Test drive Lexus GS 2005 - 2008 sedan

Their weapons

More recently, only BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi shone on the upper lines of the popularity rating of the popularity of the popularity of business class machines. With the advent of the new Lexus-GS, the Teutonic hegemony was unexpectedly interrupted.

Generously equipped, fast, reliable, but essentially only a shifted Toyota-Aristo in the mid-90s, the previous GS was unable to adequately withstand eminent Germans. Toyota luxury unit appeared in only 1989, the Machine of the Machine, among wealthy buyers and the youth of the brand, did not contribute to the popularity. But in the business class the prestige of the brand of the criterion is almost the primary. The absence of a dealer network, uniform prices and intelligible conditions of service completely condemned this lexus to vegetate in the shadow of the most popular German models.

However, if the patin of time for a car brand, as on some bronze candlestick allegedly of the 17th century, cannot be applied artificially, then the Japanese took up the removal of other minuses with German pedantry. The number of Russian dealers has only doubled over the past six months. And the new GS is the third generation of the model now sells itself. Yes, it was built on the Toyota Craun chassis, but the body received a completely different one so as not to repeat any of the models of a more affordable brand. There are so many technical delights in it that it is time for the Teutons to take an example. And with their own bright branded features, everything is clearly in order.

Yes, and it is, if you figure it out, very reasonable money.

What is the price?
On the one hand, the price tag from $ 63 200 implies that only people can approach the 3-liter GS. Even among prestigious large sedans, this is not cheap. For example, for A6-2.4 they ask for $ 51,286. However, the buyer will have to pay extra for a number of blessings to the class of goods. Metallic, leather upholstery, rear side pillows and five more options will be pulled to an additional $ 1012 thousand. On the basic BMW-525ia and Mercedes-Benz-E280, and even cook from $ 7273 thousand. But they also have a much weaker than a 249-horsepower Japanese six. With 33.5 l of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, more than $ 1229 thousand.

It turns out that GS is a profitable purchase. Here is one of the reasons why, having appeared in Russia only last summer, Lexus quickly got ahead of the E-class sales and seetically catch up with A6 and five. And the lion's share of sales is precisely on the base GS300-Execution. The abundance of electrical drives with memory and safety equipment, ventilated front seats, a system of access to the salon and starting an engine without a key and so on, so much so generous the initial configuration none of the competitors.

True, if the Germans, with the exception of the Kaliningrad BMW, allow you to build a machine to their liking, then Lexus forces to take what they give. Indeed, in addition to executivity, there is only one version of the premium. For an additional $ 2700, she offers the stereo system Mark Levinson and the leather-dererial steering wheel. But do they need when a basic radio with ten speakers and a CD chainer already selects bread from professional installers? A tree on the steering wheel is a thing for an amateur.

With a prestigious V-shaped eight under the hood of premium costs $ 80,600. For a Japanese car, this is already too much. It is no wonder that the GS430 is almost not in demand. Finally, the June novelty hybrid GS450H for $ 78 500 The world's first business class sedan with electric and gasoline engines. The total power of the engines here is as much as 345 liters. With. Whether they ask him expensive, they will soon answer those for whom the device is so fantastic in abilities and is intended, perfectionists, floating for new technical delights.

However, GS began to fight for buyers of prestigious sedans, armed not only a profitable combination of price, equipment and unique technologies.

Outside...
The new Lexus weapon is called the L-Fainis style or L-dummy. By force of exposure, it is quite comparable to the BMW or the last audi imposed by aggression. If earlier in the contours of the GS body, the free fantasy of the maestro Jujaro was read (and even the best of Italians never knew how to make large, solid sedans, whose appearance could conquer the hearts of people with tight wallets), then the current Lexus almost overwhelmed his main rivals. He is solid without heavyness, noble without boredom, is exquisite, but does not seem to be a fragile toy in short, in this Lexus there is everything that needs a large expensive car.

And at the same time, you will not confuse him with rivals. In front of a whale mustache of a radiator grill and headlights in a neat chrome edging. In profile, sculptural, muscular shapes and loopholes of windows. Massive wings and crystal optics from the stern. A real aristocrat with its own insignia.

I must say, the inner world of the car makes the impression equally strong.

... and inside
It is best to get acquainted with ji-es at dusk. As soon as the owner (such a GS recognizes a person with a magnetic key in his pocket) will approach a distance of a meter, the car will unlock the lock, and the flashlight in the lower part of the mirror will illuminate the space at the threshold, whether there are puddles where there are puddles. Open the door, and with a high -society laziness, which and Mercedes is hardly able to boast, covers of the thresholds, legs space, near the steering column, front and rear seats are illuminated. There are no such special effects of any of the competitors.
   
The skin of the seats is soft, excellent dressing and with neat lines. Unless wooden polished cherry inserts look rustic. However, this drawback can be eliminated absolutely free. For myself my beloved, I would prefer the skin of ivory color and dark maple tree. Other, possibly, gray skin and black maple.

At first, the driver's chair seemed wide. Apparently, it was counted, first of all, under the well -fed overseas Mr.. However, the electric drive in a few seconds eliminates insufficient side support. It is also for adjustments in height, longitudinal movement, tilt of the back. Moreover, in the armrest there was a remote control panel of ventilation of the back. Outside the window, plus thirty, and such ventilation is very helpful.

But on the rear seats, the low line of the roof does not interfere too comfortably. The sofa itself is clearly divided into two people. Although sitting here is very convenient: a soft pillow, delicate side support, a wide central armrest. However, do not wait for the royal room, only for the knees there is more than enough. But those who are above 185 centimeters will support the ceiling with their heads, and if you lower the front chair lower, then people with the 44th shoe size will have little space for the feet.

In general, quite soon it becomes clear: the main in GS is a driver. Logical. Unlike the largest sedans, it is customary to drive by business class cars yourself.
 
On a retractable remote, buttons were hidden, which are used less often than the rest

Double -haired glove box Outfit from the inside with a soft cloth and closes with a key

In the American manner, the stereo system reads both CD and cassettes
 
  
A wide armrest provides for a couple of retractable cup holders and a ski hatch

The sound of the basic radio can be configured as if you like
 
Under the cover of the armrest of a pair of containers for trifles, buttons control of the ventilation of chairs, ESP, winter automatic transmission mode


Behind the wheel
This is where Lexus is magnificent! He most remarkably combines the strict minimalism of BMW and sports technology. The motor is launched by the button. With its pressing, the steering column, just moved to the front panel, will advance closer. At the same second, a spectacular dashboard of deep wells under a neat visor comes to life in front of the driver. First, the arrows are illuminated with light, then the scales.

The silent engine is drowned out even a light breath of the nozzle of the ducts. This climate control takes care of coolness. Now I will adjust the mirrors and ... here's the bad luck! It’s not easy to find a block of adjustment right away. Together with the remote control of the trunk and a gas tank hatch, he was hidden on a retractable panel to the left of the steering wheel, there is no need to call his eyes with extra buttons.

The problem of unimportant, like all large sedans, was solved with Japanese courtesy. With turning on the rear gear, the curtain is folded in front of the rear window. The GS bumpers are ready to inform about all the obstacles of the Bumpers in detail: the contours of the machine with a rather accurate indication of the distance to the bumper arise on a 7-inch color monitor. Electronics also recommends where to turn the wheels, so as not to hurt the obstacle.
 
Governing bodies

1. Buttons of electric windows. 2. Button of the central lock. 3. The buttons of memory of the driver's seat. 4. A sliding control panel of external mirrors, trunk locks and a gas tank hatch, headlight washing, lighting of the devices. 5. Remote control of the stereo system. 6. Remote control of an on -board computer. 7. Joystick cruise control. 8. Information display. 9. Climate control unit. 10. Alarm button. 11. The radio. 12. Cupcances.
 
 
Dashboard

1. Control icons. 2. Tachometer. 3. A speedometer. 4. The screen of the on -board control system. 5. Indicator of the operating mode of automatic transmission. 6. Fuel level indicator. 7. The indicator of the temperature of the coolant.

It is even more pleasant that with all the abundance of GS service functions, in contrast, for example, BMW with his Ai-Drive, does not try to seem smarter than the driver. Focus on the sensory display is angry even to a person far from technology. Whether you set up a radio, change the distribution of air flows or are interested in the on -board computer with logically grouped, intuitively understandable iconograms.

True, the GS driver is nevertheless under the arrangement of the place of the place of the driver. It turns out to be such a convenient chair at first: the pillow could be a little longer. Better yet, if this problem were solved with the help of retractable rollers. In addition, the adjustment range is too small on the corner of the tilt of the pillow, which is why the hips do not have sufficient support. Against the background of the common excellent ergonomics, such a savings look strange.

On the roads ...
But where it is even more difficult to find even the slightest shortcomings of GS is in running qualities. Already from a couple of kilometers, Lexus distant me from all road surprises, as if someone covered the asphalt of avenues and streets with a layer of foam rubber. And then, dodging a reckless gazelle, I caught myself thinking that at 80 km/h GS I ejected into a neighboring row from the slightest movement of the steering wheel. Who knew that he was heavy, under a ton of seven hundred, the sedan could be so swift and obedient. Light your health!

The engine only indulges in such a ride. Without the slightest vibration, 249-horsepower V6 purr at idle and medium-speeds. In this case, due to the variable phases of gas distribution, there is so much, as if under the hood, a powerful diesel engine. For the first forty, for the second hundred, at the third 140 km/h. Everything about everything took hard to more than ten seconds.
Engine
 
1. The probe of checking the oil level in the engine. 2. The oil -packed engine cork. 3. The expansion tank of the cooling system. 4. Claus of the glass of the glass gunner. 5. The tank of the main brake cylinder.

Softly with a gas pedal, and the clever automatic transmission immediately includes the sixth gently. Thick doors, soundproof glass, barely audible carrion of the wind is not a car, high -speed express for important people. If there were smaller noise in sections of the rough asphalt (on our car were the Danlop-SP-contractions known for their talkatives), one would generally think that you were steaming in the air.

A large base, a wide track, excellent aerodynamics (by the way, the ceremony coefficient is only 0.27!) It seems that the machine will be infinitely long maintained by the highest terminal stability. And only at 170180 km/h an too sharp steering wheel begins to strain. And the irregularities on the road are no longer launched, but forced to dance the body.

Do you often drive at such speeds and do not want to put up with such a car? No problems buy GS430 with a 283-horsepower engine, air suspension and adaptive steering wheel. Under the barely audible singing of the V-shaped eight, the surrounding reality you begin to perceive even faster, as on the screen of the cinema. At first, the suspension seemed a little tougher. Given the low-profile tires 245/40 R18 (on the 300th 225/50R17), this nature is quite logical. But that is not the point at all. I switch the sports regime of the suspension to a comfortable, and even at such rubber belts, the machine transfers road adversities with the equanimity of the hippopotamus. But the most pleasant in the 430th variable from 12.4 to 17.2, and not constantly sharp, as in the GS300, 14.6: 1, a gear ratio in the steering mechanism. On breathtaking, 220240 km/h, managing such a Lexus speed as simply as if he rolled in a general lazy stream.

On this, the Japanese could put an end to. It is possible, if the Germans had no more outstanding cars. With A6-4.2, 550ia or E500, in which under the hood it is well hidden in 300 forces, not even to compete with such a GS. In peak these monsters, Toyota engineers designed GS450H. Here, paired with a new 3.5-liter engine of 296 liters. With. The electric motor is working in 200 liters. With. True, these figures cannot be summarized, at the exit due to large transmission losses of the power unit, the hybrid gives only 345 liters. With. Nevertheless, according to the passport, such a device is the fastest Lexus less than six seconds to hundreds. And with all the crazy power supply, the car consumes gasoline as an average of 1213 liters as a 2-liter sedan.

... and without them
Naturally, the Lexus has nothing to do with a perfectly adapted for the asphalt on the primer. For sorties to nature, the Buyer GS will quickly acquire a second, or even third car, rather than tormenting an off -road expensive sedan. And yet, despite the seeming helplessness visually, the car literally creeps along the road, GS boasts 155 mm under the plastic protection of the motor compartment. Only an e-class with pneumatics 5 mm higher. It is good that Lexus has an almost perfectly flat bottom. With this much less likely to sit tightly in the snow rut.

True, German machines can be bought in an all -wheel drive version. Lexus in Russia, alas, is not laid. But in the states the GS300 AWD is sold. Yes, apparently, not about our honor. However, where Lexus lags behind the Germans even more is in freight abilities.

We load the suitcases
At first, only positive impressions. There are only three ways to open the trunk: by pressing the handle under the lid, from the card or using the button on the retractable remote control to the left of the steering wheel. And it is not necessary to clap a lid, a special closer will effectively close it. Inside is solid upholstery, loops that do not think of luggage. Under the floor, a set of tools in a neat molding.
 
The trunk is quite capacious (430 l), but not too practical
 
A pair of keys, a screwdriver and pliers are hardly useful, but such a set looks stylish

But in terms of convenience, the GS hold is only on the three. Here, a very narrow opening is difficult to put even the largest suitcases. According to the configuration, the trunk is completely, to put it mildly, strange. Very wide in the stern of 1570 mm, closer to the back of the seat, it taples more than doubled. The back does not fold: only a small hatch for long -meters. And in the hybrid GS batteries reduce a useful volume from 430 to 280 liters.
 
Car dimensions, mm
 
Salon dimensions, mm



Safety
But Lexus takes care of your safety at the highest level. In Evroncap GS tests, the highest rating among all business class sedans 5 stars, 35 points. First of all, 8 pillows helped to achieve such results, including two knee, and inflatable safety curtains in front and behind.

Click this button, and the trunk cannot be opened outside

Inflatable safety curtains are designed for adults. A child, if you do not use a special chair, they will not help

Naturally, there are an isofix loops for attaching children's seats, electric windows disconnected from the driver’s place and blocking door locks from opening from the inside. And if you are going to carry the children on the front chair, the back of a special seat forward, do not forget to first remove the iron sting from the card. Then, opening a glove box, turn off the front pillow with this key.

Operation, service
The main plus of Lexus in this discipline is traditional Japanese reliability. In addition to the planned To, you can hardly think about the need for visits to the service.

The main minus to maintain a three -year guarantee these same visits will have to be made more often than on most cars every 10 thousand km. Moreover, the cost of to each of the dealers has the right to count on their own, which will be spent on service from 8.5 to 13 thousand rubles. However, unlike European machines, this cost includes not only the change of consumables, but also the revision of almost all the systems of the car: the suspension, motor, brakes, as well as the mandatory filling of the fuel system cleansing the fuel system in the tank.

With another drawback of a developing, but still not enough wide dealer network (3 centers in Moscow, 2 in St. Petersburg, one in Samara), the company helps the owners in centrally. You can serve GS not only with the seller of Lexus, but also from any of the 25 official Russian Toyota dealers in 14 cities of Russia.
We liked


Bright, representative appearance

Convenient visual and sound parking lots touch display

Fast and smooth work of a 6-speed automatic transmission

As well as:
very burdened, rather economical 3-liter motor
excellent sound insulation and smoothness
exhaustive basic equipment
stylish, well -read dashboard
 
We didn't like it


Low -rear doorway

Short, with insufficient adjustment range along the angle of inclination pillow

Unfinished trunk

As well as:
noisy tires
fixed configurations
insufficiently spacious rear row
small interval intervals
undercontained, incomprehensible back of the sofa
 
Lexus GS300 (GS430)
common data
 
Body (number of places/doors)
Sedan (5/4)
 
Equipped mass, kg
1660 (1735)
 
Complete mass, kg
2125 (2160)
 
Speed, km/h
240 (250)
 
Acceleration 0-100 km/h, with
7.2 (6.1)
 
Fuel consumption, l/100 km highway/city
7.2/14.4 (8.6/16.3)
 
Fuel supply, l
71 AI-95 and above
 
Engine
 
Location
The front is longing
 
Design
gasoline, 6-cyl. (8-cyl.), V-shaped, two upper camshafts in each head
 
Diam. cylinder x Piston stroke, mm
87.5x83 (91x82.5)
 
The number of valves per cylinder
four
 
Working volume, SMZ
2995 (4293)
 
Power, L.S. at rpm
249/6200 (283/5600)
 
Torque, kgsm at rpm
31.6/3500 (42.5/3500)
 
Chassis
 
Drive unit
On the rear wheels
 
Transmission
6-speed automatic transmission
 
Transporting numbers
3.54; 2.06; 1.4; one; 0.71; 0.58; 3.17
(3,3; 1,96; 1,35; 1; 0,73; 0,58; 2,95)
 
main gear
3.72 (3.62)
 
Suspension:
Independent spring (pneumatic) with reproach stability stabilizers
 
front
on parallel triangular transverse levers
 
behind
Mollycent
 
Steering
rack type with amplifier
 
Brakes
disk, ventilated
 
Tires
225/50 R17 (245/40 R18)
 
Car
from 0.14 $/km
 
Prices for spare parts and that, $
TO1 (10,000 km) 315-480
TO2 (20,000 km) 315-480
TO3 (30,000 km) 315-480
Oil filter 12.2
Air filter 29.1
Spark plug (1 pc.) 27.2
Front brake pads/rear 137.2/67
Tip of steering thrust 47.6
Front/rear shock absorber 140.4/140.4
Front/rear wing 249/416
Hood 631
Front/back door 581/476
Front/rear bumper assembly 354/382
Windshield 379
Lateral glass (front) 119
Farah assembly 692
Rear lamp assembly 260
  
We decided:
The bright, solid, reliable and inventively stuffed with cunning electronics GS combines the aristocratic manners of the Mercedes Benz, the dynamics and handling of BMW, the reference quality and nobility of the materials of the decoration of Audi. GS300 is also a very profitable offer.
 

Source: Magazine buy a car [15/2006]