Is The 2013 Lexus GS Still Promising More Than It Can Deliver?

With its unique spindle-shaped grille and sleek profile, the 2013 GS 350 AWD gives Lexus a new face, but the luxury brand's soul remains the same: long on quiet and comfort, short on thrills.

That formula -- plus reliability, resale value and great service -- helped make Lexus America's best-selling luxury brand for years.

It's nothing to sneeze at, but Lexus wants more. Like many of its owners, Lexus is solid and respectable, but it longs to be seen as wild and racy.

The GS, a sedan roughly the size of an Acura RL, Audi A6, BMW 5 series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti M and Mercedes-Benz E-class, is the repository of Lexus' daydreams of a life less ordinary. It falls short, but the car's looks, comfort and quiet remain strong attractions.

 

enthusiastx11 - 3/21/2012 6:13:42 PM

-1 Boost

great styling. missed that one.
bmw beating performance. nope.
exciting to drive. still middle of the road on that one.

enthusiastx11 - 3/22/2012 6:12:10 PM

+3 Boost

badgewhore is likely a 19year old boy, driving a tercel to his job at starbucks and angry about it. hence the need to lash out at people who are different than him. sad little boy.

enthusiastx11 - 3/23/2012 1:35:34 PM

+1 Boost

badgewhore: wow, you don't even know when to simply walk away. you've dug yourself in an even deeper hole. i'm pretty sure gay people buy all kinds of cars based on their individual needs, NOT because certain cars look 'gay' as you suggest. close your your little bigot mouth.

knowitall1985 - 3/21/2012 3:46:16 PM

+10 Boost

Falls short?? That is an opinion from someone who had very little seat time. How are they selling?????????

enthusiastx11 - 3/21/2012 6:14:33 PM

+1 Boost

at launch (when sales typically hit a peak) about half as many as the more expensive E-class and 5-series.

GG123 - 3/22/2012 3:41:44 PM

+5 Boost

And you were able to draw sales conclusions based on the few weeks that the GS has been out? Man, you're good.

enthusiastx11 - 3/22/2012 6:13:50 PM

-1 Boost

yes, you can actually draw conclusions about numbers from actual numbers. the car is selling half as many in it's first month (usually a sales peak for any new model) as the 5-series that came out in fall 2010.

knowitall1985 - 3/23/2012 10:05:23 AM

+3 Boost

Mercedes is still buying business with their cheap lease......

knowitall1985 - 3/23/2012 10:09:53 AM

+4 Boost

The GS is bringing sticker, and they haven't imported as many cars as Mercedes or BMW so again E-11 doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground.....LOL

enthusiastx11 - 3/23/2012 1:37:37 PM

-2 Boost

please do share your inside knowledge of how the GS is selling for sticker. and even it if is....it's still $20k less than an identically equipped 535i. let's talk final selling prices not supposed discounts off of wildly different MSRPs.

Hoorayforpeepee - 3/21/2012 3:57:26 PM

+11 Boost

Good job on quoting Phelan 009, your Anti-Toyota bias shows through beautifully with the man who called the Malibu ECO the best midsizer money can buy

Car4Life - 3/21/2012 4:59:40 PM

0 Boost

The GS makes a strong case but unfortunately the landscape has changed. With cars like the Hyundai Genesis, Chrysler 300 C, Acura TL, and Infiniti M around, the GS's place in the market is a little blurry.
The E class will continue to be the segment leader.

USNA1999 - 3/21/2012 5:51:59 PM

+7 Boost

I think this is great car but I have yet to see one on the road here in Jacksonville, FL. Not sure if they are selling or not. I guess I will eventually see one when I take my car for service.

YeeeHa - 3/21/2012 10:11:51 PM

+12 Boost

This is an OBVIOUSLY BIASED report written by the DETROIT Free Press, the core of the American automotive industry, posted on an OBVIOUSLY BIASED website here at Autospies, where anything made in Germany is perfect, anything made in Japan is garbage.

I love how this website is abreast of the latest developments in auto news, but the BIAS is getting ridiculous.

Agent001 - 3/22/2012 1:57:42 AM

-10 Boost

HOW is it biased when we post content from ALL the outlets so you can make informed decisions and had ea one stop shop versus having to surf a million sites?

001

DuDE - 3/22/2012 9:54:15 AM

+5 Boost

Well the new BMW 3 promised 36 HW mileage and will it deliver?
EPA doesnt think so.

enthusiastx11 - 3/22/2012 12:57:31 PM

-4 Boost

what's more distressing is that the EPA only randomly tests 15% of models. that means 85% of claims could be total bullshit.

more importantly, nobody buys a bmw for gas mileage. please.

GG123 - 3/22/2012 3:46:39 PM

+6 Boost

You don't have to read a lot of lame-brained comments this fellow enthusisassface11 posts to realize this schmuck if full of hatred towards Lexus/Toyota.

enthusiastx11 - 3/22/2012 6:17:19 PM

-2 Boost

oh i do loathe them for their total disregard for why their customers love them. and always trying to be something they're not. lexus makes super reliable, quiet, highway cruises for people who don't care about/dislike driving. they also have lovely dealerships. but instead of focusing on the reasons their buyers love them, they're always trying to be something they're not: exciting, high-design, performance-oriented cars. they're not. their biggest sellers are the camry-based ES and underpowered IS250. that's lexus.

enthusiastx11 - 3/22/2012 6:21:10 PM

-1 Boost

pondo: so gas mileage really matters to sport/luxury sedan buyers? really? so people buying cars ranging from $40,000 to $100,000+ are concerned about an extra $10/week for gas. that makes sense. please.

DuDE - 3/23/2012 1:15:47 AM

+1 Boost

So, why are MB & BMW selling so many diesels lately?

enthusiastx11 - 3/23/2012 1:39:03 PM

0 Boost

dude: while the german diesels are fantastic cars, americans are still very reluctant to by them. sadly, they make up only a tiny fraction of mercedes/audi/bmw sales in the US.

enthusiastx11 - 3/22/2012 2:12:42 PM

-4 Boost

argue all you want. the fact is the GS sells much less volume and at a huge discount to a comparably equipped E-class or 5-series. it should be the opposite...cheaper cars should sell MORE volume not LESS.

GG123 - 3/22/2012 3:43:45 PM

+6 Boost

Only in your little world in that little brain of yours does Lexus offer discounts.

enthusiastx11 - 3/22/2012 6:04:39 PM

-1 Boost

they offer discounts off of MSRP just like every other manufacturer. and they build in HUGE discounts to their MSRP. just price any 5 vs. GS or an S-class vs. an LS with the same equipment and the german one will be tens of thousands more.

enthusiastx11 - 3/22/2012 6:10:31 PM

-1 Boost

for example:

maxed-out GS350 F-sport with top option package: $57,900.

535i with M-sport package and most options (leaving off the silly expensive ones like rear seat TVs, night vision and active steering): $78,170.

that's $21,000 difference in sticker price. discuss.

BondMI6 - 3/22/2012 3:03:36 PM

+2 Boost

Badgewhore as usual your comments are deplorable....good time to come up with a new username..

Now, the new GS after driving one IS better than old. As it should be.
BUT......it still had a generic interior AND it's drive (power and a bit of handling) is STILL behind the competition!!!
Oh and you think the Audi looks like Darth Vader!! Lol, your beloved GS looks like a Cylon!

-Bond

Lol.....

GG123 - 3/22/2012 4:15:44 PM

+7 Boost

I'm assuming you're accusing this guy badgewhore posting as different names , one of which is mine. You're wrong. I've signed up here quite a while ago but stopped after zealots like Fagent009 and enthusassface11 continue to spew mind-numbing, senseless, hate-driven, pointless drivel aimed to discredit car brands which they personally hate.

I still do check every once in a while and am pleased that a few people are finally standing up to these pretentious losers.

enthusiastx11 - 3/22/2012 6:26:30 PM

-3 Boost

i may comment about the cars...they're just things. you, on the other hand, make personal attacks on types of people. your bigoted comments are offensive. please refrain from your spewing your hatred towards entire groups of people who are different than you.

i'd say the things i say about cars in front of children. would you say the things you do in front of your kids? think about it.

enthusiastx11 - 3/22/2012 6:27:37 PM

-2 Boost

the above was directed toward the bigot named GG123.

Holydude - 3/22/2012 11:07:22 PM

+5 Boost

I think it will sell well, looks much better than the last generation. I think everyone can be more positive and encouraging instead of spewing criticisms left and right, most of which are probably undeserved at this point as you haven't driven it yet...

knowitall1985 - 3/23/2012 10:13:33 AM

+4 Boost

BMW sales of the 5-series are mostly the 528i which is super cheap to lease not the 68k m-sport u moron.....

enthusiastx11 - 3/23/2012 1:40:10 PM

-2 Boost

totally cheap....$700 or $800/month with a few options.

knowitall1985 - 3/23/2012 3:16:07 PM

+4 Boost

The lexus lease is 900+ call a houston dealer and see if they are discounting....NOT!!! Check the numbers and see how many 528 sales are in the 5 series total.

mikeydred20 - 3/23/2012 3:10:49 PM

+4 Boost

This site used to be a good source for information and than the total bais started to show. Yeh I'm an Acura fan go ahead and deboost me. Know it just sucks, leftlanenews has better more relvant information than this site that is catered to badge whores who wouldnt know what a good car was if it hit them in the ass.

knowitall1985 - 3/23/2012 3:55:25 PM

+1 Boost

Acura is a great car. They need to develop new models and fire their styling staff.

skytop - 3/24/2012 7:30:39 PM

-1 Boost

Lexless promises to promise. Yawn....

rhodeislandfinest - 3/27/2012 12:31:41 AM

+1 Boost

i wpuld just like to say to most of the comments on here that if u have the i.q. of a vegetable u would know that lexus are more comfortable than sporty. they always have been and thus far still are. if a sporty sedan is what u are looking for bmw or audi should be your choice. but good luck with repair costs. and i already know your thinking ,well who buys a german car and worries about repair costs... thats not my point .my point is they are expensive. lexus has if not the best, one of the best repair costs in its class. and although jap parts aint cheap there not as bad as germans.

rhodeislandfinest - 3/27/2012 12:33:13 AM

+1 Boost

sorry about the misspelled would