March 10, 2006 - Variety may be the spice of life, but it also makes it pretty tasty if you’re in the market for a mid-sized, vee-eight luxury sedan. Whereas, traditionally, the segment had been dominated by four-doors of the Germanic variety, competition outside of the Fatherland has added not only diversity but also value to this burgeoning segment. Where Audi A6 4.2s, BMW 550is and Mercedes-Benz E500s play in the $80,000 to $100,000 league, there’s plenty of action one rung down the price ladder.

Let’s call it the Anti-Teutonic League. It’s where you’ll find less pedigreed, but not necessarily less worthy, vee-eight luxury sedans. Cadillac’s STS, Infiniti’s M45 and Jaguar’s S-Type all play here. And of course, the longstanding Lexus GS series.



All-new for 2006, the third-generation Lexus GS is bigger in every dimension than its predecessor. It’s also the first vehicle to express Lexus’ new L-Finesse design language that the also new for ‘06 Lexus IS compact sedan wears as well. As seen on such Lexus concepts as the LF-S and LF-C show cars, it moves the mid-sized GS away from the more generic sheet metal that the last two generations of GS wore.

Also like the new IS, Lexus is starting to offer more variety within the GS model range. As before, you can get rear-drive, six- and eight cylinder models, but there’s also a vee-six GS 300 with all-wheel-drive and the recently introduced GS 450h is the first rear-drive application of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.



My test car was a GS 430 RWD. It faithfully lived up to its Anti-Teutonic League’s calling by including a generous list of luxury, comfort, entertainment and safety features that on any of the aforementioned German branded sedans would have you paying $20,000 to $30,000 more.

It bears repeating: standard fare on any GS is generous. On the GS 430 RWD, that includes leather seats, in-dash CD changer, HID headlamps, curtain and knee airbags and 18-inch rubber. The $2,400 Touring Package adds a back-up sensor, rear window sunshade, rear spoiler, rear seat side airbags, heated front seats with ventilation and rain sensing wipers. For less than where the German sedan’s asking prices start, the Lexus has a fairly good head start in the luxury aspect of the luxury sport equation. But what about that sporty side?



Where vee-six GSs use an all-new, 245 horsepower and 230 pound-foot of torque 3.0-litre mill, the GS 430 RWD employs a 300 h.p. 325 lb.-ft of torque 4.3-litre vee-eight that the full-size LS 430 also uses. The eight-cylinder GS differs from the sixes in that it incorporates a new Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system that keeps tabs and manipulates the steering, brakes, electronic throttle, and traction control.

In the manner of every other Lexus, all of this techno-geek stuff is transparent once you’re out for a drive. Well matched to the new six-speed automatic transmission, the vee-eight is turbine-like in its mission in moving the GS 430 RWD’s 1,700 kilograms to 100 km/h in under six seconds. Once the roads starts to twist, the new adaptive shocks and tight steering help the luxurious Lexus corner accurately and with minimum roll.



The only downside for you hot shoes out there is that the VDIM electronic nannies can’t be given the day off. Its especially jarring when you are entering a corner hot and the binders go into full brake assist. It totally screws up any of the driver’s intentions of a balanced exit at the apex. After a few attempts, you give in, drive as close to the limit as VDIM will allow and call it a day.

The brakes are strong, don’t get me wrong, but even in around town errand running, the GS 430 RWD’s brake-by-wire system is too sensitive, causing embarrassing stops a few metres before an intersection. Having said this, it’s no worse than Mercedes-Benz’s system, and a long term owner would more than likely adjust.

When you back off the boy racer antics, the GS 430 RWD is one smooth operator. The vee-eight is always quiet and smooth, the six-speed tranny shifts are velvety and the ride is cosseting.



One of the pleasures of any Lexus is the excellent build quality, both inside and out. Materials are soft to the touch and most of the ergonomics are well thought out. The only disappointments are a bunch of secondary controls hidden in a pull out panel to the left of the steering wheel that are awkward to find and the vertical controls in the centre panel don’t have enough variety in their shape or size to distinguish themselves in use. Lexus has avoided any kind of centralized controller like the German brands use. Whether that’s good or bad depends on your own ergonomic eccentricities.

With outstanding build quality, features and powertrain refinement, the 2006 Lexus GS 430 RWD delivers what Lexus buyers are looking for in spades. And compared to comparable Audis, BMWs and Mercedes-Benzs, its in another league when it comes to value.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, www.straight-six.com



Just the facts…

Build quality 
Features 
Performance 
Fun-to-drive 
Overall value 

Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear-drive; 4-door 5-passenger sedan
Engine: 4.3-litre DOHC V8,
Transmission: 6-speed automatic with sequential manual shift
Horsepower: 300 @ 5,600 rpm
Torque: 325 lb.-ft.@ 3,400 rpm
Curb Weight: 1,700 kilograms
0 to 100 kms/hr: 5.8 seconds
Wheels & Tires: 18-inch alloys, P245/40ZR Tires
Base price: $74,700
Optional Equipment: Touring Package $2,400.00
Price As Tested: $77,100