As the name states, i have a sc3 and ive been leaning towards getting a gs3. Any common issues I should be worried about when looking to get into one? The sc is a money pit and its getting old. Plus its time to move on and upgrade. What year(s) do you guys recommend?

 

'01 is the best year.
Common problems of the GS: lower ball joints (replace every 90k), Castor arm bushings after 60k (daizen front control arm bushing set), very loose steering (could be steering rack bushing or not adjusted properly), door and window actuators, front speakers dying out, servo motor (a/c mixing hot and cold air, no more hot air when it's broken) either on driver, passenger, or both sides. Overhead lamp in the front may have a short. condensation in 01-02 headlights.

i know because i've pretty much been through all of it, or still going through some of this.

 

does the gs use the control arm similar to the sc? Like in the sc I have to change the whole LCA just to change the ball joint. Does the gs have to do the same?

 

Nope. You can buy the balljoints separately. It's about $60-70 per side. Very easy to install too.

Headlight condensation can happen to most GS from 98-05, but more likely in the older GS. Just throw in a large silica gel pack and you should be able to reduce it somewhat. Now it's not a problem on all GS, just most of them.

 

the sc has the same condensation problem, ive fixed that, never had a speck of water in the lamp since. What im mainly concerned about are mechanical issues. Like Im working on my suspension on the sc and its a arm n leg to fix cuz of the design of the parts. Just wondering if lexus changed up over the years. With the ball joint seems like they did.

Overall would a gs be a good buy

 

Overall it's a good buy. Nothing mechanical goes wrong. Maybe you get the occasional hick-ups, but nothing too major.

Suspension isn't an issue outside of lower balljoints and caster arm bushings.