That's a true. I loved riding my BMW E90, but the engine died, where Lexus IS or Honda Accord will run for another 100k miles w/o a problem. Lexus GS 300 or 430 is a holy graal..
I'm a mechanic at a Japanese specialist shop and since I test drove one of these for one of my customers I've dreamt of finding one. She never drove it often and it had 60k miles. The SMOOOTHEST car I've ever driven. I found plenty for sale but none as good as hers. Months later she told me she was moving over seas and wanted to sell it to me because how obsessed I was with the car. 3 grand dude. Best 3 grand I've ever spent only one car beats this and it's the ls400
I have these since almost new, ES300, among others. Smoothest is by far our new 2004 Avalon, then ES300 (1999), then our 2007 highlander limited hybrid, last my GS300 '02. I had to stop driving the GS even though I love it because it gives too much road feedback and started developing a lot of neck problems because how much time I spend in the car. Granted, this is very hard to discern, but once you've become hyper sensitive and own them all and get immediate relief even in the highlander.... However, it's not too bad on northern roads that are smoother because they can't groove them since they salt the roads. Otherwise, I do love the car, but smoothest, hardly compared to other models from that generations - even the ES300 and Avalon were more floaty - giving it less road feedback and smoother over all those imperfections (like a flying carpet right over it) than a 2005 LS430 I had. Oh, I had 2010 ES350 that thing literally did float over stuff on the road - you could hear it, but not feel it at all.
My 2001 is just approaching the 200k miles and with all major services done, it is honestly the smoothest vehicle I have owned till date! I also own an 2010 RX350, but I prefer driving my GS!
Always wanted a Lexus just because of their incredible reputation for reliability and luxury. Never looked into the GS300 but recently found an ‘06 with AWD, 150k miles. $4500 and a month later it’s the best purchase I’ve ever made. Runs like a dream, luxurious inside, great fuel efficiency, enough power to do anything you need to do and for my money I think they look fantastic. Obviously I got an incredible deal(thanks John). But even if I’d paid more I’d still think it was a great choice.
@@Daraponleu lol I’m lucky to live in an area where traffic jams aren’t something I have to deal with regularly. But I’m sure it’s not as efficient as it is on the highway
I've had one as my daily for the last 4 years, never missed a step, purrs like a (quiet) kitten, sounds lovely when revved high, and is super confortable. Only problem I've had are the lock actuators, but hey, I'll take it over "catastrophic engine damage" that I've had with other cars.
I've owned my '01 model for just over a year now, having put 8,000 miles on it, and it's absolutely wonderful. 150,000 miles and still going strong - you are right, the whole interior just soothes you in a way few cars do. Mine currently has the VSC warning light on - I believe it's to do with the wheel speed sensor for the ABS. It's not a sports saloon in the slightest, but that's to it's benefit, I think.
You’re right. Just got a ‘98 gs 300 last year with 60,500km odometer and drives like brand new! Feel so lucky that it costs much less than half the price of a second hand corolla hybrid. Love it so much that I almost forgot driving my rav4 🤭
As a bit of a "Geezer" myself ( 62 in a few months), I've recently 'fallen into' the Lexus camp: purchased my first this past Oct. '22, an LS 430, it's not exactly the most frugal when it comes to economy but I freeking love that car! Hands down the nicest car I've ever owned! Recently I came across a '94 GS for $500.00 USD. I did not know of the 'potential' of the JZ engines... I do now! Lol, a new chapter in the motor head madness!
I just bought mine at 311k, I got a good deal enough to complete all the maintenance it needed and it runs like new, gotta do door lock actuators at some point and the sound system needs some love but it run’s fantastic and actually still feels luxury, it is a calming car to drive, it really insulates you from the road but drives and handles well. The 2jz is easy and affordable to work on.
@ Not a crazy amount, it’s a 4th vehicle, I sidelined it after realizing it needed steering rack bushings and tie rods, thankfully you can replace the bushings on these racks unlike my 4th gen 4runner which required a new steering rack. But it still starts up and runs smooth as silk and burns nothing at 315k miles.
Here in Australia the starting point is around $5000 for a well and truly high kms yet neat example. I love everything about the car except the power - I would have to be able to budget in a low boost NA-T setup for it to be a viable option for me.
You are absolutely 💯 correct. I am a proud owner of 4 at the moment. I bought my first one 11yrs ago and it's been the best purchase for a budget luxury sports car with the almighty 2jz engine. Just an amazing car once you own one in great shape and can do your own repairs makes it even better. I'd love to buy every nice one I see.😁💯🏁🏁🏁
I have this geezer in uk from September 2022. I bought it for forty eight hundred with twenty hour thousands miles on clock. Drives like a brand new car. I have to say it I have it with velour interior, no leather, with no sunroof. Love how it drives and handles. It is not conjugated as a sports car at all, however it has a throttle. As you said, luxury cruising. It burns more than 25mpg I have to say. Full tank, coming to reserve and done only around 200 miles. It is thirsty, but it is completely justified with all this vehicle’s merits.
In 2001, My Mom & Dad bought one of those. Dad expired about 16 months ago but, the 23 year old Lexus GS300 is still in their garage and still runs great!
@@eniocastillo9622 honestly, it feels like a lighter and quicker version of the ls400. Not as slow feeling as the LS and not as stiff feeling as the IS. It's right in between! Just a comfortable daily driver that doesn't feel too outdated.
@@eniocastillo9622 First chassis to have the 2jz,max orido aristo was nostalgic, the friend racing 1000hp aristo, Hert from hoonigan car, vertex version,aerodynamics are great, aftermarket support,double wishbone, made in/assembled in Japan, luxurious, easy to work on, 1st gen was designed by a famous Italian designer that usually made only hyper/super cars, Biggie the rapper liked the lexus GS, The Sema time attack gs300, was in fast and furious a few times in the background and so on I'm just obsessed with the chassis to me it's the best all around can be drifted,Vip,daily driven,built to race,holds enough people etc.
You are right about most things,and if we take the reliability out the equation,E39 530i is a better car. Starting from the handling,the quality of interior,the comfort seats with flexible shoulder support,and even with massaging seats. Then the looks,the 16/9 TV/DVD screen,double glazed windows and so on and on. Then you can have E39 with manual,GS you can't. Literally the only thing that Lexus beats E39 is reliability.
When I lived in Canada, I needed a reliable car than can still fullfill my requirements in terms of amenities, after my Volvo broke down. I knew I was going this time for a Japanese car, I was done with European moneypits. They are so rare that only then I discovered the existence of the GS, and I loved it right away. More exactly, a MkIII GS300. It has been an excellent car, with better handling and RWD bias, things I didn't know before. Cabin, comfort, equipment, powertrain and design all suited me perfectly, I just didn't have a single critism against it. When coming to France, I instantly knew I would like to buy one again. Unfortunately, closed-minded people towards Japanese cars, the badge and the lack of a diesel offering were accountable for abysmal sales figures. Only a thousand have been sold. Today however, one can find them in small numbers, but cheap, because opinions have not much changed. I managed to find a top-trim-level GS300, with which I'm happier than ever.
My answer is near me all the GS300's are bought by teens and trashed so there is no clean ones left. and the gs400 is too expensive because its a V8 and people know that so the price is too much if you can even find a clean one that wasn't trashed or drifted. find an old grandpa or grandma is really the only way to find GS or the LS anymore at a realistic price and good condition
Owned the 2004 gs300 for 3 years and only sold as left the country. Its the best car i ever owned.. Even at 170.000 miles it was smooth, quiet, and everything worked perfectly
I think you make great points for buying a Lexus GS300. However, if you are looking for fuel efficiency you are much better off with a 4 cylinder engine not a 6 cylinder. Also if you want to be able to work on your own engine, a 4 cylinder engine is a lot easier to work on compared to a 6 cylinder engine.
i get the whole grandad thing. the gs300 stock looks like a boring grandad car but if you tint the windows put a nice set of rims on and lower them a bit they look like a completely different car and then there's a lot of aftermarket things you can add to them like lights to make them look even better
I've got the gs400 with 101k miles (bought at 89k) and it's by far my favorite car I've owned and I've had cars way faster and more expensive but these cars especially the 400 and 430s are just the perfect balance between luxury and performance.
I love my gs300. Quit blowing the whistle! Turning one into a twin turbski aristo was a good time. Do not buy these cars.... until I have at least two more in storage
Not gonna lie, the design on the outside looks like an old person car but I just got a 2015 and the design got so much better. I love the backlights that kinda look like BMW lights and the front grill got nicer. Such a smooth riding and luxurious car!
@@daved3948 hold on to her. I’ve had mine since 2015, and I done drove from CT to FL and back, she never missed a beat. Now I’m running her with a turbo on the original motor, and still on point with 250k 😬
I have a gs430 sport 53 plate one of the best cars I've owned bought a good one with full service history and a good exhaust already on it sounds mega when the foot goes down 👍 and I am a grandad 😂
I have a Lexus GS 300 1998 with only 60,555kms when I bought it for 16K AUD as replacement for my Toyota Yaris that was written off from a bad crash. Never regreted and felt very lucky. You are all correct from what you showed in this video. Its naturally aspirated 2JZ-GE is adorable and very quiet and roars elegantly when forced.
my GS300, from 2001, excellent car, some rust issues around rear arches ( mot fail ) fixed last year no further problems there, only paid £750, fantastic condition in and out! a real beaut!! with private number people get the year wrong every time! only 1 prev owner now got 200,000 miles, still purrs, and goes like s***......
My is 200 has been the best car I’ve owned. Only ever broke down once in 16 years of ownership and over 130,000 happy miles. Now done 214,000 miles. And when the day comes that I absolutely can’t bring this one back from the dead, I’ll go and buy another Lexus without a second’s hesitation
Best car to buy for 2k ! Fwd volvos are shit and the ekectrics die on the motorway BMW : Never ending oil leaks. VW golf 1.8 t : like sitting in a sh*t hole 😅
You owned several.. I have several of them now! lol 2001+ gs300 including fully loaded sport designs with the orange interior and nav as well as GS430s . I also have GS460s and 350s but definitely like these 2nds gens better.
I have a 99 GS400. Got it 8 months ago with 199k miles. Just hit 225k the other day. Definitely the best car I've ever had. Pic on my channel page. Side note: my VSC would pop on and off too, until I put a 200a alternator in it. Never did it again afterwards.
If you think the interior in these is nice for the money, the similar vintage P2 Volvo S60/V70 face-lift is even better. THE comfiest seats I've ever sat in, and an incredible audio system for this budget. Can be had with bomb proof diesel engines which can do twice the mpg of a GS300 while also being very good to drive.
@@johntate5050 I wouldnt call the electrics a nightmare, but certainly worse than the Lexus. What decided it for me was the boot space and fuel economy. Shame Lexus never made an estate. Auto gearbox in the Volvo is a relative of the one in the Lexus :) the Lexus shares it gearbox with the earlier Volvo 960/V90.
@@js14a I agree about Lexus not making the GS300 an estate. A hatchback at the very least should have been offered. Saloons are pretty useless. I have considered a V70 for the reasons you mention but I'm just wary of the ongoing cost of the things.
I have an is 200 Sport Cross, my wife hates it (prefers our Toyota CH-R), had it for years and just don't want to get rid of it. I've had Audi, Jaguar, Subaru among others, the Lexus beats them all.
ive owned a gs300 an aristo and a gs430, ive also owned a is200 and celsior(ls400) great cars and i get why people call them old man cars but all you need to do is slam tham on ssr viennas and it completely changes the look of the car, and if you got the v8 version that grumble from a aftermarket exhaust is awesome , its great for crusing
5w 30 use the oil that's recommended the timing Advance is controlled by the oil pressure incidentally it leaks can cause issue with leaking from the front of the motor I've had this issue for years sound sad sounds like an old truck keep an eye on the oil and add not very much change the oil often I put 50000 miles on my car between 225000 miles now has 277,000 very tough front end deer population problem car has hit 3 deer survive my son learning how to drive first two years first rule and your son or daughter learns how to drive let them learn on an old car got a lot of metal this one had that it also had Advanced breaking built-in driver side airbags
I had a 93 gas 300 with the 2jz. Loved that car. Also had S140. S160 with 2jz Gte turbo. Great cars. Body shape wise I prefer the gen 1 and tail lights looked better. But that's my opinion. Didn't like the round lights in the boot.
I have one for around 2 years right now anddd its horrible. Bought for 4k euros, repaired the engine, changed a lot of stuff a round it, suspension oem parts are very high price. All after all after 2y I put 4500e on top (repair and maintenance) and even today there is a lot of problems, like heater, again suspension, o2 sensors.. Compared to bmw or other more popular cars its I would say go to german cars or 3gen gs because on this one its very hard to find repair shop where people understand this car, impossible to find good condition body parts and etc..
Finally some realistic comment 👍🏿 But yeah for 4k.u can't expect good one. Really well taken care of 430 gs3 cost now over 14k€ in Poland. You can get one for half that but i wouldn't risk. A lot of "weird" offers in the market, very easy to identify good ones. If offer is weird(no or little description, no service or repairs done mentioned) u can easily assume its crap car that needs lot of repairs. Unfortunately good ones will cost a lot to buy, price is always the easiest way to identify
@@Angry-LynxI totally agree, but 430 is whole different car, gs300 is nothing special, and at the time (y2020) when I was buying it was most expensive in the market. The guy who sold the car, he put 2k euros in to repairs.. So after 4year and 8month of owning the car, total repair cost: 5300euro, this summer sold it for 1400e because rust killed the body, there was still a lot of problems and etc. Happy I did it. I should have done this wayyyy earlier
The only cars i could compare it to would be a saab 9-3 or a volvo s60 for this price range, i actually never tried the GS300 but i would go and test drive it and maybe it will change my mind
Stay away from any volvo. Stay away from any euro car for that matter. All money pits. Only Citroen c5 is good for money. Otherwise go Toyota/lexus and even then be VERY careful. A lot of their engines are also problematic. Highly recommend Car Care Nut youtube channel
I would argue that no one actually buy it This car among the most popular & most wanted used cars in my area, to the fact, you can sell it decently a fair price for it's condition
I have one and when I first got it I said I’m just going to drive it until it quit and stack much money as I can and buy a new car . That was 7 years ago and it still drives like new and won’t die lol it’s immortal and I have 94k saved up .
A lot of potential issues. Door locks are common thing, lower ball joints. At this age most of engine gaskets need replacing and will be leaking. Shocks. On most of them most of suspension components will need replacing. And maintenance so stuff that u replace on all cars oil, brakes, timing, waterpumps, alternator, starter etc. Do your research, it can be money pit if you buy cheap one. Well maintained ones are very expensive to buy. Third gen have problem with ECU going bad.
Yes, plenty of 450h for sale.... Battery are dying and people just sell them instead of buying Extreme expensive new battery. What i find funny is that despite this, their prices still don't reflect that fact and are unreasonably expensive considering price of new batteries. In short, stay away. This power train is good and reliable, but 15year old battery no matter how good, will be on last legs
AT LEAST this much for good one. Good gs430 mk3 14k euro in poland. And its still not in perfect shape but very good indeed and with good lpg installed. Prices for well maintained ones are absolutely insane
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
It’s usually the German car lovers talking down on lexus cars because they know deep down inside lexus makes better cars
That's a true. I loved riding my BMW E90, but the engine died, where Lexus IS or Honda Accord will run for another 100k miles w/o a problem. Lexus GS 300 or 430 is a holy graal..
Any time a Lexus is poo-pooed, it’s from the mouth of a German car sycophant.
As a German, I can confirm 😂
These are extremely popular here in the US and Japan(aristo)
But here in the US…these are EVERYWHERE.
Also look insane in VIP builds, like mine.
I'm a mechanic at a Japanese specialist shop and since I test drove one of these for one of my customers I've dreamt of finding one. She never drove it often and it had 60k miles. The SMOOOTHEST car I've ever driven. I found plenty for sale but none as good as hers. Months later she told me she was moving over seas and wanted to sell it to me because how obsessed I was with the car. 3 grand dude. Best 3 grand I've ever spent only one car beats this and it's the ls400
I have these since almost new, ES300, among others. Smoothest is by far our new 2004 Avalon, then ES300 (1999), then our 2007 highlander limited hybrid, last my GS300 '02. I had to stop driving the GS even though I love it because it gives too much road feedback and started developing a lot of neck problems because how much time I spend in the car. Granted, this is very hard to discern, but once you've become hyper sensitive and own them all and get immediate relief even in the highlander.... However, it's not too bad on northern roads that are smoother because they can't groove them since they salt the roads. Otherwise, I do love the car, but smoothest, hardly compared to other models from that generations - even the ES300 and Avalon were more floaty - giving it less road feedback and smoother over all those imperfections (like a flying carpet right over it) than a 2005 LS430 I had. Oh, I had 2010 ES350 that thing literally did float over stuff on the road - you could hear it, but not feel it at all.
Lucky! How are you liking it so far?
2001 gs430
It's 2024 I'm going to buy a 2001 GS300 tomorrow I hope I can fix it and be as happy driving mine as you are in yours mate cheers
I own one. Love it
My everyday driver for past 10 yrs. is the 1998 Lexus GS400, now have 223k miles, absolutely love it, wouldn't drive anything else.
1999 with 231k miles here. Still runs like a dream and one of the best cars I've ever owned. Great video highlighting an excellent vehicle 👍
It’s not lasting much longer
@@Yunn706 just crossed 240k miles and still gets driven daily.
@@Oden03 I’ll give you 2k max
@@Yunn706 lmao
I totally agree!!! I have owned Audi S8, Jaguar, BMW’s, Land Rovers… My Lexus RX 400h 272bhp is the best and most reliable car i’ve ever owned!
My 2001 is just approaching the 200k miles and with all major services done, it is honestly the smoothest vehicle I have owned till date! I also own an 2010 RX350, but I prefer driving my GS!
Always wanted a Lexus just because of their incredible reputation for reliability and luxury. Never looked into the GS300 but recently found an ‘06 with AWD, 150k miles. $4500 and a month later it’s the best purchase I’ve ever made. Runs like a dream, luxurious inside, great fuel efficiency, enough power to do anything you need to do and for my money I think they look fantastic. Obviously I got an incredible deal(thanks John). But even if I’d paid more I’d still think it was a great choice.
In traffic jams, how many litre consumption per 100km?
@@Daraponleu lol I’m lucky to live in an area where traffic jams aren’t something I have to deal with regularly. But I’m sure it’s not as efficient as it is on the highway
I've had one as my daily for the last 4 years, never missed a step, purrs like a (quiet) kitten, sounds lovely when revved high, and is super confortable. Only problem I've had are the lock actuators, but hey, I'll take it over "catastrophic engine damage" that I've had with other cars.
I've owned my '01 model for just over a year now, having put 8,000 miles on it, and it's absolutely wonderful. 150,000 miles and still going strong - you are right, the whole interior just soothes you in a way few cars do. Mine currently has the VSC warning light on - I believe it's to do with the wheel speed sensor for the ABS. It's not a sports saloon in the slightest, but that's to it's benefit, I think.
But it CAN be a sports saloon, with the right mods 👌🏻 I’ve got an 05 gs300 myself
You’re right. Just got a ‘98 gs 300 last year with 60,500km odometer and drives like brand new! Feel so lucky that it costs much less than half the price of a second hand corolla hybrid. Love it so much that I almost forgot driving my rav4 🤭
I have mine for about 8 months bow and I absolutely love it. The 2jz-ge engine is a dream.
Bit slow
As a bit of a "Geezer" myself ( 62 in a few months), I've recently 'fallen into' the Lexus camp: purchased my first this past Oct. '22, an LS 430, it's not exactly the most frugal when it comes to economy but I freeking love that car! Hands down the nicest car I've ever owned! Recently I came across a '94 GS for $500.00 USD. I did not know of the 'potential' of the JZ engines... I do now! Lol, a new chapter in the motor head madness!
God bless Ted, the 430 is a masterclass. Both the UZ and JZ platforms emabrasss the rest of the market
Bought gs300 Sport Design with 55k miles on the clock last August.Best car I ever had. Comfy, quite and you can't see one on the road everyday.
Wow, nice grab!
Sports design is the one to go! How much did you pay for the rare beast?
Literally one of the best reliable daily drivers ever....and if you don't mind lesser gas mileage its stablemate the LS430.
Na gs430 >
1992 Toyota Aristo JZS147 - 582,000km bought it 7 months ago and still can't stop smiling! 😊
I just bought mine at 311k, I got a good deal enough to complete all the maintenance it needed and it runs like new, gotta do door lock actuators at some point and the sound system needs some love but it run’s fantastic and actually still feels luxury, it is a calming car to drive, it really insulates you from the road but drives and handles well. The 2jz is easy and affordable to work on.
Yea bro a year later I got mine at 317,000 how’s your today and how many more miles you put on it.
If you still got this account
@ Not a crazy amount, it’s a 4th vehicle, I sidelined it after realizing it needed steering rack bushings and tie rods, thankfully you can replace the bushings on these racks unlike my 4th gen 4runner which required a new steering rack. But it still starts up and runs smooth as silk and burns nothing at 315k miles.
Here in Australia the starting point is around $5000 for a well and truly high kms yet neat example. I love everything about the car except the power - I would have to be able to budget in a low boost NA-T setup for it to be a viable option for me.
Yeah i have the GS400........about 80 more HP and 0-60 in probably at least 1-2 sex faster.
You are absolutely 💯 correct. I am a proud owner of 4 at the moment. I bought my first one 11yrs ago and it's been the best purchase for a budget luxury sports car with the almighty 2jz engine. Just an amazing car once you own one in great shape and can do your own repairs makes it even better. I'd love to buy every nice one I see.😁💯🏁🏁🏁
I have this geezer in uk from September 2022. I bought it for forty eight hundred with twenty hour thousands miles on clock. Drives like a brand new car.
I have to say it I have it with velour interior, no leather, with no sunroof. Love how it drives and handles. It is not conjugated as a sports car at all, however it has a throttle.
As you said, luxury cruising.
It burns more than 25mpg I have to say. Full tank, coming to reserve and done only around 200 miles. It is thirsty, but it is completely justified with all this vehicle’s merits.
Love my gs300 will never let it go💪
In 2001, My Mom & Dad bought one of those. Dad expired about 16 months ago but, the 23 year old Lexus GS300 is still in their garage and still runs great!
I've owned a ls400, is300, and now a gs300. Honestly, the gs300 is by far my favorite!
Really?? Why
@@eniocastillo9622 honestly, it feels like a lighter and quicker version of the ls400. Not as slow feeling as the LS and not as stiff feeling as the IS. It's right in between! Just a comfortable daily driver that doesn't feel too outdated.
I want a sc300/400 but really if I had to choose I'd still go gs300 everytime, even got rid of my 350z for one.
@@trilliamogdlocog4986 why u like gs300 so much?
@@eniocastillo9622 First chassis to have the 2jz,max orido aristo was nostalgic, the friend racing 1000hp aristo, Hert from hoonigan car, vertex version,aerodynamics are great, aftermarket support,double wishbone, made in/assembled in Japan, luxurious, easy to work on, 1st gen was designed by a famous Italian designer that usually made only hyper/super cars, Biggie the rapper liked the lexus GS, The Sema time attack gs300, was in fast and furious a few times in the background and so on I'm just obsessed with the chassis to me it's the best all around can be drifted,Vip,daily driven,built to race,holds enough people etc.
You are right about most things,and if we take the reliability out the equation,E39 530i is a better car. Starting from the handling,the quality of interior,the comfort seats with flexible shoulder support,and even with massaging seats. Then the looks,the 16/9 TV/DVD screen,double glazed windows and so on and on. Then you can have E39 with manual,GS you can't. Literally the only thing that Lexus beats E39 is reliability.
These cars keep going up in value lol...I'm looking at buying my 4th one...very easy to work on for general maintenance
The best Lexus ever made bro....I own a 2002 Gs 300 Bought it in 2004 Still have it today...
I also own a 2002 GS300 but bought it in 2005. It's my daily driver still and has over 260K miles on the odometer.
They love 'em here in the U.S.!!
When I lived in Canada, I needed a reliable car than can still fullfill my requirements in terms of amenities, after my Volvo broke down. I knew I was going this time for a Japanese car, I was done with European moneypits. They are so rare that only then I discovered the existence of the GS, and I loved it right away. More exactly, a MkIII GS300. It has been an excellent car, with better handling and RWD bias, things I didn't know before. Cabin, comfort, equipment, powertrain and design all suited me perfectly, I just didn't have a single critism against it.
When coming to France, I instantly knew I would like to buy one again. Unfortunately, closed-minded people towards Japanese cars, the badge and the lack of a diesel offering were accountable for abysmal sales figures. Only a thousand have been sold. Today however, one can find them in small numbers, but cheap, because opinions have not much changed. I managed to find a top-trim-level GS300, with which I'm happier than ever.
GS popped up as a potential car to go to but I've seen and LS430 and now I want the V8 instead!
I just picked up a 2002 160.000m paid 7,000 only thing wrong is the door locks smh runs drives and shifts like it's brand new
My answer is near me all the GS300's are bought by teens and trashed so there is no clean ones left. and the gs400 is too expensive because its a V8 and people know that so the price is too much if you can even find a clean one that wasn't trashed or drifted. find an old grandpa or grandma is really the only way to find GS or the LS anymore at a realistic price and good condition
I used to have a 2001 Lexus GS300 Slick Top, no sun roof, suede grey interior. Was very nice. Wish i kept it.
Owned the 2004 gs300 for 3 years and only sold as left the country. Its the best car i ever owned.. Even at 170.000 miles it was smooth, quiet, and everything worked perfectly
Recently picked up my 01 GS300 with 150k miles on it for 4200$. Fell in love with the car right away and can’t imagine driving anything else 🤘
I just bought one- Loved the video cheers
I NEED ONE OF THESE!! I want as GS300 or LS400/430... THESE CARS ARE GOING UP IN PRICE.. 👌🏼
Oh yeah man I got 99 GS300 very nice these cars are really good 👍🏾
Nobody who can't afford it should buy.
Its expensive car to own, don't be fooled by low prices, its still luxury vehicle and such will be repair bills
£710 road tax on top 😅
I think you make great points for buying a Lexus GS300. However, if you are looking for fuel efficiency you are much better off with a 4 cylinder engine not a 6 cylinder. Also if you want to be able to work on your own engine, a 4 cylinder engine is a lot easier to work on compared to a 6 cylinder engine.
i get the whole grandad thing. the gs300 stock looks like a boring grandad car but if you tint the windows put a nice set of rims on and lower them a bit they look like a completely different car
and then there's a lot of aftermarket things you can add to them like lights to make them look even better
They're good cars. I have the 430. We basically have the exact same car only difference I have the 3UZ and the trunk spoiler.
I've got the gs400 with 101k miles (bought at 89k) and it's by far my favorite car I've owned and I've had cars way faster and more expensive but these cars especially the 400 and 430s are just the perfect balance between luxury and performance.
How much work is doing valve clearance i hear u need to take camshafts to do it. Kinda out of my comfort zone but id do timing myself
I love my gs300. Quit blowing the whistle!
Turning one into a twin turbski aristo was a good time. Do not buy these cars.... until I have at least two more in storage
Here in the States you'll see it a lot. Mostly clapped out or slammed.
Not gonna lie, the design on the outside looks like an old person car but I just got a 2015 and the design got so much better. I love the backlights that kinda look like BMW lights and the front grill got nicer. Such a smooth riding and luxurious car!
I tell ppl all the time, get a GS before the price gets crazy.
Yes the price for these cars are going up, I have a 2004 Gs430 and I'm never letting it go 😊
@@daved3948 hold on to her. I’ve had mine since 2015, and I done drove from CT to FL and back, she never missed a beat. Now I’m running her with a turbo on the original motor, and still on point with 250k 😬
I have a gs430 sport 53 plate one of the best cars I've owned bought a good one with full service history and a good exhaust already on it sounds mega when the foot goes down 👍 and I am a grandad 😂
I have a Lexus GS 300 1998 with only 60,555kms when I bought it for 16K AUD as replacement for my Toyota Yaris that was written off from a bad crash. Never regreted and felt very lucky. You are all correct from what you showed in this video. Its naturally aspirated 2JZ-GE is adorable and very quiet and roars elegantly when forced.
Most people would rather buy a shagged up diesel than one of these. Which is good they dont deserve the luxury and comfort these offer:)
I bought one last month the car is amazing only thing wrong was the radio attena didn't go down cable is broken 😅 the car cost €5K here Netherlands 🇳🇱
my GS300, from 2001, excellent car, some rust issues around rear arches ( mot fail ) fixed last year no further problems there, only paid £750, fantastic condition in and out! a real beaut!! with private number people get the year wrong every time! only 1 prev owner now got 200,000 miles, still purrs, and goes like s***......
My is 200 has been the best car I’ve owned. Only ever broke down once in 16 years of ownership and over 130,000 happy miles. Now done 214,000 miles. And when the day comes that I absolutely can’t bring this one back from the dead, I’ll go and buy another Lexus without a second’s hesitation
Definitely bro I got a 99 gs300 with 246,000 these cars champs for sure man so reliable and good bang for you buck
Yeh i moved from a ford mondeo titanium x to an is200 and its the best thing ive ever done!
@@ronslife3396 I know of a few new vehicles that are not 6 years old, done 60,000 and they on their last legs. Old Lexus go on forever
My uncles about to give me his 2001 gs 300 sport. Has a few issues with it abs and an oil leak but excited to have it!
Best car to buy for 2k !
Fwd volvos are shit and the ekectrics die on the motorway
BMW : Never ending oil leaks.
VW golf 1.8 t : like sitting in a sh*t hole 😅
You owned several.. I have several of them now! lol 2001+ gs300 including fully loaded sport designs with the orange interior and nav as well as GS430s . I also have GS460s and 350s but definitely like these 2nds gens better.
Why u like older car more. Im looking for gs3 430 or ls430. gs2 for me is a lil too old tech, id like at least keyless.
Cheers
You definitely should have kept your black one, it was awesome.
Just got my daughter an 01 for 2900. First car. Putting a stereo system in today!
I was gonna sell my Gs300 2005 for $5000 last year. luckily i didnt . 110000 miles
Ok so I found one of these for 6k € with a 2jz 3.0L engine in it, is it worth buying? I kinda like the car tbh
I have a 99 GS400. Got it 8 months ago with 199k miles. Just hit 225k the other day. Definitely the best car I've ever had. Pic on my channel page.
Side note: my VSC would pop on and off too, until I put a 200a alternator in it. Never did it again afterwards.
How is it running?
@@Dtx-o1f still runs amazingly! It's got 231k on it now, since I posted that. I'm in it right now.
I used to have a 2001 Lexus GS300 was a great daily. Had only 160k miles when i sold it. I daily a 2004 Lexus GS430 now, 2 years strong. 271K miles.
Do you service 430 yourself?
How much work is doing valve clearance?
Any issues in general with the car?
If you think the interior in these is nice for the money, the similar vintage P2 Volvo S60/V70 face-lift is even better. THE comfiest seats I've ever sat in, and an incredible audio system for this budget. Can be had with bomb proof diesel engines which can do twice the mpg of a GS300 while also being very good to drive.
Nowhere near as reliable though. The V70's suspension is made of pastry and the electrics are a nightmare.
@@johntate5050 I wouldnt call the electrics a nightmare, but certainly worse than the Lexus. What decided it for me was the boot space and fuel economy. Shame Lexus never made an estate.
Auto gearbox in the Volvo is a relative of the one in the Lexus :) the Lexus shares it gearbox with the earlier Volvo 960/V90.
@@js14a I agree about Lexus not making the GS300 an estate. A hatchback at the very least should have been offered. Saloons are pretty useless.
I have considered a V70 for the reasons you mention but I'm just wary of the ongoing cost of the things.
Doesn't have the nostalgia and in my opinion toyota is a bit more reliable then volvo
@@trilliamogdlocog4986 Toyotas are a lot more reliable than Volvos.
I had one of these yrs ago, I'd buy another one tomorrow but just can't justify paying out so much in rd tax😢
I have been hunting one of these for years, but can never find a good one. They are awesome
Will always be a hidden Gem. 2jz enough said!!
Some 98 models of GS in Uk had cloth interior, very rare but ive seen like 3 so far on the market in last 4 years
I had one with cloth 😊
I've still got my cloth one
I have an is 200 Sport Cross, my wife hates it (prefers our Toyota CH-R), had it for years and just don't want to get rid of it. I've had Audi, Jaguar, Subaru among others, the Lexus beats them all.
Love my 2004 gs. Just spent 2500 on all suspension rubbers now drives so good. The lower ball joints need to be replaced every few years but worth it.
Looking for one between 2001-2004 - hard to come by.
Because people are holding on to them.
ive owned a gs300 an aristo and a gs430, ive also owned a is200 and celsior(ls400) great cars and i get why people call them old man cars but all you need to do is slam tham on ssr viennas and it completely changes the look of the car, and if you got the v8 version that grumble from a aftermarket exhaust is awesome , its great for crusing
None of them are old man cars. It’s just haters that call them that
Thank you Jamie, from Oz
Repaired over 16000 cars in my 40+ years as a Asc master tech, have owned all kinds of Cars, Hands Down BEST CAR I Have Ever Owned!!!
shhh
i'm in the market for one now and i don't want people pushing the prices up further 😂
My brothers 2000 gs300 is the first car I drove after passing my driving test
Every time a video about "Why you should feel good about owning a GS300" pops up on my feed, I always click
5w 30 use the oil that's recommended the timing Advance is controlled by the oil pressure incidentally it leaks can cause issue with leaking from the front of the motor I've had this issue for years sound sad sounds like an old truck keep an eye on the oil and add not very much change the oil often I put 50000 miles on my car between 225000 miles now has 277,000 very tough front end deer population problem car has hit 3 deer survive my son learning how to drive first two years first rule and your son or daughter learns how to drive let them learn on an old car got a lot of metal this one had that it also had Advanced breaking built-in driver side airbags
I got some bronze dso8s to try and match the interior color or atleast complement the color
I had a 93 gas 300 with the 2jz. Loved that car. Also had S140. S160 with 2jz Gte turbo. Great cars. Body shape wise I prefer the gen 1 and tail lights looked better. But that's my opinion. Didn't like the round lights in the boot.
what else would you buy for the money well another lexus, the ls400
Ok I got one here fpr 7,500 euros ar 138k kilometers, I guess 67k miles.
Should I?
I would love those pillows 😅🙃
I have one for around 2 years right now anddd its horrible. Bought for 4k euros, repaired the engine, changed a lot of stuff a round it, suspension oem parts are very high price. All after all after 2y I put 4500e on top (repair and maintenance) and even today there is a lot of problems, like heater, again suspension, o2 sensors.. Compared to bmw or other more popular cars its I would say go to german cars or 3gen gs because on this one its very hard to find repair shop where people understand this car, impossible to find good condition body parts and etc..
Finally some realistic comment 👍🏿
But yeah for 4k.u can't expect good one.
Really well taken care of 430 gs3 cost now over 14k€ in Poland.
You can get one for half that but i wouldn't risk. A lot of "weird" offers in the market, very easy to identify good ones. If offer is weird(no or little description, no service or repairs done mentioned) u can easily assume its crap car that needs lot of repairs.
Unfortunately good ones will cost a lot to buy, price is always the easiest way to identify
@@Angry-LynxI totally agree, but 430 is whole different car, gs300 is nothing special, and at the time (y2020) when I was buying it was most expensive in the market. The guy who sold the car, he put 2k euros in to repairs.. So after 4year and 8month of owning the car, total repair cost: 5300euro, this summer sold it for 1400e because rust killed the body, there was still a lot of problems and etc. Happy I did it. I should have done this wayyyy earlier
i'm gonna go look at a black on black 06 awd later this week. been hearing horror stories about engine sludge?
No one's buying them bc it personally took me 2 months to find ONE for sale in the first place
Becuse the stupid brake booster failure. Its very expensive to repair this. Its a very bad ABS design
Notice how such comments.never get any likes. Internet become circle jerk for toyota/lexus, its insane.
Plenty of issues these cars
I bought my 02 the day before this dropped
The only cars i could compare it to would be a saab 9-3 or a volvo s60 for this price range, i actually never tried the GS300 but i would go and test drive it and maybe it will change my mind
Stay away from any volvo. Stay away from any euro car for that matter.
All money pits.
Only Citroen c5 is good for money.
Otherwise go Toyota/lexus and even then be VERY careful. A lot of their engines are also problematic.
Highly recommend Car Care Nut youtube channel
I have a 2001 and it's probably the best car I've ever owned.
hi mate, just had an offer to buy one of these, 54k miles. so its pretty mint. Do you have any info on average repairs/running costs etc?
It’s fine that no one’s interested in them. More for us and it keeps them cheaper too!
My mate got a IS 250 that V6 sounds great & is comfy as fuck
That engine fucking sucks be happy its not yours 😂
I would argue that no one actually buy it
This car among the most popular & most wanted used cars in my area, to the fact, you can sell it decently a fair price for it's condition
hey Jamie, what is the common issues on these? What should I look after when seeing a used one?
I have one and when I first got it I said I’m just going to drive it until it quit and stack much money as I can and buy a new car . That was 7 years ago and it still drives like new and won’t die lol it’s immortal and I have 94k saved up .
A lot of potential issues.
Door locks are common thing, lower ball joints. At this age most of engine gaskets need replacing and will be leaking. Shocks.
On most of them most of suspension components will need replacing.
And maintenance so stuff that u replace on all cars oil, brakes, timing, waterpumps, alternator, starter etc.
Do your research, it can be money pit if you buy cheap one. Well maintained ones are very expensive to buy.
Third gen have problem with ECU going bad.
Dude that’s one of the best cars ever made mine is a 2000 Lexus gs300 in 2024 with 202 thousand miles on it stop it ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I just bought one 2005 gs300 for £2k 136k miles, best thing I've ever driven a feat of engineering
For 2k? Wtf is with these UK prices....
Good one cost 10k€ in Poland
Anyone care to explain why you would go gs300 instead of 450h? Is it the dread of hybrid/ battery issues?
Same question I have
Yes, plenty of 450h for sale....
Battery are dying and people just sell them instead of buying Extreme expensive new battery.
What i find funny is that despite this, their prices still don't reflect that fact and are unreasonably expensive considering price of new batteries.
In short, stay away. This power train is good and reliable, but 15year old battery no matter how good, will be on last legs
Those wheels are shouting out for some spacers and lowered suspension, the rear wheels look lost in those wheel arches!
My LS400 was £500 seven years ago. Can't beat Lexus 👍
wtf UK market insane 😂
I wish we had such prices in Europe
Drive a gs350 awd that has fuel injection…. You’ll see a marked improvement over the gs300’s- as good as they are.
I disagree i think nobody should get them just so us Lexus folks can keep them all to our selves (im a 08 gs350 owner)
Nobody who can't afford it should buy.
Its expensive car to own, don't be fooled by low priced
2000 GS400, 360,000km nothing has ever broken on it, nothing, ever.
What year is that car
more like too many buy them this car would be 8000€ here in germany
AT LEAST this much for good one.
Good gs430 mk3 14k euro in poland.
And its still not in perfect shape but very good indeed and with good lpg installed.
Prices for well maintained ones are absolutely insane
@@Angry-Lynx nobody buys lexus cause they are blinded like stupid ideas like that mercedes is good quality