The Lexus GS F is a great car, amazing even– except we wouldn’t buy it new, and we still wouldn’t even if we tried. Because it’s dead.
Once upon a time, Lexus was in its heyday. Back in 2016, the Japanese luxury spin off of Toyota was fully committed to its high-performance ‘F’ brand. Thus, the Lexus GS F was born. A full-size sedan meant to compete with the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, it was Japan’s shot at throwing out a performance-oriented full size sedan. Yet, this was far from Lexus’ only iteration– the brand has had extensive experience in the high performance sedan world with the IS F and now the IS 500 F Sport Performance.
No matter how much experience one has, actions speak louder than words. In this case, Lexus both shouted and performed. The GS F’s underpinnings were derived from the uber-impressive RC F sports coupe and shared similarities with the LFA supercar, high marks for something pundits called a “snoozefest”. The GS F is as far from a slumber party as you can get, especially when you take a deeper look.
But, we wouldn’t buy the Lexus GS F new. One, because we simply can’t. It was discontinued in 2020 and has laid in the sports car graveyard ever since. Two, because it was one of the most terrible values when it came to pricing in the car industry. Now, with prices slowly creeping down, we thought maybe we should pull the trigger on one of these and see how it goes.
There’s Muscle Underneath that Hood
Now, forget what you know about Lexus from your grandma’s ES350. Instead, take one look at the GS F’s fierce looking exterior, and it’ll tell you all you need to know about its personality. But looks are nothing without a bite, and Lexus decided to up the ante with a nice large fire-breathing V8 that resembles more of an American muscle car than a Japanese cruiser. Sure, it’s big and brawny– but that only adds to the unique persona of the GS F, building a massive repertoire of cars it can beat by the dozens.
If the Japanese car industry were ever to assimilate itself into American drag racing culture, the GS F would be the byproduct. Underneath the bulging hood sits a steroid-injected canister of straight muscle– featuring a 5.0 L V8 that emulates the best of its hot rodding brothers stateside. The engine is similar and derived from some of Lexus’ other F model vehicles such as the Lexus RC F, a sports coupe which follows more or less the same simple formula: the more power the better.
More Toyota-Built Gems
The GS F’s burly V8 is good for 467 horsepower which powers the rear wheels of a 4,034 pound sedan. The V8 also produces 380 lb-ft of torque and stretches its rev range to higher RPMs than its American counterparts; you won’t find a pushrod engine here. After all, Lexus is a luxury brand. The GS F opts to take a rudimentary approach to power, instead of going the way of newer engines– forced induction, smaller displacement sizes, and all sorts of high-tech features that take away from the perks of a sports car, the GS F stays true to its purity scale with a naturally aspirated engine.
The GS F Has Itself a Pretty Face
Look beyond the muscular prowess of the GS F and you see much more than an Asian muscle car. Lexus invested plenty of thought and presence into creating the vehicle into the pretty face we see today. Sharp, angular lines dictated by its fiery persona paired along with a touch of adornment play into its two-faced personality. The GS F gets several upgrades compared to the rather bleak and drab GS, with a lowered suspension, fancier wheels, a rather cool looking stacked quad-tip exhaust setup that is a F model hallmark, as well as a sportier looking body kit.
Lexus did a fantastic job retaining all the key features of the handsome GS and applying a bit more flair to it to create the GS F. The GS F greeted us with a burly exhaust note as we started up the car and the sweet symphony only continued through our drive. Sure, the car uses outdated technology that Lexus pioneered in the mid-2000’s but for us, we didn’t care. Instead, we were more focused on the driving experience of the F, one which the car was keen to give us.
The exhaust note tops off what is one of the more striking designs in the Lexus lineup, and still to this day. Its body lines flow better than any other sedan we’ve seen in its sector, and continues to be one of our best looking cars. Not to mention the array of normal aftermarket features the GS F offers on the car you couldn’t get anywhere else like the 19-inch BBS wheels or the complimentary Brembos you get with the car. Either way, the GS F is just the conglomeration of everything you’d want in a vehicle’s exterior– like a pizza with just the right toppings.
The GS F’s Drawbacks are Aplenty
Now, each pizza has its yucky part, and the GS F certainly has its. First off, the obvious part is its technology. It uses outdated tech from nearly a decade ago, utilizing Lexus’ infamous infotainment system along with its UI. Monikered the Enform, it does a terrible job, splitting its usability between a screen tucked in the far depths of the dashboard and relegating only a touchpad for use. If you’re a driving junkie and just want to experience the car— you need not worry. But, for anyone who buys the new iPhone every year, look away.
The second point of contention is just that the Lexus– within its segment, can’t compete on paper compared to its rivals. While the car is excellent in a straight line, it seemed as though Lexus forgot exactly who their target market is. German rivals beat it out every time on a true course, the 0-60 time on the GS F is a quite sluggish 4.4 seconds. Driving it around twisty roads feels amazing, its maneuverability in tight corners and acceleration coming out of turns is ample. While it doesn’t have magnetic ride suspension or any other fancy doohickeys, it gets the job done. It’s just that other cars like the BMW M5 and the Audi RS6 do it better.
However, while other cars might be better on the tangibles, the pure feel and thrill of the GS F is unmatched. The V8 growls at a pace that everyone should experience in their lifetime, especially in a cocooned cabin like the GS F’s. It makes you feel like your Lewis Hamilton in a suit driving on your way to your 9:30 meeting, the GS F certainly is the businessman’s car. And with the reliability of Lexus as well as no crazy gizmos– the car’s recipe for success is just to be simple.
Plus the fact you can pick one up for under $50,000 helps as well.
