Lexus GS300

I been driving a 2008 Lexus GS300 for past 6 months.

This is a timeless looking car that does not look awkward parked beside the latest 5-series and E-class.

Engine performance is fantastic with instant power at every slight step of my foot. Gear shifts are smooth except for the 1st 2 gears, which I suspect could be isolated to my car only as I bought it used.

Handling for a car of this wheelbase and width is not that good though acceptable. Suspension is obviously designed for comfort rather than hard driving. Cabin insulation is superb.

Cabin is extremely comfortable with powerful dual zone aircon and plush factory leather seats. All-in-one touch screen control for aircon, car info and audio looks cool at first, but you'll soon realise its a hazard to use when driving.

Bought this car as 2nd-hand.

With over 200 horses on tap, I seldom go above 3K RPM.

Interior finishing is very high quality, and does not deteriorate with time. Features are very advanced given that this car launched in 2008. HID, touch screen, memory seats, etc.

Only let down is the handling is not fantastic. Would expect better given the engine power.

Its a Toyota and very very reliable. Owned the car for two years, spent on improving the handling with roll bars, coils and stagger tyre set up. Just like any Toyota, the Lexus will not fail you. The price is quite steep when new but the pre-owns are bound to be value for money. Steering is extremely light especially on the original wheels.

The shape is unique till the Teena came up with a similar option. In terms of its class, you will probably not be able to find similar features. A very easy car to drive without maintenance headaches.

I have been driving vehicle for the past 20 months or so and I have just parted company with her. So, I thought I would like to share a few words with my fellow readers here.

Generally, this is a great car as you can see from the stars rating that I gives. Look or design wise, I still find this car sporty looking and I really don't understand why some reviews say that the GS's design is outdated. Maybe I am wrong, but I find the GS's profile is quite similar to the Jaguar XF and the Audi A5 Sportsback. These two cars came into the market at a much later date than the GS. So, why nobody complains that the XF and the A5 Sportsback's design is outdated?

The interior of the GS is what anyone may expect from a luxury sedan - good grade leather seats, various road holding/stability devices, adaptive lightings, etc...

The engine is the sweetest part of the car. Rated at 245 bhp, it is power-on-demand. Needless to say, the engine is quiet and the cabin insulation is fantastic. Driving enthusiats may not find this silence an attraction.

At times of writing this, I have just changed my GS to a Audi Q5. Why? Not that I don't like the car, but I just want to drive a different type of vehicle after 20 months.

My dad wanted an executive car to replace his old year 2000 BMW 5 series. I accompanied my dad to test drive several cars in this segment, and also tried the wheel for some of them. We tried many popular makes (eg, BMW 5 series, Audi A6, Jag XF), and the lexus GS300 stood out from those driven so far. The only 180,000 dollar car with a 3.0L engine, you can truly feel the engine's power while riding in the car. The ride is lovely and cushy for passengers, although compromising handling, but this is acceptable for a luxury car. The steerng also feels numb at times. Materials and furnishings are of high quality, and the car's insulation is soooo goooood, no words can describe the level of silence in the car.

However, I haven't tried the new 2009 Mercedes Benz E-class. Will the aging GS300 hold up against the new adversary?

Overall its a very good car.