My dealer is giving me a 2002 GS300 for 2 full days to test drive (picking it up Sat 5/25 at 5:00pm - can't wait!, can't sleep!!). I still haven't decided between a 300, 430 or a couple of other cars. So what would you guys do with the car - and where would you take it (NY area) if you had 2 days to decide if you liked the car?

 

drive it like a company car.

 

personally I would say take a long cruise in it see if you feel comfortable in the car, this way you wont regret buying it and when you take that long trip you find out that you hate the seats and the back suport

 

i agree with the long cruise...or maybe a nice busy day in traffic!! if you still like it after that your all good!! i love sitting in my car... moving or not!!! call me crazy!!! whatever you decide, i still hope its a lexus!!

 

Take it Upstate to the back roads and drive the hell out of it. I would take the 430 if you want power right now, if you decide on modding it up maybe I would get the 300!!!!!

 

bschack:

i would probably recommend you get on highway.. try to just cruise a little.. once you going get farther from any city and see less cars you'll be able to hit on the acceleration a little to see how can this car really handels.

in my personal oppinion, i drove both gs300 and gs400, i like gs400 'cause it has a lot more power/torgue and its very noticable..

i haven't tryed gs430 yet.. but i think it's somewhat about same as gs400.. (just a little bit more )

other then that .. try to enjoy your ride, i'm pretty much sure you'll like it

 

Do all lexus dealers do this or was this a special request?

 

some times... i just go and sit in my parked car..... just to think.... about my future mods... heh heh ... very peacefull

get a gs400
youll want power....

and please get NAV if you dont youll regret it later on


(wish i woulda gotten a gs400 + nav)
gs isnt complete with out a v8 + nav

 

Basically, I told the dealer I needed a more extensive drive to decide if a GS was for me - I asked him if the dealership would be willing to rent me the car for a weekend or whether he knew of a place to rent it - thats when he offered to give it to me for the weekend!!!

As an update, I picked it up a few hours ago - a GS 300 - I'm just taking a dinner break now and then will go out and enjoy it more. I am very impressed with the power on the 300 - especially when using the e-shift to keep the tach up - and can only imagine how much better the 430 is. I am starting to think I may be better off getting the 300 sportdesign and L-tuning it - I never thought I'd say this, but in my old age, I think the 300 might be enough for me, and I'd rather spend the extra money making it look better!! I still have 2 full days of driving it left, so I'll see how I feel at the end of the weekend. So far though, both the power of the car, and the handling have exceeded my expectations!

 

No, not all Lexus dealers are willing to do this. I work for a Lexus dealership and they are very reluctant to do this. That is, letting someone take out a car for a couple of days. I've asked my manager to let a client take an LS430 home for the weekend, and, he said NO WAY!!!! Consider yourself fortunate that a highline dealer let's you take a car home for the weekend. As far as taking the car somewhere, I say, go everywhere that you possibally can, I would. Btw, forget the GS300, get a GS430!!! You will enjoy it a lot more than a GS3. Take care, Mike D.

 

did they give you any limitations like in miles. shiet if my dealer did that i would go there and pretend i really want a car and then tell them same thing you did and take out a Lexus GS430 and drive to another state and visit relatives. how many miles is on the one they gave you?? is it like a test car or just any car off the lot?? also what did you have to for them to allow you take the car home. did you give them like a 5,000 deposit or like CC number or anything??

 

No limitations - just have it back Tuesday morning. The car is a 2002 with about 3500 miles on it, with the premium package. The keychain they gave me has the word 'demo' written on it. All he asked me for was my driver's license - no credit card or deposit. He asked me about my insurance but took my word for it without looking at my card. Then he threw me the keys - told me it was the blue one in the service lot, and to have fun!!!