March 17, 201610 yr So our newest 'WWYBI' installment comes courtesy of C&D once again, with their test of the updated 2016 GS350 F Sport. Here is the review for those interested- http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-lexus-gs350-f-sport-test-review As always, you have a 10% range on either side of the test car to spend on a fairly similar car. In this case, we'll call it a sport or luxury sedan of some sort. As always, your selection must be a new and current MY car on sale now. Base price here is $55,700. As tested was $61,690. Therefore, you must spend no less than $50,130. You also cannot spend more than $67,680. That opens a lot of options up, and I look forward to seeing everyone's choices. Again, for those among us challenged by reading- You have between $50,130-67,680 to spend on some sort of new sport or luxury sedan. Pic for reference-
March 17, 201610 yr Optioned and comes in at $51,169 The Chevy SS Fully Loaded and a Superior Value over the GS350-F-Sport Edition
March 17, 201610 yr Author This one was pretty easy for me. I built a new M3 w/ nothing but Individual paint and leather interior for $67,395.
March 17, 201610 yr OoOoOoOo I likey this price range and vehicle style. Uh Oh, the M / AMG / F / RS can fit into this???? Edited March 17, 201610 yr by ccap41
March 17, 201610 yr Hmmm. Lotsa ways you could go with this one. But given that Lexus doesn't have a ton of sporting cred I'll stick with the mellow end of the range and go with some variant of the CT6 with the TTV6. Hey, maybe even go for a 3.6 version with the fancy back seats (I don't think you can do both for under 67 large).
March 17, 201610 yr The CT6 is $65,390 with only the TT3.0 add the seats(and it forces you to add the Comfort Package as well) and it brought it to $69,685
March 17, 201610 yr AHHHH I built a C63 for 67,695! I think I will sacrifice the awesome super dark blue for the LED headlights. I have a thing for really nice lighting. Okay that freed up just enough room for the illuminated TriStar in the grille. I wish I could have gotten rid of the fake leather.. but oh well.. Just fake black leather and luckily I already like the aluminum trim more than wood anyway. So I have a C63, black, with full LED headlights and LED TriStar logo in the grille. $67,525.
March 17, 201610 yr Probably just a C450 AMG loaded to the gills, comes to $61,730 I can't get an XTS V-Sport or CLS400 the way I want within the criteria.
March 17, 201610 yr I would take a regular CTS V6/8A (335 hp) over any GS350. For $65k you could load it up nicely with the kona brown leather interior, sport package, and upgraded gauge cluster.
March 17, 201610 yr ^ Heck, you could get a VSport for 60k. Add a few small things and keep it under 67,xxx. I have to assume the VSport package alone adds a lot of options that you'd have to check in lower trims.
March 18, 201610 yr It is difficult to pick cars when the prices are given in US dollars for the US market and Im living in Canadian dollars in a Canadian market...in Quebec of all places... OK...GS350 F Sport...in Quebec costs: 97 000 dollars... OK...Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 starts in US dollars: $66 900 OK....that is cutting it close...M-B nickel and dimes you so that base price really aint much to go with....so scratch that. A Tesla Model S starts at 71 000 US dollars....DAMN YOU FRISKY!!! with your 67 000 dollar cut off! I cant even choose the Chevrolet SS as its not even offered in Canada... I think Im good with the pricing with a Cadillac CTS V-Sport. 3.6 TT...I think the Premium trim busts the budget but the regular trim should be fine... EDIT: HERE I WAS BUSTING MY CHOPS TO SEE IF I COULD FIT THE V-SPORT IN THIS THREAD AND TWO WISE GUYS SNEAK IN AND ANSWER MY MOTHER&$#@ QUESTION...I DID NOT HAVE TO BREAK MY BRAIN....ALL I HAD TO DO IS JUST BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR CP and CCAP COME TO THE CONCLUSION FOR ME!!!! AGGHHHHH!!!! Edited March 18, 201610 yr by oldshurst442
March 18, 201610 yr Well first off, any sedan is better than a GS350 F, except for an Acrua RLX which you could run up over $60k. I would take the 2017 E-class first, but since we don't know pricing on it, I can't configure it. If I picked form 2016 cars, I would get a base model C63 at $65,250 and add the LED lighting package, electric trunk closer and air fragrance package for $1,400 more for a total of $66,650. And that leaves $1,000 left over for gas in the V8. After the two Mercs my third choice would be a Jaguar XF S with the 380 hp V6 and the comfort and convenience package since it has ventilated seats and soft close doors. That would come in around $66k.
March 18, 201610 yr Nice C63 choice! I'd ask what color but if it isn't black or white it might push it over the limit. I forgot what the other colors cost.. Maybe 750? You'd still be in the clear.
March 18, 201610 yr Author It is difficult to pick cars when the prices are given in US dollars for the US market and Im living in Canadian dollars in a Canadian market...in Quebec of all places... OK...GS350 F Sport...in Quebec costs: 97 000 dollars... OK...Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 starts in US dollars: $66 900 OK....that is cutting it close...M-B nickel and dimes you so that base price really aint much to go with....so scratch that. A Tesla Model S starts at 71 000 US dollars....DAMN YOU FRISKY!!! with your 67 000 dollar cut off! I cant even choose the Chevrolet SS as its not even offered in Canada... I think Im good with the pricing with a Cadillac CTS V-Sport. 3.6 TT...I think the Premium trim busts the budget but the regular trim should be fine... EDIT: HERE I WAS BUSTING MY CHOPS TO SEE IF I COULD FIT THE V-SPORT IN THIS THREAD AND TWO WISE GUYS SNEAK IN AND ANSWER MY MOTHER&$#@ QUESTION...I DID NOT HAVE TO BREAK MY BRAIN....ALL I HAD TO DO IS JUST BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR CP and CCAP COME TO THE CONCLUSION FOR ME!!!! AGGHHHHH!!!! You're more than welcome to use our pricing scheme, buddy. I know it'll make it a lot easier for you.
March 18, 201610 yr Author A nicely equipped 2016 Jag XF S would be my close 2nd. Who would have thought?!?!
March 18, 201610 yr It is difficult to pick cars when the prices are given in US dollars for the US market and Im living in Canadian dollars in a Canadian market...in Quebec of all places... OK...GS350 F Sport...in Quebec costs: 97 000 dollars... OK...Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 starts in US dollars: $66 900 OK....that is cutting it close...M-B nickel and dimes you so that base price really aint much to go with....so scratch that. A Tesla Model S starts at 71 000 US dollars....DAMN YOU FRISKY!!! with your 67 000 dollar cut off! I cant even choose the Chevrolet SS as its not even offered in Canada... I think Im good with the pricing with a Cadillac CTS V-Sport. 3.6 TT...I think the Premium trim busts the budget but the regular trim should be fine... EDIT: HERE I WAS BUSTING MY CHOPS TO SEE IF I COULD FIT THE V-SPORT IN THIS THREAD AND TWO WISE GUYS SNEAK IN AND ANSWER MY MOTHER&$#@ QUESTION...I DID NOT HAVE TO BREAK MY BRAIN....ALL I HAD TO DO IS JUST BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR CP and CCAP COME TO THE CONCLUSION FOR ME!!!! AGGHHHHH!!!! Hahaha well when cp brought it up I had to visit their site to see how well I could or couldn't build one. It's really tough to decide if I'd prefer the twin turbo or the extra amenities..
March 18, 201610 yr ^ Heck, you could get a VSport for 60k. Add a few small things and keep it under 67,xxx. I have to assume the VSport package alone adds a lot of options that you'd have to check in lower trims. Well the N/A V6 model in the mid $60k range is significantly more luxurious than the base V-Sport. I'm personally a sucker for the kona brown interior and the uplevel gauge cluster. I'm just pointing out that the regular 335 hp V6 already out-classes the GS350 "F-Sport."
March 18, 201610 yr I would take a regular CTS V6/8A (335 hp) over any GS350. For $65k you could load it up nicely with the kona brown leather interior, sport package, and upgraded gauge cluster. ^^^ This... but seriously.. we could get a CTS-VSport for $60K... without all the trimmings
March 21, 20169 yr I'd get the Cadillac CTS. But I'd definitely do and after-market upgrade to get the original grilled the CTS came with. This....
March 21, 20169 yr But you know what. I can also go balls out and get a Hellcat Charger for the same dough in the durango tango fango mango colour.
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