Buy A Lexus GS F Before It Becomes A Collectible

Lexus introduced the GS F as the second model in the F Performance range back in 2016 and has continued to sell it into the 2019 model year. The car hasn't changed much in that time, except for a few special editions and color changes, so the only missing element from an early example will be the warranty coverage. Since it was built by Lexus, a company famed for its reliability, we'd say the warranty is slightly less important than it would be on an equivalent German luxury car.

A brand-new 2019 GS F will set you back $84,600 but you can now find a used 2016 example for around half the price. These examples will typically have over 50,000 miles on them but if you are willing to spend above $50,000, you can get a certified pre-owned example with less than 30,000 on the odometer. The GS F likely has a bit lower to fall in price but now might be a great time to buy a pristine one with a CPO warranty before the second and third owners inevitably come along to ruin them.

If your main concern is hitting the drag strip every weekend, the GS F is probably the wrong car for you. The car is fast, but the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive competition from Germany will be much quicker in a straight line. This car is for people who enjoy driving and put less of an emphasis on performance figures. But don't for a minute think the GS F is slow. It is powered by a wonderful 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 singing a 467 horsepower rock ballad with 389 lb-ft of torque as an encore.

Few modern engines can match this V8 on exhaust note and power goes out to the rear wheels through a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic. 0-60 mph in the 4,034-pound sedan takes around 4.5 seconds and if you live near the Autobahn (or a drag strip), you'll be able to hit 168 mph.

Lexus knows how to craft a luxurious interior that will stand the test of time. It doesn't have the latest modern technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but the basic functions like navigation and Bluetooth are there. Remember, the E39 M5 doesn't have the best technology either. But even though the Lexus tech leaves a lot to be desired, the rest of the cabin is fabulous.

All of the leathers and other materials feel premium and it will all work 20 years from now. The GS F includes special touches like aggressive F seats (which are still heated and ventilated), carbon-fiber trim, an F steering wheel, and LFA-inspired digital gauges. Lexus' Remote Touch interface can be annoying to use every day but there are helpful shortcut buttons on the dash and steering wheel.

The GS F may be the fastest GS model but it hasn't lost any practicality over a base four-cylinder or V6 model. In the rear, passengers are treated to 32.8 inches of legroom and the trunk offers 14.1 cubic feet of storage. There is one big penalty you will have to pay for driving the GS F versus a lesser GS model. Fuel economy is an abysmal 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway and the EPA says you will struggle to get 19 mpg combined. We've tested the Lexus RC F and LC 500, which use the same engine, and if you hyper-mile them on the highway, you can eke out 30 mpg if you are careful.

There are plenty of depreciating luxury performance sedans on the used market but the Lexus GS F is among a handful we would recommend due to its low running costs and stellar reliability. In a few years, we will look back on the GS F as the last "pure" driver's sedan with RWD and a naturally aspirated engine as the segment shifts to turbocharging, AWD, and even electrification. The GS F is the last of an era for performance sedans and now is the time to buy one before everyone else realizes it.