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Surprisingly, this luxuriously powerful Lexus outshines BMW’s ultimate driving machine.
Maybe BMW 550i has more cred, but the Lexus GS 430 definitely combines luxury, technology, a smooth ride and extreme acceleration. The quiet engine (a 4.3 liter 300HP four cam 32-valve V8 with continuously variable valve timing) zooms down the road at lightning speed and with super quick acceleration. The body seems heavy and rugged. The doors close with a hefty whoosh. The exterior styling is beefy enough for sporty guys and yet sleek enough for power-loving ladies. This kitty may look like the same old sedan in pictures, but up close it is much more impressive. The interior is very well appointed with leather seats and genuine wood trim everywhere, including the steering wheel. The controls are well placed and highly intuitive, especially the excellent seven-inch monitor for the push-button information system. Lexus has one of the best navigation systems around and it was thoroughly enjoyable in this state-of-the-art touch screen. This model at about $61,000 was also equipped with a pre-collision system and adaptive cruise control ($2,850 added onto the $51,375 suggested manufacturer's price). Also called "pre-safe systems," you can read about this anti-accident technology in a recent blog here: Pre-Safe Systems. The overall luxuriousness, ease of use, technical marvels and amazing handling, acceleration and power make the Lexus GS 430 a best-in-class sedan. Ultimate driving machine is certainly a fitting moniker for the BMW 550i. The six-speed manual tester version we tried has the most amazing acceleration ever. The engine (a 4.8 liter DOHC 32-valve Valvetronic V8 with VANOS variable valve timing) is a study in speed and maneuverability. The exceptional handling made this super fast sedan a pleasure and a thrill ride at the same time. The interior was very well appointed with soft leather and a sumptuous use of dark wood trim. The controls were well placed, intuitive and pleasing to the eye. The screen and information system was lacking, however. During our weeklong test, in fact, we gave up trying to figure out the navigation and audio systems. At about $65,000, this modern marvel also has advanced features like a $2,300 sports package, satellite radio, front and reare seat advanced head protection system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, iDrive system and BMW Assist Bluetooth. Perhaps BMW's best feature isn't under the hood or inside this comfortable ride. BMW offers a 4-year/50,000 mile full maintenance program. Now's that's the ultimate in driving convenience!
The copyright of the article Lexus GS 430 vs. BMW 550i in Buying a Car is owned by Sheryll Alexander. Permission to republish Lexus GS 430 vs. BMW 550i in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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