Buying GS300
03-06-14, 04:39 PM
#17
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03-06-14, 06:48 PM
#18
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Thanks for all the comments guys!!! I appreciate all the insight. My style is laid back. I am not going to race, just cruise. I do, however, like to look good. That brings me to a conundrum... in my search I ran into a 2002 ES300 with 166k for $5500. I know its apples and oranges. Sports sedan versus ho-hum suburban runner. That said, its a one owner with a religious documented maintenance every 5k at a Lexus dealer. At the end of the day, I am looking for somethig reliable that will get me from A-B with few issues. Damn, this is hard!!!
03-06-14, 06:49 PM
#19
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As others have said barsitar that car is overpriced regardless of where you are.
A couple words of advice.
Obviously your not getting a GS cause you want a fast car,so if I were you I'd decide this first.Do I want a gs3 gs4 or gs4.3. None are "fast" but the sluggishness of the gs3 is REAL.GS4 is probably the best choice because it's torquey and gas mileage isn't compromised,and it's not over priced like every gs4.3
Now as far as interior take it from someone with both tan and black interior cars.YOU WANT BLACK INTERIOR.
Take your time and good luck with the search.factor ball joints timing belt,AC servos,trans oil,motor oil,and the most common leaks,valve cover gasket ect.
A couple words of advice.
Obviously your not getting a GS cause you want a fast car,so if I were you I'd decide this first.Do I want a gs3 gs4 or gs4.3. None are "fast" but the sluggishness of the gs3 is REAL.GS4 is probably the best choice because it's torquey and gas mileage isn't compromised,and it's not over priced like every gs4.3
Now as far as interior take it from someone with both tan and black interior cars.YOU WANT BLACK INTERIOR.
Take your time and good luck with the search.factor ball joints timing belt,AC servos,trans oil,motor oil,and the most common leaks,valve cover gasket ect.
03-06-14, 07:12 PM
#20
Thanks for all the comments guys!!! I appreciate all the insight. My style is laid back. I am not going to race, just cruise. I do, however, like to look good. That brings me to a conundrum... in my search I ran into a 2002 ES300 with 166k for $5500. I know its apples and oranges. Sports sedan versus ho-hum suburban runner. That said, its a one owner with a religious documented maintenance every 5k at a Lexus dealer. At the end of the day, I am looking for somethig reliable that will get me from A-B with few issues. Damn, this is hard!!!
i had this problem too until i realized there was no toyota equivalent to the GS
03-06-14, 07:45 PM
#22
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Man go with the GS over the ES. The 02 Es has to be the ugliest model they made. If you want something that looks good and is reliable the GS is your best bet. The inline 6 cylinder is legendary on these cars. And as OFFBAD stated above...the ES is just a camry, the GS stands out on the road. My buddy bought a 2003 ES after I bought my GS and he regrets it ever since. Dont get me wrong the ES is a good car, still a Lexus. But considering you are looking at the same price basically and similar Mileage.....go with the GS!!!
P.S. my car before my 2002 GS300 was a 1993 ES300. Im sold on the GS and would never go back or even want an IS
P.S. my car before my 2002 GS300 was a 1993 ES300. Im sold on the GS and would never go back or even want an IS
03-06-14, 08:24 PM
#23
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lol ??? Do not listen to this guy. Test drive the car and feel out whether or not YOU like it. Everyone is looking for something different in a car. This is a luxury car, its beautiful and classy. Definitely not "sluggish" thats for sure. And also, interior design is completely about YOUR taste. I have the ivory interior which is a mix of beige and grey with nice rosewood and I personally would not want the black interior. So its all a matter of personal preference. But as we have all mentioned, the car is a bit over priced and will need a little bit of money put into. I'd offer $4,000 and try meeting somewhere in the middle.
03-06-14, 08:27 PM
#24
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I respectfully disagree.gs4 is night and day difference.
03-06-14, 09:40 PM
#25
Personally I've never driven an es300 but I think those models the 02-05 or whatever look pretty good if they're clean people always say they're just camrys but they stand out more, they look like a luxury car IMO, and they have nice interiors but the inteteriors remind me of a grandma car
03-06-14, 09:45 PM
#26
Personally I've never driven an es300 but I think those models the 02-05 or whatever look pretty good if they're clean people always say they're just camrys but they stand out more, they look like a luxury car IMO, and they have nice interiors but the inteteriors remind me of a grandma car
the ES though has much less character and soul vs the GS, in my opinion.
03-07-14, 04:02 AM
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The ES is the ultimate grandma car. Especially that year. At least the new ones have a more sporty front design and the headlights look mean. That 02 model is just so boring with the change they made in all the lights and how the design stepped away from the somewhat sportier look in the pre 2000 models. Like I said my boy bought an ES 3 weeks after my GS and he regrets it ever since. He is a 25 year old and he constantly says he hates that his car looks like an old persons car. But hey tint that biotch out and throw some rims on it and I bet it would still look pretty sick. And its a lexus so it will last forever.I still vote GS! 
03-07-14, 10:36 AM
#30
That's a very easy fix 
But I won't go into how the 300 is a better performance platform than the 400/430 since the OP already stated he's not interested in that.
Seriously, though. I **am** a power guy and I didn't mind my 300 when it was stock. Maybe because I always had a second fun/fast car to scratch that itch. Now that my 300 has a snail, I wonder why it wasn't an option from the factory on the 2GS.
And for people who say the 2GS wasn't marketed as a fast car....don't forget about the whole "Something wicked this way comes" campaign showing the cars on a racetrack. This IS Lexus' performance sedan from the '90s and early '00s. It was absolutely intended to be seen as a fast car. When the 400 came out it was the fastest production sedan in the world.
It's really the best of both worlds. And the fact that you can get a clean one for $5k-$6k these days is almost mind boggling.
But I won't go into how the 300 is a better performance platform than the 400/430 since the OP already stated he's not interested in that. Seriously, though. I **am** a power guy and I didn't mind my 300 when it was stock. Maybe because I always had a second fun/fast car to scratch that itch. Now that my 300 has a snail, I wonder why it wasn't an option from the factory on the 2GS.
And for people who say the 2GS wasn't marketed as a fast car....don't forget about the whole "Something wicked this way comes" campaign showing the cars on a racetrack. This IS Lexus' performance sedan from the '90s and early '00s. It was absolutely intended to be seen as a fast car. When the 400 came out it was the fastest production sedan in the world.
It's really the best of both worlds. And the fact that you can get a clean one for $5k-$6k these days is almost mind boggling.