Originally Posted by rijc99

Not according to Lexus

http://www.lexus.com/models/GS/features#

Originally Posted by rijc99

Exactly, according to Lexus... there is no change in steering setting from Normal to Sport S. The change takes place from S to S+

Originally Posted by bclexus

Putting your car in Sport drive mode the NAV screen will indicate what has changed. See if the Steering Wheel is highlighted along with the Engine and the Transmission.

Originally Posted by bclexus

Okay, it depends on whether the car has AVS or not.

■Vehicles without AVS

Sport mode
An acceleration response suitable for sports driving is provided by controlling steering
response and transmission. Suitable for when precise handling is desirable, for example
when driving on mountain roads.
When the driving mode select switch is turned right, the “SPORT” indicator comes on
in the instrument cluster.

If the car has AVS, then apparently no change is made to the steering until the Sport+ mode is chosen (as indicated below).

■Vehicles with AVS

Sport mode
• SPORT S mode
Improves acceleration response by controlling the transmission. Suitable for when
precise handling is desirable, for example when driving on mountain roads.
When the driving mode select switch is turned right while a made other than SPORT
S mode is selected, the “SPORT S” indicator comes on in the instrument cluster.

• SPORT S+ mode
Improves steering performance and driving stability by simultaneously controlling the
steering and suspension in addition to the transmission. Suitable for sporty driving.
When the driving mode select switch is turned right while SPORT S mode is selected,
the “SPORT S+” indicator comes on in the instrument cluster.

Originally Posted by yardie876

You can feel the steering difference in sport+ the most at higher speeds. You'll find yourself having to correct the car more frequently as the steering is much sharper. The trade off though is that it goes around bends like a dream.

Originally Posted by rijc99

Yes. Cars without Adaptive Variable Suspensions have Eco/Normal/Sport S. No Sport S+.

Originally Posted by bclexus

Forget about the F-Sport - because the topic is about a GS 350 Luxury Package and the difference(s) of Sport mode versus Sport+ mode. Also, forget about the engine throttle response and also the transmission shift characteristics because both Sport mode and Sport+ mode provide exactly the same for those two things. That said, the only things that remain are the suspension and the steering. We already know that only Sport+ mode changes the suspension. And, we already know that the Sport mode changes the steering response. All that said, the only question that remains to be answered is - in a Luxury Package GS 350 does Sport+ mode 'further' change the steering in some way (e.g. even heavier feel over what Sport mode provides or a change in ratio, etc.) beyond what the Sport mode already changes the steering?

Originally Posted by bclexus

Does the Luxury package come standard with AVS?

Originally Posted by rijc99

Yes. Cars without Adaptive Variable Suspensions have Eco/Normal/Sport S. No Sport S+.

Originally Posted by bclexus

Does the Luxury package come standard with AVS?

Originally Posted by kevinm123

When you say sharper steering, you don't necessarily mean stiffer. Right?

Originally Posted by rijc99

AVS is part of Luxury package.

Originally Posted by rominl

correct, in my premium version, putting it in sports tightens the steering. but for cars with avs (fsport and luxury), sports only affects the throttle i think. s+ does the steering + suspension

Originally Posted by bclexus

That explains the difference. In my GS 350 Premium when I go to Sport mode the steering response changes whereas with a Luxury package or F-Sport the steering response does not change...and to change the steering response requires going to Sport+ mode.