rorror45

I think most people agree that 2015 RWD F Sports are the most aggressively tuned and 2016-2017 are softer. How about 2018 and up with RWD and F Sports trim?

ItzFilyO

My 2019 is aggressive as it can be without being uncomfortable. I've had a 2014 FSport before and I do not miss it at all. Trust me, u will not be racing these cars to the grocery stores and all those aggressively tuned cars and stiffer suspension will just hurt ur back and wallet.

Just buy the damn car already man and u will be happier with it than ur corolla.

rorror45

Would you say that 2014 F Sports was too aggressively tuned without being luxurious/comfortable at the same time?

And hahahaha I'd love to buy, but I am gonna wait until the market cools off.

ItzFilyO

The tech is outdated on my 2014 and no power trunk. My 2019 has more option and more up to date tech and more comfortable seats. Couldn't last more than 2 hrs in my 2014 without a bad back pain.

But I do feel that the older 2GR-FSE engine is more aggressive on the rev-matching downshifts though. The 2GR-FKS is kinda lazy with the downshift. This is the same experience that I felt with the RC350 with FSE and FKS engines.

Or just get that new GR Corolla that just came out. 300HP hot hatch.

jevononeal

Buy from a private seller, they will sell for KBB price, because the stupid markup is only working for dealers and the GS's are STILL just sitting on lots.

rorror45

Where do you find private sellers? Ideally I want to get a 2018 GS 350 RWD F-sports with dynamic handling package and ML under 40k mileages with 35k dollars..

MX73

Private seller usually means buy it from a person instead of a dealership. You can find them on facebook market, craigslist, on the streets, listings, auctions, etc.
Usually, you would have to pay up front.

AJLex19

A rear wheel drive 2018 F Sport with dynamic handling pkg, ML w/less than 40k miles for $35k may never come into your radar - that's a unicorn of a car considering how few GS's were sold in 2018! Only about 6600 total GS's were sold in 2018 in the US (https://carfigures.com/us-market-brand/lexus/gs). If you trade in your Corolla, you will likely get at least some money back toward the purchase of the GS.

Everyone in the current climate is willing to overspend if they see something they want. Dealers aren't in a rush to sell the car for a discount because of the demand. If you are truly waiting for the market to cool, you may have to wait another two years for an accident free GS even remotely close to your budget/requirements.

In terms of your original question: There are multiple threads where folks have confirmed that the refreshed 2016+ GS was updated for more comfort/refinement over aggressiveness/dynamics/handling like earlier models.

rorror45

I know I am not expecting to find such deal today, but I am taking a long-term view (like 1 year).

ItzFilyO

Just get a normal RWD FSport. U don't really need the rear steering in a car like this. That's just more parts to break in the long run.

rorror45

Is the dynamic handling package overrated?

ItzFilyO

Maybe if u track ur car often but I don't think u will drive by a track on the way to the grocery stores or doctors appointments. Do u?

All of my GS and RC never had the rear steering so that must be like a special ordered cars, which nobody ordered I guess cause I've never come across one here in Cali. And like I said, the cars without it still drives really good.

peteharvey

Below, the left is the original 4GS 2012-14 inclusive front coil.
The middle coil is the 2015 front coil.
The right is the 2015 rear coil.
From the photo, you will see that the original coil is slightly longer, but has the exact same ride height - therefore the original front coil is fractionally softer than the 2015 front coil.
Also, the 2015 front coil has a "flattened" bottom end to its coil - this may give slightly softer initial compliancy.






Below is the 2015 front coil versus the 2019-20 front coil.
Despite the significant extra axial coil height difference - the ride height of the 2015 and 2019-20 is exactly the same - in other words, the 2019-20 front coils have a softer spring rates.





Below are the 2016-18 front and rear coils provided by jgscott.
It's axial height is a fraction taller than the 2019-20, but the ride height is exactly the same.
Hence, the 2016-18 has the softest and most compliant spring rate.

2016-18 coils are generally luxury.
2012-14 and 2015 are generally sports; 2012-14 and 2015 feel about the same to me - though you could say that 2015 is a fraction stiffer.
2019-20 is generally sports-luxury, ie an intermediate between luxury and sports.





In the chart below, from 2012-20 there were a lot of dampers.
In my ownership, 2015 was the firmest dampers.
I can't remember the 2012 and 2013 4GS test drives.
The 2014 dampers I retrofitted were noticeably softer and floatier than the firm hunkered down 2015 dampers.
The 2016-20 dampers are probably the softest.

Also keep in mind that 2016 onwards had thicker front roll bar.
While 2018 onwards had thicker rear roll bar.


Summary
Generally, 2015 sportiest - firm and tied down [lack of float].
2012-14 inclusive has similar springs and stiffness to 2015, but more float.
2019-20 is an intermediate sporting luxury with more compliant springs, and perhaps more float than 2012-14.
2016-18 is closest to luxury for those who want luxury with the most compliant springs and reasonably soft dampers; exactly the same dampers as 2019-20.

ItzFilyO

Interesting that the 2018+ had thicker rear roll bar. Looks like they were still updating the GS pretty much until the end of its production. Wow I thought these cars stayed the same since the 2016 refresh.

Nothing changed between 2019-2020? Except the removal of the USB and AUX jack cover?

rorror45

Wow thank you very much for your detailed reply. This is exactly what I wanted to know!