DetMich1

Well, you don't have to worry. As pointed out earlier, if anything, the 400 is even FASTER than the 430
BTW, tiptronic was standard along with the tilt/telescoping wheel. 17" rims, spoiler, and Nakamichi sound were all factory options. The dealer should be willing to pull the car's service record from their Lexus computer data base. It will disclose all service provided by any Lexus dealer anywhere in the country. Gives you an idea about whether routine maintainance was carried out as scheduled or not. Also, will disclose any repairs done under warranty.

UDel

One of the reasons the dealer might be charging you a pretty high price and saying he is firm is because he just got the car in and you are already interested. If you are going to try to get a better deal "which you should" then you might want to act a little disappointed with the 400 even if your not and remind him it is a 6 year old car with over 50,000 miles and there are better deals out there. I believe the 2001+ have a slightly different gauge cluster and a nicer looking steering wheel. Just a suggestion. Good Luck

DetMich1

Guages are the same but the trim surround has a brushed metallic lip around each of the three round openings. Brightens it up a bit. The ashtray in the center console below the radio ways switched to matching wood veneer trim, chrome bezel around the shift gate panel, wood/leather steering wheel with chrome 'L' emblem on the airbag though the tiptronic was lost, and of course the redesigned rear taillights everyone is so fond of were all introduced 2001+.

cruiser99

I think you could get a better deal if you wait. I bought a 2001 GS430 a month ago for $22.8k at a Chrysler dealership. The car was mint, it had 41k miles and was serviced at a Lexus dealership. The car still has factory warranty until the end of May and I can still get a Lexus extended warranty on the car. They were asking around $27k for the car.

e-man

I gotta tell you. I've been talking with a few other CL members about this one, and it sounds like you got one heckuva deal, especially given that you bought the car from a reputable car dealership (as opposed to a used car lot or private party).

e-man

UDel

I have seen some 2001 GS430's on the east coast going for $22-24,000 and 2001+ GS300's going as low as $17,500 on autotrader and local websites. There were many 01+ 300's in the 18 to 19 range. I almost decided to take a drive up to Delaware to buy a GS when a family member was ill because they are charging so much around where I am at and I still need to drive 100 miles to find a decent selection. The east coast is usaully the best place to find deals on higher end cars because there is alot more competition and cars etc then in the south. 22.8 sounds like a great deal especially buying in Texas. Wish dealers around here were more willing to deal and not so stubborn. Thanks for the info on differnces in interior of 2001+ DetMich 1.

cruiser99

I think I got a good deal because the car was sitting on the lot since November 2004. Also, I bought the car in Lincoln, NE, which is a college town. I think the nearest Lexus dealership is in Omaha, about an hour drive. Plus, I bought the car in a winter month, and a rear-wheel drive car with an automatic doesn't sell as well in the Midwest in the winter. I still had to pay for the flight from Austin for $280, which added to the cost of ownership. The dealership was Russwood Chrysler. They were very professional and I was treated extremely well. When I got home, there was a UPS package waiting for me. The dealership sent me a huge thank you candy basket.

SRK

I test drove a white with tan 98 GS400 while looking for the one I eventually bought. I have to say that the white with tan did nothing for me. Looked like a girls car. Still, a nice ride, but the colour - you want to walk away from it and turn around to look every time. Cinnabar red pearl and tan does that for me, and that's what I bought. White didn't do it.

LEXUS_KID

iTrader: (4)

If I were you I would look for a CPO car from a dealer so you get a warranty to 100k

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

Well, I bought a extended warranty through the dealer where I bought the car.... for 1500.00 including tax i bought a 36 month warranty which will bring me to around 90,000 miles... Then I'll probably get another one if I can. Car has 54,300 miles on it.. Not bad for a 99... Being that from 98 to 2004 the body style was the same you can't even tell what year it is.........Thanks tmf

rominl

iTrader: (4)

well, how about i tell you i have a gs4 and a sc430 (which shares the same driven train system as the gs430)?

yes the 430 is a lot slower than the 400 in terms of response. i didn't even have to say anything. we have owned the gs400 for a long time (before we put in the tc and lsd), so me and my wife we know the car very very well

we were shopping for sc430, we test drove the car. i drove it, felt the throttle is pretty frustrating.... i ddn't say anything. my wife got to the driver seat, drove, and she looked down.... i asked what, and she asked if the parking brake was still engaged. i told her nop, and proceed to ask if she felt the throttle is "retarded" (not meaning stupid, but meaning slow). she said yes, what's going on. i told her it's the drive by wire system.....

so anyway, we both feel pretty disappointed about the 430 throttle system, BUT it's not the end of the world. we got the sc430, and after driving it a bit, you start to adjust yourself to the car. you start to know how to punch the gas and how deep to go, how fast, etc... it's very different from driving the gs4.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

that's really not a lot of miles for a 99!!! congrats

about the warranty, seriously if you are up to 90k i think that's a good cut off point for extended warranty more than that i am not sure if lexus will still do it?

3dog

iTrader: (1)

Thank you

At last someone else agrees that the throttle response pf the 430 is slower.

Get the 400 you can then put a TC on it and not have the check engine light come on like it does on the 430.

The 400 also has the E-shift which the 430 does not.

Ivan
3dog

rominl

iTrader: (4)

well to be fair we have couple of 430 owners who don't think the throttle on their cars are slow, so i say that's just my subjective feeling. but all i can tell you is mine and also what my wife thinks about it (without me saying anything first)

yes the 430 with tc will have cel. personally i wouldn't care about it. if i have the money and such, i would have done that for my sc430 by now already without a second thought. and if i have a gs430, i would have done it too