marcpitch

Well, Akbergg is right. The new GS is gorgeous. I has trouble leaving it alone at the Philly auto show last night. I really like the lines and even liked the Matador Red, a color low on my list of favorites. The car did not have a spoiler and I think I preferred it that way. I loved the body details around the bottom area of the doors (the long strip of chrome of whatever).

The M was nice, but did not WOW me like the GS. However, they only had a non-sport M and I did not like the 18" wheels on the non-sport. I know the 19" sport wheels are much nicer. So, while I was not WOWED by the M, like I was the GS, I know it was partly due to wheels.

Speaking of wheels, here is some interesting info I found at the show....excuse me if this has been mentioned elsewhere:

The GS300 and GS300 AWD will have TWO 18" wheel upgrade options (port installed options):
1) 18" wheel and tire of exactly same style as standard 17" wheels: MSRP $2,450 (the car at the show had these on it)

2) 18" "spider-like" wheel that is separate option for GS430 too: MSRP $2,450 (best description of these wheels is they look similar to standard wheels on 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe.

The guy showed me the sheet for these wheel options so I am fairly certain this is correct into. He also did not rule out (though could not confirm) that the 5 spoke GS430 wheels could be optioned on the 300's.

Do these prices of $2,450 seem very high? I asked him and all he could say was that it was new wheels AND tires so it is much higher?? I know, but the standard ones are coming off. Interestingly his sheet showed invoice prices and these wheel upgrades are marked up around $1,000.

If I get the GS300, I would LOVE to get 18's, but $2,450 seems very high for such an upgrade. Comments?

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Have you taken a look at our ClubLexus vendor marketplace lately?

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=149754

Lexus-parts.com / Sewell Lexus has the 18x8 spider wheels on sale already for $796 for a set with a promotional code listed in the link above. No tires of course, I suspect the dealer option cost includes tires.

marcpitch

No, I had not seen that part of the site. However, if I upgraded my 2006 GS300 to 18's, I would want either the same style as the 17"s or even better, the 5 spoked ones on the GS430. I love the GS430 wheels so much, I may find a way to afford the GS430! I would, however, wait until the hoopla dies down and try to make a deal in the fall. Waiting will be VERY hard.

Yes, the $2,450 included tires.

flipside909

Thats a very nice mesh wheel w/graphite.

Sam Khoury

I'm assuming the 18" wheel option #1 that you mentioned is NOT the 5 spoke wheels I've seen in some of the pics, right? It's the one with a lot of narrow spokes, right?

flipside909

The two 18" options would be the 5 spoke graphite that we've seen on the new GS photos, and the multispoke G-Spider in graphite which is a special at Sewell Lexus (www.lexus-parts.com).

The 17" wheel is the 11 spoke wheel found on the GS300.

marcpitch

Incorrect Flip. The car at the Philly auto show was a GS300 AWD with the 18" 11 spoke wheel - exact same style as 17" but an inch larger.

The availability of the 5 spoke 18" wheel on the 300's is still in question. I am praying it is. For now, I can only confirm the 11 spoke 18's and the Spider 18's available for the GS300's.

flipside909

The car you saw was a prototype, there was no final or official word on wether that will be found on the GS300 AWD's or not. Prototypes usually have different types of features that may or may not show on the actual production car. My sources show no such option at this time. But that can change in time.

I guess we will have to wait and see. I find it hard for Lexus to offer a larger wheel w/a low profile tire that is usually a high performance summer tire on an AWD vehicle , which will be mainly used in snow and ice type of climates.

marcpitch

Flip, I defer to your knowledge, but the guy showed me a page from Lexus with both wheel upgrades listed and the corresponding prices. Also I just got confirmation from a large and reputable dealer I am in contact with in Cleveland . It is possible these wheel and tire upgrades would be for the GS300 RWD not AWD. In this area, all GS's are getting all-season run flats, no performance summer tires.

Time will tell.

flipside909

Very possible. Our region doesn't get runflats, but we do get performance summer tires, but w/all seasons as a no cost option.

CaMsGS3

I say forget the 18" and throw on some 20s

I remember back in the day, in 98 when i got my first GS and knew nothing about rims/tires and thought that the stock rims looked better then 19/20s on the GS

I paided an extra 2300 for my stock 16s in chrome back then,
then like 2 yrs later I came across this site and u know the rest.......

flipside909

Here's the official press kit from Lexus USA (not unconfirmed sources):
You can find this on page 3: http://pressroom.toyota.com/presstxt...006lexGS_s.pdf

These are the options that are straight from the factory to the port. It is up to the region to install forced options at the port.

Wheel Size / Type

• GS 300 (incl. AWD): 17x7.5 in. aluminum
• GS 430: 18x8.0 in. aluminum alloy

Tire Size / Type

• GS 300: 225/50R17 V-rated summer tires
• GS 300 AWD: 17 in. all-season run-flat
• GS 430: 245/40R18 Z-rated summer tires
• **Optional GS 300: 17 in. all-season run-flat tires**
• **Optional GS 430: 18 in. all-season run-flat tires**

Spare Tire and Wheel Temporary spare (optional with run-flat)

Tire Brand(s)

• Dunlop
• Bridgestone
• Yokohama

flipside909

Rockville

The wheels Marcpitch is talking about are the Lexus Accessory Wheels. I have seen them on this site in other places. The G-Spider and the Machined Tourmaline 18" are available for the GS300 through Lexus parts and could be Port installed for $2450 retail. There are also same styles available for the GS430 rims which are wider yet less expensive because they replace same size so the tires don't have to change. They retail for $1375. Stock look better on GS430 IMO. The rear lip spoiler comes on the GS430 and the AWD GS3. You can add it at the port on the GS3 RWD for $200.

flipside909

This is my disclaimer above.