the seats. The seats in my LS are softer, but I would rate the luxury model seats in my GS as better overall, as I would rate them better than the seats in the GS but you may feel differently if you feel the seat bottom is too firm. Definitely make sure you drive a UL with the seat extender, IMHO that makes a big difference in seat comfort.
I will tell you though, you will get KILLED trading your GS in. Because of the steep discounts on the GS new resale wise they don't hold value like the ES or LS.
The GS is more dynamic than the ES, and the GS is more solid and substantial feeling, GS' interior is better but the 2016 refresh solved a lot of my issues with material quality and presentation.
I would do some longer test drives of the ES to see what you thought of the seats. The seats in my LS are softer, but I would rate the luxury model seats in my GS as better overall, as I would rate them better than the seats in the GS but you may feel differently if you feel the seat bottom is too firm. Definitely make sure you drive a UL with the seat extender, IMHO that makes a big difference in seat comfort.
I will tell you though, you will get KILLED trading your GS in. Because of the steep discounts on the GS new resale wise they don't hold value like the ES or LS.
Also, I went into TrueCar and priced out a new GS UL and an ES UL and the discount, at least at this time, are huge on the ES compared to the GS. Several TRueCar dealers are offering over $5200 off an ES yet none are offering over $2400 on the GS. I guess there is a $3000 rebate right now on all ES models. I priced out a ES UL for a little over $42,000!
05-10-16, 02:13 PM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
You can also try contacting an upholstery shop to see if they can reconstruct that base foam padding for you too.
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05-10-16, 04:44 PM
#8
I live with the same issue and was considering the GS350 F sport myself, but now this topic has me worried. I have had Piriformis Syndrome for 8 years now. It is another form of Sciatica. My 2000 Camry is the most comfortable car I can drive in our house. Our cloth interior 2013 Altima with Nasa seats irritates me to no end. I can't drive it very long without a pillow. I have driven many other cars too, and some like VW's hurt. I had a 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD and it was comfortable. I am wondering if I am looking at the wrong car. There is no dealer in my area, so when I go look I will have to drive 130 miles to look at one and sit in it.
05-10-16, 05:18 PM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
You gotta take them for a long test drive and see.
There was a member a few months back who was deciding between all 3, he had a back issue and was very worried and he chose the GS after spending a lot of time in it, the LS and ES.
I think he actually chose a base GS without even the thigh extender.
There was a member a few months back who was deciding between all 3, he had a back issue and was very worried and he chose the GS after spending a lot of time in it, the LS and ES.
I think he actually chose a base GS without even the thigh extender.
05-10-16, 05:26 PM
#10
You gotta take them for a long test drive and see.
There was a member a few months back who was deciding between all 3, he had a back issue and was very worried and he chose the GS after spending a lot of time in it, the LS and ES.
I think he actually chose a base GS without even the thigh extender.
There was a member a few months back who was deciding between all 3, he had a back issue and was very worried and he chose the GS after spending a lot of time in it, the LS and ES.
I think he actually chose a base GS without even the thigh extender.
05-10-16, 06:39 PM
#11
My first post on this board, and, your question is near and dear to me.
I too had back pains last year. It was an L5S1 extrusion. My car at that time was a 2011 Accord. Those cars have some hard seats. I couldn't even sit in those seats more than 30 seconds before I could feel the muscles in my back spazzing.
I spent months and months sitting in just about every car possible. I even went to the car show and sat in everything there.
I wanted a sedan to replace the sedan I had, and, I eventually settled on a 2016 Lexus ES 350 luxury package.
I sat in all of the Lexus vehicles, and, I thought the GS that I sat in at the dealership (not sure which trim level it was) had the most comfortable seats out of all the Lexus vehicles at the dealership.
I settled on the ES because it is a large car, which I like and the seats were my #2 choice behind the GS. These seats in the ES are softly padded and very comfortable for my 6 ft 215lb frame. I can sit in this car and drive it for hours without complaining about discomfort.
Whatever you do, don't buy a Honda product. They make great cars, but, their seats are like you're sitting on concrete.
I too had back pains last year. It was an L5S1 extrusion. My car at that time was a 2011 Accord. Those cars have some hard seats. I couldn't even sit in those seats more than 30 seconds before I could feel the muscles in my back spazzing.
I spent months and months sitting in just about every car possible. I even went to the car show and sat in everything there.
I wanted a sedan to replace the sedan I had, and, I eventually settled on a 2016 Lexus ES 350 luxury package.
I sat in all of the Lexus vehicles, and, I thought the GS that I sat in at the dealership (not sure which trim level it was) had the most comfortable seats out of all the Lexus vehicles at the dealership.
I settled on the ES because it is a large car, which I like and the seats were my #2 choice behind the GS. These seats in the ES are softly padded and very comfortable for my 6 ft 215lb frame. I can sit in this car and drive it for hours without complaining about discomfort.
Whatever you do, don't buy a Honda product. They make great cars, but, their seats are like you're sitting on concrete.
05-10-16, 06:51 PM
#12
Driver
Thread Starter
I live with the same issue and was considering the GS350 F sport myself, but now this topic has me worried. I have had Piriformis Syndrome for 8 years now. It is another form of Sciatica. My 2000 Camry is the most comfortable car I can drive in our house. Our cloth interior 2013 Altima with Nasa seats irritates me to no end. I can't drive it very long without a pillow. I have driven many other cars too, and some like VW's hurt. I had a 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD and it was comfortable. I am wondering if I am looking at the wrong car. There is no dealer in my area, so when I go look I will have to drive 130 miles to look at one and sit in it.
05-10-16, 07:06 PM
#13
Driver
Thread Starter
My first post on this board, and, your question is near and dear to me.
I too had back pains last year. It was an L5S1 extrusion. My car at that time was a 2011 Accord. Those cars have some hard seats. I couldn't even sit in those seats more than 30 seconds before I could feel the muscles in my back spazzing.
I spent months and months sitting in just about every car possible. I even went to the car show and sat in everything there.
I wanted a sedan to replace the sedan I had, and, I eventually settled on a 2016 Lexus ES 350 luxury package.
I sat in all of the Lexus vehicles, and, I thought the GS that I sat in at the dealership (not sure which trim level it was) had the most comfortable seats out of all the Lexus vehicles at the dealership.
I settled on the ES because it is a large car, which I like and the seats were my #2 choice behind the GS. These seats in the ES are softly padded and very comfortable for my 6 ft 215lb frame. I can sit in this car and drive it for hours without complaining about discomfort.
Whatever you do, don't buy a Honda product. They make great cars, but, their seats are like you're sitting on concrete.
I too had back pains last year. It was an L5S1 extrusion. My car at that time was a 2011 Accord. Those cars have some hard seats. I couldn't even sit in those seats more than 30 seconds before I could feel the muscles in my back spazzing.
I spent months and months sitting in just about every car possible. I even went to the car show and sat in everything there.
I wanted a sedan to replace the sedan I had, and, I eventually settled on a 2016 Lexus ES 350 luxury package.
I sat in all of the Lexus vehicles, and, I thought the GS that I sat in at the dealership (not sure which trim level it was) had the most comfortable seats out of all the Lexus vehicles at the dealership.
I settled on the ES because it is a large car, which I like and the seats were my #2 choice behind the GS. These seats in the ES are softly padded and very comfortable for my 6 ft 215lb frame. I can sit in this car and drive it for hours without complaining about discomfort.
Whatever you do, don't buy a Honda product. They make great cars, but, their seats are like you're sitting on concrete.
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Jasones350 (07-10-20)
05-11-16, 09:14 AM
#14
The comfort of any particular seat is very subjective. Like the seats in a car, our bodies all come in different shapes and sizes. Just because the seats in a Honda Accord fits Bob nicely doesn't mean it'll do the same for Sponge.
05-12-16, 10:39 AM
#15
