Performance of GS 300 vs 400/430
02-04-09, 06:35 AM
#16
02-04-09, 09:57 AM
#17
Lexus Champion
I look at it this way.
If you buy the 300, eventually you'll wonder "gosh, what would it have been like to get the V8?"
If you get the V8, you'll never wonder what life with the 300 would be like.
If you plan to go nuts with mods, the 2J motor can get more HP per $ than the V8. That being said, there are some GREAT V8 upgrades out there; you just need to bring a fat wallet.
My car was meant to be a daily driver when I bought it, so I didn't plan on doing serious powertrain upgrades.
I went with the V8. The sound and torque are intoxicating.
That alone is worth the price of admission!
If you buy the 300, eventually you'll wonder "gosh, what would it have been like to get the V8?"
If you get the V8, you'll never wonder what life with the 300 would be like.
If you plan to go nuts with mods, the 2J motor can get more HP per $ than the V8. That being said, there are some GREAT V8 upgrades out there; you just need to bring a fat wallet.
My car was meant to be a daily driver when I bought it, so I didn't plan on doing serious powertrain upgrades.
I went with the V8. The sound and torque are intoxicating.
That alone is worth the price of admission!
02-04-09, 11:12 AM
#19
I look at it this way.
If you buy the 300, eventually you'll wonder "gosh, what would it have been like to get the V8?"
If you get the V8, you'll never wonder what life with the 300 would be like.
If you plan to go nuts with mods, the 2J motor can get more HP per $ than the V8. That being said, there are some GREAT V8 upgrades out there; you just need to bring a fat wallet.
My car was meant to be a daily driver when I bought it, so I didn't plan on doing serious powertrain upgrades.
I went with the V8. The sound and torque are intoxicating.
That alone is worth the price of admission!
If you buy the 300, eventually you'll wonder "gosh, what would it have been like to get the V8?"
If you get the V8, you'll never wonder what life with the 300 would be like.
If you plan to go nuts with mods, the 2J motor can get more HP per $ than the V8. That being said, there are some GREAT V8 upgrades out there; you just need to bring a fat wallet.
My car was meant to be a daily driver when I bought it, so I didn't plan on doing serious powertrain upgrades.
I went with the V8. The sound and torque are intoxicating.
That alone is worth the price of admission!
good for roasting them tires somedays too 
02-05-09, 11:23 PM
#25
Pole Position
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i had the same questions when i was lookin for mine. unless you going the turbo route you are not going to hit 300hp with a 300. intake, headers, exhaust and a tune will not give you 80 additional hp. obviously i got a 4 
04-17-09, 12:18 AM
#28
iModerate
Go with a low millage GS430. You can start maintaining it right while it is still young. It will last you 300K easy. More power and all the reliability.
Prices right now are insanely low too.
04-17-09, 09:20 AM
#29
While the 2JZ is tough as nails, the 1UZ-FE, or 3UZ-FE (GS430) is also a work horse motor. This motor has been around since the late 80s in the LS400 as well as variations of it in Toyota trucks and SUVs. Things can go wrong, but the motor and trans on the V8 is about the last thing I would worry about. The question would be how long do you consider long? Would you choose one motor over another because one last to about 350K miles while another last 400K? Are you even planning on keeping the car that long anyway? There have been older LS400's and such with 400K+ miles on them so you know that V8 and trans can last a long time.
