Why you should buy this car: Because you like the way it looks, love the way the leather feels and revel in the fact that your local Lexus dealer will kiss your ass with brand-appropriate comprehensiveness.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: It s slow, whiney and hard-riding, with interior touches that serve an unwelcome reminder that you re not in a real Lexus.

Suitability Parameters
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals
· Manufacturer: Lexus
· Model tested: GS300
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $51,579
· Engine type: 3.0-liter six, DOHC w/VVTi
· Horsepower: 245hp @ 6200 rpm
· Torque: 230 lb.-ft. @ 6200 rpm
· Redline: 6500 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 17 alloy, Dunlop 225/50R all-season tires
· Drive type: rear wheel drive: 0 - 60: 6.8 secs.
· 1/4 mile: 15.4 secs.
· Top speed: 130mph (limited)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 21/27
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: Not rated

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Lexus GS 300, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]