So a friend of my mine, their son bought a used 2004 GS430....270,000km but the interior was in mint condition. Most of the car was.

I have often hear that some of the old Lexus interiors are better than the new stuff.....

yup That 2004 model blew away the 07/ and latest generation interior. Just sensational

What really got me...the lovely leather, the contrasting control buttons on the centre console...the lovely wood...fit and finish.

and where it really show the level of fine detail....the chrome strip on the top of the door panels on the interior doors....and the interior window frame is complete with a plastic covering that has a nice textured finish...

A classic.

 

The interior design, quality and especially tech (NAV/Optitron Gauges/Stereo system) were all incredible for its time especially back in 1997 when 2nd gen GS came out. It was an amazing car and if i had the garage space, i would definitely have one for sentimental value and to mod all over again lol.

 

You should sit in a 1998-2000 LS400. That was incredible.

 

Those were indeed great cars, with great interiors.

I always look for this. I hate when I can see the exterior paint on the inside around the window. My GS has this area closed off with black trim as you mention above. Something pretty small, but I really like it.

 

uh excuse me it still is lol... you don't get plush high quality japanese leather and real walnut like that anymore

 

LOL, good point on my use of past tense. A well-cared for interior from that timeframe is right up there with some of my all-time favorite interiors (the LX from the same era was awesome as well).

 

I've always had a soft spot for the second gen GS, especially the GS430. The interior with the gauges were ahead of the competition and the V8 was awesome, what a car.

 

For second gen GS. That was some car.

 

everyones talking about the big screens these days, well this has FIVE of them lol



and gotta love the wood on the steering wheel, something added for 1999

 

Wood wheel was added as an option in 98 (most had it mine included) and made standard in 99. But yeah, the GS and LS interior of that era were great, great quality, never developed any looseness or rattles or anything like that.

All Lexus models have the window trim finished in this way, in fact all premium cars really do.

 

The upper glove box looks out of place.

 

that's where the CD changer is, the 'glove box' is the bottom one

 

Thats the CD Changer

 

Not loving the look of it.

 

i actually love the magazine system it uses, the magazines on their own aren't too much and you can have several pre-filled and ready to go, then it's just a case of switching the magazine instead of waiting for every CD to eject