SECOND HAND SENSE:WHEN YOU consider the importance of the American market to Lexus, many things about its cars begin to make sense, writes Donal Byrne.
Take the profile of the GS 300, for instance. It lacks the definition of cars made by its main rivals - Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Jaguar - but its size is daunting. It looks like it was made for eating up highway miles in absolute comfort and so it will.
Driving it on long, smooth, journeys proves the 300 at its best. However, when you want a bit more feedback from a car in this bracket you might wish for a bit of German flair. The 300 is the mid-range car from Lexus - a car meant to take on the Mercedes E-Class and the 5-Series BMW, among others - and in some respects it makes a big statement when it comes to showing up the others.
It may not have the edgy appeal of a 5-Series, but its level of standard equipment must make the others blush, at least in private.
Things like smart key entry, at least 10 airbags, traction control, stability control, dual zone air conditioning, touch-screen controls, parking sensors, leather upholstery, a six-CD function connected to a 10-speaker Mark Levinson audio system and you have an idea just how attractive a car like this can be.
Generally speaking, you'll get much more bang for your buck from a Lexus and its levels of refinement are usually unmatched by several of its rivals' models, especially Mercedes Benz. What you lose on looks you gain in terms of equipment, quality and reliability.
The GS from 2004 on has a choice of 3.0-litre V6 or 4.3-litre V8 engines and there is even a hybrid version. The version that is probably best value is the basic 3.0-litre, which can be hard on petrol in the city but will give respectable returns on longer runs.
It is comfortable for those up front, but the rear is cramped in the middle. The boot, too, might be quite limited for those with bigger requirements.
Lexus has an enviable reputation for build quality and rates consistently highly in reliability indexes. The GS 300 is a fine, if unexciting package. It has the highest five star crash rating in the EuroNCAP programme. But be prepared for high costs of servicing and repairs.
A 2005 model with 30,000km on the clock has an asking price of €36,995. A 2006 version with 70,000km up has an asking price of €42,500.
STAR RATING: 7/10