2009 Lexus GS 350 … fitted with F-Sport goodies


How you do spice up an expensive luxury sedan without losing the inherent upscale nature of the vehicle? Is it as simple as adding some upgraded wheels, a sway bar set, and a more freely flowing exhaust? In the case of the 2009 Lexus GS 350 the answer is a surprising you betcha’.
The standard Lexus GS 350 is a luxury sports sedan that focuses more on the luxury than the sport. It handles that part of the equation quite nicely. It is certainly no slouch thanks to 303 horses being developed by way of a 3.5L V6 with direct injection. Yet the smooth shifting (read: not quick) six-speed automatic transmission, quite comfortable seats without much bolstering, and interior tech goodies reveal the true nature of the GS. These are not bad things, they are just not sporty things.
Thus the Lexus GS 350 is the automotive equivalent of a middle child who is trying to figure his or her place in the family pecking order. The stately LS 460 is the older sibling who is doing quite well for themselves. The younger IS-F was a standout athlete in high school and is continuing to kick ass in college. The GS isn’t sure if it wants to go to law school or to hit the gym.

This wayward child is in luck though, as the local dealer has some performance enhancing, um, options for the GS to buy. Slink up to the counter and ask for the guy who has the F-Sport parts. The GS you see here is fitted with 19-in F-Sport forged wheels, a front and rear sway bar set, and an exhaust which delivers a much more exciting note. The street value of these three pieces is $4,511, with the bulk of that coming from the cost of the wheels.
The Lexus GS 350 has always been a great place to be behind the wheel from a comfort standpoint. The interior is well sorted and the seats keep all occupants happy on short or long trips. The engine crests the 300 hp mark and the audio system is excellent thanks to Mr. Mark Levinson. It is a solid choice in the mid-size luxury sedan segment. What these F-Sport parts do though is tighten up the package a little bit for those who want a little more fun behind the wheel.
The whole package works together to create a more exciting driving experience. The GS 350 will never be a BMW, but it doesn’t want to be either. The car feels more planted in corners without causing a harsher ride. Behind the wheel I felt I could hustle the luxo sedan with greater abandon and not get a mouthful of the canyon road guardrail. I wouldn’t be taking the GS 350 to the track anytime soon, but the F-Sport parts allowed me to experience a more well-rounded driving sensation. Numbness is replaced with feeling and it’s more than welcome.

The 2009 Lexus GS 350 you see here starts at $44,850 and, thanks to a few options ticked off, has a MSRP of $50,995. Tacking on the charge for the F-Sport PEDs brings the final tally to $55,506. The good news here is that the competitors are all priced higher to start and have less horsepower (Audi A6: $45,200/265 hp , BMW 528i: $45,950/230 hp, and Mercedes-Benz E350:  $48,600/268 hp). The bad news for Lexus is that the IS-F starts at $58,460.

I am still a bit surprised at how well the GS stacks up against the rest of the mid-size luxury segment (admit it, you are too) but, despite the F-Sport goodies it is still nowhere near as exciting as the IS-F. The Lexus GS 350 is a solid choice in this market and the F-Sport parts are a smart addition. However…this is Hooniverse.com and you know we would skip the A6, 528i, E350, AND GS 350 with F-Sport parts just to smell the leather of the IS-F key fob.
Which, oddly enough, I just happen to have in my pocket – stay tuned hoons…

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11 responses to “2009 Lexus GS 350 … fitted with F-Sport goodies”

  1. Ash78 Avatar
    Ash78

    Nice looking car, but those wheels are a step in the wrong styling direction, IMO.
    I really wish the Japanese would start offering wagon versions to go up against the Europeans. Not that I'd buy one to further encourage them, but this is the internet, so my wishes can always have an audience with no tangible followup!

    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      I think they look better than the stock wheels…
      <img src="http://www.lincah.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/2009-lexus-gs-350-front-side-588×422.jpg"&gt;

      1. Ash78 Avatar
        Ash78

        I guess I'm just a sucker for good old 5-spokes. Timeless classic. I find deep dish (especially gunmetal) have the effect of making the wheel look a lot smaller than it is…and covered in brake dust.

        1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
          Jeff Glucker

          True… they do have that brake dust look.
          I don't think the stock wheels are bad, I just like that they offer something besides the norm

      2. SSurfer321 Avatar

        I agree they are styled better than stock but the gunmetal looks out of place with all the chrome trim.

        1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
          Jeff Glucker

          ah… good catch. Changing that trim out would make a nice difference I think

  2. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    I've never been a fan of the way the roof terminates into the trunk/rear fenders on this car.
    It's like it almost wants to be a 5-door (in the model of the Mazda6), but not quite. As such, you're just kinda left with a giant Hoffmeister Kink.
    I'd have to see it in person to tell if this looks like a classy sports tourer or every other cheesily riced/blinged out GS cruising around in LA.

    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      Funny you say that… I saw a few GS cars while cruising in this one and the car above looked much cleaner. This mods serve a purpose beyond appearance and they are done well.

  3. Maria Sperger Avatar

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  4. […] 2009 Lexus GS 350 … fitted with F-Sport goodies : Hooniverse […]

  5. James Avatar

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