The 2008 Lexus GS 350 Base is a rear-wheel drive mid-sized luxury sedan with a sporty double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension. Riding on 17-inch alloy wheels with performance tires, the GS 350 Base gets its power from a 3.5-liter, 303-hp DOHC V6, paired with a 6-speed adaptive automatic shiftable transmission. Fuel economy averages a decent 19/27 mpg.

Standard safety features include electronic brakeforce distribution, 4-wheel disc and ABS brakes, traction and stability control, foglights, automatic headlights, HID xenon headlamps, a first aid kit, tire monitor, and auto-dimming mirrors. Mirrors with turn signals are a new addition for 2008. Dual front-side, side impact, and front and rear side curtain airbags with passenger deactivation are also part of the package. Options add the parallel parking-friendly Parking Assist, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control, crash sensors, and a voice-activated navigation system that's paired with a rearview camera.

In terms of luxury, look no further than heated leather seats, along with leather and wood interior trim. Aluminum trim for the gauges is new this year. 10-way power front seats include memory settings for the driver as well as for the power tilt and telescopic steering. A 10-speaker 6-CD player features an MP3 input jack, with controls on the steering wheel. A sunroof, cruise control, intermittent wipers, a tachometer, Bluetooth, trip computer, folding mirrors, remote entry, keyless start, a garage remote, and dual-zone climate control all ensure passenger comfort. The audio system can be upgraded to 14 speakers, and many owners wish the optional satellite radio was standard. Other options include a rear spoiler and a cargo net.