ocnbrzz

Anyone here an original (1st) owner of a '97 G3?

Reason I ask is because I was reading some reviews of the '98 G4 on line and it was mentioned that base price of the g4 in the first year was in the $48k range.... taking that at face value, I am left gasping for air as I remember quite clearly that in '97, the base for the G3 was in the $47k range !!! :eek:

My neighbor across the street has a real clean Black/Tan '97 G3,
and awhile back he mentioned that he bought it from the orig owners 3yrs ago for $35k...

So this last Sun we were both out washing our cars, and I just couldn't stop thinking that back in '98 my G4 was, in the big picture, barely anymore $$$ than what the orig owners of his '97 G3 had to pay..... and definetly not trying to offend anyone, but wow, it's alot more car for a grand...

Any one ever thought about this?

Any 1st gen owners reading this, please don't be offended. My intention was/is not to slam any one's ride !! I used to own a '93 G3, and still like 'em alot!!

SLVRGS

That is pretty strange, you do get a lot more as far as engine. I am not sure but for the 17's don't you have to pay alot more for options such as that and a spoiler, its like they updated the sytle and the motor but how much more are you getting. I was debating on bying a 98 GS300 like a 1 and 1/2 ago but I still allways liked the older body style better. When I found my 95 I felt it would take alot to do to a newer GS to look as good as my 95 even though I have the new 17in wheels on mine. Like you look at a stock GS with the 16's they just look terrible. I don't know what I am getting at but the early ones are more rare and still should hold a very significant value compared the the common newer style GS's.

GS400_PUSHER

I have a 98 GS400 everything but Nav. and the sticker was 52K !

Hermosa

What about the fact that a 2000 SC400 fully loaded(no nav available fro SCs) was $65,000 and the 2002 SC430 is $62580?

link13

The first gen. pricing was pretty high. Mine doesn't have a sunroof and I believe the original sticker in 1994 was something like $44-46K. I am owner #3, so I didn't pay that. I read on this board that Lexus dropped the price of the GS300 due to competitive pressures in the market and the fact that they intended to make and sell more of the 1998- GS300s. You don't see first gens every day and I think it's because Lexus just didn't make/sell a hell of a lot of them relative to other cars. It was a big deal in 1998 that you could get a GS4 for about the same money as the previous GS3. I believe it really boosted sales of the GS line.

ocnbrzz

Thx link13.....

You illustrated my point exactly.

Personally, "IF" I had purchased a '97 G3 with a base in the $47k range, and the very next year my neighbor shows up with a G4 with a base sticker around a grand higher, I would have been pissed off


Now of course, options are not considered in this because that's an owner decision to add or not. the base price is just that, the base price.

As a former 1st gen G3 owner, I think Lexus kind of stuck it to the 1st gen owners as far as the pricing situation was concerned.

As always, just my .02

blue wax

I was a little surprised too, to hear at a lexus dealer over here that I could get a GS 300 1998, for aprox 20% in more to pay, but I already bought mine and felt in love with it......!?
1st. Gen 300 really is a beautiful, smooth driving car . Can be fast 2 though

yezzzzzzzz.