how much could my 98 GS400 be worth?
08-22-13, 05:27 AM
#16
You said that, and I agree. I see them post for high prices and those cars go within a week or two. Market price is whatever people will pay. plus I don't think you realize how rare a GS400 is, especially with low miles. Its impossible to find, its supply and demand. Like it or not, they go for way over market value, and it gets Sold.. I've been watching for years, ask any dealer if they had a low mileage GS400, what they would price, its always around $12K+ and they always sell them.. Its not silly when people buy them. Regardless if its over value, mechanically, car is barely broken in for a car priced new is $52K. Age doesn't matter if the car is clean or kept up well, I use to be professional car buyer and there are things I seen you will never believe, cars that are hard to come by and a GEM like the GS400 will always sell well if its a low miler. I get emails from my dealers all the time asking me to sell my GS's so they can have good inventory. Granted you have GS300, you really have to understand a GS400 is another animal. They only made about 20% of all GS's from 1998-2000. Another fact you may not know, Alot of GS400 from 99-00 where special order only. I know, I had to Special order my '99 because they just don't stock these cars like the GS300's.. Anyways, its Moot point discussing this since its proven these cars sell at even ridiculous prices but its good for people like us with GS400's.. 
Cheers bro.. You know me, I'm Don from Club lexus Houston on FB.. 
Cheers bro.. You know me, I'm Don from Club lexus Houston on FB.. 
08-26-13, 01:27 PM
#17
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
North hills. Do you take your GS 400 to Pitt Raceway (formerly Beaverun)? There was another GS400 there on HPDE. I think we were the only Lexus for HPDE.
09-03-13, 12:47 AM
#19
Very true, the 400 is a gem. They made a lot in 98-00, but what's really a hard find is the GS430. Those are very rare due to the gas spike this country faced when they were produced. Yeah I have a normal GS300 lol, but I didn't know how rare the 400 and especially the 430's were until someone posted the amount that was produced each year. In summary, a car is worth as much as someone is wiling to spend for it, but no way I spend $15k for a car that's 15 years old. Those rubber bushings are shot, even with low miles...as we all know that rubber gets worse as the car ages. I guess I've always been fond of the 01+ due to the interior/exterior updates.
As you can recall, they did make 24,486 GS400's from '98-'00, (1st 3 years) and then decreased production when they altered the car more for luxury than sport, taking away the E-shift on the newly updated 430. I'm pretty sure they already lowered the production before the gas spike but when it did spike they even made less so you're half right on that point.
Lexus did a survey from majority of GS buyers (50+ age) which were the majority owners at that time and the survey suggest the GS400 was too sporty for the them, they didn't like or didn't use e-shift, the GS400 was to Rev happy, the car kicks down too easy and revved hard into redline when passing, the engine roared and "the Majority" didn't like it, amongst other reasons.
At that time, the GS430 refresh was part in due to an emissions change from LEV to ULEV, the GS430 was partly created to keep its 300HP Class mark. The 4.0L V8 with new ULEV emissions drop the HP to a 28x something number. So, they up the motor to 4.3L to retain its 300HP mark with ULEV emissions. So when, they re-did the GS400 to become the GS430, the GS430 became a smoother and more torquey car. It was not faster nor slower yet it felt different. Easier off the line because torque increase from 310 ft/lbs of torque to 325 ft/lbs with more of this torque coming in earlier at 3400 rpm than 4000 rpm in the GS400. So in fixing the power, they changed how the power was delivered. The GS430 had a stricter, more civilized approach, car is still powerful but didn't really kick down at the touch of the throttle as the GS400 due to Tranny was revised also. Both cars still posed identical 0-60 and quarter mile times. But I must admit, I own both of them and I would still lean more on the GS400 winning in a duel (Stock for stock). Two different approaches, the peppy 400 with a higher redline and revvy character while the GS430 has beefier torque but redlines lower (power comes in earlier). On the street, the GS430 feels stronger, at the track the GS400 has the edge. This has been discussed in other threads, the GS430 has a Electric drive by wire throttle which changes the character and is less responsive than the GS400 is why the GS400 has a snappier throttle.
Again, you are right. "Most" people's GS400's can't get $15K because of age and daily use of a car thats 15 years old. But, I have met a few owners like myself, and maybe we are a "Rare" minority but some of these GS400's i've seen are in Immaculate shape and is like-new. MY GS400 has 49K miles, yes you read right 49,125 to be exact. Pristine condition. I've had offers of $15K without my mods, those who has seen my car can vouch its one of the few exceptions along with a handful of guys on here as well. Next time, we have a meet in Houston and if my car is in town, I usually keep it at my 2nd house in another state. I'll let you look over my car inside and out. My original bushing is no where near shot, I'll let you look under it, inspect it so that you can be see that even some older cars if maintained and pampered don't really age as much as you may think. Its almost in perfect condition for 14.5 year old car. You should know a few other Club Lexus guys with cars in Immaculate shape as well (To name a few: Tmf2004, RMMGS4, ThomasGS4 and Veritek (who owns 5 GS's, i can't remember 2-3 of them are GS400's.
You get the point, though Most cars you see on Craigslist or Auto-trader aren't people like us and you're right, they probably can't get more than $12K for their low mileage cars but there are some on here that I don't even know their name (they don't advertise like a few of us) 
but I got a glimpse of their cars (almost new condition) with lower miles than mine. 
Try to keep an open mind when you see someone's post of price checks, some of these cars that check in here are almost showroom condition.. And Yes, GS430 are even more rare than the GS400's, they made half as much, but One of the reasons GS400's are more sought after is because you can mod a GS400 easier without CEL's. Somehow the GS400 even run better with mods too, different ECU settings. I actually like my 430 a lil more because of the interior upgrades too and rides oh so smooth. In the end, that is why my GS400 is modded and my GS430 run Stock. 
09-03-13, 04:17 AM
#21
Thanks Tony.
I know we all were talking about production numbers of GS400's & 430's like they are alot, but not so if you compared them to all 2GS produced.. I feel to understand all the numbers I have to Post GS300 numbers compared to GS400/430 to show the significant difference in how limited the V8's were and to show how numbers maintained a certain percentage or going up during the gas spike which disproves gas hike in 2003 cause them to produced less. A higher % of GS430's were made in 2003 than in 2002, even though the production numbers were less, the percentage of GS300's were lowered but not the GS430's (If that makes any sense). Just Study the chart I made..
-------GS300 /// GS400/GS430 /// % for Year
1998 = 18,653 ///// 11,912 //// 38.97% for 1998
1999 = 22,841 ///// 7,485 ///// 24.68% for 1999
2000 = 21,616 ///// 5,089 ///// 19.05% for 2000
2001 = 23,733 ///// 5,982 ///// 20.13% for 2001
2002 = 15,113 ///// 2,597 ///// 14.66% for 2002
2003 = 12,208 ///// 2,271 ///// 15.68% for 2003
2004 = 8,144 ////// 1,537 ///// 15.87% for 2004
2005 = 2,578 ////// 422 /////// 14.06% for 2005
Total GS300 ///// Total GS400/430
124,886 ----- Vs. ----- 37,295
----77% ----- Vs. ----- 23% Total
I know we all were talking about production numbers of GS400's & 430's like they are alot, but not so if you compared them to all 2GS produced.. I feel to understand all the numbers I have to Post GS300 numbers compared to GS400/430 to show the significant difference in how limited the V8's were and to show how numbers maintained a certain percentage or going up during the gas spike which disproves gas hike in 2003 cause them to produced less. A higher % of GS430's were made in 2003 than in 2002, even though the production numbers were less, the percentage of GS300's were lowered but not the GS430's (If that makes any sense). Just Study the chart I made..
-------GS300 /// GS400/GS430 /// % for Year
1998 = 18,653 ///// 11,912 //// 38.97% for 1998
1999 = 22,841 ///// 7,485 ///// 24.68% for 1999
2000 = 21,616 ///// 5,089 ///// 19.05% for 2000
2001 = 23,733 ///// 5,982 ///// 20.13% for 2001
2002 = 15,113 ///// 2,597 ///// 14.66% for 2002
2003 = 12,208 ///// 2,271 ///// 15.68% for 2003
2004 = 8,144 ////// 1,537 ///// 15.87% for 2004
2005 = 2,578 ////// 422 /////// 14.06% for 2005
Total GS300 ///// Total GS400/430
124,886 ----- Vs. ----- 37,295
----77% ----- Vs. ----- 23% Total
09-03-13, 10:56 AM
#24
The Bulk of GS400's were made in 1998. I guess first year they just Churn these cars out. 39% of all GS's for that year. Thats why you see so many around for sale.
Off topic, but while reviewing some of the pdfs, according to Lexus..
Their were slight differences in 0-60 and qtr mile times in a few (MY's)
1998 GS400 , 0-60 in 5.8 sec and Qtr mile in 14.5 secs;
In '99-'00 GS400 was the quickest years with 0-60 in 5.7 secs and Qtr mile in 14.3
In '01-'05 GS430 the 0-60 is 5.8 secs and Qtr mile in 14.3
I also noticed that Ground Clearance in ALL GS's differ from year to year
1998,2000-2002 sat at 6.0 inches and 1999, 2003-2005 sat at 5.3 inches (I have no clue why its like that)
Off topic, but while reviewing some of the pdfs, according to Lexus..
Their were slight differences in 0-60 and qtr mile times in a few (MY's)
1998 GS400 , 0-60 in 5.8 sec and Qtr mile in 14.5 secs;
In '99-'00 GS400 was the quickest years with 0-60 in 5.7 secs and Qtr mile in 14.3
In '01-'05 GS430 the 0-60 is 5.8 secs and Qtr mile in 14.3
I also noticed that Ground Clearance in ALL GS's differ from year to year
1998,2000-2002 sat at 6.0 inches and 1999, 2003-2005 sat at 5.3 inches (I have no clue why its like that)
Last edited by 1QWKGS4; 09-03-13 at 10:59 AM.
09-03-13, 06:10 PM
#27
You should know a few other Club Lexus guys with cars in Immaculate shape as well (To name a few: Tmf2004, RMMGS4, ThomasGS4 and Veritek (who owns 5 GS's, i can't remember 2-3 of them are GS400's
Yes Don thanks again for including myself and a few others about our cleanliness of the GS.. There are many others with cleaner GS's than mine but thank you.. My car just hit 73k...
Thomas's car you can eat off the tail pipe LOL...
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