So...we checked out a Lexus today....

[mAdD INDIAN]

..and now my dad wants nothing but a GS300.

This is how the story started:

We went to this dealer to check out an '93 Infiniti J30 that they had. On the same lot they had a 93 525, 93 GS300, E36 M3, Audi Quattro Coupe, etc.. We test drove the J30 and there was some squealing sound coming from the rear wheels (probably the brakes). Anyway we got a bad vibe from the car and I think there are problems in it that are just waiting to surface. The tranny is quite voilent in choosing gears.

Anyway so we saw the 93 GS300 with 180k km that they had. We couldnt' test drive it since a) it couldn't get out of the snow it was buried in b) the battery/alternator was dead.

Anyway we sat inside and wow, now I know why Lexus is a Lexus. It just oozes quality, and this was after noticing the broken cupholder thingy (that slides out from the armrest) and the cracked leather on the seats, and the lcd screen on the stereo with defects (dunno how to explain it, it works but there is some wierd stuff on the side). Now we aren't gonna buy that one but we are definately checking out other GS300.

Now I know why Lexus is #1 in luxury, you just have ot sit in one to find out.

 

[CraigRT]

Lexus are really nice that's for sure.
one car I always liked was the SC400.. not to mentoin the GS400.. those are badass cars.
I'd love to have either, that's for sure...

 

[Static911]

If your father is willing to wait, the new GS will be redesigned in 2005 with AWD. Lexus has placed an emphasis on being environmentally "safe". Therefore, I highly doubt we will ever see a V-12 or a factory supercharger/turbocharger.

We are gearing up to do a single or twin turbo on a SC 400 project car. Forget the 2JZ-GTE swap...we want something original.

Ethan

 

[johneetrash]

Originally posted by: Static911
If your father is willing to wait, the new GS will be redesigned in 2005 with AWD. Lexus has placed an emphasis on being environmentally "safe". Therefore, I highly doubt we will ever see a V-12 or a factory supercharger/turbocharger.

We are gearing up to do a single or twin turbo on a SC 400 project car. Forget the 2JZ-GTE swap...we want something original.

Ethan

he was looking at a used gs

id take the e36 m3 out of the bunch

 

[Static911]

Originally posted by: johneetrash

Originally posted by: Static911
If your father is willing to wait, the new GS will be redesigned in 2005 with AWD. Lexus has placed an emphasis on being environmentally "safe". Therefore, I highly doubt we will ever see a V-12 or a factory supercharger/turbocharger.

We are gearing up to do a single or twin turbo on a SC 400 project car. Forget the 2JZ-GTE swap...we want something original.

Ethan

he was looking at a used gs

id take the e36 m3 out of the bunch

I must say there are hardly any flaws in the GS 300. I have seen every official service bulletin issued (not the All Data stuff, but the ones issued by Lexus) and of all the vehicles, I believe GS 300 (1998+) has the fewest service bulletins issued.

Good luck with your purchase. You may even want to consider looking into an Infinity G35 or BMW 530i before deciding on the GS 300.

Ethan

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Static911

Originally posted by: johneetrash

Originally posted by: Static911
If your father is willing to wait, the new GS will be redesigned in 2005 with AWD. Lexus has placed an emphasis on being environmentally "safe". Therefore, I highly doubt we will ever see a V-12 or a factory supercharger/turbocharger.

We are gearing up to do a single or twin turbo on a SC 400 project car. Forget the 2JZ-GTE swap...we want something original.

Ethan

he was looking at a used gs

id take the e36 m3 out of the bunch

I must say there are hardly any flaws in the GS 300. I have seen every official service bulletin issued (not the All Data stuff, but the ones issued by Lexus) and of all the vehicles, I believe GS 300 (1998+) has the fewest service bulletins issued.

Good luck with your purchase. You may even want to consider looking into an Infinity G35 or BMW 530i before deciding on the GS 300.

Ethan

oh man, droooool
those are such nice cars!!

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Static911
If your father is willing to wait, the new GS will be redesigned in 2005 with AWD. Lexus has placed an emphasis on being environmentally "safe". Therefore, I highly doubt we will ever see a V-12 or a factory supercharger/turbocharger.

We are gearing up to do a single or twin turbo on a SC 400 project car. Forget the 2JZ-GTE swap...we want something original.

Ethan

heh we can't afford a brand new GS300, well we could but then we'd have to sacrifice for other stuff.

A G35 is nowhere near a GS300 in terms of luxury. The G35 is a sports sedan first, luxury second. The GS just coddles you in luxury. We are looking at a first gen GS ('95) and a second gen ('98-'99). For some reason these cars have a high initial depreciation and then it holds its value after. We already had sportiness before (240SX) and now my dad wants luxury, so peformance is not really a concern (I can't believe I just said that!, but then its not my car).

Are their any reliability problems with the first gen GS300s?

 

[Static911]

mAdD INDIAN,

Nope, there is no significant service bulletin issued for the 1995 GS 300. I have yet to hear any major problems for the first generation GS 300. The service bulletins issued for that year (1995) are for very basic stuff as "get a free seat belt extender, wiper blade, child seat, etc". We are going to be publishing all the official TSIB on our site (well, I already inputted them, but we have not gone live with the new website yet).

Good luck.

Ethan

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Static911
mAdD INDIAN,

Nope, there is no significant service bulletin issued for the 1995 GS 300. I have yet to hear any major problems for the first generation GS 300. The service bulletins issued for that year (1995) are for very basic stuff as "get a free seat belt extender, wiper blade, child seat, etc".

Good luck.

Ethan

Thanks! Do you work for Lexus?

Do you know if the bumper-bumper Lexus warranty includes free scheduled maintaince (oil changes, etc..)? Cause hte plan is to first check the 95 GS300 since it is almost $10k cheaper while only having 30k km more. If that car does not meet up to our expectations, we might go for the 98 GS300 which has 1 year of warranty left (6 years, 120k kms).

 

[isekii]

If you get a Certified lexus it comes with nice warranty~

but i dont think it includes the scheduled maintainance~

My lexus came with first two scheduled maintainance~

 

[boyRacer]

see sig... 1997 GS400 slogan

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[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: boyRacer
see sig... 1997 GS400 slogan

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nice slogan!!

 

[bleeb]

I'd rather get a BMW.

 

[0roo0roo]

good for you don't buy german, dem bastids. and well, not as if u could or would buy french anyways

 

[MaTTCNA]

Toyota does make a nice Lexus, don't they!

 

[Ns1]

gotta get teh 400

 

[Spac3d]

I have a 2001 GS300. Fantastic car. They are also the quiestest production car on the highways..... it is soo quiet

When going through the drive through and my music is down, I don't even know if the car is on sometimes. I love my Lexus Lease is up in December... don't know which Lexus to get next

Hope you get to test drive it soon, it's a great car.

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Static911
If your father is willing to wait, the new GS will be redesigned in 2005 with AWD. Lexus has placed an emphasis on being environmentally "safe". Therefore, I highly doubt we will ever see a V-12 or a factory supercharger/turbocharger.

We are gearing up to do a single or twin turbo on a SC 400 project car. Forget the 2JZ-GTE swap...we want something original.

Ethan

That would be an incredible fun project car There is a guy near me with an SC400 that he has been working on and it has blistering acceleration. It also rumbles pretty deep...it just sounds so mean

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
good for you don't buy german, dem bastids. and well, not as if u could or would buy french anyways

Hey man Peugeot kicks ass! We had a 504 back in Nigeria those things are durable!

I thought the LS430 was the quietest car on Earth? How's the windnoise on the GS?

 

[BarneyFife]

The car has 180k which is like 100k miles. Thats too much. Luxury cars are expensive to fix, especially an import. Better off buying a brand new Honda Accord or Chevy Impala.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Yes the Lexus is a nice Toyota.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Yes the Lexus is a nice Toyota.

and audi is a nice volkswagen
and acura is a nice honda
and infiniti is a nice nissan
and well.. with bmw and stuff, they just don't export their cheap cars.

 

[Buffdaddy34]

I have a GS 300, it has over 200,000 miles on it. It is a rock solid car. And let me tell you this much, it's a smooth ride, and it was the first car my high school ex-gf could do her make up in while I was driving. Always something I will remember, lol. Awesome ride, gonna buy a SL65 NEXT w00t!!!

 

[SherEPunjab]

The lexus GS300 was voted the most reliable car, period, in 1996 i beleive. same model.

Lexus' are AWESOME cars. My family has owned several mercedes, one lexus, and lincolns. We've tried german, jap, and american luxury. when it comes to total comfort, it is hard to beat a large cadillac, lincoln, or LS lexus. These cars can literally put the driver to sleep they are so smooth and comfortable. When it comes to quality, Lexus owns all. Their reliablity record is really good. Mercedes and BMWs tend to be more sport/luxury with firmer leather seats, and very stupid controls (at least mercedes). MB command navigation for example is very confusing to use and most people i know that have it - don't use it. its a real POS. Lexus is a lot more intuitive, and the quality is second to none. I remember they were using Nakamichi cd players back in the day, now they use Mark Levinson.. to those that know audio, both names are very good... much better than Bose. We owned the LS400. The LS400 is way better than the ES300, which is a modified Camry. The GS300 is the same engine i believe as the v6 camry. Lexus's design has been hit or miss, but when it comes to driveability, quality, resale, safety, it excels. I personally would not buy a mercedes when you can get a better car for cheaper with lexus. not to mention its service. The service is amazing. they will drop off a car to your home or office, and pick yours up. fix it, clean it, and then go back and trade it again. Mercedes' service isn't even close. And they cost more.

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: Static911
If your father is willing to wait, the new GS will be redesigned in 2005 with AWD. Lexus has placed an emphasis on being environmentally "safe". Therefore, I highly doubt we will ever see a V-12 or a factory supercharger/turbocharger.

We are gearing up to do a single or twin turbo on a SC 400 project car. Forget the 2JZ-GTE swap...we want something original.

Ethan

Does it come with a manual transmission?