Tomorrow morning a person I barely know is handing me a certified cashier's check and driving my precious 1998 Lexus GS300 away.
This has been the finest automobile I've ever owned; the most reliable, the most fun to drive, and I'll miss her.
In January 2002 I found her through Autotrader and took a Greyhound bus from Columbus Ohio to Pittsburg, PA just because I couldn't wait for the weekend to get her. I went through 5 hours on a bus just to drive home in luxury.
She was the last car my poor sweet mother ever rode in as I took her to the hospital where she passed away at the young age of 55 of bladder cancer.
She was the car I drove to meet my wife for the first time almost 4 years ago.
She was the car I drove to Boston in the summer of 2004 to watch the RedSox beat the Mariners in what ended up later being their first WS championship.
She took my wife and I to the furthest southern point in the continental USA; Key West.
She took my best friend and I to see Michael Jordan play vs. the Cavaliers a week before he retired.
The first car ridden in by our first son, born last July, was this Lexus.

I purchased her with 43,000 on the odometer, and she's leaving me with 105,000. Never once did I worry about her reliability. Never once did she fail me. Twice she did not start for me; both times were because I left a dome light on over the weekend. She was just as fun to drive yesterday as she was 5 years ago.

I bought a 2004 LS430 last month, and this new one has some big shoes to fill.

Goodbye, old girl. You will be missed.

 

Wow lots of great memories... Why the decision to let her go?

 

Just time for a change first and foremost. Secondly, I could never get rid of the steering wheel vibration at certain speeds. Countless tire balances, alignments, multiple sets of wheels/tires, Daizen steering rack bushings, Daizen control arm bushing replacements, steering wheel pretensioner, etc. Nothing fixed it completely. I could never get my mind around why I should forgive an otherwise near perfect car for such a flaw.
Equally, I was looking for some more power. The 6 speed v8 in my LS delivers the goods. Had my 98 been a Gs400 I could've forgiven the shimmies and shakes at highway speed.

Oh yeah I got sick of my co-workers razzing me about the bad door lock actuators on both front doors. I was too cheap to pop for replacements.

 

I think I have something in my eye...

 

I did too today, after getting the rest of my junk out of the car. But then I remembered something my Dad told me years ago - "Never love something that can't love you back".

 

it sucks that you have to let her go =(. But think on the bright side, an LS is with you now.

 

touching first post
then the rest of the posts were less poetic
lol

sad to see it go, but its good that you are still in the lexus family

 

sorry to see it go, glad you are still in the lexus family

 

I think an 04 LS430 will fill the 98 GS300's shoes just fine.

 

Sorry, you couldn't get the problem worked out! This must be a sad day for you! Good luck with your future project!

 

Im sure you will miss those good memories, but that LS430 is a good replacement, you did great Im sure you will be happy with the LS, and may you have many more memories with the new one

 

Good Luck with your LS. You made a fine choice..

 

Nice story! Tell the new owner about CL so she stays in the family!

 

Beautiful recap of journeys, not only with your GS, but more so with your family!! Im sure the LS will serve you well, and it too definitely has awesome mod potential. Best of luck and hopefully we'll still see you in the GS forumn.

 

man, that first post seemed like something from shakespear.
my GS is the same color and is around the mileage yours is at right now. 105700 miles .i have never had any vibrations at any speed. lucky me.
good luck and enjoy the LS.