Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
The GS series is a great "all arounder". If you want a comfortable cruiser that does everything well as a car, it is fantastic.
The problem with the GS series is that it is complete weak-sauce if you want it to be a "sports" or enthusiast model. The F-Sport is a sticker/appearance package, might get a tweaked suspension to make it "fluffy" rather than "jelly". I would say avoid the F-sport package as it is pricy and really does not change the dynamics of the car.
Basically, any entry level Genesis G80 will decimate GS equivalent (more power and slightly better dynamics) save for the GS F but at @90K, just by the BMW. The GS F is less about performance and more about an on-ramp pull. Still to much of a comfy cruiser than a M/AMG alternative.
F Sport is more than an appearance package, had it just been appearance based we would've purchased it as Lauren preferred the mesh grill and dash over the standard GS. F Sport gets larger 2 piece front rotors, staggered tire setup, adjustable suspension, and of course the cosmetic upgrades. None of those options add any power, none of those options get the car anywhere near the performance mark of an AMG or M. For us that's ok, we needed a reliable car that wasn't going to require costly repairs as it aged, the performance aspect wasn't really a selling point for us.
The GS is a grand touring car not a sport sedan. However compared to our hand me down ES the GS is a huge step up in terms of driving dynamics and sport feel. It's insanely comfortable as a cruiser and sporty enough to be amusing, it's also value priced in terms of purchase price and cost of ownership over 100,000 miles compared to a BMW or Benz. Lexus doesn't sell very many GS models likely because it's something of a niche market for them, the 5 series and E Class really dominate this segment Audi A6/7 to a lesser extent, however I wasn't comfortable taking a gamble on an Audi/BMW/Benz for a car we are likely to put 125,000 miles on in the next 5-6 years, certainly not without a warranty covering us that far. The Lexus has a 6/125 warranty that we'll likely never use but Lauren felt more comfortable having the warranty for the duration of the 60month car loan to minimize the risk of unplanned expenses.
We couldn't be happier with the car, we got a lot of car for the money, a 6/125k bumper to bumper warranty and bought it ~10k under sticker and ~10k cheaper than the European competition. It fits our needs.