So, let me start by saying that this review is intended to be as objective as possible. Having owned an F10 for 30 months and now owning a 2014 GS 350 FSport, I'm not trying to justify the purchase of either vehicle. I'm not trying to defend either manufacturer, etc. If you think that the Lexus is an inferior product because "it's a Lexus" then I really don't want to hear it. The GS line is a strong point in the Lexus lineup and it, along with the IS, are solid competitors when viewed strictly from a product standpoint. You can argue dealerships, you can argue sales figures, and you can argue who is better as a "brand", which has the more complete lineup, etc. I'm also not going to get into cost, as that simply clouds people's mind with talk of payments, resale, etc. The Lexus is less expensive, perhaps enough to matter, but let's face it***8230;...this isn't a $27,000 Accord. These are sports sedans well into the $50's, and in some cases the $60's and $70's. At that price, no one is really "shopping a bargain". No, what this comparison is about is asking the question: as a sports sedan in the 535 / E 350 / A6 3.0T / CTS 3.6 category, does this car deserve to play? The answer is yes, without a doubt.

I won't get into all the specifics of how I ended up with the GS. Those of you who read my Cayenne post know I can spin a yarn. But I'll give you the Cliff Notes version. I had, up until about January, had my heart set on an F80 M3. I had spent a LOT of time pouring over it online, and going to see it at the Houston Auto show sealed the deal. Alas, life gets in the way and other projects / wants take fiscal priority. Which meant dropping $20k on a new car and still having $900 / month payments was out of the question for 12-24 months. With my trusty but tiring MDX burning a hole in my seat to make its way out of the garage, what to do? Drop $2k in repairs and ride it out? Buy a cheaper car and "settle"? Nah, soon the plan emerged..sell the MDX while it's still worth something and before I have to spend $2k plus on a timing belt and other repairs and Lease.
As I said in the other GS thread, there are very few "deal" leases. There are cheap cars that lease poorly, and there are ok cars that lease well. But there are few that lease very well. The GS is one of them. I have liked the GS F-Sport since it came out as a 2013 model, shortly after I got my 535. And as all the fiscal stars lined up for the deal to fall make sense, I knew that I could certainly do much worse. So I drove it again and really came to enjoy the hell out of it. I certainly don't love it like I would have loved an M3, M cars are just special. But do I like it as much as an F10? Read on.

As further background, my F10 was a poor model. It was plagued with just about every problem that the F10's had. Transmission / throttle jerk, pull to the right, idle issues, etc. etc. I have driven 2012, 2013 and 2014 MY F10s', both 535 and 550 for most. I have driven both in the LCI 2014 guise, both in MSport configurations with the 704 suspension. I have also driven both 2013 and 2014 M5's, including a comp. pack version of the latter. I recognize that the F10 has made significant improvements over the course of its life cycle and it is with those in mind that I frame my thoughts.

Where to start? Styling. I'll get that out of the way first. It's subjective, so I'll be brief, but I personally think that the F10 is one of the best looking sedans ever made, period. Especially in MSport and even more so in M5 guise. So no car is going to top it in my book. The Lexus is more polarizing, but I think that the GS F Sport is the best balance of the "spindle" grille. I think the IS takes it too far. I think overall the car is quite handsome, if not as striking as the F10, only really let down by a dowdy rear end that I think will fail to grow on me. Too generic, IMO.

Interior styling, the FSport makes some ground up on the F10 by offering a larger nav screen, albeit with permanent split screen. It also offers a more retro / luxury vibe, reminding me of expensive hi-fi equipment back in the day with the horizontally dominated layout and the silver knobs, set off by the tasteful analog clock. I still prefer the F10's styling, although the gauges, even with the extended black panel, are pretty bland. The Lexus gauges aren't much better, and if anything it displays LESS information ***8211; although you don't have to code the car to see the damn tire pressures. Quality of materials are about the same, the GS leather being better than Dakota but not as nice as the Nappa in the F10. Perhaps the GS Luxury package semi-aniline leather would have a better hand. Who knows. Overall, I say both are classy, and it comes down to preference.
Infotainment: iDrive is hands down better. It is the best infotainment interface on the market, IMO. Yes, there are plenty of nested menus, but your eyes-off-the-road time is minimized, and with the NBT upgrade, it's graphics are hugely improved. MMI is next on my list, and I have to say that the Lexus' mouse drive is growing on me. It's not nearly as bad as most reviews make it out to me, as it has one of the steepest learning curves of all of the systems which does not pander well to a short test drive by a buyer or a journalist. However, once you start to remember where on screen some of the choices are, you can start to reduce your eyes-off time in its operation. I'd say it ties with the outgoing version of COMAND, which is no great shakes. As I get used to it, it's more intuitive, and I can accomplish most things well. The 2014 IS has a version that's slightly improved with regard to voice command, something I was disappointed to learn was not on all 2014 models. And Lexus / Toyota's insistence on locking out many of the functions at speed is annoying, but so far has been easily overcome using voice command. I know that many of you have said Lexus Remote Touch sucks, but really it doesn't. It works, and it works acceptably for the class. Still, having one of the steepest learning curves paired with one of the oldest buyer demographics strikes me as something of a mistake.

Moving on, let's get down to the more important bits. The N55 is undoubtedly the stronger engine compared to the naturally aspirated engine in the Lexus. The Lexus is on par with the engine in the E Class. Almost the same power and torque. Again, acceptable but not class leading. The Lexus' engine is smooth and willing to rev. It pulls strongly once on cam, probably as hard as the N55, if not harder. You don't ever feel that the car is in any way underpowered, and it will handily outrun the 528. But the N55's low end torque really shows the Lexus the door in many situations, especially when just rolling around town. The N55 really is the best engine in the class, better even than the older blown 3 liter V6 in the Audi. It's certainly better than that dog in the V6 CTS. The Lexus makes a little less HP than the Caddy, and about the same torque. But the Caddy's engine, despite being newer, is very rough and unrefined. It shakes at idle, has a 6,000 RPM redline (or less!) and makes very nasty noises while underway.

The 2014 GS gains the Aisin 8 speed auto, and it's a much needed improvement. Overall it's a fair bit smoother than the ZF in the F10. Shifts are smoother and more intuitive. Perhaps because it lacks torque, it's more willing to downshift than any F10 I've driven, LCI's included. And while BMW has made huge strides in reducing the transmission / throttle tip in issue, if you still feel around, it's still there, ever so slightly. The Aisin transmission and the lack of forced induction on the Lexus mean that it's butter smooth away from a stoplight.

Overall shift quality is similar, both in auto mode as well as using the paddles. I think the ZF might rev-match a TAD better, but it's hard to recall. The BMW's paddles are better positioned, though. But the Lexus' sport mode is better judged, not being so frenetic like it is in the BMW, to the point where you could use it all day and not be tired of it. It does not lock out top gear on the highway, and does not bring every upshift up to 5,000 RPM like the 535 did in sport mode. Its calibration is similar to that in the A6 3.0T.

On the downside of the powertrain, the Lexus does not get as good of a fuel economy as the BMW. Right now it's pretty much running neck and neck for my daily commute, but on the highway, I've struggled to get close to 30, which I could in the F10. A few things hamper this. First, the gearing is higher, meaning the Lexus is turning probably 400 RPM higher than I remember the F10 at 80 MPH. Second, the Aisin transmission does not lock up nearly as often as the ZF does. This both hurts economy and makes the combo seem less sporty, as there is more motorboating when traveling around town. And third, the lack of low end torque means the transmission will shift to 7th for some acceleration tasks, whereas in the BMW it would stay in 8th. The Lexus is imperceptible in its shifts, both in sound and smoothness, but it's enough to knock down the MPG a rung vs. the BMW. Of course, the engine still has less than 750 miles on it so hopefully it picks up a point or two.

So let's talk about behind the wheel. First, my F Sport driver's seat has nearly as many movements as the multi-contour seats in the F10, lacking only the upper back adjustment. If you get a luxury package GS instead, the seats have identical movements to those of the BMW's. On both sides. And are just as comfortable. The car is a smidge narrower, but then again, the F10 is WIDE. The cabin is on par with the E and A6, and larger than the CTS. Leg room, both front and rear, is a mite better than the F10 as the seats aren't as thick as the multi-contour ones in the F10. Headroom is lacking, though, down an inch to an inch and a half on the BMW and Merc, and about on par with the A6 and CTS.

The wheel has a nice feel to it, although not as thick-rimmed as the MSport. It's about the same as the Sport package wheel in the F10. Remarkably, the steering is very similar in feel***8230;...meaning neither helm is particularly communicative. Sport plus in the Lexus gives heavier steering as in the BMW, but feels more natural than the BMW's overly stiff setting in that mode. Neither troubles the E60 or E90 for steering feel and weight (although if I'm being honest, I always found the E90's steering to be TOO heavy). The Lexus' variable gearing ratio means that the steering is faster, meaning less wheel twirling; nice in low speed maneuvers. On the highway, the F10's EPS still has a tendency to hunt a bit, meaning you're constantly correcting the wheel. My 2011 did this terribly, but even in the LCI's, and indeed even in the 650 Grand Coupe's I drove, the trait is still there. Not so in the Lexus. And the Lexus has the added benefit of being very quick to react at speed. There is no "sneeze" factor like there is in the F10. You think, it moves lanes. Yet it never seems "twitchy".

I've saved the Lexus' trump card for last, and that is its ride and handling. If you're missing your E60 5 series, go drive one of these cars and be prepared for a throwback. It was clearly Lexus' benchmark and, quite frankly, they nailed it. The similarities are eerie. The ride is firm yet not harsh. It's well controlled, even with the variable suspension (standard on FSport) in normal mode (it only has two modes, normal and Sport Plus). In short, it flows, where the F10 does not flow. The Lexus weighs almost 200 lbs. less (and for comparison purposes, I bet if you add the multicontour seats to the F10 it's all of 200 lbs heavier) and it feels it. Where the Lexus waltzes, the BMW trods a bit woodenly. It'll still do what you want it to do, but it seems to say "are you sure you want to do this big guy" whereas the Lexus shouts "more, damnit, more!".

For sure, there are more options on the F10's suspension. You want luxury? Go stock. You want sporty? Go fixed 704 in the MSport. You want both? Go with DHP. In the Lexus, you have the more luxurious standard car, and the sportier FSport with standard two mode suspension. I had the DHP in my car and felt it was too biased toward luxury. Sure it cuts roll in sport mode, but it feels stiff and artificial doing it. Contrast that to the GS and in either of the suspension's two modes, it just feels right. Consider it as E60 standard or E60 FSport, depending on setting. Note, you CAN get rear wheel steering in the Lexus, but I've not driven that. I've most recently driven an RLX with RWS and while it shrinks the turning radius considerably, the rear end feels spooky, like it's a half step behind you in maneuvers. Now, the 911 Turbo and GT3 have it and I'm sure it's better executed there, but I wasn't about to spend the $$ on it without some extensive test drives. And ratcheting up the MSRP was kind of against the goal I had in mind. Even though with most of the options, you're barely over $60k in the Lexus vs $10k more in a 535.

Nonetheless, the ride and handling of the car is superb for a sports sedan. And that is where it really trumps the BMW, IMO. I loved many, many things about the F10. Still do, as you can see above. I love the look of the car, inside and out. Loved many features. But it was just not fun to drive. The LCI car remedies much of that, but it still feels "big". My dad's old E39 begged you to drive the crap out of it every time you got in. The F10 doesn't do that for me, but the GS does.

All in all, every car in this segment has some sort of compromise. And each will have its lovers and haters. If you go and troll Audiworld, etc., they'll be swooning over their cabin layout, ignoring the cheap materials and the nose-heavy weight distribution. Most Lexus owners would think us fools for spending more on a BMW than on a Lexus that has as many features. Etc., etc. Without a doubt, the GS is outclassed by the F10 in many areas, but not all. And the one area where the GS shines used to be BMW's calling card, but now clearly is a secondary focus outside of the M cars. I probably could have gotten a BMW for what I'm paying for this car. But the deal I got was in the same ballpark as a 328i with all the goodies, or a more basic 335i Sport, or a very lightly optioned 528. Going from M3 dreams to a 328 just was too much for me, and while I like the 528, I do like my toys.

In a relatively crowded segment, the GS acquits itself well. And if you're judging your mid-grade executive sports sedan solely by how much "sport" it puts into the equation, than the Lexus might be your top pick. It flows with the road effortlessly and really wants to boogie down the road when you do. I will enjoy my 36 months with the GS. And by then the timing should be right to pick up an LCI M3 via European Delivery. :thumbup: :bigpimp: