My First Gs300

[Bazzman]

Hi All

I'm a newbie here, so go gentle!! :shutit:

I'm thinking of buying a bit of luxury, and a GS300 would seem to fit the bill. Any suggestions on what to buy, what NOT to buy, what to look out for?

Over the years I've had an Audi A6 (not fun to drive), several Mercedes Estates (old ones were great, not exciting but great build quality - new one was awful, don't start me on that one!) BMW E39 5 series (best car I ever had, by far). Now times have changed, I'm self employed, and need reliability, and do maybe 30k miles a year, so I have a Skoda Octavia. (surprisingly - and I know I shouldn't say surprisingly - a real good car. Not exciting but does what I need)

But I fancy a cheap - maybe £2-3k Lexus. Just as a weekend run-around. And to fiddle with. Always admired them, I think LS400 a bit too big, IS200 a bit small maybe, so I want a GS300, I think.

I've never owned one, but have been in a few and love the way they flow over the road.

Any suggestions for me? Even it it's "don't buy a £2k car, it will bankrupt you!"

Cheers all

Barry

Just South of Sunny York, Yorkshire

[donmar]

Hi All

I'm a newbie here, so go gentle!! :shutit:

I'm thinking of buying a bit of luxury, and a GS300 would seem to fit the bill. Any suggestions on what to buy, what NOT to buy, what to look out for?

Over the years I've had an Audi A6 (not fun to drive), several Mercedes Estates (old ones were great, not exciting but great build quality - new one was awful, don't start me on that one!) BMW E39 5 series (best car I ever had, by far). Now times have changed, I'm self employed, and need reliability, and do maybe 30k miles a year, so I have a Skoda Octavia. (surprisingly - and I know I shouldn't say surprisingly - a real good car. Not exciting but does what I need)

But I fancy a cheap - maybe £2-3k Lexus. Just as a weekend run-around. And to fiddle with. Always admired them, I think LS400 a bit too big, IS200 a bit small maybe, so I want a GS300, I think.

I've never owned one, but have been in a few and love the way they flow over the road.

Any suggestions for me? Even it it's "don't buy a £2k car, it will bankrupt you!"

Cheers all

Barry

Just South of Sunny York, Yorkshire

Hi and welcome, all i can say is how i feel about my gs300 which i have had 2 yrs, I myself have always had ford granadas and loved them and i had the chance of this gs 300 and i love it to bits, its a 1998 early mk 2 and i think Lexus are holding there prices and it depends on what you are expecting for 3 K,

the older the car the more things need replacing,like mine i have replaced battery/ alternator serviced/pully tentioner replaced/ crack pully replaced/ and wheels refurbed and having new tyres fitted tomorrow,but it as all been worth it as i have said i love it to bits and for a car which is 11 years old it still turn heads. if you have not been in one to drive please take a chance and do it this is the advice i can give you, there are many on here who can give you more advice than me with older and newer cars. hope this as not put you off

Don

[Bazzman]

Hi All

I'm a newbie here, so go gentle!! :shutit:

I'm thinking of buying a bit of luxury, and a GS300 would seem to fit the bill. Any suggestions on what to buy, what NOT to buy, what to look out for?

Over the years I've had an Audi A6 (not fun to drive), several Mercedes Estates (old ones were great, not exciting but great build quality - new one was awful, don't start me on that one!) BMW E39 5 series (best car I ever had, by far). Now times have changed, I'm self employed, and need reliability, and do maybe 30k miles a year, so I have a Skoda Octavia. (surprisingly - and I know I shouldn't say surprisingly - a real good car. Not exciting but does what I need)

But I fancy a cheap - maybe £2-3k Lexus. Just as a weekend run-around. And to fiddle with. Always admired them, I think LS400 a bit too big, IS200 a bit small maybe, so I want a GS300, I think.

I've never owned one, but have been in a few and love the way they flow over the road.

Any suggestions for me? Even it it's "don't buy a £2k car, it will bankrupt you!"

Cheers all

Barry

Just South of Sunny York, Yorkshire

Hi and welcome, all i can say is how i feel about my gs300 which i have had 2 yrs, I myself have always had ford granadas and loved them and i had the chance of this gs 300 and i love it to bits, its a 1998 early mk 2 and i think Lexus are holding there prices and it depends on what you are expecting for 3 K,

the older the car the more things need replacing,like mine i have replaced battery/ alternator serviced/pully tentioner replaced/ crack pully replaced/ and wheels refurbed and having new tyres fitted tomorrow,but it as all been worth it as i have said i love it to bits and for a car which is 11 years old it still turn heads. if you have not been in one to drive please take a chance and do it this is the advice i can give you, there are many on here who can give you more advice than me with older and newer cars. hope this as not put you off

Don

Hi Don

And thanks so much for your welcome and the info. That's exactly the sort of detail I really appreciate, and no, you haven't put me off at all. :)

I'm not expecting perfection for that sort of money, especially for a weekend car that I don't expect to do many miles in. I was looking specifically at a Mk II, 1999 or 2000 latest, and I hope to get a reasonable one for that money.

Really appreciate your reply. Cheers mate.

Barry

[katana92_uk]

welcome mate

This is a list of things to check when viewing a series II GS300. If you are unsure about checking these items it is recommended that you get an independent inspection carried out.

Wheel vibration – The GS300 is sensitive to front wheel balance. Make sure you test drive the vehicle at 70-80mph (where appropriate).

Front brake discs – These are prone to warping if wheel nuts are not tightened in the correct order and to the correct torque. Any steering wobble under light braking from 60mph indicates a problem.

Ball joints – Perform full lock turns and try to drive over speed bumps and listen out of knocking noise or loose steering feel.

Wind noise – Check for noise at 70mph around sunroof, door, mirror and windscreen.

Door sensors – Open each door in turn and check the door open warning light illuminates on the dashboard. A problem with a sensor is costly as they are integrated into the door lock mechanism.

Battery – When starting the engine should turn over very fast. If the car struggles to turn over may indicate a problem with the Battery.

Sat Nav version – If the vehicle is fitted with Satellite Navigation then check the CD version. Anything under 3.x will not have full UK road coverage. To upgrade will cost around £100. A DVD based system will contain all road data but newer versions support enhanced features. To upgrade a DVD system will cost around £120. Updates are available from your Lexus dealer or online:

http://www.lexus-mapupdates.eu/

LCD display - For non Sat Nav vehicles check the stereo and heating LCD displays for any missing segments.

Power Steering Cooler - Check power steering cooler, located in front of the bottom part of the radiator, for corrosion/leaks.

[Bazzman]

Wow! Thanks so much, that's really useful.

I am quite handy on cars and electronics, been fixing my cars for years, but have no experience on Lexus at all, so that info you supplied is invaluable. And yes, good point re independent inspection, I appreciate that buying any car of 10 years old has certain risks, but of course when parts and repairs can be costly, an inspection makes sense.

Thanks again.

Barry

[samurai69]

Wow! Thanks so much, that's really useful.

I am quite handy on cars and electronics, been fixing my cars for years, but have no experience on Lexus at all, so that info you supplied is invaluable. And yes, good point re independent inspection, I appreciate that buying any car of 10 years old has certain risks, but of course when parts and repairs can be costly, an inspection makes sense.

Thanks again.

Barry

bought my mk1 about 6 months ago

new pads cheap enough

new rear boxes again cheap enough

and 2 new tyres when i bought it

i use it daley and have run it back and forwrd from portugal a couple of times......and again 2 times in a week soon

i have the sport and on bumpy roads it can be a bit hard, but apart from that i love it...........i prefer the shape of this one to the mk 2

[Bazzman]

Thanks again Samurai

I don't want a car that's too big, can I take it that, like most cars, the GS300 grows an inch or two with each generation?

So the MkI is smallest, MkIII biggest? Not that I think I can run to a Mk III!

Cheers for all of the info. Any colour anyone would suggest to get/avoid? I've seen a lovely dark blue, I quite like that.

Bazzman

[dave1]

Thanks again Samurai

I don't want a car that's too big, can I take it that, like most cars, the GS300 grows an inch or two with each generation?

So the MkI is smallest, MkIII biggest? Not that I think I can run to a Mk III!

Cheers for all of the info. Any colour anyone would suggest to get/avoid? I've seen a lovely dark blue, I quite like that.

Bazzman

The Series 2 is, I believe, slightly shorter than the Series 1 although it has more room in the cabin and a larger boot area due to the petrol tank location. I had a Series 1 Sport for 6 yrs. and had no problems. The shape, especially the Sport, is far sleeker than the Series 2.

A problem on the early Series 2 was the brake "master cylinder" unit, if it fails (around 100k miles?) it is VERY expensive....circa £2k I believe. Later models were fitted with a modified larger unit which solved the problem.

[TigerFish]

Some suspension knocks and bumps are cheap to fix, some not so cheap. You could use this to your own advantage when haggling. Just be sure what is knocking if it is. bottom ball joints, track rod ends, tie rods are very cheap on eBay. Anti roll bar drop links are another common'ish knock, especially at the front and again, cheap on eBay. Top wishbones not so cheap, Bottom arms more expensive still.

Sticking calipers and slide pins is very common across all lexus models pretty much. If you take the car for a test drive, make it reasonably spirited and check the temp of the alloy wheel on each corner, if one is noticably hotter than the rest, it could indicate one of these problems. Not especially expensive to fix, but can be frustrating pinning the actual issue down as it can cause knock on issues such as warped discs etc.

The brake servo unit mentioned by Dave is the most expensive gotcha that I know of on the Mk2.

[Bazzman]

The brake servo unit mentioned by Dave is the most expensive gotcha that I know of on the Mk2.

Thanks all for the info, really do appreciate your help.

The brake servo/master cylinder thing sounds scary, are there any early warning signs from this so I know what to look for? Oh, and if the problem only applies to early Mk II, can I easily check if the car's been fitted with the later unit?

I take it that this is a specific Lexus part, nothing from Toyota would fit?

Sorry, too many questions, I know....

Cheers all, thanks again

Bazzman

[dave1]

Thanks all for the info, really do appreciate your help.

The brake servo/master cylinder thing sounds scary, are there any early warning signs from this so I know what to look for? Oh, and if the problem only applies to early Mk II, can I easily check if the car's been fitted with the later unit?

I take it that this is a specific Lexus part, nothing from Toyota would fit?

Sorry, too many questions, I know....

Cheers all, thanks again

Bazzman

The 2001 model (from Nov 2000 onwards) was fitted with the larger uprated unit which solved the problem so that would be best if you can find a good one. Make sure though that it was manufactured rather than just registered after Nov 2000.

If it is pre facelift then I am sure that some of the members here or a Lexus service dept. would be able to help you with how to tell if the unit is the upgraded unit.

Sorry I can't help more but although the problem is well documented I have never seen the 2 units together to be able to describe them.

[Bazzman]

Thanks all again, really do appreciate the help

I'm thinking now (and after looking on ebay) that my budget might be best served by a late MkI, so I'm looking there too.

I take it rust isn't a huge issue? Are the they galvanised?

Cheers again for all of your help :D

Bazzman

[TigerFish]

Thanks all again, really do appreciate the help

I'm thinking now (and after looking on ebay) that my budget might be best served by a late MkI, so I'm looking there too.

I take it rust isn't a huge issue? Are the they galvanised?

Cheers again for all of your help :D

Bazzman

I have some rust on mine, and someone else mentioned getting it in the same place as mine has. Mostly on the drivers side just around where the bottom plastic panels meet the metal door. I don't think it is a common thing but look out for tell tale signs in the join areas.

As far as other problems go, similar to the mk2 excluding the brake servo unit issue. Suspension parts are the same or very similar. Soem parts are cheap, some not so cheap. Other expensive issues to look out for are a leaking rear crank oil seal. A common issue on this engine. £900+ bill via Lexus or I got mine sorted for a touch over £300 by an independent. Head gasket went on mine too, again, an expensive job to get sorted. All in all, I would class the reliability of mine as pretty sh*t, and cost of ownership as pretty damn high. I guess mine has turned out a bit of a lemon but having got to a certain spend level, I'm better of keeping going rather than swapping for a different GS and having all of the same issues crop up again. Swings and round abouts I suppose. I've done 70 odd thousand miles in two years in it, I love the look and ride of the car, and performance is ok'ish. Not sure I would go with a Lexus again, so when this one finally dies, I'll be moving back to my previous marque I suspect.

[dave1]

Thanks all again, really do appreciate the help

I'm thinking now (and after looking on ebay) that my budget might be best served by a late MkI, so I'm looking there too.

I take it rust isn't a huge issue? Are the they galvanised?

Cheers again for all of your help :D

Bazzman

Had my Series 1 for 6 years and took mileage from 85k on purchase to 146k when I sold it. It had full Lexus history and all I replaced were normal service items. Didn't let me down at all except a flat Battery once. I found it the most reliable car I have owned in 40 years of driving. It was always seviced at Lexus and even that was not excessively expensive.

[Bazzman]

Thanks all again, really do appreciate the help

I'm thinking now (and after looking on ebay) that my budget might be best served by a late MkI, so I'm looking there too.

I take it rust isn't a huge issue? Are the they galvanised?

Cheers again for all of your help :D

Bazzman

Had my Series 1 for 6 years and took mileage from 85k on purchase to 146k when I sold it. It had full Lexus history and all I replaced were normal service items. Didn't let me down at all except a flat Battery once. I found it the most reliable car I have owned in 40 years of driving. It was always seviced at Lexus and even that was not excessively expensive.

Thanks again guys. So the general feeling I get here is the usual story: buy the best car you can afford, with FSH if possible!

You know all in all, I think I will go for a late Mk I. I'm going to look on eBay and my local papers. When/if I get one, I'll post piccies here. Thanks a million guys. This site is worth its weight in gold.

Barry

[Bazzman]

I keep seeing quite a few cars advertised with quite high mileage, 150k or so, but not very many with more than that.

Does that mean these engines are good for around 150k, and after that they smoke/fail/run bearings etc??

Or are they like an old Mercedes W124 estate I had, did 247,000 miles and still didn't use oil!

Cheers

Bazzman

[TigerFish]

150K is no problem for them at all, subject to proper maintenance of course. You are good for double or more easy.

[Bazzman]

150K is no problem for them at all, subject to proper maintenance of course. You are good for double or more easy.

Thanks TigerFish

Obliged.