Lexus gs / ls... talk me out of it

[oli123]

Hi everyone

I have been looking at Lexus for a while now as an alternative to the older German stuff. Ive had a e39 5 series and an e38 7 series but not gone down the J route before.

I've been looking at a few gs 300's online, plenty of reasonable mileage examples out there, I found a late 90s one recently with the mark levinson sound system and huge spec that I may go to view.

Any opinions on them out there? What are they like in comparison to the German cars of the late 90s?

Also looked at the ls but they all seem to have clocked big mileage

I want something reliable, fairly swift and very quiet inside.

All the best!

[vitessetony]

The GS and the LS models both fit the bill of reliable,fairly swift and quiet inside and I would buy on condition as mileage is largely irrelevant if the car has been maintained properly ( See Matt Farah's million mile LS400 )

I personally own a gen3 GS300 with 140,000 miles on it and it is tight as a drum with zero issues just passed it's mot on thursday with no advisories.

I guess what i'm trying to say is maintenance is king not mileage. Lexus cars are reliable, beautifully engineered and built to last, they run rings around the germans but people can't or won't get over the badge. Their loss.......

Good luck!

[jollyroger]

I have an x reg gs300, I absolutely love it, as above, runs rings around anything else I have ever been in or owned. Beautifully comfortable and so well built. Will also sit easily and quietly at close to double the speed limit (on a private test track). Go for it.

[Tarka]

There's been a couple of really nice GS300 Sports on eBay recently - the first model with staggered Borbet wheels. I think they look great and are rapid. The cops around here had them as unmarked motorway bullets back in the early 00s. Get one!!

[zx]

I love my LS400! It never goes wrong, I could sit in it all day and when needed its' got some poke. Coming up to 180,000 miles and there's nothing externally, internally or mechanically that would suggest it. Three years on I still find the smooth gear changes a novelty...they go unnoticed. Years ago I had another LS on 255,000 and again it was spot on. They lap up distance. In some ways I'd be asking more questions if a 20 year old GS or LS hadn't reached 6 figures by now. Certainly buy on condition and history rather than mileage.

The only downside to owning an old Toyota/Lexus is that they rot. Check the rear strut mounts, rear arches, rear subframe mounts and petrol tank.

I've had similar aged BMW's (5/7 series) and they are really nice. I just found the constant maintenance a pain and I was forever compromising. Certain things couldn't be fixed. Certain things had to be used a different way. None of that with the Lexus. I also ran big Audi's but found them hideously unreliable, especially the A8. I still have an older V8 A6 as I spent a bit too much making it look good, plus it's worth 50p as people know the gearbox goes bang at 100K and I'm 8k into borrowed time!

[Curtis]

No

GS300 is lovely, if a bit lethargic, the 2JZ-GE is the same legendary supra lump albeit sans turbo and go fast internals. If you don't mind the import premiums, an Aristo is a good bet, with the 2JZ-GTE.

However, the 1UZ in the GS400 and LS400 is a loud, powerful and generally offensive motor that is excellent. With stock silencing it is a graceful beast, bin the tail pipes and it absolutely sings.

Both are perfect for a VIP look, the GS can pull off a sportier look if you try hard enough

[vitessetony]

[LowStandards]

I've owned both (I currently own a GS)

The LS400 runs rings around the GS in every single way. I'd never buy a GS over an LS, even the fuel consumption is pretty much the same.


Don't get me wrong, the engine is a lovely, smooth piece of kit, but it is let down horribly by the ecu and fly by wire throttle which make you feel so disconnected from the drive it's unbelievable.


Do the right thing and buy an LS

[VIP]

Aug 8, 2017 10:31:23 GMT Curtis said:

No

GS300 is lovely, if a bit lethargic, the 2JZ-GE is the same legendary supra lump albeit sans turbo and go fast internals. If you don't mind the import premiums, an Aristo is a good bet, with the 2JZ-GTE.

However, the 1UZ in the GS400 and LS400 is a loud, powerful and generally offensive motor that is excellent. With stock silencing it is a graceful beast, bin the tail pipes and it absolutely sings.

Both are perfect for a VIP look, the GS can pull off a sportier look if you try hard enough

You mean the Aristo Vertex, a regular Aristo is simply an imported GS300.

The main issue in the 2GS is the electronic brake booster, a known weak point and a £1300 bill if it goes.

[Curtis]

Aug 8, 2017 11:57:17 GMT VIP said:

You mean the Aristo Vertex, a regular Aristo is simply an imported GS300.

The main issue in the 2GS is the electronic brake booster, a known weak point and a £1300 bill if it goes.

Potentially, as far as I was aware the Aristo's all got the GTE, I stand corrected

[stonyray]

I have an 02 IS300 sportcross and its truly amazing. 106K, and its had a lambda sensor, new rad and the rest is just maintenance stuff.

2JZ-GE is a lush motor,

[brettmrc]

Get an LS400, you will not regret it.

[andyborris]

This is a really stupid thread, asking us to talk you out of buying a cool car, that's what you get married for!

[shielsy68]

lol whs

[Mercdan68]

Just do it!!
It's another one on my list to own
I love a wafty barge had a couple of E class mercs,two nice Granada Ghia x
And now on my second Jaguar XJ,, the Lexus IS a mighty fine motor imo

[Tarka]

Aug 8, 2017 18:02:25 GMT Mercdan68 said:

Just do it!!
It's another one on my list to own
I love a wafty barge had a couple of E class mercs,two nice Granada Ghia x
And now on my second Jaguar XJ,, the Lexus IS a mighty fine motor imo

That's an impressive history of barge captainage A 7 series of the E32 or E38 flavour must be on your radar. Still cheap to buy and an E32 pretty cheap to run.

[discostew38]

I've had BMW E39 E32 E38 merc 124 and 126 and Lexus ls400
All great in there own way the Lexus LS is just a Japanese version
But it's a fantastic car to drive not as sporty as the BMW in handling but silky smooth engine that's no slouch

[brachunky]

Had my 99 LS400 for just over week & fallen in love again Why,why,why I never bought one before! The motor is bleedin awesome at getting that weight moving along at a pretty rapid pace and even though its full of electricky,EVERYTHING WORKS!!

[oli123]

Thanks chaps, I am now fully very interested in purchasing one. The other half will not be happy haha.

Going to take my time and find a nice one, probably a gs as I like the shape unless a super nice ls came up. The gs models seem to be superb value for money right now.

Would love one with the black leather and the premium sound system is a must as long drives through the country with music is my favourite hobby, I was always hugely disappointed with my bmws speakers... lacking any detail and a pain to upgrade.

Is the mark levinson system as good as the internet suggests?

I had a modern merc cls diesel recently that had a fantastic sound system and was sublime to drive. But eye wateringly expensive to maintain after all the common modern diesel niggles so it went. Never again with the modern diesels... back to older stuff for good.

Really appreciate everyones inputs, its a big help.

[Woofwoof]

Aug 8, 2017 14:26:25 GMT brettmrc said:

Get an LS400, you will not regret it.

^^^ What this man said.