I am looking to buy a used 1998+ GS. There are more 300s to choose from but I've read some people recommending getting the v-8. Does the GS300 feel underpowered or is it just not as entertaining as the GS400. My parents have a 99 and 03 tl an cl and there acceleration seem alright to me. Is there any reason why the inline six seems to get bad gas mileage? I have seen a few 98 GS400's for sale near me. Is there anything I should watch for buying the first redesign year.

Thank you

 

welcome to CL

Compliments of DaveGS4

Welcome to ClubLexus.

I HIGHLY recommend you use the search feature as every question you'll ask has been asked over and over again in the last five years.

For example, these might be helpful and are all available right now, no waiting.:

Should I get a GS300 or GS400 (found by 'which gs300 gs400'

Related threads:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs400

Similar threads for GS430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ich+gs300+gs430


What are the differences in model years (look at Lexus website, model library)
http://www.lexus.com/cpo/model_library.html



Is it worth getting a CPO vehicle? (found by searching for 'CPO worth"
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...&threadid=76991
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=CPO+worth
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=CPO+worth
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=CPO+worth
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=CPO+worth
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=CPO+worth

How much should I pay?
Its different for every car and every city. Listed below are a few links of a few places to gauge value of the GS.

KBB
Edmund's

Also, the internet has now become a place to sell and buy new and used vehicles. Listed below are a few sites that have members of their websites able to sell and buy vehicles such as the GS.

Autotrader
E-Bay Motors

When buying a car, you also want to look out for prior accidents or REBUILT or SALVAGED or OTHER titles on vehicles. Although the vehicle may currently have a low price and look like an awesome deal, the resale value is non existant and the integrity of the vehicle will always be in question. A good site to check this out on is listed below.

Car Fax Note links requesting carfax reports are prohibited on this forum.


What are common problems with the GS?
Moisture in Healights
Low/rough Idle Issue
Door Actuator Problems
Dash Rattle
Sunroof Rattle
Vibration at Highway Speed


https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...S400+Rough+Idle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...t=Door+Actuator
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ght=Dash+Rattle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...=Sunroof+Rattle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...=GS400+low+idle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...dlight+Moisture
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...Gs400+Vibration


What year GS is best (since you listed all of them)
Related threads:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...&threadid=15832
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...&threadid=83730
TSBs https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...8&highlight=tsb
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...&threadid=28501

That should get you started

 

The best is to have Lexus service inspect it because carfax won't tell you everything. Moisture in the headlamps and low idle are discussed in his forum but but nothing major. GS300 will feel slower if your parents CL is Type-S. Most of the GS buyers aren't buying the GS for the great gas mileage.

 

Welcome to Clublexus. TLW gave u all the links u need. In addition, the GS 400s accleration is a different beast to the GS 300. its not close. At highway speeds, the GS 300 does very well though. Neither car feels underpowered.
Your parents cars, the TL and CL (if they are Type-S) are very swift. Honda made a nice screamer of an engine with those cars. They are slower than a GS 400 but faster than a GS 300. Those cars are 3 steps behind in build quality though.

Gas mileage depends on how u drive The GS 300 and 400 have near idential gas mileage, about 18 city, 24 highway under normal driving.

 

Thanks for the replies. I tried clicking on the links but they did not work for me. I know that the GS is not the car to get for good gas mileage but I saw that there were many people complaining about the lower then expecting gas mileage on the GS300. I was surprised that the GS400 was getting similiar gas mileage considering it had 80 more horsepower more cylinders and larger displacement. The tl is rated around 29 mpg highway even with the new 270 hp engine. I believe the GS is a about 2 or 3 hundred lbs more and is rear wheel drive so that might the reason for the lower mpg or maybe inline sixes are not as fuel efficient as V-6. Is there a way of fixing the moisture in the headlights or is it something that is very expensive and should be avoided. Also is there a way of playing dvd movies on a gs navigation screen.

Thank you