Test drive Lexus GS 2000 - 2005 sedan

Flying Japanese

The elite club of eight-cylinder business class sedans has long been covered with a halo of prestige and is surrounded by universal respect. These cars are traditionally distinguished by technical perfection, wealth of equipment and ardor. And they suggest the presence of the owner, and not the hired driver, which has a positive impact on the owner of the owner, because the owner of such a machine must simply be energetic, tightened, certainly with a sense of style.




Could such a young, but ambitious brand, like Lexus, bypass this circle of aristocrats with its attention? In no case! However, for a long time there was no suitable weapon in her arsenal: ES300 is small, LS430 is too thundering, and the GS300 is equipped with an incorrect six -cylinder engine. The path was chosen albeit true, but far from original implantation of the V-shaped eight from the flagship model to the GS hood. It turned out, perhaps, not quite cheap, but very angry. The question of the day sounds like this: did the Japanese manage to offer a capricious and legible clientele something special or simply climbed with a pork snout into a kalashny row? We'll figure out.

 

From the point of view of design, this Japanese does not reach the impeccability of German cars. In many angles, the back of the car seems heavy, although the standard anti -wing looks promising. The window line shaving in the area of \u200b\u200bthe rear rack looks completely inelegal. But after the birth of the new Mercedes E-class, the GS430 is one hundred percent relevant of the ANFAS.
 
But the salon of the car leaves a feeling of harmony and completeness. A reasonable balance between comfort and sports is achieved here. In the design of the interior, as it is appropriate, polished wood, leather and plastic of the highest sample were used, and control of all possible adjustments is entrusted to electric drives. The steering column did not escape this fate, which helpfully rises when the ignition is turned off and returning to the starting position when starting the engine. Of course, in place, both climate control and six airbags in general, only an electric hatch ($ 2000) does not from pre-equipment on this copy. I would especially like to note the abundance of containers for every trifle and indispensable cup holders.

  

A high tunnel strictly divides the interior into two parts, the right and left, strictly determining the four -seater format of the car. It’s convenient to sit everywhere, but the front seats were particularly reasonably soft and at the same time not devoid of lateral support. The governing bodies are made in a combat style: a three -spoke steering wheel and three deep wells with devices.
 

Darkness reigns in the parking lot behind the steering wheel, but it is worth turning the ignition key and the dials light up with pale green light, reminding oscilloscopes with their appearance. Very original and pretty! True, it was not without mistakes: for example, the right of the wells is full of information in it splashes the arrows of the level of fuel and coolant temperature, as well as the indicator of the checkpoint modes. And the core of the steering wheel completely overlaps the signal lamps window located at the very bottom of the dashboard.
 
The dynamics of the car are striking in its assertiveness and at the same time softness. From any speed, the GS430 is ready to take ahead with the frightening enthusiasm of a hurricane wind, and the rate of acceleration acceleration falls only after reaching 150 km/h. The car takes the mark 200 with the enthusiasm of the racing car, and all this dizzying flight occurs to the accompaniment of the engine, singing at high speeds with exciting hoarse basket. And only subtle moments of gear shifts remind you that you are still driving by car, and not flying already above the ground. The symbiosis of the engine and the automatic gearbox is truly perfect! This adaptive machine is equipped with three special regulations: normal, sports (which we did not leave) and winter. He does not have a fashionable manual mode of switching, but, believe me, the needs for it never arose.

  

It is great that with such abilities, the GS430 has amazing brakes, understandable and effective. They are equipped with a complete set of electronic systems: anti -blocking, anti -bowing, distribution of brake efforts and emergency braking. And the head of this active security complex is the VSC stabilization system.
 
I would not want to make the creators of this cool machine awkward compliments, but in the movement Lexus GS430 delivers truly Mercedes sensations. He also has the same unreal ease of move, and magnificent sound insulation, which allows to hear two hundred at the speeds under the two hundred, which the neighbor mutters under his nose. On straight and in gentle turns, the car demonstrates remarkable stability, and, it seems that no force will itself from the intended path.
What GS430 does not like is sharp maneuvers. At the entrance to a steep turn, the mutual understanding of the driver with a car, which seemed indestructible a second ago, gives a crack. The reactive force on the steering wheel melts, becoming less and less intelligible. Then, when the car fixes the radius, the picture of well -being is restored, but in transition regimes, confidence in full control over the situation leaves a person. However, fear does not arise, because behind your back you always feel support from the VSC system, ready to come to the rescue at any time. By the way, the VSC can be disabled with a simple press of the button (which will undoubtedly be estimated by extreme ones), although such a large and solid machine, and even with a machine gun, a rally driving style is not entirely to the face.

  

No, it will not be inconspicuous on the GS430 in the company of the Grandes. Moreover, the Grandes themselves look in places paler than the newcomer. Some dynamic data is worth it! In short, the Japanese in their repertoire: they coped with brilliance with the difficult task that they took up. And we all need to get used to the fact that the list of members of the elite club was replenished with another name.
 
Autography
Lexus GS430
Predecessor
GS400 (1993)
Premiere
september 1997
Start of sales
september 1997, North America
Modernization
september 2000
Country of Origin
Japan


The car is provided by Lexus-Business Kar.
 

Text: Leonid Klyuyev
Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A source: Wheel magazine [No. 60/2002]