Lexus GS300 (1999/2000 model)

[Chunkymonkey71]

Do any of you guys own (or have owned) a Lexus GS300?

If so, what was it like? Good points/ bad points etc?

I'm not sure why but I've been thinking of them lately and although it's totally different from the Ignis Sport I own, I quite fancy one. Talk me into it/ out of it please!

[Studio117]

Pm Lexus boy. He knows the crack with most of the range.

[cptsideways]

They do not go wrong at all on the whole. Nice to drive, quite barge like but happy to be thrown about if need be. Very colour dependent.


There are plenty of mint ones to choose from, often privately owned & cosseted. Navigator models are well specced & look good. If you want a bit of go the GS430/sport is a good bet. Or if you can find one an Aristo (jdm only) is a right sleeper with the 2JZ TT engine, I have owned a few of these.

[gareth_r]

Suspension arms are expensive and (AFAIK) there are no aftermarket rear arms.

They have a ludicrously expensive master cylinder/brake booster that sometimes gives trouble. Supposed to be better after the facelift (in 2001?). Sometimes the problem is with the pressurised accumulator, which can be opened up to replace the o-rings, and recharged with nitrogen.

Front caliper pistons and sliders can seize. Needs to be part of the regular maintenance.

They don't seem to go rusty. I've never bothered to paint the stone chips and they haven't got any bigger.

Mine is one of the first (1997), it's on 218K (150K with me in the driving seat). Other than normal wear and tear, the only problems have been a corroded power steering cooler pipe, a broken rear spring, and rust forcing the hub dust seals into contact with the ABS rings, which wore them down and put the ABS light on.

EDIT:
Lots of info on the (US biased) Club Lexus forum.

Edited by gareth_r on Thursday 9th January 23:38

Edited by gareth_r on Friday 10th January 00:00

[Chunkymonkey71]

Thanks guys, that's some really useful info!