Opinion on 2002 Lexus GS 430

[DVad3r]

Hey guys,

I know someone that really wants to buy my car, and if they decide to do so, Ill be in the market for a replacement. I found a sweet GS 430 in Florida with 50 k miles, 1 owner, perfect condition, fully maxed options (nav, mark levinson sound, spoiler, chrome wheels), for $ 15,500 k US. KBB prices it at around 17 k...so def a good price. It comes with all service records from Lexus as all the maintenance was done there.

I've always been a Lexus fanboy and liked the GS cars, I think the second gen has character/class.

What do you guys think? Good buy? Any trouble spots with that particular model? I did some research online and it seems like they are pretty realiable, I know the Lexus V8 engines are tanks, and this one has the 4.3 liter.

Pics of car:

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=ff0a53dd20685da4&sid=0RZNWbRi2aOnA

 

[T2urtle]

This is the older model design correct?

I didn't know they still cost that much. They do look nice and I have a sweet spot for them. I know 99-01 gs300 are in the $8-10k range. The 430 shouldn't demand that much more.

I love the car but not for that price.

 

[foghorn67]

You can honestly find a newer gen GS for not too much more than that.
If you do prefer that generation, I guess that is the one to get. The low mileage and the Mark Levinson audio sound enticing.

 

[DVad3r]

The 430 is a V8, totally destroys the inline 6 engines of the GS300. This is the second generation, the third is the current one with the fourth coming out in 2013.

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&s....,cf.osb&fp=74f7d4faabb24a69&biw=1680&bih=955

 

[DVad3r]

updated OP with pics of car, looks brand new. I'm from Ontario and found 5 in the province, and all of them look like rust buckets compared to that lol.

 

[iamwiz82]

that's a lot for a 10 year old A-B car, no?

 

[DVad3r]

that's a lot for a 10 year old A-B car, no?

I don't know, what would you get?

 

[angry hampster]

that's a lot for a 10 year old A-B car, no?

$35,000 less than it was then.

OP, consider cross-shopping with the Infinity G35 sedan.

 

[T2urtle]

In the used car market going with a higher end car is sometimes cheaper. Like a civic sometimes cost more then an accord.

Ls430 might be cheaper. Last year I was able to buy a 06 is350 for about 18.5k, but they didnt offer me enough on my 05 g35.

Like I said work on that price, luxury cara can sometimes be hard to sell. See what those cars are going for on clublexus.com

 

[jtvang125]

I believe the only major issue with the GS of those years are the front lower ball joints. Due to poor design and weight of the car they tend to go out prematurely. Other than that they are really solid cars.

Also that v8 really likes to gulp down gas.

 

[JulesMaximus]

$35,000 less than it was then.

OP, consider cross-shopping with the Infinity G35 sedan.

GS is much much more car than the Inifiniti G35.

 

[luv2liv]

man, i wish you in philly. cause im trying to sell my lexus gs 2007. it has 45k miles. im hoping to sell it for 28k. i bought the 80k miles extended warranty. so u can buy with confidence nothing is wrong.

 

[luv2liv]

I believe the only major issue with the GS of those years are the front lower ball joints. Due to poor design and weight of the car they tend to go out prematurely. Other than that they are really solid cars.

Also that v8 really likes to gulp down gas.

it gulps down gas. and not cheap gas but premium!!
my gs 350 is about 18mpg city/hw combined.
i still dont understand why luxury car demands premium gas. cant they make a nice luxury car with 4 engine consuming 87oct? the only one i found using 87oct was Huyndai Genesis, but it wasnt as comfortable as my GS

 

[DVad3r]

man, i wish you in philly. cause im trying to sell my lexus gs 2007. it has 45k miles. im hoping to sell it for 28k. i bought the 80k miles extended warranty. so u can buy with confidence nothing is wrong.

It doesn't matter to me where the car is in North America, I'm buying from Canada, flying out, and driving it back. Or I might look into shipping options.

What kind of GS do you have? Are you the original owner? Any accidents? RWD/AWD?

 

[luv2liv]

mine is matador red lexus gs AWD 350, almost fully loaded (no DVD player/mark levinson sound). PM me your email and i will send pix n infos. im the original owner with no accident.

 

[master7045]

I own an 01 GS300, and the engine is a tank (in a good way, iron block inline 6s last forever). Mine has 200K on the clock and is going strong. I just recently had to replace the condenser for the AC though. I believe the timing belt needs to be replaced at around 100K and that isn't too cheap. Also, spark plugs are due at 90-100K, so you'll be coming up on some maintenance items soon. I also think there was a recall regarding the hood latch cable. Basically the cable would snap and you weren't able to pop the hood. Mine also has the ML sound system and while it sounds good, the sub has blown so there is some bad rattling. Make sure the prev owner doesn't have the bass turned down all the way when you test the stereo, should be pretty obvious if it's blown. In regards to the stereo, some of the LEDs used to backlight the stereo/AC buttons have burnt out, so at night, I cant see the preset #s or what station I'm on. Not the end of the world as the stereo still works and I have my presets memorized, but again, something to check. I haven't had my LBJ replaced, but I think that issue was resolved w/ the '00 model year. there is a pretty active forum called clublexus.com, which has some good insight. A lot of the threads are about "slamming" your suspension and adding super/turbo chargers, but if you weed through those, you can get some good maintenance tips/tricks from the users. All in all, a good, reliable car, esp at 50K miles. I just rattled off all of the issues I've had and I have 200K miles on a 10 yr old car. 15K sounds expensive though, I'd think you could get it for ~10K. Good Luck

 

[DVad3r]

^ Great advice, thanks for the post.

I actually test drove a local 2003 GS 430 here. The one here is nowhere near as nice as the one down in Florida, but I think I know what you mean about the blown sub, this one definitely had a heavy thudding sound. The one I want apperently already had the sub replaced under warranty, so it should be good.

As for the test drive itself, I loved the car. The steering feels a bit disconnected, just as all of the reviews have stated, but that doesn't bug me. It's fast and smooth, especially when you press the PWR button and launch off the lights

The car I want to buy actually is at the clublexus.com forum. I'm a member there too I just came here because any/all advice is good.

I don't think he will sell it for 10 k lol. The KBB of the car is around 17...what do you think is a good offer?

 

[soccerballtux]

The 430 is a V8, totally destroys the inline 6 engines of the GS300. This is the second generation, the third is the current one with the fourth coming out in 2013.

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&s....,cf.osb&fp=74f7d4faabb24a69&biw=1680&bih=955

I raced a buddy with my scion and we were neck and neck. I put it down to the weight.

 

[DVad3r]

I raced a buddy with my scion and we were neck and neck. I put it down to the weight.

What kind of Scion do you have? He has a GS430? Maybe he was trying to be nice I think the GS430 does 0-60 in like 5.6 seconds?

 

[master7045]

15K just seems like a lot for a car that is going to be 10 years old. Although, it's 1 year newer, has a crap ton less miles, & a V8, I guess that's just me being cheap. Good call out on the "loose" steering. To me this car is not a luxury sports car. It's more of a Luxury family sedan. Good driving dynamics, but nothing to brag about. It's a very quiet ride that is comfortable.

 

[T2urtle]

it gulps down gas. and not cheap gas but premium!!
my gs 350 is about 18mpg city/hw combined.
i still dont understand why luxury car demands premium gas. cant they make a nice luxury car with 4 engine consuming 87oct? the only one i found using 87oct was Huyndai Genesis, but it wasnt as comfortable as my GS

Same as my G35 AWD in terms of MPG but who cares, its the price we pay for getting a car like such. At times i do wish i got better MPG but then i just smash the pedal and smile.

I'm sure the OP isn't getting a 4.3 v8 for gas mileage. The car is big and heavy, it will require a lot more HP/TQ to push it around.

Timing belts shouldn't be an issue. Its under $1000 and only every 100k. Thats part of regular maintence, like tires and oil changes. I've heard about the balljoint issues, haven't read or seen who to replace them. But if they are the 3 bolts on the control arm design like a camry then its all gravy.

 

[luv2liv]

15K just seems like a lot for a car that is going to be 10 years old. Although, it's 1 year newer, has a crap ton less miles, & a V8, I guess that's just me being cheap. Good call out on the "loose" steering. To me this car is not a luxury sports car. It's more of a Luxury family sedan. Good driving dynamics, but nothing to brag about. It's a very quiet ride that is comfortable.

that is very true.
the weird thing is, it gets smoother at higher speed. doesnt make sense to me.
on a rental Impala, if i past 90mph, i would feel rattling all over and the wheel might pop out or something.

 

[DVad3r]

The MPG isn't too bad. It get's around 25/26 on the highway, suffers more in the city cause of it's weight.

I want to make this guy an offer, what should I offer him?

 

[DVad3r]

$35,000 less than it was then.

OP, consider cross-shopping with the Infinity G35 sedan.

Good recommendation, I found this which appeals to me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250947877358#vi-content

Any known problems with that generation of the G series?

 

[T2urtle]

05-06 g35 with a manual trans has a diffrent motor VQ35DE rev-up. Has a higher redline suppose to have a little more power. But more prone to burning oil. Its not a very high % but enough. Like the GS has balljoints, we have compression rod bushings that go bad. Bushings cost are $50 per side, labor to pull the arm off and press in and out the bushings isn't too high. $150-300. AWD models are only automatic trans.

Aside from that nothing too serious. VQ series motor has been around a while. Nissan puts a VQ35 in almost anything from 03+. So you can find parts easily. They are chain driven. Exhaust note is a love/hate thing.

That ebay link is pretty much my car but i'm a auto/AWD