How reliable is your GS300?
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: WV
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I had a 2003 IS300 but i sold it last august. I'm thinking of the GS300. How reliable is the 2001 model if i bought one what problems if any would i encounter? I'm seriously thinking about the GS3 but wanted your guys opinion.
#4
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (5)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
brent GS is kind of right. i have a grand am with 130k miles on it and nothing has went wrong on it, and i have a mustang where nothing has gone wrong with it and it has 84k miles, i had an olds bravada that i drove for 80k miles and nothing went wrong, i drove a 2001 yukon denali for another 40k miles with no issues.
just change the timing belt and oil and move on.
just change the timing belt and oil and move on.
#5
Driver
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: WV
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Well i really wanted to know what bugs or what problems have members had with the GS3. Years 1998-2002. That's what year i want to get one from. My 03 IS300 had the 3.0 and i had no problems with it but the battery going bad on me but it was factory and that car was 7 years old. The CD player game me some problems sometimes but that was it.
#6
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (5)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
well ive had 3 2GS's, a 98 champaigne and 2 99's a black and a silver. between the 3 of them i have probably driven maybe 170k miles, with no problems besides on the current silver 99. The differential got destroyed and it was my fault because i was running good year eagle f1's in the snow and it just kept spinning and spinning for like a month till i changed the tires by which time it was too late.
other than that, change the timing belt and water pump and everything else associated with that service, regularly change your oil and filter with synthetic, flush your coolant and brake fluids, change your spark plugs and wires, also change the tranny fluid about every 30k some do it sooner others never, on my 98 it had 140k miles it was never changed and drove perfect even after all the abuse.
these things are pretty tough man same thing as your is, and what i like about them is that they dont have a million sensors that always go wrong like they did on my audi and bmw.
other than that, change the timing belt and water pump and everything else associated with that service, regularly change your oil and filter with synthetic, flush your coolant and brake fluids, change your spark plugs and wires, also change the tranny fluid about every 30k some do it sooner others never, on my 98 it had 140k miles it was never changed and drove perfect even after all the abuse.
these things are pretty tough man same thing as your is, and what i like about them is that they dont have a million sensors that always go wrong like they did on my audi and bmw.
#7
Driver
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: FL
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
It all depends on the mileage of the car... at 90K or more you need to make sure the timing belt, spark plugs, and all fluids are changed...Ball joints are the major weak link on our cars, get them checked or just change them out for piece of mind...
Trending Topics
#8
Driver
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: WV
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
2001 Black GS300 with 119,000 miles on it. Looks good. It's from a used car place.
They are asking $9850.00 is that reasonable?
![](http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/565/421/images/2010/7/12/282/822/16667470283.282822757.IM1.02.565x421_A.562x421.jpg)
![](http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/565/421/images/2010/7/12/282/822/16667470282.282822757.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.jpg)
![](http://www.dealercarsearch.com/Media/1847/5504_03.jpg)
![](http://www.dealercarsearch.com/Media/1847/5504_05.jpg)
![](http://www.dealercarsearch.com/Media/1847/5504_39.jpg)
They are asking $9850.00 is that reasonable?
![](http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/565/421/images/2010/7/12/282/822/16667470283.282822757.IM1.02.565x421_A.562x421.jpg)
![](http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/565/421/images/2010/7/12/282/822/16667470282.282822757.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.jpg)
![](http://www.dealercarsearch.com/Media/1847/5504_03.jpg)
![](http://www.dealercarsearch.com/Media/1847/5504_05.jpg)
![](http://www.dealercarsearch.com/Media/1847/5504_39.jpg)
![](http://www.dealercarsearch.com/Media/1847/5504_07.jpg)
Last edited by Smitslex; 08-04-10 at 03:18 PM.
#9
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (5)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
thats not a bad deal at all especially if its clean or there are maintanance records with it. however i have seen them for about 1000 cheaper with even a few less miles but all depends on the shape its in. obviously when buying from e dealer they have to make their cut. if there are no maintanance records howerver the timing belt is a must and so are the lower balljoints and tie rods maybe even upper control arms. this could be a bargaining tool for ya.
#10
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (9)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
www.consumerreports.com
Most reliable cars
A high price doesn't mean it's reliable
Asian brands still dominate
High: Honda Insight
In its first year, the Honda Insight had the best new car reliability in our survey, but scored too low in our testing to be recommended. The major Japanese brands and South Korea's Hyundai and Kia make plenty of reliable vehicles. Of the 48 models with top reliability scores, 36 were Asian. Toyota accounted for 18; Honda, eight; Nissan, four; and Hyundai/Kia and Subaru, three each.
On the whole, Japanese vehicles are consistently good. All Hondas and Acuras were average or above. Toyota, with its Lexus and Scion brands providing a broader product range, had just one vehicle that was below average in reliability, the Lexus GS AWD.
The Nissan and its Infiniti luxury division have been mostly very good despite lapses such as the subpar Nissan Quest minivan. The once problematic Infiniti QX56 and Nissan Armada SUVs are now average, and the same goes for the 4WD Nissan Titan pickup, although its RWD version is still troublesome. Over the last two surveys, the Nissan Versa hatchback has been average while the sedan has been far below average-an oddity.
Subaru has been a very reliable brand, but this year the turbocharged Impreza WRX turned up with a worse-than-average reliability score even though other versions of the Impreza have been average or better, as were all other Subarus.
Hyundai and Kia continue to make reliable cars. The Hyundai Elantra and Tucson, and the Kia Sportage got top marks. The new Genesis sedan was better than average with the V6, average with the V8. The only models that scored below average were the Kia Sedona minivan and Sorento SUV.
Most reliable cars
A high price doesn't mean it's reliable
Asian brands still dominate
High: Honda Insight
In its first year, the Honda Insight had the best new car reliability in our survey, but scored too low in our testing to be recommended. The major Japanese brands and South Korea's Hyundai and Kia make plenty of reliable vehicles. Of the 48 models with top reliability scores, 36 were Asian. Toyota accounted for 18; Honda, eight; Nissan, four; and Hyundai/Kia and Subaru, three each.
On the whole, Japanese vehicles are consistently good. All Hondas and Acuras were average or above. Toyota, with its Lexus and Scion brands providing a broader product range, had just one vehicle that was below average in reliability, the Lexus GS AWD.
The Nissan and its Infiniti luxury division have been mostly very good despite lapses such as the subpar Nissan Quest minivan. The once problematic Infiniti QX56 and Nissan Armada SUVs are now average, and the same goes for the 4WD Nissan Titan pickup, although its RWD version is still troublesome. Over the last two surveys, the Nissan Versa hatchback has been average while the sedan has been far below average-an oddity.
Subaru has been a very reliable brand, but this year the turbocharged Impreza WRX turned up with a worse-than-average reliability score even though other versions of the Impreza have been average or better, as were all other Subarus.
Hyundai and Kia continue to make reliable cars. The Hyundai Elantra and Tucson, and the Kia Sportage got top marks. The new Genesis sedan was better than average with the V6, average with the V8. The only models that scored below average were the Kia Sedona minivan and Sorento SUV.
#11
Driver School Candidate
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: MA
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I have a 2001 GS300, and it's probably one of the most reliable cars I've had. I have 180,000 miles on it and I havent done the timing belt, pump, or anything major on it yet. Still runs smooth. Only thing I have kept up with is an oil change every 3000miles. And this things been through 9 years of New England winters and still going strong.
#12
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Chevy maybe, but I have a Ford that has 225,000 on it will 0 problems ever. Sad to say it's been way more reliable than my GS400. GS400 is nicer by a long shot, but the problems associated with the GS...wheel shake, bad ball joints, interior squeaks, and a few other odds and ends are irritating to say the least..
#13
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
This is my first Lexus, all my other DD's have been domestics.. and they have been just as reliable as this car. I have an 01 GS300, bought it with 100k miles for $6k. Front balljoints went before 110k miles. Timing belt was already done before I bought the car. Been pretty reliable for me, have 118k miles on it now
![Dunno](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/13879dunno.gif)
#14
Mortgage Slave
![](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/ranks/rank-mod2.gif)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
As long as it's maintained you shouldn't have any major headaches. I've owned my late 01 GS for a few months (has about 160k km on the clock) and the only things to go out on me is the antenna and the aircon temperature servo thing.
We used to have an 04 Explorer XLT that blew a diff twice with about 140k on the ODO. Otherwise it was a nice truck.
We used to have an 04 Explorer XLT that blew a diff twice with about 140k on the ODO. Otherwise it was a nice truck.
#15
Driver
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NY
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Im also in the market of buying a 2nd gen 03-05 gs 430 but I couldnt find a thread on this forum that covers any known problems on 2nd gen gs. I used to own a 2nd gen Acura Legend and they were notorious for BHG. Any info you can give is appreciated. Thanks.