This is my first post on this forum…w00t! I have a dilemma. I am looking to get a car in the next few months. I have been looking at Acura TL’s but they are a bit too expensive for what I want. My second choice was a First gen Toyota Avalon as a guy at work has one and I was surprised at how smooth and quiet his car is. I have not had good luck finding on with low miles as they are older. I started looking at the 1998-2005 GS300’s. I have always liked them and they are within my price range….10k-14k. However, I have never driven one. A client at work has a 1996 Lexus LS400 and tells me that it is a great car. He swears by it and said that I would be much happier with the LS400 over the GS300. Both of these cars are around the same price so it’s really a toss up for me.

I was looking at the LS400….a 1999 and it is almost the same length as the GS, but obviously has a V8. Both require premo gas which sucks, but I can deal with. So I guess my question to you guys is….which one do you prefer? I will test drive both styles to see, but wanted to talk to some people that own these cars for tips, problems, overall satisfaction with these cars. Could you guys fill me in on what to look for on these cars as far as problems go? I am not sure I need a V8 for everyday use, but I guess I don’t care that much.

I want something that is quiet, smooth, not going to be a hoopty-POS that is going to **** me off on a daily basis. And since I like the look of both, this is a hard decision.

I am going to look at a 1999 GS300 on Friday with 80,000 on it for 12.5k. So I guess this will give me a good idea of what these cars are all about.

 

First thing's first... wrong forum

Second... In my opinion I would go with the GS since it gives you a lot of flexibility on mods... plus its newer

Third... Welcome to ClubLexus!!!

 

First, welcome to the club.

Two, wrong forum so I am moving this to car chat.

Three, I have a 2001 GS I will sell you at a price

 

I wasn't sure which forum to put this in....

Not too sure I want to mod a GS out since it will be my DD.

I already have a money pit modded out....at least 10k in suspension upgrades...

 

Fuel economy for the GS300 is rated at 20/25. The LS400 is at 18/25. The difference is very small and shouldn't be such a large factor in deciding which car you would buy. Even then, you're going to be buying a luxury car. Fuel economy shouldn't be a big concern. If it is, then you should look elsewhere.

If I were in your shoes, I would pick the LS400. It's more luxurious, quicker, smoother, and probably more reliable (GS has a few quirks here and there).

Why not consider the GS400? It's about the same price as the GS300/LS400 and fuel economy is practically the same as the GS300. The only reason why you would want the GS300 is if you're 1) going to turbo later on 2) want to be slow 3) dont like the way the LS400 drives.

 

Welcome! Nice Mustang!! While the GS doesn't drive like an all out sports sedan stock, you would enjoy its drive and interior better than the LS, which is as comfy and relaxing as it gets.

 

I have looked at the GS400, the only problem is, there are not many for sale in Minneapolis/St. Paul compared to the GS300. I am not looking for something to be extremely fast as I already have that covered with my other car. Don't think I want a turbo, don't care about being slow....will let you know what I think of the LS400 when I drive one.

 

Honestly, you can get 400s for a great price and you only lose 1MPG compared to the 300. I would highly recommend that as well..

 

Ok mods/admins....change my thread title to GS400 or LS400 plz

 

lol i was going to throw out the 300 and let you choose the rest, guess you are there already

 

I currently own a GS400 and a first gen Avalon. I don't personally own a LS but one of my relatives had one.

Here's my take on it. If you're one of those people like myself that loves driving, get the GS. I had to go far as changing my suspension to HKS coilover b/c of the grandpa like suspension. Also, if you don't plan on turboing it something, I'd get a GS4. It's a heavy car, sometimes I wish I had a little more power even with the V8. The LS is too much of an old man's car for me...that's just my 2cents. The Avalon is a great car. Sadly sometimes feels more reliable than my GS. But it's not a driver's car...but extremely quiet (except a wind noise from a worn window seal) and comfortable.

just my 2cents.

 

wow that blue really stands out

 

i like my 95 ls400 200k miles and still going strong :]
http://xplayazplayzonx.multiply.com/...iiii_CARRRROOO
check out some pichazzz. im sure you wouldnt know it had 200k miles

 

Do you get alot of snow/winter weather in Minneaplis/St.Paul? From what I heard you guys get some pretty bad weather and a rwd GS or LS is not a good DD for winter weather. You seem concerned about fuel economy/premium gas which tells me don't want to be spending much on your DD, unfortunately a used GS or LS will be pretty expensive to own considering higher maintenance prices, fairly poor gas mileage and needing premium, and will be a poor choice for a daily driver in wintery conditions. These cars are not bullet proof reliable like you may have heard, especially higher mileage ones and many have expensive issues that may need to be addressed. I think you would be much better off with a fwd or awd car if yearly expenses is going to factor in. If you want a Lexus a used ES300 or RX300 is probrably a much better choice in that they both get decent gas mileage and will be fine for winter driving plus they generally don't cost as much to maintain as the bigger more expensive rwd models. A used Avalon or Accord would be a better choice in your situation.

Could you swing a used Acura TSX, it gets great fuel economy, has a very nice interior, extremely well built and reliable and handles well with a rewarding sporty drive and has the saftey of fwd which will be much better then rwd in the winter.

Switching out to winter tires on rwd cars ever year is such a pain, costs you a good deal more money, and will get old pretty quick. You already have a hot rod that eats into your bank account, I think in your situation I would get something a little more affordable and fwd or awd like a Avalon, Accord, ES300, TSX for the bad winters you get in Minn.

 

Udel thanks for the post. Very kick ***. Yes, we get a lot of snow/slush/ice etc here. My current DD is a 1995 Ford Escort Wagon that I bought from my parents after I sold my Tundra. I only planned on driving it until I decided on something else....that was 6 years ago. Now it has 200,000 on it and has never let me down...which is why I have kept it all these years but I want something nicer. It's time.

The RWD part had me concerned. I run Blizzaks on my car all year long. They are cheap as hell being that they are a 175/14 so I don't care about wear. They go through rain and snow like no ones business. But I figured with traction control and maybe a set of winter tires, RWD would be doable considering I drove my Tundra for a few years here....and nothing could be as bad as that in the snow in 2wd anyways.

I don't like the ES300....they look gay to me. Not my style. But who am I to talk? I drive a 13 year old Escort.

Don't like the TSX either. Too small and way too overpriced. I'd opt for a TL, but the 99-2003's had a huge transmission failure problem which is keeping me out of them. 2004+ TL's are way too much, as I do not want to spend 20k+ on a car.

I may look back into the 1st gen Avalon and wait to see if something that is in good shape comes up this spring as this is the only gen of Avalon I really like.


yusef, that color is what they painted Mustangs back in the 60's and 70's. Grabber Blue. The kid that I bought it from painted it that color....back in 1998. I've only put on 28,000 in 10 years as I mainly race it....Here's another pic. Not the greatest, but I was showing how sticky Kumho Victoracers are on a hot June day.