The Lexus GS 350 is a performance luxury sedan that is aimed at the consumer who wants a few lavish touches in their daily driver. Someone who’s kids might be getting a little bigger and who might have some upscale passengers on occasion too. Perhaps that owner still wants a sporting vehicle but doesn’t want the neighbors to know what his car is capable of.

So why is it then that the GS 350 elicits such an enthusiastic response from the youth on the street? This sleek, classy looking machine drew an uncommon amount of attention from the hip hop crowd during our week with the car. Getting gas yesterday afternoon even the young gas station attendant informed me how sick my car was.

It has been close to two decades since Lexus appeared on the market and they have done an incredible job of marketing to one crowd, while keeping the interest of future owners. The brand marketers really ought to be proud of themselves.
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With offices in Cali and the Motor City, AutoPacific keeps tabs on the auto industry and consumer opinion. With this in mind, they have released their list of the Top Rated vehicles. This list indicates vehicles that are considered closest to their ideal package by owners. Manufacturers should pay attention to this list, as it showcases what buyers really think of their vehicles.

Top-rated 2006 Ideal Vehicle brand: Hyundai
Top-rated 2006 Ideal Product Segment: Large Car/Luxury Car

Top rated 2006 Ideal Vehicles by segment:

PASSENGER CARS:
Premium Luxury Car                           Lexus LS
Entry Luxury Car                             BMW 3-Series
Large Car/Luxury Car                         Mercury Montego
Premium Mid-Size Car                         Hyundai Sonata
Mid-Size Car                                 Mercury Milan
Image Compact Car                            Toyota Prius
Compact Car                                  Ford Focus
Sports Car                                   Porsche 911
Sporty Car                                   Acura RSX

SUT, SUV, and MINIVAN:
Sport Utility Truck                          Honda Ridgeline
Luxury Sport Utility                         BMW X-5
Large Sport Utility                          GMC Yukon
Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility               Nissan Murano
Mid-Size Sport Utility                       Hyundai Santa Fe
Compact Sport Utility                        Subaru Forester
Minivan                                      Honda Odyssey