rryba

Hello everyone! So I've always been a Lexus fan, and now I can start thinking about some older one. I am always considering an LS as the best car for me but after reading tons of threads at there, I may be wrong. I am 25 yo now, and drove civic '98 which I bought 6 years ago, but still, like to redline it and take some corners from time to time. On the other hand, any mile in highway drives me crazy with everything ratting etc. I am looking for something with is pretty luxurious to ride me slowly through the city but don't bore me to death on a longer trip. LS can be just to boaty and unconnected from a road. So, I start to think about GS430 '05 with same glorious v8 as LS. There am worried about some LS tech lacks, for example, keyless entry, back sunblind, cooled seats. GS MK3 just looks weird to me so I don't consider that one. Then I realized IS350 '06 which had more tech than I want into GS. Its a V6 but has some real amount of power. Definitely that one with paddle shifters and the most fun one, but I worried about interior quality and interior size. And it's good to have some amount of space at the back which can fit anyone there.
So at my place, which one you would choose and why? I appreciate any help and opinions since I live in Poland, where Lexus is a pretty rare car and I don't know anyone who owns one. Also buying a car there is a really ****** up think. If you even drove both or all of them please in free time find some time and write some even quicky Thank you all so much! I hope you help me find my first real and dream car!

tl;dr
As a 25yo petrolhead I consider IS350 '06, GS430 05' and LS430 05' as a daily car which can drive me through the city calmly but also dont bore me to death at the highway trip. My quick pros and cons:
LS430 - to boaty and unconnected from a road but that great luxury;
GS430 - glorious v8 but lacks into tech from LS and IS like keyless entry etc.
IS350 - too small interior size and not well crafted as a GS and LS but the most fun car from all of them.
which one you would choose?

AnthonyMJ

One man's opinion.

RNM GS3

AJT123

If you want more road feel get the GS, it does have the same V8. That gen GS is also indestructible as any other Lexus and built during Lexus' heyday.

But LS is flagship, and the 430 is a truly special car and is significantly more luxurious. It won't get your heart racing but it will soothe you. When I used to work 12 hours on my feet the drive home was heavenly, literally nothing else I'd rather have for the drive home back then.

LS does have rear shade and cooled seats (although they don't work that great).

IS is completely different car, we have an '11 IS350, it's small and cramped but nice quality interior and the V6 lacks the refinement of the V8 but it's probably the fastest car I've ever driven, so if you like speed go for that one.

rryba

@AnthonyMJ I know its a special and one of the best crafter cars, but don't you think it would be too boring on longer trips?

@RNM GS3 I always love how gs mk2 looks. If it has just a tech from 05' ls I would take it without any questions. DO you still would pick gs over ls if they price were pretty similar?

@AJT123 Thank you for some longer answer. That's why I have so many doubts about LS. If I had any weekend car which can take for some small rides I would pick it definitely. I just think about some longer trip thought curvy roads and I am sure LS would be boring there. so maybe GS is a problem solver there and a good compromise between both?

Thank you all for some answers!

Stewart350

I previously owned an 08 gs350. It was honestly a great car and gave me 140k trouble free miles. It was my daily driver and loved how it felt. If you can afford, I'd recommend 2008 and up Gs 350/460. You wouldn't regret the drive.

Johnhav430

Just to give you my background, my new first car was a 1998 5-spd Maxima SE. Purchased new, and at the time, I thought it was an outstanding car. Still have it (pretty crazy reliability back then), and it was on the C&D 10 Best in 1995. So I always wanted something sporty.

Within weeks of picking up the Maxima, I saw an older guy (40 lol) driving a dark blue GS400, new. That was car of the year in 1998. I was think dang if that isn't the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen, even better than the 528i with BBS style baskets a sales guy had at the time (E39).

Since you say your are 25, my recommendation is a GS of some vintage. I bought a 2006 LS430 in Oct. 2016, and seems like a given, the only problem it has had was two front left corner park sensors went bad. It is in no way a bad car, but it's just not sporty in any way, shape, form. When the auto rags publish .73g as the skidpad number, it's not a typo! lol

At any rate, these cars seem to live up to their reputations as being very reliable, and when you DIY, they are not expensive to maintain. For what you cannot DIY, find a Japanese specialist. Avoid the dealership on these used cars is my advice...good luck.

AJT123

OP, go with a GS. You still get that glorious V8 but it is a sportier car. There is NOTHING sporty about the LS. It's simply a tank, luxocruiser.

John IDK if I've ever mentioned it and sorry mods to go OT but I had a 97 Maxima SE from 1999-2003. Other than my LS it was by far my favorite car, and I've had nicer cars than that in between. It was black on black leather, Bose audio, 5 speed---a truly truly sweet ride. I still regularly have dreams of driving it. That car had great quality, too.

rryba

@Stewart350 @Johnhav430 @AJT123
Thank you so much! So little update, I, for now, leave LS as it being too couchy and since no need to have that much features on the back which were not used by 90% of the time. I am doing my research in GS and IS subforums. For now, I am little more on IS side since its compared to older GS430 mk2. I know its great car and I definitely need to buy one in future but for daily purposes, an IS is more friendly at the time in my opinion.

On the other hand, I looked at a competitor from some higher class, naturally GS mk3. It is a tough decision because I don't want throw away some luxury and quietness from a higher class. Somewhere at a forum I found out an IS is not that loud and pretty same well soundproof as GS.
And the last one, I really like a paddle shifter on IS, it's driving with 06' paddle shifting is quite fun or rather annoying since it's old tech and it's pretty slow? What do you guys think?

Again, thanks for your opinions!

UDel

I got a 2001 GS430 around your age, loved it, I would still have it if it did not get totaled. I also considered a 2nd Gen IS350 when I had my GS but it was too small, if you are going to have rear passengers or take trips/vacations where you have to load the car up I would not go with the IS. IS will be a gen more modern but you can always add technology to your GS if you want some more modern features.

rryba

I would love to add keyless entry to GS haha I really don't know what to pick already. I nearly changed my min into GS mk3 but I read so much negative feedback into GS forum about it, for example, called the most less build quality, Lexus ever made. SO if I really want to get some tech features I am forced to look for IS or couch LS. I really want to pick a car into some longer trip through Europe so IS can be sometimes too small
Thank you so much!

Stewart350

My fiance had a 2009 Is250 with the paddle shifts. It was pretty slow being a 250 but still fun. When compared to my old 2008 Gs350, id say the Gs was more fun. Build quality between the two? GS won. It was far quieter. The Is250 was not that quiet. Now i know you are looking at a is350 which will be faster but same overall quality. I'm not sure what interior quality issues you read about in the 3gs forums but i don't recall there being any. Having owned the car and daily driven it hard, i never had any issues. Never tore the leather. Only had a door lock actuator go out. I think you should go for a 3gs 2008 or newer first, 2gs V8 2001-2005, and lastly the Ls430. All three of those cars will be great for long trips. Both of the Gs will be great daily drivers.

UDel

At your age I don't think you want a LS, too soft, floaty, and more expensive to keep and maintain. 3rd Gen GS had some issues, quality dipped from 2nd Gen, did not ride as well as a 2nd Gen and really didn't handle any better either, they aren't terrible though. I would test drive all 3 and see what you like, don't think you are going to find the perfect compromise unless you step up to a 4th Gen GS and they are likely out of your price range.

rryba

I am also thought ls was not proper car yet for me. I love luxury but also sprotines and as you pointed already , newer gs (overall cars) connect that both aspects better.
I am pretty sure about gs430 mk2 which I want to pick first and you guys helps me decide. Still I need to test drive every car and then I will update post with my new thoughts
everyone, thanks you a lot and wish me luck!