Gs 430
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: OH
Gs 430
Hello, this is my first post. Last night I drove my friends gs 430 that he is selling. it has 88,000 miles on it and its a 01. I think i can pick it up well under blue book but a few things worried me. Is the timing belt and water pump going to need changed at 90,000 miles? Also, the breaks felt soft, is this normal for a gs? The car is fast and beautiful, if i can afford the insurance and these two mentioned things are not a big deal, i think it will be in my driveway before Christmas 
Thanks
Sean
Thanks
Sean
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Gayburg, MD
Originally Posted by ctmpwrdcam
Hello, this is my first post. Last night I drove my friends gs 430 that he is selling. it has 88,000 miles on it and its a 01. I think i can pick it up well under blue book but a few things worried me. Is the timing belt and water pump going to need changed at 90,000 miles? Also, the breaks felt soft, is this normal for a gs? The car is fast and beautiful, if i can afford the insurance and these two mentioned things are not a big deal, i think it will be in my driveway before Christmas
Thanks
Sean
Thanks
Sean
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31,944
Likes: 2,737
From: North Carolina
Welcome Sean.
Yes, the soft brake feel is a commonly reported issue for GS owners, but don't let it fool you. The GS4 can stop better than most cars in its class and better than many other sports cars.
The soft pedal feel can be helped with some stainless steel brake lines (I'd advise doing performance pads and DOT 5 synthetic fluid at the same time). Or upgrade your brakes to another OEM solution like Supra TT brakes or big brake kit from Stoptech, Brembo, Endless, Rotora, etc.
Yes, the soft brake feel is a commonly reported issue for GS owners, but don't let it fool you. The GS4 can stop better than most cars in its class and better than many other sports cars.
The soft pedal feel can be helped with some stainless steel brake lines (I'd advise doing performance pads and DOT 5 synthetic fluid at the same time). Or upgrade your brakes to another OEM solution like Supra TT brakes or big brake kit from Stoptech, Brembo, Endless, Rotora, etc.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 2
From: Plano, Texas
Just buy it! 
You will not be disappointed. The timing belt and water pump will need to be replaced but that shouldn't stop you from buying the car. The brakes are a bit soft but they do a fine job of stopping. Once you buy the car, and you hang out here on the CL site for any amount of time, you will be modding the car anyway . I came to this site just to find out about an issue I had with my trunk, now the modding has become an addiction 
.
You will not be disappointed. The timing belt and water pump will need to be replaced but that shouldn't stop you from buying the car. The brakes are a bit soft but they do a fine job of stopping. Once you buy the car, and you hang out here on the CL site for any amount of time, you will be modding the car anyway . I came to this site just to find out about an issue I had with my trunk, now the modding has become an addiction .
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: OH
Ive already looked around, thats why i do not want to be stuck with something that needs alot of money in mantinace, i just can not afford that and mods.
If the soft brakes are commin like you say, im not going to worry about it. I did look at everything else that people on here said were issues with the gen 2's, but I did not notice any of them. Now, just have to figure out if I can afford insurance and the payments.
If the soft brakes are commin like you say, im not going to worry about it. I did look at everything else that people on here said were issues with the gen 2's, but I did not notice any of them. Now, just have to figure out if I can afford insurance and the payments.
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Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: OH
To my superize my insurance will not go up that much over my current car, even switching to FULL coverage. I am going to run the vin and see what maintanace has been performed. I want to make sure everything is covered so i have a year or two free of large maintanace issues. I am also going to look through the thread's and see what major issues i need to be aware of before i purchase the car.
Thanks
Thanks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31,944
Likes: 2,737
From: North Carolina
Here you go... common problems samples courtesy of the search feature and FAQ 
Moisture in Healights
Low/rough Idle Issue
Door Actuator Problems
Dash Rattle
Sunroof Rattle
Vibration at Highway Speed
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...400+Rough+Idle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...=Door+Actuator
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ht=Dash+Rattle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...Sunroof+Rattle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...GS400+low+idle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light+Moisture
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...s400+Vibration
Moisture in Healights
Low/rough Idle Issue
Door Actuator Problems
Dash Rattle
Sunroof Rattle
Vibration at Highway Speed
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...400+Rough+Idle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...=Door+Actuator
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ht=Dash+Rattle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...Sunroof+Rattle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...GS400+low+idle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light+Moisture
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...s400+Vibration
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: OH
Thats what i was going to do tomorrow. Thanks alot.
those, while expensive to fix, seem livable for a while. I was thinking more like motor, tranny or break issues. Things that need to be fixed or it can be dangerous...not just annoying.
Thanks alot.those, while expensive to fix, seem livable for a while. I was thinking more like motor, tranny or break issues. Things that need to be fixed or it can be dangerous...not just annoying.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
From: Alaska
Just got in from the local lexus dealer. I had an oil change today and spoke with the head mechanic concerning timing belts. He said Lexus officially recommends changing them at 60K, he personally recommends 90K and has changed them out on vehicles that have gone 120K and they still looked pretty good. So it's entirely up to you as to when to change them out, they are not going to go "SNAP" at 60k.. Myself, I'll probably change them at about 75K intervals.
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