91boz

I am in the market looking for a used ES 300. I recently came across a 1998 ES300 with 54k miles in excellent condition. Seller is asking $5,800. Car looks like it has been well cared for and carfax shows no reported accidents. Another a 2000 also in excellent condition for $4200 but with 96k on the odometer. I am aware of the sludge problems with these if the oil was not changed regularly but the only way to check is to pull the valve cover and take a look? I will check the engines on a cold start to see if there is any oil burning in the exhaust. Any other checks i should be aware of?
While searching for Lexus models there is also a 99 GS300 76k for $6250. Was the GS besides rear wheel drive better than the ES? :

JetsonES

Ah, GS vs. ES. My advice would be to test drive both. The GS is tighter and less "floaty" than the ES. It also features the venerable straight six 2jz-ge engine which is practically bulletproof and will be easier to service due to its longitudinal layout. This also opens the door to the ever popular 2jz-gte swap which must be a blast and has tons of aftermarket support. I guess it all comes down to what you're looking for in a car and your driving style.

speedkar9

To add to what Jetson said,

I have an ES330 and my brother has a GS300. They drive much differently, and from an ownership perspective, cost differently too.

The GS's power train is known to be very reliable, and strong. It has a RWD layout which makes it more engaging to drive and is much faster off the line than a 3.0L 1MZ-FE ES300. The steering is much heavier and the car is much larger over all, and in my opinion the GS is less maneuverable in day to day traffic. The GS isn't too hard to work on, though there are some simple tasks that are a pain (changing an HID light bulb, draining the tranny fluid midway under the car, etc).

The ES on the other hand is a more comfortable soft car, and drives more boat like with a floaty ride and mellow steering.

From an ownership perspective the ES300 is the way to go. It gets better fuel economy on regular fuel (the GS requires premium), and there are many parts available from the Camry parts bin, which most mechanics know how to fix.

As for the 98 vs 01, check to make sure the transmission fluid has been changed in the 01 since those were more prone to failure than the older A series trannies. $5800 sounds very high for a 17 year old car, you can step up to a higher mileage 4th gen ES with a much nicer interior for that price range.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

I've owned/own both, the ES was so much cheaper to maintain than my GS, I spent less in 140k on it than I have in 65k on my GS. The GS feels more solid I guess, but the ES seemed to ride better, and I liked the size more as someone else said it was easier to maneuvuer. I also seemed to sit a little lower in the ES than the GS surprisingly, but the seats are more comfortable in the GS. You can't go wrong with either, and I'm glad I have owned both. Ultimately I'd be happy with either, But i will say this, when I owned both at the same time, I would always take the GS on long road trips because it felt more planted, strong winds didn't phase it, and it had less wind noise more room and better brakes. When I drove In the city, I always took the ES as it floated over the crappy roads and was so much easier to manuever and park, so take of that what you will. One the is I have a Sportdesign GS which is a little firmer than the normal GS, but not by much so it may be a little different than the GS you are looking at.

lostape45

Very hard comparison to make imo. GS has way more features (it was nearly $13,000 more when new) and more comfortable. I used to have a 2001 ES and now I have an 2001 GS. GS is more mod friendly, ES is more of a stock daily. Depends on what you're looking for.

I would vote the GS, I loved my ES but the GS is more fun to drive. The GS also has RWD which I much prefer. They ride similar, the GS slightly stiffer (hardly noticeable) but the GS is slightly bigger and you can tell. I would say you'll be happy with either cars. I suggest you check the condition of both of them and then weigh which one you want more.

On another note, all of those cars should have the timing belt replaced as the recommended replacement is 6 years or 90,000 miles, whichever comes first. The job is around $500.

91boz

Thanks for the advice guys! Still undecided where i am going on this. I am in no rush so I can take my time deciding.