Hello everyone, have been lurking for awhile now. I have been trying to decide which lexus to buy. Back when the 1998 GS400 was new I absolutely loved them. I still love the body style and the fact that it has a V8 rear wheel drive.
So I am looking at used vehicles now. Mid teens is my price range. (which looks good to get into a 1998-2000 Gs400) All this just to get to my question.

Should I go with a Gs430 or with a GS400?

Thanks for your input. I tried to search for someone who has already asked this question because I am sure it has been asked before, but couldn't find it. So if someone can find a thread that has already gone over this, just post it in here. Or if everyone wants to beat this dead horse again....feel free.

Thanks,
Dan

 

i say get a 430 , newer = more stuff

and Welcome to CL

 

WELCOME Duvaldg



GS400

 

GS430 preferably, especially if you want a navigation. 01+ GS430 has a much more improved nav (bigger screen, dvd driven so easier to update, faster) plus 90%+ of 430s with nav also come with the mark levinson which is a quite good stock sound system. Also, 430s have a improved interior, they redid the dash to look better and added some more wood on the dash along with a very common option of the wood steering wheel.

Performance wise the 400 and 430 is about the same, 0-60 times are similar though the 430 due to its bigger engine has a slightly torquer powerplant and lower peak power (from 6000 to 5400rpm HP, 4000 to 3400 Torque I believe). Also, the 430 it seems gets slightly (like 1mpg) better gas milage, likely due to the increase in torque.

Pricewise, a 430s might be somewhat harder to swing, a 01 430 should be ~19-22k. For perspective, I got my 01 430 with nav a month ago for 17k (18.8k otd) but my car had bad door locks (about a $500 fix) and high mileage (88k).

So im summary, if you can only spend a max of 15-16k you are likely limited to the 400s unless you can find a higher mileage and/or great deal 430. the 400 is very similar, still a great car, its just the 430 (I feel, especially with all the bells and whistles) adds that extra bit of goodness. Either way, you cant go wrong!

 

welcome and def. save for the 430...soo much more cooler!!

 

Lots of good reasons to go with the 430 already mentioned. Another is the taillights. They're much nicer; the 98-00 seem dated now.

 

So what you all are saying is that all the 400 owners would rather have a 430?

I heard the 430s were heavier, so not as fast. Is that true?

 

you wanna buy my 99 gs400 with 78k mint mint fully loaded and modded (check my sig ) but with out my big brakes and ssr wheels but will replace with other 18 or 19in wheels for 22.5k or i can return to stock but you get body kit without ugo roof spoiler but you get custom 1yr old 2 toned leather interior for 18.5 k firm

my car is a head turner and well well maintained and i just this weeked installed new ball joints and tie rod ends again and car has daizen bushing set

i am second owner and always been florida driven

 

The base 430 is like 80-100lbs heavier than the base 400 due to supposedly extra sound insulation and the full size spare tire instead of the space saver spare tire and because it has the 430 has the moonroof standard whereas the 400's moonroof is a option. However, 95%+ of the 400s also come with the moonroof and the moonroof adds like 40-50lbs so in reality the 430 is only ~50lbs heavier than the 400.

However, the 430 gets 300hp at 5600rpm and 325 torque at 3400rpm compared to the 400's 300hp at 6000rpm and 310 torque at 4000rpm. So the 430 is slightly more powerful but slightly heavier. Lexus upgraded their official 430 0-60mph time from the 400's 5.9secs to the 430's 5.8secs.

So the 430's is slightly faster than the 400 however according to some members the 400 feel faster due to the 400 using the mechanical throttle while the 430 upgraded to the electronic throttle. Supposedly the 400 has a faster gas tip in and more aggressive gas pedal response. However, the 430's midrange power (I drove a 400 and a 430 back to back when I was shopping for my car) definitely feels more powerful, you get that push in your back a bit more. The 400's engine is more akin to a big V6 where it needs to wind up to a bit higher engine speed to get the same power while the 430 feels more like the 5.4L V8 I had in my old car.

One thing the 400 does have over the 430 is that the 400 has the buttons on the steering wheel that allow you to shift the transmission and the 430s do not have that manual-shift feature. The reason so many people with the Gs400s want the 4r30 is because everyone wants to have the newest and greatest, the 430 is not a huge improvement over the 400 and is likely 4-5k more expensive (from a 00 400 to a 01 430).

Try out both back to back and then decide whether the marginal improvements of the 430 is worth the price premium over the 400. Only you can make that decision based on first hand experiences.

 

lexforlife.....don't know if I want something that nice. I will be running it all year up here in new england. Don't know how good the body kit will do as a snow plow.

Very nice looking car though.

 

Very nice write up. That is exactly what I am looking for. I guess the problem I can see on those points is trying to find both a 400 and 430 in the same area to be able to test drive both.

Also what we are talking about is the price difference of 4-5K. But that price difference is between a 00 400 and the 01 430. From what I have researched it looks like the 00 400 are in the high teens for price tag. So that would really put me going from 15-16K all the way up to 23k for the 430.

I am not in a huge hurry to buy, so I will keep looking around and see if I can find a great deal. Or wait some more and watch the 430 prices drop some. Obviously the newer I buy the longer it should last.

Thanks for the help, and keep the comments coming.

 

well, according to edmunds.com, a normal clean 2000 GS400 TMV (meaning with 76k mi, heated seats/cd changer/moonroof/spoiler/HIDs/17" wheels) is worth 13.9k Private party and 15.7k retail.

In comparision, a normally equipped 2001 GS430 TMV with same options and 68k mi go for 18.5k private and 20.5k retail.

So in effect, there is roughly a ~$4500 price premium for the GS430, add about another $1000 to either cars value if they come with the Nav/ML Audio (or Nak audio).

The one big caveat though is that it seems the edmunds TMV is not that accurate. If you check autotrader/cars.com, like you said the average asking price for the GS400s and 430s are often 2-4k higher than the TMV. The key though is that the TMV is the average actual selling price while the ads have just the asking price. If you are or know a friend thats a good negotiator, you should be able to haggle down another thousand if not more.

For example, for my recently purchased 430, I bought it from a dealer for $16,995 after knocking him down from a $19,995 asking price. Of course, that was after making sure it had a clean carfax and getting the go ahead with a lexus dealer pre-purchase-inspection.

The bigger lexus dealerships should have plenty of precertified GS430s available. The 2001-2005 are virtually all identical, the later models years only added preforated leather. So good bet (what I did) is do a extensive 30min or longer test drive with a GS400 from a private seller (make sure that you are interested in the car first though and if the GS430s don't impress you that much and you can negociate a good price with the seller, you will honestly buy the car). Then afterwards go straight to the lex dealer (set up both test drive appointments in advance so you can do both with as little time as possible in between) and go test drive a GS430.

Also, its good you are not in a big hurry. Just search patiently and you will come across the right car. Be sure to do your homework though, always run a clean carfax, check the maintence records (lex dealer can do that if you give them the car's VIN), do the lexus dealer PPI (pre purchase inspection, only costs like $50-100), and take the car to a trusted private mechanic or mechanically inclined friend to give it a once over as well. Be extra suspicious if a seller is selling the car for a much lower price.

 

Good advice on the research, one thing to consider is the area you are in. In my state, no one uses Edmunds, it's 98% NADA and 2% Kelly Blue Book. Get all 3 pricing scenarios and find out what the seller is using and go from there.

 

The 400 has a 0-60 time of 5.7 seconds compared to the 430's 5.9. The 400 is throttle by wire versus the 430's electonic drive by wire as mentioned above. Drove both cars myself, and the 400 imo leaps off the line with more authority. With the e-shift in the 400, you can kick down to 3rd gear for that extra oomph for passing like a manual tranny car. Can't do the same in the 430. I prefer a leather wrapped steering wheel for a more sporty feel, more so than a slippery wood one in the 430. All in taste I guess. Both cars are great, but if I were to choose it would be the 400.

 

a lot of wrong info there buddy.

1.the 430 is only 40lbs heavier,

2.all 2nd gen GS have a full size spare.

3.99% of GS have a sunroof