Ben01

Some people are fundamentally optimistic. Or there is any problem with spouse, maybe ("YOU HAVE TO SELL THIS OLD BARGES!!! - Yes, of course, I have just put them on the market, my love" - (month later) - No offers, my love" 😄 ) BTW I have seen similar strange situation on lexus SC market, there is an SC300, twice overpriced and she pop up in classifieds every half a year. After a few years I recognise the same photos at first look 🤨

Pshaw. I once got an brilliant idea to buy broken beautiful alfa 159 and drop in lexus IS/GS powerpack and whole new electrics. Only problem were: it is easy to find broken alfa 159, but not AWD; and this is transverse [censored], not longitudinal setup. And next I was "Ben, people think you are grown man, let's keep this way...".

New STAGs are pretty OK, I have one in current GS too. But for example, somebody dropped here evaporator good enough for 6cyl maybe, not enough for V8 in vroooom mode. And hot water feed to evaporator is far from perfect. Etc.etc. This days it is not a problem with LPG components (except cheapest injectors maybe) like 15 years ago, but with people who have no knowledge how put this all together in proper system.

Denis, not only London has a problem with "everybody could be Bob the LPG-Builder". My current GS has LPG system made in Wales with Polish pedigree, and it is far away from perfect. But for example previous GS had "made in Edinburgh" system on Duch and Japanese parts, and it was like the best LPG system in the EU, maybe in the world (my neighbour enjoys her now). I use LPG in a half of my cars last decade or more. 18 or17 years ago I was like many people "don't [censored] good car with some unholy modifications". Next I tried, even when it was really hard yet, and LPG systems were really primitive. Next I learn about, trained myself, and by the way LPG systems were better and better. Still, like 6 years ago, when we family used like two or three LPG cars, and I mentioned to LPGied thirsty toy (Ford Thunderbird 5.0 😎 ) my wife shouted on me "DONT RUIN V8!!". So we did not ruin V8 🤪 But now, with modern LPG systems and proper installations, and mileage like 80 miles per day in V8, it is no-brainer for me.

DVI-I, I think. I am not sure if it is compatible with any random HDMI cable (it is not exactly my area of expertise), but as above, for a few quids, try it. As far as I know, only possible problem (except some simple electrical mismatch), is HDMI device ignoring other end device, as HDMI is highly sophisticated and DRMed protocol in theory, not only a socket/plug standard, like VGA or DVI. In the beginning of HDMI were problems like "our hi-end full licensed TV ignores non-HDMI-licensed recorder or CCTV source", but I think nobody cares now.

IMHO they mostly affraid of any "modified" cars. But some say, any invalid fear is always a valid cost of some kind.

Any cable like this could do the job (I am not sure, as HDMI is tricky sometimes, bu for 3 or 4 quids you could try...)? https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ODWARWC/ref=asc_df_B00ODWARWC54550316 BTW1 if we talk about tv-hdmi plug & socket, but your monitor could be this L-type "computer" hdmi, what-is-the-name socket. BTW2 this is not VGA socket on the photo, this is DVI (exactly description next to socket), if you will be looking for cable, don't look at VGA-HDMI, but DVI-HDMI.

Still, in the "sealed" version GS300, top-up is the tricky part. This is not elder one, no V8. There is no dipstick, not measure, and no "hot measurement" of level, but between 41-45degC by "overspill" pipe and plug.

I don't know if Haynes or owner manual cover your "sealed" transmission fluid level problem. Here is some DIY description, more-less same as the youtube: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-3rd-gen-2006-2011/736105-changing-transmission-fluid-diy-w-pics.html but it explains what is missing (or wrong) in youtube above. Most critical is to fill-up tranny up to the "overspill" plug level in temperature about 43 deg. This is the proper level of fluid. And of course, use proper toyota ATF WS fluid (or strict equal). As far as I understand at the moment, nobody has idea what level and what mix or contaminated fluid you have in the transmission. Most probable for common ignorant garage, they disconnected the transmission's lines and cooler on the radiator job, they spilled litres of ATF, and they had no clue what next with "sealed" transmission. So maybe you need only fill-up. But who knows, maybe they were "smarter" and found the way to fill-up, but with wrong ATF. Or ATF was contaminated with "water" (from engine radiator) on the job with radiator. It is a lottery. So check and fill-up to proper level is a minimum. Better, any flush.

And, for example, for me, this is THE point. Like - why I am in lexus GS V8, not in audi S6 or bmw M5, with 100HP more etc? First and mostly, because there is a lot of S6 nd M5 here and a thousand of "same" A6 and 5 series in the area. How many GS V8 there is in Greater Glasgow? A few? I meet common GS300 once a year. And far far next there is a price, reliability, style, etc. And IMHO real differences in performance between M4 or RCF, or GS V8 and S6 or M5, etc. on the public roads, average all year, are marginal. But this is example, of course. For another guy, performace would be everything. Or style. Or price. Or interior. Or anything. So, think deeply about your priorites first, and about previous experiences (what made you deeply happy with previous cars - trackday? passer-by's admiration? superb interior? reliability? etc), and choice could be pretty easy.

After all I have read here, maybe we have to step back a bit. Mark, do you have any idea how you should proper check ATF level in this transmission? Or does your garage?

OK, but not in my GS 2002 But I am affraid steering wheel badge is same GS/LS/SC from same era and a bit risky to remove.

Stuart, I may suggest before compare m4 and RCF (or any alternative option like this) and a year long discuss and doubts, sit with glass of something tasteful and think long and hard, and write down YOUR true and valid preferences and expectations of. Next probably you don't need to bother with questions on forums, or even a test drive maybe. "Know yourself", before "know cars", this is the clue.

Thank you for info, this is exactly I am affraid of - not a glue, but some pins or tabs behind the chrome logo, hot or ultrasonic welded to airbag cover or anything like this. And any attempt to remove logo with quiet but expensive "snap" sound. I dont think any scrapyard cares about blown bags and covers, so probably I have two options now, source whole airbag with cover (but it's not economicaly viable IMHO and it could be different shade, and this will annoy me much more than badge), or try to do something "on site" (I have couple ideas, but it will be unholly difficult to fiddle with badge next to plastic cover).

It is not suprise (both statements), they were connected with Toyota for decades, Toyota controlled them last 20yrs, and own Daihatsu now. So it was like Toyota quality in simplified cars and with 75% price tag. But now Toyota logic is "we don't need internal competition on mature market like EU".

IMHO it is much easier to find decent LS than same age and mileage decent GS V8 this days. Simplest explanation: there is roughly 4 times more LSes than "compatible" GSes V8 in UK. But I was keen to GS430, I personally prefer a less to 60, and I definitely don't need all gadgets of LS (our daily car is 1-2 seater in fact). And LPG is not a factor, GS V8 or LS could be converted in same price or troubles.

Yeah, but IMHO if you will testing it with real money, not pools, ebay offers, or monopoly money, it will be £1000-£2000. And it could be long campaign and many frustrating "buyers". But I agree - without MoT it will be £500 or less.

Sad contribution to the topic, friend's ford "fugly" scorpio, 20yrs old, very last edition of European hi-end ford before "mondeo only" crap. Maybe 10 like this left in the country, she was keeped in mint shape and condition, with passion and expenses. Literally today, vs. random moron in seat. Think about this, before you try to keep lexus or any car "forever" on the road.

Yeah, I would expect something like 30mpg, my GS 1gen. was closer to 28 or 26 if I remember correctly (but I have a itchy right foot). On the other hand, GS has like 70 or 80HP more than 2.0 tdci mondeo? 80 horses have to drink. BTW 93mpg in mondeo tdci? downhill and what set of sails do you recommend? 😄

Did anybody try to remove the badge from a wheel like on photo? Is it glued, pressed, any pins or other nasty suprises? Mine is peeling of chrome and it annoy me a bit, I have to replace or refurbish it. .

I was ford guy once, so my comment is: GS 1gen. is twice better quality mechanically and put-together than any ford same age. The 100k miles means it is proper break in. The peeling is not a big deal for start, only rust could by a problem. If she is in good mechanical shape, interior not very filthy or destroyed, and you are looking for nice base for some play or project in scope " '90 RWD barge", I deeply recommended GS. BTW I strongly prefer GS 1gen look, than GS 2gen frogeyes etc. But my first daily GS 1gen was rusty on silver, on every corner and two doors, and I've given up for 2gen (and LPGs for hi mileage yearly). And of course GS430 2002 is very different beast than GS300 1996. But I still have a soft spot for GS 1gen. It was great car and probably, ekhm, most beautiful GS ever? 🤪

With all due respect, Saudi princes are not target for Lexus 😜 especially in late '90, when the most components and details were defined for '00 GS/LS. But rednecks from south US or Los Angeles area and Silicon Valley people from hot west, oh yeah, I bet they were. And they had/have mentality like I have seen last times in India - if on the hot wet day AC in your car can not bring the moisture over whole roof and all glass, you are a poor peasant and you car is a [censored] joke.

Again: ATF is most critical for auto transmission. Dont' think about ATF like about engine oil or smth. It is not the case. I could (delicate) run GS engine on any lowest shelf tarmac15W40 oil with no big consequences. If I fill-up my GS transmission with 2l of wrong ATF type, it will be like YOUR transmission IMMEDIATELY. BTW don't press hard the car "for tests" or slippery drive. With wrong or mixed or contminated ATF, you only make transmission worse and more damage. PRESS HARD THE WORKSHOP, if they disconnected transmission cooling lines for the job, if they spilled ATF, if they filled-up or contaminated ATF with anything. Or simple flush the transmission as in the linked movie and you will see if its any better.

This is I call "steal the topic" 🤣 About AC performance, current GS is pretty good. In my all-time fleet only some americans were on par with GS, I think. BTW maybe because GS/LS design was focused on US market and powerful AC is a selling point in the big part of US.

I beg to differ. I have a lot of fun. If anybody think I am here for anything than "90% fun, 9% share a knowledge, 1% looking for a knowledge" I may suggest he/she is wrong.