pxjunky

I took a test drive in this car yesterday. I have a few questions from owners on a few areas that I did not like and wondered if after longer ownership or settings these would be addressed.

Speed seems extremely slow and has very little pull at speed, as if its torque curve is in the upper rpm area.

Dives into corners under hard acceleration, seems unstable and Cadillac like.

Take off i felt the car shift like 6 times in a short blast up to 80mph. Seems to also down shift a lot again during braking.

Steering radius feels tight but also, very unresponsive.

I love the car and all its features, the look of it and Lexus reliability is what drove to to test drive the car. The performance has pushed me away and I want to love this car.

45 yr old male, in case you are thinking I am 20 plus coming out of a scion with a coffee can.
I have owned a lot of cars including M series BMW and Porsche 911 turbos as well as German hot hatchbacks.

trbosmitty

iTrader: (2)

Based off your previous list of cars; I'm not at all surprised with your level of expectation. I guess it really depends on how you will be driving the car on a regular basis.


On a side note; the F-Sport package does not in any way put it in the performance luxury sedan category like the M-Series or AMG.

AJLex19

I can comment on a few of the items of concern:

Power: The GS's 3.5L V6 is not the amazing powerhouse that some people expect as it lacks the low-end torque that some people prefer. Some folks on the forum have even commented that their V6 Camry's have better low-end pull.

Downshifting/Transmission: In sport/sport+ mode, the tranny typically holds the gears a little longer before downshifting in case you need to suddenly accelerate again. Not sure why the 16's would be downshifting in an expected way like you've stated unless its moving back down through its 8gears as you bring the speed back down.

Also: Many threads have discussed that the 6speed transmission feels more responsive overall than the 8-speed.

Maybe test drive a car that has been broken-in with a few thousand miles if possible (such as a 2015) to see if it behaves the same?

Considering the type of cars that you've listed that you've owned in the past, if you have the budget, the GS-F might be more to your liking?

islandbeef

I can understand your concerns, considering the top-tier cars you've driven in the past. It's a trade-off, you give up a little of something (top-end, class winning, ego boosting performance) for something else (daily driving reliability, comfort) with a Lexus. No, it's not going to help you win any Alpha Male Pissing Contests (AMPC) against other cats driving AMG's, 911's or M's but this car will give you a comfy ride that won't drag you into the repair shop anytime soon.

Like I've said in other posts, this car hits the "sweet spot" that provides enough oomph and pizzazz without breaking the bank (in repairs and price of ownership).

To each their own. Whatever makes you happy, pursue it and don't look back. But, as we get older (I'm in my 40's too) we tend to put different priorities into the forefront. Like, drive comfort over wheel gap or peace of mind reliability over class winning track times.

Sure, the haters, Euro-Fanboys and snobs will label it a "gussied-up Toyota Camry" but at the end of the day, it's how you feel about your purchase that's most important.

peteharvey

Like Islandbeef says, it's all a trade off; a compromise.

With the 911, space and practicality is compromised for speed.
With the Golf hot hatch etc, space is compromised for speed.
With the M's, ride is compromised for speed.

The F Sport will give space, comfort, and long term reliability, at the expense of straight line speed, and handling.