RamAirRckt

Just started looking around at cars and found the GS sounds like a darn nice car.

Where is a good place to learn about the cars?

What sort of issues should I look for on a 97-05 GS300/400/430?

Any problem areas?

Any options to look for to get?

Pretty new to the idea of looking at a Lexus.

oslouie

I don't know about options but problem areas that I have read/came across so far:

*front lower ball joints
*brake master cylinder
*caster arm bushings
*upper control arms
*steering rack bushings
*adjust pretensioner if you have the 60MPH shake

Jaik

Door actuators in the rear tend to go too.. struggling with that on mine atm.. easy fix, just need time lol

NJLexusGS

iTrader: (5)

I agree with the front lower ball joints... I was on my 3rd set on my 98 GS300 ( had it for 8 years). The only good thing is that you hear them before they fall out. They go for about $100 each at the dealer and I wouldnt recommend going with aftermarket parts when safety is at hand.

Front upper control arms tend to go after 130k miles. But those are more expensive, I think around $400 at dealer.

Replaced 2 Oxygen sensors around 150k miles. About $80 each from Denso.

Even with these little things occurring every now and then, I would never drive anything else other than a 2nd generation GS. Best car ever !!!

BCP43002

I would go for a 01 -03. Second gen, some issues taken care of. If you are into turboing, 300 is fine. If not then 430. Options are:

Premium Package
- Power tilt-and-slide moonroof with one touch
open/close, pinch protection and sliding sunshade
- In-dash, single-feed, six-disc CD auto-changer
- Heated front seats
Mark Levinson® Audio System Package
- Mark Levinson® 10-speaker 240-watt Premium
System
- In-dash, single-feed, six-disc CD auto-changer
- Power tilt-and-slide moonroof with one touch open- close, pinch protection and sliding sunshade
- Heated front seats
Navigation System Package
- Lexus DVD Navigation System

- In-dash, single-feed, six-disc CD auto-changer
- Power tilt-and-slide moonroof with one-touch open/close, pinch protection and sliding sunshade
- Heated front seats
Navigation System/Mark Levinson® Audio System Package(a $5,770 option)
- Lexus DVD Navigation System
- Mark Levinson® 10-speaker 240 watt premium sound- System
- In-dash, single-feed, six-disc CD auto-changer
- Power tilt-and-slide moonroof with one touch open- /close, pinch protection and sliding sunshade
- Heated front seats
Individual Options
- Power tilt-and-slide moonroof with one-touch open/close, pinch protection and sliding sunshade
- In-dash, single-feed, six-disc CD auto-changer
- Lexus Chrome Wheels
- All-season tires (no-cost option)
- Walnut- and leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls (requires Premium Package, Mark Levinson® Audio System Package, Navigation System Package or Navigation System/Mark Levinson® Audio System Package)
- Upgraded tire size with Lexus Chrome Wheels
- 17 x 8.0-in wheels with 235/45ZR17 tires

- Lexus Dual-Mode Mobile Phone with Command Module and audio muting
- Rear spoiler
- Wheel locks
- Gold-trim kit
- Car cover
- Cargo net
- Trunk mat
- Front-end mask


Mine has all but the phone, gold pkg,cover & net. At the time the ML system was one of the best OEM systems. To me the ML & Nav are must haves.

L3XOTIC

The ball joints are for sure something to look for. It's not something to avoid. GSs are from 98-05 BTW, not 97-03.

scriber

iTrader: (2)

Ball joints for sure! replace them if they havnt been or your not sure. Also replaced the caster arms. I had a door ecu go bad and two door lock actuators too. Replaced the motor mounts because mine where cracked. These are some common issues to look out for. Good thing is motor and transmission has been rock solid and I got 156K miles on my 98 GS300

EN_VY

Go for the 430, the GS3 is a slouch. :/ If you care about having a little punch that is.

L3XOTIC

Go with 400/430. Don't let the "6" vs "8" fool you thinking your gas mileage will drop. I've always regreted getting the 300. But I couldn't say no to the deal I got originally

scriber

iTrader: (2)

You can always get a 98-00 GS300 with high millage and drop a 2JZ in it

oslouie

What? They do have the 2JZ in it.

scriber

iTrader: (2)

2JZ-GTE, not -GE

RamAirRckt

Great! lots of food for thought, love the idea of Turbo, but I rarely have the time to get into a project that is usually my daily driver. So I am leaning towards a 430 over the 300. I do like I6's, but weight of the car (GS300/GS430) is very close from what I found and the shorter gears in the GS3 hurts the mpg that the V8 gains back by cruising lower rpms. And if nutty enough, the GS3 gears in a GS430 would be quite fun too.

I have heard Toyotas are often require a lot more suspension repairs, I guess the Lexus isn't escaping that either. A friend had a 2000ish Impala and a 1999 Camry and the Impala needed more drivetrain repairs where the Camry needed much more suspension repairs.

The GS430 I am looking at has had a lot of suspension repairs not long ago, has 153k miles on it.

Do these cars have any rust issues? I live in the snow belt here (90 miles west of Chicago), so salt/potassium chloride is a way of life for many months out of the year. The car I am looking at the owner has had since 2001, where he bought from a dealer used (orig owner had for 9 months and sold, lease maybe?). The miles are higher, but has the ML sound and DVD Nav.

What is ballpark price for a 150k GS430? It DOES have a good maint history, looks like most of its life was taken to Lexus dealer for just about everything. I have a friend at a Lexus dealer who pulled the Lexus repair history on it for me.

Thanks guys!

RamAirRckt

Are the GTE's hard to get shipped to the US? And what about computer mods or transmission mods?

sakataj

iTrader: (182)

buy my gs430 i tire of it. i WANT my LS430/LS460