The 2GS, a future classic?
2gs
Depending on where you live, there aren't too many good condition, well-maintained GS around. As the original owners get older and start releasing the "cream puffs", I think you will see a slight increase in value all around. There will always be the trashed examples that bring down the overall value. But, ten years from now it might be really hard to find one in good condition. Pic for attention!
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, New York
Eh?
I love them, and have both a 300 and 400 but I don't think the word classic would be used widely enough in regards to this car to actually label it a classic. It's a classic to us 
. Most people don't look twice at lexus' and even those who do rarely know the true potential of them. Most don't know that they are rear wheel drive platforms with good weight distribution, and modularity to boot (engines, transmissions, suspensions, seats etc.). Unfortunately, the way people look at cars doesn't lend itself to favoriting something like the 2GS. They think a classic is an e39 M5, something that drives beautifully on the way home from the dealership and disintegrates and breaks when driven the way it's meant to be driven. They don't look at soft, cushy, well built, super reliable sedans (that have unmatched performance potential if you have some time and/or money) as classics. That's okay with me though and it should be with you too. There's more left for us. I think you have the best of both worlds in a GS/IS/SC in that you have comfort, reliability and some sportiness right out of the box and after markets that support 800 hp track cars if you decide to go that route.
. Most people don't look twice at lexus' and even those who do rarely know the true potential of them. Most don't know that they are rear wheel drive platforms with good weight distribution, and modularity to boot (engines, transmissions, suspensions, seats etc.). Unfortunately, the way people look at cars doesn't lend itself to favoriting something like the 2GS. They think a classic is an e39 M5, something that drives beautifully on the way home from the dealership and disintegrates and breaks when driven the way it's meant to be driven. They don't look at soft, cushy, well built, super reliable sedans (that have unmatched performance potential if you have some time and/or money) as classics. That's okay with me though and it should be with you too. There's more left for us. I think you have the best of both worlds in a GS/IS/SC in that you have comfort, reliability and some sportiness right out of the box and after markets that support 800 hp track cars if you decide to go that route.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, New York
And they don't get a lot of "love" per say here In the states (NYC area im from specifically) but they get plenty of appreciation. The GS and SC were huge in the city in the 90's. You have A Tribe Called quest from queens rapping about "pulling the burner out the lexus" and riding in the "lex bubble" (SC3/SC4). You have Biggie Smalls saying "hop in the GS3" in big poppa, an internationally known rap song from 1994 or 1995. And Nas making countless mentions on his first 3 or 4 albums about driving lexus'. That's 3 of New Yorks most famous rappers and some of the greatest of all time. Multi-platinum records giving us the plug.
Last edited by BigDill; Mar 20, 2016 at 11:38 AM. Reason: Wrong information.
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From: ca
And they don't get a lot of "love" per say here In the states (NYC area im from specifically) but they get plenty of appreciation. The GS and SC were huge in the city in the 90's. You have A Tribe Called quest from queens rapping about "pulling the burner out the lexus" and riding in the "lex bubble" (SC3/SC4). You have Biggie Smalls saying "hop in the GS3" in big poppa, an internationally known rap song from 1994 or 1995. And Nas making countless mentions on his first 3 or 4 albums about driving lexus'. That's 3 of New Yorks most famous rappers and some of the greatest of all time. Multi-platinum records giving us the plug.
Pit Crew
Joined: May 2013
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From: ca
Depending on where you live, there aren't too many good condition, well-maintained GS around. As the original owners get older and start releasing the "cream puffs", I think you will see a slight increase in value all around. There will always be the trashed examples that bring down the overall value. But, ten years from now it might be really hard to find one in good condition. Pic for attention!
Attachment 443478
Attachment 443478
Pit Crew
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 146
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From: ca
Yeah, The Supra will surely become one of the first Japanese classics. Even though I love my Lexus like you guys, I don't think the GS/SC will ever reach that status.
We are bias are we not?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not downing our Lexus cars, but I just don't think it will ever truly be a classic.
We are bias are we not?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not downing our Lexus cars, but I just don't think it will ever truly be a classic.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 5
Likes: 4
From: FL
Yep. Here's my 2003 GS300 330k
We love the 2GS. Some of us are here for a good time, not a long time: others are in for the long haul. I plan to keep mine as long as possible. So, ten years from today, will the 2GS be considered a classic?
There's lots of definitions for what is a classic and it's definitely not based on the list price of the car or the performance. The Mini is a classic, so is an old 911. Some even say there will never be a Japanese classic car. What makes a classic, I think, is a question of the whole being more than the sum of its parts.
OK so what's the 2GS got going for it as a future classic.
Performance: I need no convincing here, being a GS400 driver. I like how they were bold enough to say it was the "fastest automatic sedan in the world." They set a target and met it.
Engineering: A 4-valve, variable timing, quad-cam V8 seals the deal, backed up with one of the world's first 5-speed autos. There's a lot of good stuff here with sophisticated electronic features that would takes years to appear on other makes.
Build Quality: That's what Lexus built its entire reputation on. But it goes beyond how the car left the factory. How many of us own 10 year old cars that still look new? 2GS owners do.
Styling/Design: While the 1GS was designed my marquee designer, Giorgetto, Guigiaro, I think the in-house designed 2GS is better. It has the tension and even slight quirkiness of the best English cars, like Jags, Bristols and some Aston Martins.
Cult following: You're reading this aren't you? There's enough devotion out there to also support an aftermarket parts industry that provides an array of go-fast, dress-up and keep-it-running parts.
Je ne-sais quoi factor: Here's where the whole is more than the sum of the parts. When I get in my car at the end of the day I just think, "aaaaaahhh, thank God I get to drive this home." Plus there's always little surprises, like the first time I put washer fluid in the car and saw that the washer fluid cap was engineered with the same precision as the engine, complete with a filtre basket under the lid. While it's not the fastest sedan anymore, there's something larger than life about how this car gets down the road, whether in heavy traffic, or on the open highway.
Now, what is going against it being a future classic?
Popularity: The 2GS sold well over the years and was a genuine hit initially, but it's still quite rare. A number of people have seen mine and said, "Oh, I didn't know this was a Lexus." The popular image of Lexus is dominated by the LS and RX.
Image: Even among Lexus fans it's got an image deficit. IS300 drivers at my local import hangout don't give the GS the time of day. Those who drive German think it's a Camry.
No "special" editions: Until now there was no real performance special editions made on a continuous basis (L-sport excepted). Lexus stayed away from racing and so didn't build up a following for "M" or "AMG" editions of its cars.
And finally, it's not German: So what?
I know I am driving a future classic, your thoughts?
Thanks for reading this.
There's lots of definitions for what is a classic and it's definitely not based on the list price of the car or the performance. The Mini is a classic, so is an old 911. Some even say there will never be a Japanese classic car. What makes a classic, I think, is a question of the whole being more than the sum of its parts.
OK so what's the 2GS got going for it as a future classic.
Performance: I need no convincing here, being a GS400 driver. I like how they were bold enough to say it was the "fastest automatic sedan in the world." They set a target and met it.
Engineering: A 4-valve, variable timing, quad-cam V8 seals the deal, backed up with one of the world's first 5-speed autos. There's a lot of good stuff here with sophisticated electronic features that would takes years to appear on other makes.
Build Quality: That's what Lexus built its entire reputation on. But it goes beyond how the car left the factory. How many of us own 10 year old cars that still look new? 2GS owners do.
Styling/Design: While the 1GS was designed my marquee designer, Giorgetto, Guigiaro, I think the in-house designed 2GS is better. It has the tension and even slight quirkiness of the best English cars, like Jags, Bristols and some Aston Martins.
Cult following: You're reading this aren't you? There's enough devotion out there to also support an aftermarket parts industry that provides an array of go-fast, dress-up and keep-it-running parts.
Je ne-sais quoi factor: Here's where the whole is more than the sum of the parts. When I get in my car at the end of the day I just think, "aaaaaahhh, thank God I get to drive this home." Plus there's always little surprises, like the first time I put washer fluid in the car and saw that the washer fluid cap was engineered with the same precision as the engine, complete with a filtre basket under the lid. While it's not the fastest sedan anymore, there's something larger than life about how this car gets down the road, whether in heavy traffic, or on the open highway.
Now, what is going against it being a future classic?
Popularity: The 2GS sold well over the years and was a genuine hit initially, but it's still quite rare. A number of people have seen mine and said, "Oh, I didn't know this was a Lexus." The popular image of Lexus is dominated by the LS and RX.
Image: Even among Lexus fans it's got an image deficit. IS300 drivers at my local import hangout don't give the GS the time of day. Those who drive German think it's a Camry.
No "special" editions: Until now there was no real performance special editions made on a continuous basis (L-sport excepted). Lexus stayed away from racing and so didn't build up a following for "M" or "AMG" editions of its cars.
And finally, it's not German: So what?
I know I am driving a future classic, your thoughts?
Thanks for reading this.
2nd gear
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
August 2024 Time says otherwise bud
been 7 years or so since you left this reply and it most certainly is a classic today… Only thing is the design was so timeless anytime I tell non car people the year of my 98 tbh ey are shocked and automatically thinks it’s 10+ years newer so I’m the sense it kept up with time well ppl don’t view it as a classic yet but there is most certainly a cult following around thes between drift builds, stance builds, collectors and purists, even drag builds and VIP builds they are well sought after an pricey for a mint condition one… I bought mine for $1500 in Jan 2024 from the original owner and since been slowly refurbishing it mechanically bc all he did was brakes an oil changes an plugs it needed a lot of preventative maintenance like flushes, it’s pissing oil put bc it sat bc of the low mileage so the whole motor is getting resealed as we speak as well as timing belt for the first time water pump exc, o did plugs valve covers, intake manifold gasket, trans fluid change doing them every oil change to slowly flush it since it has over 100k miles an idk if it’s been done, fixed the AC did front brakes and rear caliper from locking up from sitting, going to do rear brakes all OEM Toyota parts after I figure out the ABS light issue it’s intermittent the shop said that’s why I couldn’t figure it out than after that it’s onto the cosmetic issues such as faded paint yellow headlights an cracked an faded rear tails I plan on swapping front headlights wither OEM style LED Projector headlights and LED more current style taillights an fix minor dents an swap my wheels for more modern OEM Lexus wheels to keep it stock in my purist mind an swap all lights with new LEDs interior an out needs a new center console lid common in these cars and than finish my tint job I only did the rears after that it’s done an I’ll only have to do the struts… Ot has low miles so I plan to keep it for 15 years an daily it until something major goes which is why I don’t mind spending $6k on fixing it mechanically esp with the current car market…
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So I'll be honest I thought the GS400 would be a car that would a classic car because it was fairly desirable when it came out. It was something car guys thought looked good and the GS400 had the power.
I think Fast and the Furious changed what cars became classic cars from that era. The desirability changed and the tunability of the 1UZ and 2jz-ge did jump onto the tuner scene until later. If these cars were easily tuned from the start, people would have viewed them differently. Like with GS400 the supercharger kits were expensive then stopped being produce, if people realized earlier that you could put on a mustang cobra supercharger on it with a bracket, it would have been a different story.
The same goes for the 2jz-ge, it took too long for NA-t to fully develop itself. I'm not even sure how many people realize the true potential of the 2jz-ge motor even now.
My first car was a SC300, the amount of compliments and people telling me if I ever wanted to sell the car to tell them was something I heard quite often. I even had conversations that it was definitely going to be a desirable car in the future because of its looks. Some of the best looking cars from that era aren't even desirable now and some cars that people didn't even want during that era are now desirable.
I think Fast and the Furious changed what cars became classic cars from that era. The desirability changed and the tunability of the 1UZ and 2jz-ge did jump onto the tuner scene until later. If these cars were easily tuned from the start, people would have viewed them differently. Like with GS400 the supercharger kits were expensive then stopped being produce, if people realized earlier that you could put on a mustang cobra supercharger on it with a bracket, it would have been a different story.
The same goes for the 2jz-ge, it took too long for NA-t to fully develop itself. I'm not even sure how many people realize the true potential of the 2jz-ge motor even now.
My first car was a SC300, the amount of compliments and people telling me if I ever wanted to sell the car to tell them was something I heard quite often. I even had conversations that it was definitely going to be a desirable car in the future because of its looks. Some of the best looking cars from that era aren't even desirable now and some cars that people didn't even want during that era are now desirable.
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