Test drive Lexus GS 2005 - 2008 sedan

"Day after tomorrow". Comparative Lexus GS300 test

Undoubtedly, everyone will be tired of being continuously under a hail of reproaches in an attempt to combine advanced technical solutions with stylistic bad taste. The Japanese from Lexus, in any case, from accusations of blind copying, puffy-bass-formed four-eyed Mercedes E-Class are certainly tired. Moreover, the arguments of the critics did not look so groundless and although this controversial, but the unpleasant fact did not affect the volume of sales, it was decided to transform the concepts of the exterior Lexus at all, directed all the eyes towards the sports-dynamic, on the verge of open aggression, and tightened . In addition, the new Lexus concept, called L-Fancy, pursues much more global goals to stylistically combine the entire model range and bring the same personality and recognition so valued in high society to it.
Even after not as long as we would like, you begin to get acquainted with the new Lexus GS300, you begin to treat the inscriptions in a completely different way, like there is everything and complete equipment in the ads for the sale of cars. Because there is everything that is unlikely to reach the fifth part of what has the basic GS300 Executive. For the upper GS300 Premium was able to add only a hatch, a spoiler, a different steering wheel finish and the Mark Levinson audio system (against a standard radio with a cd changer and 10 speakers). It sounds solid (this is not only about music, but in relation to the whole list), but behind all splendor, a test of the dynamic abilities of the new GS300 is already brewing, including its comparison with the previous generation car. It will be necessary to destroy the myth that the first meeting on the VIP party rarely ends with a serious contract and is limited to the declaration of intentions.
They are met by clothing, and the appearance of the GS300 is perhaps the most significant and therefore globally processed element. Down with the sluggishness and spread of forms, strict geometry of trapezoids, sharp faces and sharp corners reigns here now. Aggressive exactly so as not to deprive the big sedan of the prestigious status appropriate to him. However, in the appearance of the new GS, evil tongues will be able to find a German wind, this time blowing from Bavaria. May the apologists of Chris Banl and pure art will forgive me, but part of the GS300 stylistic solutions suspiciously recalls recent scandals about the strange appearance of the new BMW. The lines of the body, the opening of the rear doors, the general concept of lighting equipment, what is it, the change of priorities or the world trend in the construction of business sedans? But, in any case, in the integrity and completeness of the stylistic study of the GS300 you definitely cannot refuse
But when you hold out your hand to the driver's door, you hear the dull rustle of the central lock, you enter (you get the word for such an opening) inside and press the big round button Engine Start/Stop, you understand this real, with all its inherent identity Lexus. The spark of the ignition key can be useful only with a reconnaissance in the back of the battery, a transponder is built in the keyboard, and the car sees the owner, managing to open the doors in time. The mechanism of settings of the central castle is programmed individually (step -by -step opening, the work of the immobilizer, the standard security system, etc.). The same applies to the start of the engine to insert and turn any key and turn, the Smart Key technology unconditionally fulfill all the wishes of the owner of the car.
Salon GS300 a real kingdom of the skin, expensive wood and aluminum. And close to the ideal study of all its elements only emphasizes the status of the GS300, at the same time not annoying excessive luxury. You can delight with the magical white-and-respectable gust of well-readable shirt at the branded optimal panel optotron, pushing the recent thoughts of the Germans somewhere, pushing somewhere? What Germans? Who are these Germans at all?
The central console is laconic anything superfluous and at the same time everything that can be dreamed of. The 7-inch multifunctional sensory display Electro Multi-Vision with an intuitive work algorithm allows you to configure not only the climatic and acoustic components of comfort in its responsibilities includes the functions of the mobile phone, the Bluetooth interface, the reflection of these on-board computers and the devil knows what this GS300 is stuffed. Plus, the pure and powerful sound of the exclusive audio system Mark Levinson (head device with a 6-disk chainger, 14 speakers with a phase-inventor subwoofer). About a separate climate for the driver and front passenger, it is not worth talking about the usual thing, supported in the GS300 heating and air -conditioning leather seats. Electric drives deserve to deserve a special mention, it is simply amazing how the cervicals are still deprived of an ashtray and a glove box cover! A complete set of all possible adjustments to the front chairs with three persons each and automatic adjustment of the height of the head restraint, steering column, sunscreen behind the rear shelf, glass glass, the hatch in the roof all moves the power of electrical impulses. Among the innovations, the LED lighting of the salon, clearly distinguishable even during the day.
And although more than one page of the printed text will take to transfer all systems available in the car and functionality, some of them should be voiced to get some idea of \u200b\u200bthe new GS. First of all, it is a I-AFS system that allows the headlight headlights to look around the turn. Its distinguishing feature is that the headlights themselves are not addressed directly about the inclusion of additional lamps or other half measures. The sensors located in both bumpers are interestingly solved by the parking system, with a dangerous approach to the obstacle, automatically draw a picture with the spatial position of the car and distances to the places of unwanted contact, accompanying their observations with panic sounds on the central monitor. And all this, in addition to the rear view camera built into the case of an additional stop signal.
Everything else, whether ABS with the EBD brake distribution system, help with emergency braking BAS, TRC antipropatting and a VSC course system is far from novelty and already a common phenomenon even for car classes below. Like the countless number of airbags, knee -offs, knee for the driver and front passenger, the front and rear lateral plus inflatable curtains on the windows. But the widely advertised autopilot VDIM (the system of integrated car dynamics), as well as the adaptive adjustment of AVS suspension rigidity, are available only in the GS430 Premium version (there is no more democratic executive with such a motor for obvious reasons).
Although it is known that manufacturers of most modern cars are increasingly focusing on the services of professional car services and authorized centers, not allowing the owner of a car of unnecessary manipulations in the subpoor space, but the type of GS300 motor compartment has surpassed the most daring expectations. Here, the driver’s independence is generally limited to fluid value in the washer tank all the priesthood for servicing a three-liter V6 (3GR-FSE, VVT-I, direct fuel injection, 249 hp, 310 nm) are completely entrusted to specialists. What is fully justified, and not only because of the impossibility of presenting the owner of the GS300, who is engaged in the overpass in the garage cooperative to change the oil in this high -tech power unit
However, the mention of the garage itself, in relation to the after -performance GS, looks at least inappropriate. I hope that no auditory sensors with a voice recognition system are provided in it? And then, it’s not even an hour, it will be offended, to go, but no, it seems, everything is in order a friendly outbreak of optitron and soundlessly deviated from zero of the tachometer shooter indicate the complete readiness of the new GS to hit the road.
Oh, this low start on the rear drive to the accompaniment of the mighty V6! But according to the sensations, all the most interesting things happen somewhere behind the incredible lightness with which a massive car rushes forward, makes me seriously fear that the rear axle is about to fall into the backs of the front chairs from an overabundance of torque. Impressive. At such moments, you least think about what high-tech processes are now stinging in the noise and vibration-insulated motor compartment, how the latest VVT-I evaluates your desires and capabilities, and how the direct-adapted fuel injection system does everything for Russian fuel. But 3GR-FSE knows its own business, it is definitely, and confident picking up in the entire speed range is superfluous to confirm this. The old man 2JZ-GE from the previous generation GS in this regard is by no means sluggish, but a good kick provides only 3000 rpm. However, the vigor of any motor is not abstract, the whole thing is the adequacy of the feedback on the gas pedal. But the electronic accelerators on both machines are obviously not shining in information content. You even have time to get upset the pedal as if it are freely hanging together with the bracket, and its connection with the throttle block and not electronic even, but some kind of cotton. You touch it, touch it, it’s already a third of the move behind, and all the reaction of the car itself does not follow any noticeable elasticity, and only then, when the cotton layer was finally sold, GS, as if realizing it, shoots forward. And if I didn’t get sick, I stopped waiting for the reaction to the puffing and stomped well on the pedal with annoying so are we going or not? Acceleration will be clearly more intensively than expected, Kick Dawn does not doze off. Of course, both cars are large and imposing, frantic jerks from the only touch to the pedal even somehow do not somehow, but setting up the main controls with an emphasis on comfort and the bordering on this, the spreading reactions are at least unusual. Although, probably, it is not worth evaluating the behavior of GS from the position of budgetary small studies to the Lexus driver no need to practice every day in extreme maneuvers.
All of the above applies to the brakes of both GS free, not burdened with an elastic reaction, the pedal move is excessively large. Ahead, a hundred meters, a place for a turn, a speed of about 80 km/h, to perform the maneuver, it is necessary to go out to almost zero. The brake is weak deceleration, the intensity does not increase even deeper. Damn it! The border of the turn is already hiding behind the edge of the hood, the pedal to the floor, the unsteady line of the operation of ABS is a complete stop. Hmm, you need to get used to this behavior, although GS owners are confident in complete information content of the brakes. There is no dispute, the system works clearly and harmoniously, and the impeccable operation of the ABS with the distribution of efforts is best noticeable in asymmetric dotted brake tracks on the gravel, only the expectation of such a magnificence is delayed by a large free pedal. Here we should pay tribute to the new Lexus ABS if the anti -lock system of the predecessor recalls not only a characteristic chatter, but also a mandatory tapping on the pedal, then the current GS is limited to acoustic exposure while maintaining a hydraulic brake drive. No pedal trembling, while ABS is working hard!
Another interesting feature of the brake system of both machines is manifested when slowing down. A short, non -intensive touch to the brake pedal makes the cars continue to move at the speed to which they managed to go out when slowing down. Perhaps this is perhaps the only moment when the five -speed assault rifle GS quite clearly means switching one gear down with its subsequent retention. A six -speed newcomer acts similarly, but absolutely imperceptibly. As for the acceleration and uniform movement in space, both gearboxes perform their work extremely correctly, demonstrating their transitions along the steps only with light swaying the shooter of the tachometers.
The suspension of the new GS is imprisoned primarily on comfort, which has its consequence and the possibility of more confident movement at high speeds (and what, already 120? It seems much less!). The irregularities of the asphalt are overcome quite painlessly, without causing strict reactions and the need for forced retention of the trajectory. Silence, peace, confidence. Sharped by potholes and stands, a steep lifting spiral from the side of the university to the overpass to the Studgorodka, once passed on the form of 80 km/h, at the wheel of the new GS300 is completely calm at the same speed. Neither demolition, nor swings, nor any inadequate situation of the roll. Alas, the predecessor did not work to arrange a similar test. In total, the rubber on the front axis is slightly wider than usual, and GS has already received an extremely sharp steering wheel. So acute that he practically lost both zero itself and the near -Stolium zone, reacting to the slightest bumps by the instant departure of the car to the side. Plus, a suspension that often responds to coating defects with a stiffness unexpected for Lexus. According to Lexus, again, the standards, the request not to confuse with the usual majority and dentistry with the familiar to most of us, but still high -speed extreme with such a bouquet did not seem to us a successful idea. And the natural in such cases, the desire to give the heat with more than compensated for the fat piles, drawn by the hind wheels of the old man on dry asphalt. With disconnected electronic strands and in PWR mode, of course. It is spinning well, manages to make more than one turn before the nerves of stabilization and course stability systems can not withstand, and they begin to strangle the drive wheels on their own. The new GS turned out to be more restrained, in every sense of the word. Disconnecting the electronics here is also like you can, but not quite the inscription OFF on the instrument panel allows you to feel like a driver, but in reasonable, according to the car, the limits. As a result, after drawing only half of the circle, the machine automatically stabilizes, ready for a straightforward movement.
It is clear that safety is above all, and indeed the GS300 is not the most driver, but what category do you order to attribute the visibility from the driver's seat? Still, closer to safety, especially with not the most modest dimensions of the car. And here all the advantages on the side of the former GS-mesh draw a clear panoramic image of what is happening behind the stern, which allows you to very quickly get used to the dimensions and get used to in a dense stream. The new Lexus is the possibility of it deprived of its L-Fancy ignores the concept of sailing at high speeds, but significantly limits the viewing angle. The wide front and rear racks of the roof, small external mirrors, the high edge of the trunk during rebuilding often has to rely entirely on the authority of the new GS. Really Lexus engineers used the same considerations?
But in general, no obvious advantages, oddly enough, did not show a single car. Of course, the new GS today has incorporated all the most advanced automotive technologies, and the level of its stuffing with additional systems, devices and functions dressed in luxurious and stylish packaging is able to cause honor and respect. Did such a number of innovations have influenced running qualities? If so, then by no means radical. However, for GS this is not the main thing. But with all the high -tech of the new GS, the previous generation car does not look obsolete at all. Moreover, the solutions implemented and rounded on it are still available to few models. After all, the past GS, as its current generation, at one time has become a symbol of advanced achievements. Every child of his time, they are no better and no worse, they are just different
The last one remains. With this level of equipment and the presence of the technologies of the after -performance day of the automotive industry in one machine, it is fair to assume it at least the sky -high cost. Meanwhile, the new GS300 in the basic version (for Lexus, of course) executive costs less than $ 62 thousand, the GS300 Premium version does not reach the $ 66,000 mark, and the top GS430 Premium will cost $ 81900, which against the background of potential competitors looks very attractive.
 
 
Vyacheslav Startsev
Automarket magazine+sport
 

A source: Drom.ru