Great deal - should I ditch my ES for it?
11-06-18, 02:02 PM
#1
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Great deal - should I ditch my ES for it?
hi all,
i know that this is totally subjective but I want to hear some feedback. There is a chance to get a remarkably clean 2001 gs300 148,000 miles. Sadly there is one silver-dollar size rust spot on the wheel well in the back. I can fix it but they always come back. The car was really taken care of. All good fluids, new exhaust. How is a gs300 compared to an es300 reliability, economy? Does it need premium (I use it in my es300 but have been thinking of stopping)?
Just want to hear some thoughts
thanks
i know that this is totally subjective but I want to hear some feedback. There is a chance to get a remarkably clean 2001 gs300 148,000 miles. Sadly there is one silver-dollar size rust spot on the wheel well in the back. I can fix it but they always come back. The car was really taken care of. All good fluids, new exhaust. How is a gs300 compared to an es300 reliability, economy? Does it need premium (I use it in my es300 but have been thinking of stopping)?
Just want to hear some thoughts
thanks
11-06-18, 03:50 PM
#2
ES will probably get better gas mileage...I've averaged 20.7mpg with my GS300 over the time I've had the car (4 years). Highest ever has been 27.4 over 366 miles of highway.
Driving will be night and day...ES is like a cloud, GS is a lot more sporty (but still not as much as say, a Miata).
My GS has been nothing but minor problems (door lock actuators, HVAC flappers not moving, ABS codes, radio buttons sometimes not responsive) that I just haven't bothered to fix and a $1,000 trans repair at 95k miles. Also a CEL that just won't go away no matter what I fix. No major issues.
GS does "require" premium fuel. If the extra $.50-1.00 per gallon will break the budget I'd recommend a Civic.
RWD can be a pain in the snow without snow tires and/or if you don't know how to drive RWD in the snow; I imagine you get a lot in Western NY.
Driving will be night and day...ES is like a cloud, GS is a lot more sporty (but still not as much as say, a Miata).
My GS has been nothing but minor problems (door lock actuators, HVAC flappers not moving, ABS codes, radio buttons sometimes not responsive) that I just haven't bothered to fix and a $1,000 trans repair at 95k miles. Also a CEL that just won't go away no matter what I fix. No major issues.
GS does "require" premium fuel. If the extra $.50-1.00 per gallon will break the budget I'd recommend a Civic.
RWD can be a pain in the snow without snow tires and/or if you don't know how to drive RWD in the snow; I imagine you get a lot in Western NY.
11-06-18, 05:28 PM
#4
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Thank you for the feedback
I got the impression, on the short drive, that it was smoother than my es300. My es is decent, but its no 90's model... the 3es is a bit stiff for me. Heck, every modern car is too stiff for me though. I like 70's Cadillac feel. RWD is no issue for me, I have done winters in e46 bmws and would simply throw snows on it if I wasnt fond of how it drove but I am sure I would be fine. I saw a record snow fall here once - 14" during the work day - all between the morning and night commutes, and the whole road, shoulder and all, was black within 15 minutes of the snow stopping. I had a v6 SLE solara at the time (my Bride's car) and there were a few times that if I stopped, it wouldn't have gotten moving again, on Michellin Premiers. That said, thats rare and the e46 wouldn't have been worse so hopefully the GS is the same. In full disclosure, its giving up the wood trim and familiarity that has me at a pause.
He wants $2700 but thats just for me. The car has been obsessed over. Equally to my ES. I trust it, just not sure its the right move, and being at 148,000 I am certain I wouldn't get my money back including tax and registration after a year, so its a commitment
I got the impression, on the short drive, that it was smoother than my es300. My es is decent, but its no 90's model... the 3es is a bit stiff for me. Heck, every modern car is too stiff for me though. I like 70's Cadillac feel. RWD is no issue for me, I have done winters in e46 bmws and would simply throw snows on it if I wasnt fond of how it drove but I am sure I would be fine. I saw a record snow fall here once - 14" during the work day - all between the morning and night commutes, and the whole road, shoulder and all, was black within 15 minutes of the snow stopping. I had a v6 SLE solara at the time (my Bride's car) and there were a few times that if I stopped, it wouldn't have gotten moving again, on Michellin Premiers. That said, thats rare and the e46 wouldn't have been worse so hopefully the GS is the same. In full disclosure, its giving up the wood trim and familiarity that has me at a pause.
He wants $2700 but thats just for me. The car has been obsessed over. Equally to my ES. I trust it, just not sure its the right move, and being at 148,000 I am certain I wouldn't get my money back including tax and registration after a year, so its a commitment
Last edited by acarapella; 11-06-18 at 05:50 PM.
11-06-18, 05:29 PM
#5
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Do these have CURTAIN AND SIDE airbags? I forgot to look, and it does matter. I saw my wife and kids take an 80mph T-bone and walk out (3rd gen Odyssey) so that stuff matters.
11-07-18, 07:46 AM
#7
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Good. Curtain airbags are important. Rear side airbags, not so much as of now. The kids will be in car seats/booster seats for so long, I’m sure I will have something different by then anyway. Plus, they only come in my car once in a great while, my wife drives our family vehicle, which will always be an odyssey or a Tahoe – based vehicle
Are there other major differences I should know about? It seems like parts aren’t more expensive. Also, I’m hearing I should use premium gas and expect 20 miles to the gallon average?
Are there other major differences I should know about? It seems like parts aren’t more expensive. Also, I’m hearing I should use premium gas and expect 20 miles to the gallon average?
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11-07-18, 11:25 AM
#8
Parts aren't really more expensive. The one thing that is is the brake master cylinder which is $3-500 for a used unit and over $3000 new at the dealer. Also check to see that the front lower ball joints have been changed along with the obvious timing belt and water pump
11-07-18, 06:36 PM
#9
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The timing belt was done. I decided that I am going to stick with my ES. I just wasnt ready to get rid if it. Perhaps I will get the LS I've always wanted as a summer only car.
Why THE HECK would a master cylinder by that expensive???? is it like GM's Hydroboost where it doesn't use vacuum? maybe cause of VSC? this is good to know... i'll keep an eye out for a GS that has this problem and grab it for a song... i'll bypass the bugger with something generic - I build customer parts all the time.
i'm going to do a few things to it that it needs for the guy and help him get more money for it
Why THE HECK would a master cylinder by that expensive???? is it like GM's Hydroboost where it doesn't use vacuum? maybe cause of VSC? this is good to know... i'll keep an eye out for a GS that has this problem and grab it for a song... i'll bypass the bugger with something generic - I build customer parts all the time.
i'm going to do a few things to it that it needs for the guy and help him get more money for it
11-07-18, 08:16 PM
#12
This isn’t really that accurate because did I prefer my 2002 Gs to my 2004 ES330? Yes, but would I recommend it to every single person I know over the ES330, absolutely not. Worse in snow, much less reliable, suspension repairs were nonstop. What I’m trying to say is that for a person who prefers reliable comfortable transportation, ES all day long. For something a little more engaging and solid feeling, then I’d suggest the GS
11-08-18, 06:57 AM
#13
The timing belt was done. I decided that I am going to stick with my ES. I just wasnt ready to get rid if it. Perhaps I will get the LS I've always wanted as a summer only car.
Why THE HECK would a master cylinder by that expensive???? is it like GM's Hydroboost where it doesn't use vacuum? maybe cause of VSC? this is good to know... i'll keep an eye out for a GS that has this problem and grab it for a song... i'll bypass the bugger with something generic - I build customer parts all the time.
i'm going to do a few things to it that it needs for the guy and help him get more money for it
Why THE HECK would a master cylinder by that expensive???? is it like GM's Hydroboost where it doesn't use vacuum? maybe cause of VSC? this is good to know... i'll keep an eye out for a GS that has this problem and grab it for a song... i'll bypass the bugger with something generic - I build customer parts all the time.
i'm going to do a few things to it that it needs for the guy and help him get more money for it
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