Review of my Lexus GS430

Rilot

Rilot

Rilot

Don
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
23,728
Location
Wargrave, UK
I've had the Lexus for two weks now so I think I've got a decent impression of what it's going to be like to live with.

Buying it
Utterly painless. The dealer was courteous and decent quality coffee was provided. The dealers premesis were spotless and all of the staff polite and happy to help. Collecting the car was an experience as I took delivery of it from inside the show room. That's right, they bring the car inside so you can look round it properly. On the passenger seat was a box of wine and a bunch of flowers. Lovely.

Equipment
This car has everything and I mean everything. The kit list includes:
6-Speed auto with tiptronic
Electric, leather, heated, cooled, memory seats
Adaptive, radar-guided, cruise-control
Pre-crash detection system (tightens seatbelts and primes airbags)
Park radar front and rear
Rear parking camera
Sat-nav with touch screen and TMC reception
14 speaker Mark Levinson hifi
Electric rear blind
Adaptive Xenon lamps
Keyless entry
Keyless go
Electric roof, windows
Electric, heated, folding mirrors
Adaptive Variable Suspension
Climate control
Bluetooth hands free
EBD (like BMW CBC)
ABS
Traction control
Tyre pressure monitor
Variable ratio steering
Voice Command
+ Other stuff I can't remember.

Everything is easy to use and does what you would expect with a couple of exceptions. Lexus in their lawyer fearing idiocy have made the Bluetooth handsfree kit largely useless as you can't dial out from your phone book once the car is in motion. Destination input for the sat-nav system is also disabled as soon as the car starts moving which means that you have to pull over and stop if you want your passenger to change your destination.
Both of these annoyances can be fixed with a little wire cutting which I will be doing at the weekend.
Most of the secondary functions that aren't used that often such as folding the mirrors, using the rear blind, opening the fuel cap etc. are controlled from a bunch of buttons which are hidden away in a flap by the driver's right knee. I like this as it means that the dash is uncluttered.
Keyless entry and go works as well as it did in my Audi. Walk up to the car and touch the door handle to open it. Sit down and mash the starter button. No need to remove your keys from your pocket.
The hifi is utterly superb. Probably the best OEM hifi I have ever heared and that is saying something coming from the awesome system in the Audi A8. The sound is crisp with good definition and strong bass.

Build quality
This thing is superbly built. The Germans are now quite a way behind on the solidity of build stakes however the car lacks the opulance and sense of occasion you get when driving a Mercedes or BMW. The whole effect is somewhat clinical in it's execution. I quite like it but I can see how others might not.
There are no rattles or squeaks what so ever and the car is utterly silent. I have switched the engine off a couple of times already as I had forgotten I'd turned it on and jabbed the starter button again.

Driving
It's fast but doesn't feel it. 60 comes up in about 5.9 seconds so it is more than fast enought to worry most hot hatches on the roads. Handling is another matter, although the steering is well weighted it feels very artificial, probably due to the variable ratio rack. Braking is a very detatched affair as the brakes are electronic with no hydraulic link between the pedal and the disks. This makes modulating brake pressure somewhat difficult. They are also massively over assisted.
The car grips well and the traction control lets you have a little fun before it calls time. Corner speeds can be kept pretty high in this car but it never feels like you are totally in control due to the lifeless steering.
The ride is excellent if a little on the firm side for a car of this size. It soaks up bumps well but can become unsettled over very nasty surfaces.

Overall
Assuming it is reliable I think I will be happy with this car for a couple of years or so. It's not a car to get excited about but I kind of like the idea of a car that says absolutely nothing about me. On long journeys it is a very pleasent place to be.

I'd give it 7 out of 10. Not a driver's car but doesn't try to be either.

Pics
Sorry about the terrible quality but the weather has been terrible and I seem to have lost my D-SLR.

http://www.rilot.co.uk/ocuk/gs430/IMAGE_018.jpg
http://www.rilot.co.uk/ocuk/gs430/IMAGE_019.jpg
http://www.rilot.co.uk/ocuk/gs430/IMAGE_020.jpg
http://www.rilot.co.uk/ocuk/gs430/IMAGE_021.jpg
http://www.rilot.co.uk/ocuk/gs430/IMAGE_022.jpg
http://www.rilot.co.uk/ocuk/gs430/IMAGE_023.jpg
http://www.rilot.co.uk/ocuk/gs430/IMAGE_024.jpg
http://www.rilot.co.uk/ocuk/gs430/IMAGE_025.jpg
http://www.rilot.co.uk/ocuk/gs430/IMAGE_026.jpg
 
Not my type of car, but it does sound like a very good continent crushing mode of transport with top notch build and in all likelihood, clockwork reliability.

Can't remember what magazine it was - might have been Autocar - but the writer was saying that the Yokos produced a lot more road noise than he expected. Agree about the dealers - I used to have an IS200 and the dealer service is unsurpassed.

And yes, the photos are crap not only in the image quality but in your choice of photos :p
 
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Cracking car m8. You must be well pleased with it.

Good write up about it too.

I've always liked the big Lexi ( is that a collective term for more than one Lexus?!! :p ).

5.9 secs to 60 is rather respectable for a big car like this. I bet its an absolute hoot to drive. Are these things RWD?.
 
My boss has a 3 year old 430 and he loves it, he'll be up for a new car next year and i bet he will go Lexus again.

They really are a beast of a car, and its nice that there are not many about!
 
Sounds great, the idea of a big comfy barge is growing on me. Not surprised at all about the sound quality of the stereo, Mark levinson make superb home hifi at a very expensive price point.
 
Bear said:
Sounds great, the idea of a big comfy barge is growing on me.
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Welcome to my world. :p

Bmw's are 100% uncool here but I tell ya - I 've fell in love with mine. Such a beautiful car to drive.
 
Sounds like a really impressive car, glad you are happy with it.

Although by chosing a car from the class below Bear, you can get much of the comfy-ness without the loss of feel/driveability/enjoyment.
 
Nice car - Park Assist look like fun :D


merlin said:
Welcome to my world. :p

Bmw's are 100% uncool here but I tell ya - I 've fell in love with mine. Such a beautiful car to drive.
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Glad to know you're enjoying it :)
 
Bear said:
Sounds great, the idea of a big comfy barge is growing on me. Not surprised at all about the sound quality of the stereo, Mark levinson make superb home hifi at a very expensive price point.
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merlin said:
Welcome to my world. :p

Bmw's are 100% uncool here but I tell ya - I 've fell in love with mine. Such a beautiful car to drive.
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I'm disappointed in the pair of you. Go and stand in the corner until you see the error of your ways.
 
Sam said:
Nice car mate, didnt know u lived in bracknell :)
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I don't. Bracknell sucks. I just work there.

Mechanical Arts said:
Nice car.

Is that the same parking assist thing as the one in this video:

http://www.thatvideosite.com/video/3687 ?
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Nah, that is the new LS460 with it's auto park function. This one doesn't park itself but it does give you a camera and tell you which way to turn the wheel etc (not that I need it of course).
 
Nice review mate, and car.

My old mans got one and he seems really pleased. Its a bit ugly in my eyes but its a whole lot of car. Drinks chiller and massage seats in the back :)
 
Really smart car there mate!

I think when I eventually stop saving and think about getting annother car, I think I will get a barge (if I can resist the charms of the DC2 that is). Dont think it will be quite that nice mind you! The bike satisfies the nutter in me, 75% of the time in a car I just wnat to get to work/where I'm going quickly and comfortably.
 
Oakesy2001uk said:
The bike satisfies the nutter in me, 75% of the time in a car I just wnat to get to work/where I'm going quickly and comfortably.
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This is exactly my point of view. If I want to go fast I will ride a bike. If I want to be comfortable I will drive a car.
 
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