Buyer's Remorse?
10-30-05, 07:05 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by paul_phily
Zetztex -
So if you were to trade the GS what would you consider?
BTW, IMHO, you shouldn't be responsible to replace the console - I know exactly what you're talking about
So if you were to trade the GS what would you consider?
BTW, IMHO, you shouldn't be responsible to replace the console - I know exactly what you're talking about
A bit of advice: The dealership replaced the wood trim once at no cost which is more than fair. Since you're already aware that this area is easily susceptable to damage, maybe you should be more careful.
FWIW, my wood trim has no noticable scratches.
11-01-05, 08:32 PM
#19
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Snow tires and an AWD vehicle are your safest bet in snow
Snow tires on a RWD vehicle could perform better than an AWD with All Season Tires.
My previous vehicles were RWD with High Profile Summer Tires and my vehicle became just an uncontrollable sled in the snow. That was not fun.
After test driving the GS300 AWD and GS430 (loved the GS430), I opted for a 2006 BMW 530xi. Sure it doesn't have as much HP as the RL, however if you are looking for an AWD vehicle that still is fun to drive, the BMW wins hand down in terms of the fun factory. Sure the reliability of BMW is not as great as some of the other Japanese Mfg, but it's still decent.
Test drive a 2006 BMW 530xi and you will know what I am talking about in regards to this driving fun factor.
Snow tires on a RWD vehicle could perform better than an AWD with All Season Tires.
My previous vehicles were RWD with High Profile Summer Tires and my vehicle became just an uncontrollable sled in the snow. That was not fun.
After test driving the GS300 AWD and GS430 (loved the GS430), I opted for a 2006 BMW 530xi. Sure it doesn't have as much HP as the RL, however if you are looking for an AWD vehicle that still is fun to drive, the BMW wins hand down in terms of the fun factory. Sure the reliability of BMW is not as great as some of the other Japanese Mfg, but it's still decent.
Test drive a 2006 BMW 530xi and you will know what I am talking about in regards to this driving fun factor.
11-01-05, 09:16 PM
#20
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considering the gs was released in february there should be a lot of other gs owners who can give or share experiences. someone from an area that had some snowfall this last winter please give the guy some info. good and bad. i would give you insight but my location is snow free year round. Snow tires would be an enormous help though 
if you end up leaning towards the rl please note this car is just not that exciting to drive. 300hp is a gimmick. althought i do think the interior lighting and the navi are excellent. everything else comes in a distant second to my gs.
wish i could give info that would help your decision but maybe someone with some experience will respond.
if you end up leaning towards the rl please note this car is just not that exciting to drive. 300hp is a gimmick. althought i do think the interior lighting and the navi are excellent. everything else comes in a distant second to my gs.
wish i could give info that would help your decision but maybe someone with some experience will respond.
11-02-05, 04:42 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by lexguynj
Snow tires and an AWD vehicle are your safest bet in snow
Snow tires on a RWD vehicle could perform better than an AWD with All Season Tires.
My previous vehicles were RWD with High Profile Summer Tires and my vehicle became just an uncontrollable sled in the snow. That was not fun.
After test driving the GS300 AWD and GS430 (loved the GS430), I opted for a 2006 BMW 530xi. Sure it doesn't have as much HP as the RL, however if you are looking for an AWD vehicle that still is fun to drive, the BMW wins hand down in terms of the fun factory. Sure the reliability of BMW is not as great as some of the other Japanese Mfg, but it's still decent.
Test drive a 2006 BMW 530xi and you will know what I am talking about in regards to this driving fun factor.
Snow tires on a RWD vehicle could perform better than an AWD with All Season Tires.
My previous vehicles were RWD with High Profile Summer Tires and my vehicle became just an uncontrollable sled in the snow. That was not fun.
After test driving the GS300 AWD and GS430 (loved the GS430), I opted for a 2006 BMW 530xi. Sure it doesn't have as much HP as the RL, however if you are looking for an AWD vehicle that still is fun to drive, the BMW wins hand down in terms of the fun factory. Sure the reliability of BMW is not as great as some of the other Japanese Mfg, but it's still decent.
Test drive a 2006 BMW 530xi and you will know what I am talking about in regards to this driving fun factor.
12-13-05, 07:24 AM
#22
Originally Posted by Smedley
Yup. So far I am regretting this purchase. I have a 2006 GS 300 AWD. I bought it in July. The seat is uncomfortable. The cars pulls badly to the left on the highway and the dealer tells me there is nothing that can be done about it. We just had a good sized snow storm (MA) and the car handled no better than my previous car that was equipped only with traction control.
The biggest issue is the 'pulling to the lef't'. The dealer says that the car is extremely "crown sensitive" meaning the car will pull according to the curvature of the road. I took the service manager for a ride to show him that it only pulls to the left regardless of what lane I'm in. His answer after a few days was that it is a design flaw.
The seat obviously I can't complain about, since I tricked myself into believing that it would adjust a bit over time, but it still cuts into my legs (I'm 6'4" 250). The disappointing performance in the snow can be rectified with snow tires, but I mistakenly believed that AWD would negate the need for snows - I never needed them on my Audi A6 (3 cars ago).
I'm not intending on bashing the car - it has good power, smooth ride and some great features. However, I saw this thread in the forum and felt I had to post. Thanks.
The biggest issue is the 'pulling to the lef't'. The dealer says that the car is extremely "crown sensitive" meaning the car will pull according to the curvature of the road. I took the service manager for a ride to show him that it only pulls to the left regardless of what lane I'm in. His answer after a few days was that it is a design flaw.
The seat obviously I can't complain about, since I tricked myself into believing that it would adjust a bit over time, but it still cuts into my legs (I'm 6'4" 250). The disappointing performance in the snow can be rectified with snow tires, but I mistakenly believed that AWD would negate the need for snows - I never needed them on my Audi A6 (3 cars ago).
I'm not intending on bashing the car - it has good power, smooth ride and some great features. However, I saw this thread in the forum and felt I had to post. Thanks.
12-13-05, 08:10 AM
#23
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Originally Posted by paul_phily
I recently purchased a 2005 GS300AWD, loaded, and am having second thoughts about trading it for the Acura RL or Infiniti M. The M's interior layout doesn't please me, but the driveability of the car does. Regarding the Acura, everyone seems to be really praising the SH-AWD and 300 HP.
What's a guy to do??
What's a guy to do??
12-13-05, 09:34 AM
#24
Originally Posted by Smedley
I have close to 8000 miles. I believe it always has pulled to the left. You know, I have to admit something...After making this post, I realized that I never used the "SNOW" switch, LOL! I forgot all about it. So maybe it is a magic switch and really does something? I know the "POWER" switch really seems to give the car a boost, so who knows?
12-13-05, 09:53 AM
#25
Smedley: Sorry to hear your buyers remorse, Id like to chime in and help you to try to get the pulling resolved because that would make my decision to buy a gs 350 easier. We need to disprove that its a design flaw. First of all, if there is anything that you keep in the trunk or in the back of the car or passenger seat above 50 pounds, make sure that is or was not present when they aligned the car, bmws especially are notorious for senesitivities to weight in the car because it can throw the alignment machine off
Second: GO TO ANOTHER DEALER TO GET IT ALIGNED, there are numerous cses where the alignment machine is defective or just not up to speed on certain days and since it is a precision instrument, it could be reading dead center when its not, also the tech could be making an error.
Third: Try different tires, (or at least rotate of the current ones) there is a such thing as "radial pull" your tires could cause pull even if the car is dead straight aligned and on perfectly flat road.
Fourth: Make sure they are centering the wheel, some places will align a car and not bother to center the wheel. this is key and may be the issue here, the tech may be shortcutting and not checking the wheel and simply looking for caster/camber out of whack
Fifth: make sure all tires are inflated as close to uniform as you can get them
Sixth: If all else fails, ask to drive another new GS on the same road to see what it does, easy way to test for a design defect this way. For the above issues, ask for lexus's help through another dealer and/or go to another independant shop for their input on the issue.
Seventh: dont know about the GS but if you are slamming the gas on acceleration, there could be torgue steer and/or differential pull (most differentials do not evenly transfer power between left and right wheels thus giving you a main drive wheel that will have more power which is noticable under hard acceration) if you are noticing pull on acceleration then this is the problem, if you are coasting as steady speed and have the pull then it is not.
I am confident one or more of my suggestions will cure your problem (as long as your car does not have bent frame from some sort of accident). Good luck with it and please do post me a response of the outcome and/or PM me because I am most interested in learning if you were able to get it resolved.
Second: GO TO ANOTHER DEALER TO GET IT ALIGNED, there are numerous cses where the alignment machine is defective or just not up to speed on certain days and since it is a precision instrument, it could be reading dead center when its not, also the tech could be making an error.
Third: Try different tires, (or at least rotate of the current ones) there is a such thing as "radial pull" your tires could cause pull even if the car is dead straight aligned and on perfectly flat road.
Fourth: Make sure they are centering the wheel, some places will align a car and not bother to center the wheel. this is key and may be the issue here, the tech may be shortcutting and not checking the wheel and simply looking for caster/camber out of whack
Fifth: make sure all tires are inflated as close to uniform as you can get them
Sixth: If all else fails, ask to drive another new GS on the same road to see what it does, easy way to test for a design defect this way. For the above issues, ask for lexus's help through another dealer and/or go to another independant shop for their input on the issue.
Seventh: dont know about the GS but if you are slamming the gas on acceleration, there could be torgue steer and/or differential pull (most differentials do not evenly transfer power between left and right wheels thus giving you a main drive wheel that will have more power which is noticable under hard acceration) if you are noticing pull on acceleration then this is the problem, if you are coasting as steady speed and have the pull then it is not.
I am confident one or more of my suggestions will cure your problem (as long as your car does not have bent frame from some sort of accident). Good luck with it and please do post me a response of the outcome and/or PM me because I am most interested in learning if you were able to get it resolved.
Last edited by Nauticalx; 12-13-05 at 09:58 AM.
12-14-05, 08:13 AM
#26
WOW, isnt that a coincidence, maybe he read it then again lexus is reported to have great service so maybe they noticed that the issue was still unresolved and decided to phoen you! good luck and do keep up posted!
12-14-05, 12:11 PM
#27
I guess he didn't want to loose your buisness.I haven't had the oppertunity to drive in the snow yet(I haven't been home in a while).I also haven't noticed any pulling on my car,I put the run flats back on for the winter it might change the cars driveability.
01-04-06, 07:56 AM
#28
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Originally Posted by Smedley
Yup. So far I am regretting this purchase. I have a 2006 GS 300 AWD. I bought it in July. The seat is uncomfortable. The cars pulls badly to the left on the highway and the dealer tells me there is nothing that can be done about it. We just had a good sized snow storm (MA) and the car handled no better than my previous car that was equipped only with traction control.
The biggest issue is the 'pulling to the lef't'. The dealer says that the car is extremely "crown sensitive" meaning the car will pull according to the curvature of the road. I took the service manager for a ride to show him that it only pulls to the left regardless of what lane I'm in. His answer after a few days was that it is a design flaw.
The seat obviously I can't complain about, since I tricked myself into believing that it would adjust a bit over time, but it still cuts into my legs (I'm 6'4" 250). The disappointing performance in the snow can be rectified with snow tires, but I mistakenly believed that AWD would negate the need for snows - I never needed them on my Audi A6 (3 cars ago).
I'm not intending on bashing the car - it has good power, smooth ride and some great features. However, I saw this thread in the forum and felt I had to post. Thanks.
The biggest issue is the 'pulling to the lef't'. The dealer says that the car is extremely "crown sensitive" meaning the car will pull according to the curvature of the road. I took the service manager for a ride to show him that it only pulls to the left regardless of what lane I'm in. His answer after a few days was that it is a design flaw.
The seat obviously I can't complain about, since I tricked myself into believing that it would adjust a bit over time, but it still cuts into my legs (I'm 6'4" 250). The disappointing performance in the snow can be rectified with snow tires, but I mistakenly believed that AWD would negate the need for snows - I never needed them on my Audi A6 (3 cars ago).
I'm not intending on bashing the car - it has good power, smooth ride and some great features. However, I saw this thread in the forum and felt I had to post. Thanks.
- rotated the tires; still pulled left
- 4 wheel alignment; fixed
I'm assuming they re-alighned your car?
01-04-06, 08:07 AM
#29
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Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
SH-AWD main advatage is really not in the snow, your not going to be driving 60mph in a 30mph zone in the snow. SH-AWD does haev a good advantage in the dry, b/c its the only wheel system that transfer power left to right as well as front to back. Itsis pretty much the best AWD system offered.
The thing is you have to push the snot out the car to get SH-AWD to activate and if you look at the RL peak pwer, your driving at 6000rpm to get it, so when will u actually use it?
The RL if you look at tests, its 300hp in name only. It has 260lbs of torque and the car weighs 4000lbs. The acceleration times are only a tick or 2 more than a 245hp GS 300 AWD.
The M has 280hp and is quicker than the RL with 300hp, it also is faster than the GS.
Its funny how things are marketed, SH-AWD makes more sense in a sports car, where the outer limits will be explored and the system will be put to good use.
The thing is you have to push the snot out the car to get SH-AWD to activate and if you look at the RL peak pwer, your driving at 6000rpm to get it, so when will u actually use it?
The RL if you look at tests, its 300hp in name only. It has 260lbs of torque and the car weighs 4000lbs. The acceleration times are only a tick or 2 more than a 245hp GS 300 AWD.
The M has 280hp and is quicker than the RL with 300hp, it also is faster than the GS.
Its funny how things are marketed, SH-AWD makes more sense in a sports car, where the outer limits will be explored and the system will be put to good use.
The Lexus is a "Lexus". If someone asks what kind of car you drive and you say Lexus", the immediate impression is "wow they have a nice car, expensive". If you say you have an Acura or Infiniti it's not as impressive. Acura and Infiniti don't seem to be on the same socio-economic level as Lexus, Mercedes and BMW. Also, people say the RL looks like an Accord on steroirds. Do you want to pay almost $50k for a car that some people think looks like an Accord. Yet, sometimes I see a new Toyota Avalon and it looks like it's derived from the GS. Anyways, I bought an AWD Lexus GS because it was nice and we got a good deal. The dealers arounbd here didn't move much on the price of an Infiniti M. If you want a real nice sports sedan and don't want to spend +$70k buy a used E55 AMG or BMW M5. Those are FUN cars to drive. For me, the GS AWD is a supreme family car that looks really sick! Also, I had an Acura for 10 years and wanted something different.
01-04-06, 11:24 AM
#30
Originally Posted by nardeezy
Exactly, keep in mind, horsepower/torque is just a number. All of that is dependant on curb weight, weight distribution, suspension, etc. What matters are the track times (0-60, 1/4 mile, slalom). Bottom line, the M35/x outperforms all of them and us. The Acura RL has the best bang for your buck combo of technology, comfort and performance.
The Lexus is a "Lexus". If someone asks what kind of car you drive and you say Lexus", the immediate impression is "wow they have a nice car, expensive". If you say you have an Acura or Infiniti it's not as impressive. Acura and Infiniti don't seem to be on the same socio-economic level as Lexus, Mercedes and BMW. Also, people say the RL looks like an Accord on steroirds. Do you want to pay almost $50k for a car that some people think looks like an Accord. Yet, sometimes I see a new Toyota Avalon and it looks like it's derived from the GS. Anyways, I bought an AWD Lexus GS because it was nice and we got a good deal. The dealers arounbd here didn't move much on the price of an Infiniti M. If you want a real nice sports sedan and don't want to spend +$70k buy a used E55 AMG or BMW M5. Those are FUN cars to drive. For me, the GS AWD is a supreme family car that looks really sick! Also, I had an Acura for 10 years and wanted something different.
The Lexus is a "Lexus". If someone asks what kind of car you drive and you say Lexus", the immediate impression is "wow they have a nice car, expensive". If you say you have an Acura or Infiniti it's not as impressive. Acura and Infiniti don't seem to be on the same socio-economic level as Lexus, Mercedes and BMW. Also, people say the RL looks like an Accord on steroirds. Do you want to pay almost $50k for a car that some people think looks like an Accord. Yet, sometimes I see a new Toyota Avalon and it looks like it's derived from the GS. Anyways, I bought an AWD Lexus GS because it was nice and we got a good deal. The dealers arounbd here didn't move much on the price of an Infiniti M. If you want a real nice sports sedan and don't want to spend +$70k buy a used E55 AMG or BMW M5. Those are FUN cars to drive. For me, the GS AWD is a supreme family car that looks really sick! Also, I had an Acura for 10 years and wanted something different.