XenonES3

I noticed the same thing when I test drove a GS430 for the first time a few weeks ago. My 1995 ES has better throttle response, but when the GS430 gets going, it MOVES.

I guess it's a matter of perception. In my case, the GS4XX has been and still is my dream car, so I expected too much from it.

doug_999

I agree with PandaGS430, the GS430 is sluggish off the line - period. Drove a GS400 and it seemed to be "quicker" off the line. As mentioned, resetting the CPU will help and as always, from 30 on, the car MOVES, but off the line the car is a dog.

meanboy

Our GS300 seems like a slug off the line but turning off the VSC makes a huge difference. I imagine turning off the vsc on the GS400 or GS430 would have the same effect.

D2-AUTOSPORT

I have never driven a 430, but I noticed that even the 400 dont really FEEL like they are slamming you into the seat. They are so smooth and the power builds so progressively, that you feel as if you arent going fast, then you look down and you doing 120!!!

When I drove my car home, my brother followed me, and he was yelling and saying "MAN THAT THING FLIES", he said it would just zip away like someone hit a switch, but i told him, I didnt think I was doing too much!! he told me he would drive it for me, and let me see it move.

Also the thing to notice is passing/merging power, in my first gen i had to put the gas to the floor and wait for the speed to build in order to get that baby to hustle, in this car there is much less anticipation, you just punch and go. The thing is you have to get used to the tranny mapping, if you dont floor it, its not gonna give a BIG burst, it is always gonna be smooth.

Try this in the 1st Gen, then in the GS430. Find a long street, and just cruise halfway down it doing about 30-40mph, then PUNCH the gas to the floor!! This is one place when I can really feel the diff, in a few seconds you will be doing 70mph in the space of a half block!!! I tried this on my street, and it was crazy!!

bluelex

i noticed the same thing when i started driving my gs4 lately, not as fast off the line like i thought but when floored it moves, also like d said its a deceptive power, u don't feel like u'r moving very fast and ya when u look down u'r way over the speed limit. the power of this car id just mind blowing when u r alrerady in motion, a couple of mods like a tc and u will have the same power off the line....

sung35

When I was looking for a car back last Summer, I test drove 2003 GS300 and 2003 GS430. I noticed that the GS300 responsed much faster than the GS430, but GS430 has much more power once it figured out how steep the throtle was. It lagged about half a second when I floored it and then leap forward like some animal hopping for its prey. I settled witha used 2000 GS400 though because it has e-shift.

DrewGS4

I drove my GS400 and than a friends GS430. No doubt my car is quicker of the line. The throttle response has no "lag" when stepping on the gas. The GS430 has a 1 second delay before catching. My friend also agrees that my car is quicker. The 430 has slightly more torque than the 400 and is why the 0-60mph times are the same 5.7 seconds. Also the GS4 is a little lighter than the 430.

I really hope Lexus fixes this issue with drive by wire. Since its electronically controlled it translates to better gas mileage. I saw the same issue with the all 2001 Lexus cars including the ES300 and SC430. They all exhibit this delay. Never had that problem with my old ES300 and GS400.

Like Jacob said a Torque Convertor at 2400 stall speed should fix all these problems and get you going faster off the line.

SLVRGS

I guess by me saying not impressed would definatly get people to read it. Everybody seems to be right on and I am fully aware of how fast they are at 40-120mph, and the mods like the torque converter and computer work would the car great but I am really not interested in modifying an expensive luxury car to go faster.

My 1st generation has a similar feel just at a lower HP level. You have to kind of play with the gas pedal, if you slam the gas down at a stop light the car doesn't go anywhere but on the express way from 50 and up I can hang with anything, the car pulls great, I guess thats fast enough for me for my everyday car, faster will probably get me in trouble.......

3dog

iTrader: (1)

before i bought a 99gs400 i test drove a 2001 gs430 i noticed the delay between when you floor it and when the engine reacted. i had never driven a lexus before and was very disappointed in the throttle response, so much so that i wrote lexus gs430 off my list. a few months later my wife found my 99gs400 at an acura dealership, (she had a 2003 tl s) i reluctantly agreed to test drive it and boy am i glad i did, this car just takes off when i punch it. bought it on the spot. by the way the wife traded her acura tl s 2003 in on a 99 gs400 in sept.

gserep1

Sorry guys,
But I don't believe that the 98-2000 GS 400's have a "drive-by-wire setup. There is a cable arrangement on this car.

I too drove the 2002 and 2003 GS-430's and noticed the "lag" everyone talks about. There is no doubt that the 430 has a much more powerful engine, but the older GS-400's are faster.

All you have under your feet on a 430 is a variable resistor. The pedal "throw" or distance from top to bottom is shorter than on the GS-400's. I personally prefer the pedal feel of the 400 over the 430.

The 430's also seem a bit heavier. I noticed a difference in the way the car handles as well.

In conclusion, I am quite happy with my 99 GS-400, and would not trade it for a newer car...period.

Thanks
GSEREP1

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

When I drove Dexter's GS that had the Supra Torsen diff with taller ring gear (3.76 vs. 3.26) I immediately told him his GS was easily the fastest one I'd been in with INSTANT throttle response. Well he sold his GS and his diff. is now on my car! (THANKS DEX!) His car and mine also have the Precision Industries 2800 rpm stall torque converter, another INCREDIBLE mod. Do these two mods and you'll think the car is positively 'touchy' it's so responsive!

People at Lexus dealers have also told me the GS400 stock is quicker than the GS430. I think they programmed some of the fun out of the 430 to get the ULEV rating.