things you hate about GS
07-02-12, 09:27 AM
#256
Interesting thread...
I've owned a 2001 GS430 for about a month now. My basis for comparison is a 2003 BMW 540i, 1997 Benz E420, and a 2010 Honda Accord (which are all in the family now).
I will start off by saying that the GS430 is my favorite of the four. It's the most plush, and offers the best compromise between acceleration, handling, braking, and interior/exterior styling imho.
There are a few things I've noticed that I think Lexus did fumble during their "pursuit of perfection" however.
a.) There's been no shortage of complaints here of the imfamous steering wheel shimmy at highway speed. I too have noticed a bit at 65mph. Although it's not bad at all, it seems to be most noticeable when the tires are cold and certain surfaces seem to bring it out more than others. It also disappears above 70mph or below 60mph. I have not tried to rebalance the wheels yet but plan to start with that. I must acknowledge that our Benz and Accord have a certain amount of this too. I owned a 1996 Mustang Cobra that also was plagued with this annoying problem. I first rebalanced the wheels, later replaced the wheels, and changed every bushing in the front end over a 2-year period and never completely eliminated it. Steering wheel shimmy is a common problem across many makes/models and certain people are more sensitive to it than others.
2.) A performance sports sedan with no LSD? Come on! To be fair, our e420 and 540i-Sport don't have it either. >$50K sports sedans with no posi-traction. Seems silly imho.
3.) Excessive front windshield air-noise. This is the first thing that jumped out at me the first time I took the car on the highway but I haven't seen anyone else complain about it. For a luxury car, the interior air noise from air hitting the windshield seems excessive. This problem does not exist on either of our German cars.
4.) 3-4" of "Ford Taurus" fender gap on a luxury sports sedan? Again, come on... really?
5.) And last but not least, you guys know the thin tubular lining that goes around the seams/stiching of our front seats. Well, 99% of 2GS cars seem to have a break in this tubing in at least one place.
Overall I have a lot more positive to say than negative, but that's me knit-picking the little stuff I've noticed.
BayAreaLex
I've owned a 2001 GS430 for about a month now. My basis for comparison is a 2003 BMW 540i, 1997 Benz E420, and a 2010 Honda Accord (which are all in the family now).
I will start off by saying that the GS430 is my favorite of the four. It's the most plush, and offers the best compromise between acceleration, handling, braking, and interior/exterior styling imho.
There are a few things I've noticed that I think Lexus did fumble during their "pursuit of perfection" however.
a.) There's been no shortage of complaints here of the imfamous steering wheel shimmy at highway speed. I too have noticed a bit at 65mph. Although it's not bad at all, it seems to be most noticeable when the tires are cold and certain surfaces seem to bring it out more than others. It also disappears above 70mph or below 60mph. I have not tried to rebalance the wheels yet but plan to start with that. I must acknowledge that our Benz and Accord have a certain amount of this too. I owned a 1996 Mustang Cobra that also was plagued with this annoying problem. I first rebalanced the wheels, later replaced the wheels, and changed every bushing in the front end over a 2-year period and never completely eliminated it. Steering wheel shimmy is a common problem across many makes/models and certain people are more sensitive to it than others.
2.) A performance sports sedan with no LSD? Come on! To be fair, our e420 and 540i-Sport don't have it either. >$50K sports sedans with no posi-traction. Seems silly imho.
3.) Excessive front windshield air-noise. This is the first thing that jumped out at me the first time I took the car on the highway but I haven't seen anyone else complain about it. For a luxury car, the interior air noise from air hitting the windshield seems excessive. This problem does not exist on either of our German cars.
4.) 3-4" of "Ford Taurus" fender gap on a luxury sports sedan? Again, come on... really?
5.) And last but not least, you guys know the thin tubular lining that goes around the seams/stiching of our front seats. Well, 99% of 2GS cars seem to have a break in this tubing in at least one place.
Overall I have a lot more positive to say than negative, but that's me knit-picking the little stuff I've noticed.
BayAreaLex
Last edited by BayAreaLex; 07-02-12 at 10:23 AM.
07-02-12, 02:37 PM
#262
Bayarealex, check the stickies for a thread on wind noise, might be worth checking to see if you're missing a body plug or two, could help with your windshield noise, might not be it either but easy to check.
Thomas, mine sags like that too, little annoying but I'm low enogh now that its not too noticeable.
Thomas, mine sags like that too, little annoying but I'm low enogh now that its not too noticeable.
02-13-13, 09:49 AM
#267
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Found this while car shopping, The fact that I sold a blk/blk gs400 with many of these issues and NOW 6 years later I'm shopping for another one. For the money and how they're equipped you cant beat the little issues. Seems when I call about a used GS they never mention the door lock problem until I point it out.. then they are like "Yeah, I think one of the doors you have to help out sometimes". Mine also had the shimmy at 60mph and a few other little things that were mainly due to not inspecting it close enough when I bought it. Great to see over time what little things may need attention though! 
02-13-13, 09:53 AM
#268
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* Mark Levinson amplifiers are unreliable and a huge number of them seem to give problems.
* The Motion Lock on the navigation system is unjustifiable, senseless and maddening.
* The Motion Lock on the navigation system is unjustifiable, senseless and maddening.
02-13-13, 11:51 AM
#269
Suspension issues - I have pretty much replaced everything, and it still isn't right, so am replacing everything else right down to diff mounts and subframe bushings to try and sort.
Suspension noise too - fairly sure it is the pillow ball top mounts though.
Suspension noise too - fairly sure it is the pillow ball top mounts though.
