When we conducted a comparison test of four sport sedans earlier this year, the Lexus GS430 finished a respectable second. Its handsome exterior impressed us, as did the integration of its audio, navigation, and ventilation systems. And the powertrain sparked executive editor Mark Gillies to say, "The engine is amazing, with wonderful refinement and midrange power, while the transmission shifts so unobtrusively it could apply for a job as a butler."
So we ordered a flint mica GS430 with a base price of $51,775 and added it to our Four Seasons fleet. Among the options we selected were the $4030 touch-screen navigation system, which includes a rear camera for easier reverse maneuvering, and an upgraded audio system. We are eager to see if the electronic systems that annoy us in some German cars, such as the brake-by-wire system and variable-ratio steering, are better engineered by Lexus.
260 miles Assistant editor Erik Johnson pens the first logbook entry: "What a great car. So smooth, so comfortable. Only the ugly satellite radio antenna, tiny trunk opening, and inability to turn off stability control disappoint."
1364 "After all of Mercedes-Benz's issues with a brake-by-wire system, I'm surprised that Lexus fit this technology to the GS.... Read full article