Noob looking for an GS300 or GS430
09-19-11, 10:56 AM
#17
Yea, as the others have stated, go with the 400/430. Either 400 or 430 you will not go wrong in terms of power. If I were you however, concentrate on the 01-05 430's if you can find the deal for it. Reason I say 01-05 is because the issues that the 98-00 were having seemed to have been cleared up by Lexus for the 01-05 models. The 98-00 are notorious for having bad ball joints, caster arms and brake master cylinders. All three of those parts were strengthened for the 01-05 models. Sometimes I do regret getting a 2000 GS400 when I could've gotten a 01-05 GS430. But hey, GS nonetheless right? Enjoy
09-19-11, 11:06 AM
#18
Instructor
Thread Starter
What are the caster arms?
Yeah, I have been a tried and true GM guy for eons, but GM just doesn't have anything that is rear drive luxury sports sedan that isn't wrong wheel drive. The only close car is a STS (new ones), but way to $$ and you still get stuck with a crap V6 that is going to bite you soon or a V8 that has had a long history of blown head gaskets.
And the stupid things GM has done over the years is grating on me daily.... GM has gone out of their way to cut costs, to a point where they have alienated customers. I am pretty just done with it. And after seeing what my friend had to deal with on his Acadia, well, GM bought it back under lemon law. A 2007-2008 vehicle that had to be classified as a lemon. No excuse can make up for it. Not in todays economy and demand for high quality. GM knows better, and they know HOW to do quality, they just won't do it.
Sorry for my rant.....
Yeah, I have been a tried and true GM guy for eons, but GM just doesn't have anything that is rear drive luxury sports sedan that isn't wrong wheel drive. The only close car is a STS (new ones), but way to $$ and you still get stuck with a crap V6 that is going to bite you soon or a V8 that has had a long history of blown head gaskets.
And the stupid things GM has done over the years is grating on me daily.... GM has gone out of their way to cut costs, to a point where they have alienated customers. I am pretty just done with it. And after seeing what my friend had to deal with on his Acadia, well, GM bought it back under lemon law. A 2007-2008 vehicle that had to be classified as a lemon. No excuse can make up for it. Not in todays economy and demand for high quality. GM knows better, and they know HOW to do quality, they just won't do it.
Sorry for my rant.....
Yea, as the others have stated, go with the 400/430. Either 400 or 430 you will not go wrong in terms of power. If I were you however, concentrate on the 01-05 430's if you can find the deal for it. Reason I say 01-05 is because the issues that the 98-00 were having seemed to have been cleared up by Lexus for the 01-05 models. The 98-00 are notorious for having bad ball joints, caster arms and brake master cylinders. All three of those parts were strengthened for the 01-05 models. Sometimes I do regret getting a 2000 GS400 when I could've gotten a 01-05 GS430. But hey, GS nonetheless right? Enjoy
09-19-11, 11:47 AM
#20
What are the caster arms?
Yeah, I have been a tried and true GM guy for eons, but GM just doesn't have anything that is rear drive luxury sports sedan that isn't wrong wheel drive. The only close car is a STS (new ones), but way to $$ and you still get stuck with a crap V6 that is going to bite you soon or a V8 that has had a long history of blown head gaskets.
And the stupid things GM has done over the years is grating on me daily.... GM has gone out of their way to cut costs, to a point where they have alienated customers. I am pretty just done with it. And after seeing what my friend had to deal with on his Acadia, well, GM bought it back under lemon law. A 2007-2008 vehicle that had to be classified as a lemon. No excuse can make up for it. Not in todays economy and demand for high quality. GM knows better, and they know HOW to do quality, they just won't do it.
Sorry for my rant.....
Yeah, I have been a tried and true GM guy for eons, but GM just doesn't have anything that is rear drive luxury sports sedan that isn't wrong wheel drive. The only close car is a STS (new ones), but way to $$ and you still get stuck with a crap V6 that is going to bite you soon or a V8 that has had a long history of blown head gaskets.
And the stupid things GM has done over the years is grating on me daily.... GM has gone out of their way to cut costs, to a point where they have alienated customers. I am pretty just done with it. And after seeing what my friend had to deal with on his Acadia, well, GM bought it back under lemon law. A 2007-2008 vehicle that had to be classified as a lemon. No excuse can make up for it. Not in todays economy and demand for high quality. GM knows better, and they know HOW to do quality, they just won't do it.
Sorry for my rant.....
09-19-11, 12:06 PM
#21
Instructor
Thread Starter
Trans life is a big one to me, was looking at an Audi A8, but the D2 A8's (97-03) are trans headaches. They just don't last. I love the car, alum body so no rust, and killer AWD (great design AWD), but a $3k to $4k trans rebuild every 100k? forget it.
Value over the life is a mixed bag. Can simply mean that the car company has something fresh and new so often people ditch the cars to get the newer one fairly quickly. But also could indicate there is a lot of value in the car, or it is something rare.
Value over the life is a mixed bag. Can simply mean that the car company has something fresh and new so often people ditch the cars to get the newer one fairly quickly. But also could indicate there is a lot of value in the car, or it is something rare.
09-19-11, 12:13 PM
#22
Instructor
Thread Starter
So do all the GS430's from what read have the HID headlights? And then the extra high beams (like all cars should) that come in in addition to the HID's?
My friend at the Lexus dealer said he has never swapped the engine/trans or rear end on a 2nd Gen GS yet. Got my interest.... Dealers might not swap as often, but they happen.
He said the factory chromed rims are good, but the dealers that sent out factory wheels to be chromed had issues. But he said it is nearly impossible for an owner to know what he/she has.
My friend at the Lexus dealer said he has never swapped the engine/trans or rear end on a 2nd Gen GS yet. Got my interest.... Dealers might not swap as often, but they happen.
He said the factory chromed rims are good, but the dealers that sent out factory wheels to be chromed had issues. But he said it is nearly impossible for an owner to know what he/she has.
09-20-11, 11:32 PM
#24
So do all the GS430's from what read have the HID headlights? And then the extra high beams (like all cars should) that come in in addition to the HID's?
My friend at the Lexus dealer said he has never swapped the engine/trans or rear end on a 2nd Gen GS yet. Got my interest.... Dealers might not swap as often, but they happen.
He said the factory chromed rims are good, but the dealers that sent out factory wheels to be chromed had issues. But he said it is nearly impossible for an owner to know what he/she has.
My friend at the Lexus dealer said he has never swapped the engine/trans or rear end on a 2nd Gen GS yet. Got my interest.... Dealers might not swap as often, but they happen.
He said the factory chromed rims are good, but the dealers that sent out factory wheels to be chromed had issues. But he said it is nearly impossible for an owner to know what he/she has.
All GS models (up until 2011, at least) have FOUR headlights. Two HID's, and two Halogen's. (no bi-xenon's...even on the newer GS models
Maybe the 2013's have them though?)
09-21-11, 11:45 PM
#26
Instructor
Thread Starter
09-26-11, 08:51 AM
#27
Instructor
Thread Starter
What are the LS's like? Do they really compare to the GS? I don't want a rolling sofa, I have a Buick for that (with a M90 Eaton supercharger)....
GS's for sure seem harder to come by, LS's seem dime a dozen.
GS's for sure seem harder to come by, LS's seem dime a dozen.
09-26-11, 08:58 AM
#28
Instructor
Thread Starter
This one the one I drove yesterday. http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/2589955792.html
It has some scratches and a rust burble on the left front fender. Are these cars prone to rust problems?
Car drove very nice. Is that brown color.
It has some scratches and a rust burble on the left front fender. Are these cars prone to rust problems?
Car drove very nice. Is that brown color.
09-26-11, 11:33 AM
#29
LS is Lexus "flagship" sedan. It's a class higher than the GS, meant to compete with the 760's and S550's of the world. So to answer your question, no they don't really compare to the GS. The GS was slotted in between the LS and the ES to provide a blend of luxury and sport. the LS is an awesome luxury cruiser and quite expensive. Not much for performance however does have plenty of power and comfort to get you through the day to day grind
09-26-11, 11:44 AM
#30
Instructor
Thread Starter
I have had my 91 Deville, my 94 Fleetwood (with 7000 lb tow package, ran factory 15.2@95 mph weighing in at 5000 lbs), and now I have a 00 Buick Park Ave Ultra Supercharged V6, but still making a lame 240 hp). Buick is ok, but front wheel drive. I hate FWD. The Lex GS is a world better car than the Buick. Just lack of refinement.
LS is Lexus "flagship" sedan. It's a class higher than the GS, meant to compete with the 760's and S550's of the world. So to answer your question, no they don't really compare to the GS. The GS was slotted in between the LS and the ES to provide a blend of luxury and sport. the LS is an awesome luxury cruiser and quite expensive. Not much for performance however does have plenty of power and comfort to get you through the day to day grind