So a few months back I sold my IS300, and then I sold the RX300 I was given. I wanted to get a GS400 or GS430, but I couldn't find a decent one. I got sick of always borrowing my parents cars, so I went out and bought a 1997 Mercedes E420. I got this because I heard it was most comparable to the GS400. I couldn't pass up the deal either. It was on original owner with only 70K on the clock and in perfect condition. He had every piece of paperwork for the car including the original window sticker and purchase contract. I got a $60,000 car for over $50,000 less. I just put it up for sale today. Its a great car but I want another Lexus. I have been keeping my eye out for one but still haven't seen any. My parents are huge Lexus fans as well and their mechanic told me people hang on to the Lexus V8s because they are so reliable. What I find weird is that when I was looking for an IS300 back in 2006 there seemed to be a lot more GS400 and GS430 on the market, so why are there so few now? The mechanic also told me most the GS400 and GS430 on the market have been trashed. I just want other peoples opinions on this. Sorry its kind of random but I just want to see what others think.

 

I'm keeping my 99 GS4 because it has just over 50K miles Keep looking (i.e. autotrader.com or cars.com) and you will find your Lexus.

 

Which area are you in? The Los Angeles area have a gs430 listed for a good price with about 80 something K mileage for arounk 11k dollars. Search in Cars.com for that one.

I just bought one today with very high mileage and hoping to do engine work on it.

 

Just look on the classifieds here. Autotrader and cars .com are always good sources as well. I found my GS3 on autotrader.

 

I would say the V8 from Lexus runs VERY Efficiently. Talk about power, smooth, gas mileage is not bad for a 300hp engine. The engine is so superior that I can't emphasis enough. Also, great torque at low RPMS.

 

Amen brother... I was originally looking at a GS300 with plans to go turbo. With the strict Cali emissions laws, I was a bit hesitant of having to keep installing and uninstalling the turbo set up every 2 years, or having to find a smog tech. that would pass me on visuals. I ended up with a GS400 and have been extremely happy with the smoothness and power ever since.

 

Won't find many for sale because people aren't selling them, no reason too! lol

 

I check all the car sites almost daily. I've looked at a few, but they have either been in accidents or are not kept up. I guess im just gonna wait it out this time and get what I want. I should've never bought the Mercedes. In my opinion it doesn't even compare to a Lexus.

 

Preach on...man...EXACT same reason Why I bought mine. With Cali being strict, and people getting there hoods "popped"....its bad man...I too, am happy with the 400 motor, very smooth. When you want to give it a bit gas it moves and the mileage is AWESOME for V8 motor..i get about 21 Street and 22 HWY.

One other Reason I opted for the 400 is because of that, the fuel mileage is pretty much the same as the 300, and I knew that If I wasn't going turbo anytime soon at least i'll have fun with the v8 first. Not to Knock the 300 guy's but, My brother had a Sc300 5 speed for quite awhile..and the non turbo 2j is pretty slow for the weight there pulling around imo. He has to step on the gas a lot more to just get the car going. I dunno, maybe there was something wrong with his car or something hahah.

There are probably none for sale, because all the original owners pretty much dont have problems with them, causing them not to sell.

Good luck finding one and welcome if you get one !

 

A gs400 is what i want as well once i sell my stock IS haveing 2 is's is lame so i want a gs but dont want a slow gs300.

 

Yeah I considered the GS300 but once I drove one I wasn't to impressed. Of course it drove nice but there just wasn't enough power.

 

thats the truth after my first gs 400 total out it took me 4 months to find another one these cars are hard to find.

 

I now more than ever want to get another Lexus. I have had my Mercedes for around two months and 5,000 miles. At 72,000 miles an ignition coil went out which was $300. Im now having transmission problems at 75,000 miles. I still don't know what the problem is , its going in tomorrow. I have read some horror stories on my models transmission, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't need a full replacement. Im looking all over the west coast for a GS400/430. They just don't seem to be out there. I've found two that I'm interested in. Ones a 98 GS400 with 104,000 and the other is a 2003 GS430 with 94,000 miles. Also Newport Lexus just got a 2003 GS430 for $22,000. Ive never believed in buying from a dealer, but I might consider this one. If it was certified that would close the deal, but its not so it doesn't make a difference. I should have listened to my family and never bought a Mercedes. I am not use to having a car with problems. I drove my 2001 IS300 to 150,000 miles with the only "problem" being an 02 sensor at 100,000. Everything else done to the car was normal maintenance. I drove the Mercedes out to the desert earlier this month and was nervous driving it. Its sad to me that I can't even drive my car and feel comfortable. I would have driven my IS300 across the country even with 150,000 miles.

 

I got my GS430 on www.cars.com