06' Gs300awd

[Richen]

I own 06' GS300AWD just for 8 month the mileage is a little more than 15,000 mile. The car was excellent on its first 10,000 mile. After 10,000 mile service, the dashboard starts to make noise. The noise came from the driver side near the speaker, center console area and other area that I can not identify. The dealership did a quick fix and it went away. I thou it should be done. But I was wrong. In around 11,000 mile I start to feel car is pulled left or right of its own. I have to hold on tight or make correction on the steering wheel to stay in lane. Recently, the car starts moving side by side or up and down when passing uneven road surface. I find myself with less confidence while making sharp turn or when exit the highway. Wasn’t it called "luxury sports vehicle"? I know it is the run-flat-tire that causing the rough ride. I feel that the weakness of the suspension might be one of the reasons that causing it moving side by side or up and down when driving in any speed.

I paid 50K for this car. Shouldn't Lexus re-call these run-flat tires since it does have safety concern? It appears I am not the only one who complaint the rough ride on 06' GS300. A week ago, when I was at Lexus dealership "again". The service advisor seems not surprise my complaint at all. He actually repeats several times telling me that I am not the only one, I am not along.

.

I went back to the dealership for couple of times. The service department took the blame on the run-flat tire each time. The reason that I choose first year car from Lexus is because I trust Lexus quality. I actually have another 2000 RX300 in our house. Unfortunately, royal consumer has to suffer from the mistake that Lexus made. I am so upset everytime when I drive this vehicle. Especially this car has 15,000 miles only.

Is there anyone has similar problem with this vehicle?

Richard

:( :cries:

[Neo]

Sorry to hear bout your dissatisfaction.

With that said, run-flats are mainly about problem control when you get a flat. I guess in that sense, it is safer, which is why some manufacturers are using them. With ride quality, handling, braking, ..., however, "normal" tires are superior. The other problem is that I assume you are on 17s. 17s and up are categorized as performance tires. This means that the rubber compound is different and will wear out faster. Pretty much all manufacturers who equip their cars with 17s, 18s, 19s, ... have a disclaimer on the short tread life. 15k miles is the norm for performance tires, sometimes shorter if you drive aggressively.

This is how it is with performance (and run flats on top of that) tires. Good or bad, that is the expectation. Recall? I don't think so since these are working within its operating limits. Budget-wise, I agree it is not ideal but you bought (in your words) a luxury SPORTS vehicle. Sportiness, even if it is only part ofthe equation, comes with a price. In the lux segment, a $50k car does not mean it is twice as better as a $25k car. I congratulate you on being successful enough to enjoy a $50 car but unfortunately with it comes the expenses of a $50k car.

At this point, your best bet is to replace the tires (with traditional tires if you do not like the run flats), get an alignment and chalk everything up to the maintenance cost of a luxury car. Hopefully, this will bring back your enjoyment of the car. You'll just need to work the tire cost into your maintenance budget. ;)

[Richen]

Sorry to hear bout your dissatisfaction.

With that said, run-flats are mainly about problem control when you get a flat. I guess in that sense, it is safer, which is why some manufacturers are using them. With ride quality, handling, braking, ..., however, "normal" tires are superior. The other problem is that I assume you are on 17s. 17s and up are categorized as performance tires. This means that the rubber compound is different and will wear out faster. Pretty much all manufacturers who equip their cars with 17s, 18s, 19s, ... have a disclaimer on the short tread life. 15k miles is the norm for performance tires, sometimes shorter if you drive aggressively.

This is how it is with performance (and run flats on top of that) tires. Good or bad, that is the expectation. Recall? I don't think so since these are working within its operating limits. Budget-wise, I agree it is not ideal but you bought (in your words) a luxury SPORTS vehicle. Sportiness, even if it is only part ofthe equation, comes with a price. In the lux segment, a $50k car does not mean it is twice as better as a $25k car. I congratulate you on being successful enough to enjoy a $50 car but unfortunately with it comes the expenses of a $50k car.

At this point, your best bet is to replace the tires (with traditional tires if you do not like the run flats), get an alignment and chalk everything up to the maintenance cost of a luxury car. Hopefully, this will bring back your enjoyment of the car. You'll just need to work the tire cost into your maintenance budget. ;)

The service advisor at Lexus told me the aligment is fine. Lexus can not do anything about it including the uncomfortable ride. Lexus are not helpping at all.

I actually talking to a tire sepcialist searching for the replacement tire. The tire specialist suggest me that I should talk to Lexus before I made up my decision.

[Richen]

I already ordered full set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (Ultra High Performance All-Season). I will post the result after couple days of testdrive.

[SW03ES]

I'm positive its the runflats. You'll be thrilled with how it rides on the pilots I bet.

[Richen]

After I put on the pilot, I feel improvement on both ride comfort and handling. Thanks to its soft side wall on this pilot. Tires seems glue to the road. However, I still feel the weakness of the suspension, somehow the ride is a bit sloppy. The ride is not as solid as campare when it was new. Noticeable road noise when on highway is the only negative thing on my first day test drive. The road noise is actually higher than OEM Dunlop RFT. One thing does'nt improve is the tire is still sensitive to the road surface. I will post more imformation few days later.

[zlee1]

Richen,

I have the same two raddle problems. The speaker is a know problem, but to solve the certer console raddle, my dealer told me that he would need to take a part the whole dashboard and it would take two days. Was the raddle really a quick fix? What was causing the raddle?

Now, regarding the run flats, I came over from a BMW 330xi with sports package and runflats. The GS's hard ride is nothing compaired my BMWs. The only advice I can give you guys, when I picked up the GS, the air pressure in all 4 tires was uneven and and filled to about 36-37 psi. The OEM runflats require 33 psi all around. Try to adjust the air pressure to 33 psi and see if you feel the difference. I think the ride and comfort is much better now.

[Richen]

zlee1,

Dealer told my they need to keep the car overnight to locate the dashboard noise early in the morning. I am not sure how much time they spent on fixing the problem. But it did works and seems fine as of now. It might change when the weather got hot in summer and than we will see what happen in this winter.

You are right about the tire pressure. Every time after I came back from the dealer, tire pressure is at 36 - 37 psi but it was when the tire is still hot. I had it check next day morning, tire pressure drop back to 34 - 35 psi. It seems normal with 2 - 3 psi pressure drop when the tire is cold.

The difference is when dealer first deliver the car to me. The ride is a bit stiff but actually solid, unlike current rattle and sloppy ride. I did not check the tire pressure when the car delivered to me. As a matter of fact, the first time that I check the tire pressure was when I came back from the 5,000 mile service. The ride starts to feel stiffer than before. Maybe the tire pressure was set lower than the standard 33 psi when I test drove the car at dealer before I purchase the car. That could explain why the ride became stiffer after 5,000 mile service.

After I switch my tire to much softer compound Michelin Pilot Sports A/S M/S rated ZR yesterday, the ride comfort is improved. The comfidence is back. But the car is still going left or right when on highway. It seems the car is bouncing. Yes! The car is bouncing. I can not believe it. It seems the suspension system is soft on its minor up and down movement and became hard when the shock hit its bottom.

I am going back to my tire shop to see what they say about the ride.

Good luck!

[Richen]

The Michelin Pilot Sports 225/50ZR17 A/S M/S work perfectly fine now. I would recomand 06' GS owner who is not used to stiff ride could switch to sofer tire like my current Michelin.

[Richen]

After replacing my OE Dunlop RFT to Michelin Pilot Sports A/S for two weeks, the rough ride is back. I change the tire pressure every couple of days to find the right tire pressure for the car. I even add 100 pound of stuff in my trunk. The rough ride is still there. The car is shaking side by side or up and down. One of my friends told me the car act like horse riding. Although I never experience horse ride but I can tell what he means. I am going back to the dealer to see what they said now.