vandit23

Well,

Went down to South Bay Lexus today and inquired about the GS350. Sales rep told me it would be available in November. Hmmm...How acurrate is this? Also, he didn't know much about the specs on the car.


BTW GrdnRxR is THE MAN...Thanks

Rockville

New information trickles down at a glacial pace. He may be surprised to see some '07 VIN's on his last allocation this month or first one in September. Everyone is immersed in the Golden Opportunity during August. After the dust settles the new GS350's will arrive, shark antennas and all.

Rock

Trexus

It appears that particular sales rep is still uninformed. We on this site know more about teh GS 350 than he does...

Threxx

"Active Stabilizer (optional on V8)"

What is that referring to? AVS suspension is no longer standard, but optional? Or are they adding active sway bars kinda like the GX has standard?

spwolf

active stabilizer system is same as in GS450h... its electronically controlled sway bars that keep the car flat.

Threxx

Interesting, so this is not in place of AVS, it is in addition to it!

Rockville

was designed for the GS450h. The AVS is still standard and deals with the dampers or shocks. The Active Stabilizers are motorized sway bars that pull against the direction you are turning to counteract lift on that side. The active stabilizer power and control center is situated in the spare tire well. There is a 12V lead/acid battery and power conversion center. It is invisible until you lift the cover in the trunk. Unfortunately we will sell precious few GS430's in '07 as they are a special order only in the Eastern region. A Special ordered GS430 arrive in December if we placed it now. Not only is that getting close to the GS460 in time but for the same time and money you could order a GS450h with the system which would outperform it and possibly get a tax credit in the Spring. I would speculate that the GS460 will offer the same option and if our performance expectations are even close it will need the active stabilizers and possibly bigger rims and wider tires than the GS offers now. I'd expect the front suspension to need some redesign for both space and performance reasons also. Something wicked this way comes Part Two.

Rock

vandit23

what would be the best way to guarantee a gs350 for purchase? Do dealers "pre-reserve" cars for customers, or is it basically first come first serve. I am leaning more and more toward the 350 over the 300, but I don't want the hassle of availability of the car I want. Do you guys think that I could reserve a 350 now, since I am ready to buy, literally...today? Thanks...and keep the great info coming.

gaspowered

Hey Rockville,

Any idea if Lexus will add a port for my ipod on the GS350?

melymel96

I will be very disappointed if their is no Nav Traffic option for this vehicle. If they are already putting it in the LS I see no reason as to why they cant incorporate this into the GS. This could be a show stopper for me as I want everything integrated into my car and want nothing for the interior after market.

gaspowered

Vandit -

I went to a local dealership in the DFW area and as of this morning I could have the first GS350 that is coming to the dealer right around September 1st. The dealer will hold the car for me if I come down there and give them $500. The only kicker is that I have to pay full sticker price, roughly $51,700 for the black/black GS350 with Navigation and ML upgrade. Or I could wait a week later and pick up the metallic/black with same features.

So to anwer your question, it appears you just need to talk with the dealer and see if they reserve cars like they do at the dealer I am working with.

Now my question for the Lexus experts is , is there any possible way to buy one of these 350 in the first 3-4 months and not pay sticker? I don't need the car until December but really want to get my hands on it. I just do not have a graspe of how much of a premium I will pay to get it early.

jrock65

I really don't think the GS350 will stay at MSRP for 3 or 4 months. Even brand new redesigns (i.e., the 2006 GS300) were going for a couple thousand off MSRP a month or two after its launch in February 2006, in the major metro areas.

The GS350 is mainly an engine upgrade, not a redesign. In my opinion, you could probably get at least couple thousand off by early November.

There are a lot of variables though, as in the dealers in your area having the particular color/options you want.

Incendiary

Agreed. I'd be surprised if they stay at MSRP for even a month.

GS Kid 300

Hopefully they will go for around invoice by December

*wishlist*

sort of of topic...

anyone know what will become of this new 3.0L V6 that's in the gs 300? it was only used for 1 model year. i doubt they spend so much into developing the engine and use it for only one year. i know this is a gr engine but this specific engine isn't in any other toyotas in the u.s. that i know of.

i wonder if it would be possible to put the active sway bar in the '06 300/ '07 350???