dangerdog

OK so I am seriously considering a 2013 GS350 ad while I was initially set on the f sport I am now entertaining the luxury package as well. I like the idea of the sport plus mode but, really, how much difference is there between sport and sport plus.

How often do those of you with the sport plus option use it? Is it worth the extra cash? etc etc

School me folks.

Rexus300

iTrader: (1)

I would say that Sport + is a def improvement over sport with the stiffening of the dampers so there less body rolls and more planted feeling of the car onto the road. The steering gets heavier and more sportier. Its a good feature to have. I like it a lot more then my 2011 BMW 5 series dynamic handling package.

puckhead85

sports Plus comes with the luxury package. The difference between the F sports and the luxury is that the F sport will be slightly firmer. For me I hardly ever use the drive modes. I just leave it normal. Living on Long Island there isn't many places to let it out without the risk of a ticket

rominl

iTrader: (4)

to me i only feel it's fun enough for me when it's in the S+. in sport it's nice but doesn't give me that kick

dangerdog

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being Normal mode and 10 being Sport Plus...where will regular sport fit in?

yardie876

IMO it's like an 8. The increased throttle response is more than enough to make a spirited drive. Add in the tightened steering and suspension in sport+ and it's even better. I do about 60% of driving in sport and 30% in sport+ and the remaining in normal.

islandbeef

Newbie question: does this also "lower" the car? Looking at the wheel wells, certain F Sports look higher off the ground while others look lower. Does the Comfort to Sport/Sport+ mode have something to do with this? TIA.

FishBike

There's no effect on ride height in the different modes. You may be seeing the difference between AWD models vs. RWD models. The AWD ones sit about half an inch higher.

GSthe4th

iTrader: (1)

I actually wish I had no other setting but sport "plus." It is all I ever drive in, and is even more important for my car since it is lowered (on springs, not coils). But even before I was lowered I only used SP mode: more control, better response, power (feeling of), reactivity--> more safety. I enjoy and prefer the "tight" ride since all of my cars have had modded suspensions. And I have no gas guzzling repercussions. As someone said, you can also get the SP mode on the luxury model!

dangerdog

Some great input...I guess I will be doing some test driving... a lot maybe.

Tom450

Being in flat Florida, almost all my driving is in D mode. When I have to merge into traffic I put into Sport mode and when entering the express ramp it goes into S+ mode. After merging it goes back into D. Eco is never used. The S and S+ modes are FUN.

islandbeef

In my 2000 LX-470 (cousin of the Land Cruiser) it had a cool height adjustment feature. I thought it was included here, my mistake.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

height control is mostly available only on cars equipped with air suspension, like the LX, GX, LS

Afrosheen

Is the VGRS available on the Lux model also? I guess it is if you can get Sport+ as a package.

When you flip modes, pay attention to the highlights on the screen. It shows you what is being changed. Sport+ highlights steering, engine/trans, and shocks. It seems like they're using Tein's technology with servos mounted to the shocks on top, which screw the piston down to tighten suspension in Sport+ mode.

The main difference between sport and sport+ is just suspension. It may also hold gears longer. I know if I get impatient on the highway in sport mode, when it downshifts and I pass, if I have to brake soon afterwards, it'll still be in the passing gear for a few more seconds, waiting for throttle again. You can see it obviously doing this by watching the tach.