jadu

iTrader: (42)

I would have been all over the 06 GS if this were the case! and so would many other people

LexFather

Yeah I am sure Henry had a typo as he is aware the 2GS 300 is a 2JZ and the 3GS 300 is not.

Here is 1SICK's quick guide to buying which GS
MPG a priority, don't care much about being the fastest on the block, don't mind older NAV and the 17" wheels, want the newer bodystyle-get a GS 300
You don't mind paying more for about the same MPG as the 300 but in a much faster vehicle with updated NAV-get a GS 350
Internetz has you scared to die-get an AWD GS
MPG not a priority, you want the newer design of the GS, don't mind the older NAV or a carryover engine that is rock solid with V-8 sound/torque-get a GS 430
Want the fastest GS, rarer GS, quietest GS, greenest GS, highest MPG, smallest trunk GS and GS that looks a lil different (hybrid cues)-get the 450h
If you want a V-8 feel, 8 speed auto is a priority, semi-analine leather newer wheels, grill, updates-get a GS 460
You want the RAREST GS, try to find a "Passionate Black" GS

IMO you can't lose with any. The GS 350 in my humble opinion is one of the true all around great cars and as the price goes down I think its really going to open some peoples eyes to this car with its blend of looks, features, luxury, power and MPG. The F-sport parts were also built with this GS in mind.

In what 5 years now this car has aged Fantastically.

ItsChris

iTrader: (16)

hey guys, what I meant when I said that comment, "that it felt like I was driving my 2nd gen GS", I meant as in age wise. I know it has a v-6 not the I6 like the 2nd gen gs300. But if lexus was smart enough they would have introduced the 350 in 06. To have lexus reintroduce the gs300, then next year introduce the 350, it just made me feel like the 300 was still part of the 2nd gen gs family, even though it was the newer design. Hopefully that clears it up from what I was trying to say.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

oops, sorry about the typo, thanks for correcting me. g300 does NOT have the same engine as the 2gs. it's a v6, 2gs has i6

rominl

iTrader: (4)

to make it worse? in japan there were no gs300 (v6) at all. straight out in 2006 it was the gs350 already.

that really gets you thinking what the heck was lexus thinking to have gs300 for the US market for 1 yr

lexus!!!!!

Thank you everyone for the info and great debate!

Lexus definitely screwed up when they released a redesigned 2006 GS 300 for just one year, then the same design for 2007 with a new name and new engine.

But after reading all the posts, it is clear that I will go for the GS 350. Better Nav, faster car, and shark fin makes to car looks much more attractive.

Btw, didn't JD Power rated 07-08 GS 350 AWD below average liability. Was that true? If so, what was the problem(s)?

DoosaiWolf

GS350 is definately faster and it's noticeable but the GS300 is capable of far better gas mileage under relaxed driving. I haven't heard of any GS350 owners getting almost 37MPG in their car. My personal best is 36.8MPG average on a tank of gas, for a V6 engine I personally think its terrific, but to understand it you really have to research the 3GR-FSE to see how refined it is. It is definitely geared towards the economical luxury consumer. If you want speed get spend more and get GS350, if you want economy spend less and get GS300.

The GS300 in new body style continues to be manufactured and sold across asian territories other than Japan where fuel economy is more in focus. I am glad the GS300 was released here for one year or I wouldn't have been able to get it. Now if you look at how many cars Japan has that have the 3GR-FSE engine you can see why they never offered anything but the 350 there. The cars that have used the 3GR-FSE are a little more luxury it little less sport so for their market it just makes sense especially since they were trying to make Lexus seem like more of a performance brand in Japan. People there don't look at Lexus as luxury like we do they look at cars like Toyota Crown and Toyota Century for true luxury.

Final thought, people say GS350 doesn't rattle while the GS300 does. Come drive where I live, some of these roads in LA will make any car rattle, even an LS.

dadoody

iTrader: (1)

GS350 has 310HP
GS300 has 245

GS350 plays MP3 and has Aux connections
GS300 does not (stock)

GS350 has a timing CHAIN
GS300 uses timing belt

Stock GPS resolution is also much nicer on the 350

ItsChris

iTrader: (16)

I thought only the 08+ 350 had the aux connections? My 07 doesn't have it in the center console?

SRGS300

to the untrained eye both cars are identical.

BinaryJay

Isn't it 303? Peak values occur at higher RPMS on the 350 as well, I think.

True. Fixed for $125, sort of.

False. Both engines have timing chains/DI/Etc. The 350 is basically the same engine with 0.5L larger displacement.

Yep. 07+ Display has more up to date looking graphics.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

that's correct, 08+ has aux, not 07

but honestly i don't think it's anything that exciting at all

united19

I recently bought 2006 GS 300 (2 weeks ago), my main motivation were about $5K cheaper and better MPG...it came with chrome wheels that I don't like and trying to swap it with alloy wheels any thoughts?

L8Apex

I was looking into getting a nice used modded gen2 GS430 (They avg $10.5) Now looking at the 3rd gen AWD GS300. Probably wont have the NAV as cost is an issue. Just tested a CPO pearl white one at the dealer. Only disappointment was the engine strain in manual mode. I was only at 4K RPM and the engine sounded like it was under a lot of stress. I'm going to test the 350 as well. I drove a Gen2 300 w the I6 and I must say, the V6 feels better in every way. Especially launching it from 0 as it has AWD. But the car doesn't feel like an AWD car as the Subaru's do.

L8Apex

When the term "newer nav" is used. Are you guys referring to a updated DVD or is the screen better?