GS400 1998 should I keep it
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: idaho
GS400 1998 should I keep it
I need some advise on keeping my 1998 Lexus. I love this car. The interior still looks good has 106000 miles exterior needs painting. But how do I determine it is still safe to drive. If I go to a dealer he tries to sell me a new one. This vehicle drives like a dream some vibration between the 55 to 70 range upon occasion. I have done all the maintenance on it. Any advice?
yeah, i concur. I think you answered your own question when you said you love it. of course they want to sell you another one, that's their job. vibration could be a simple balance, a cupped tire, or an alignment. my BMW had that vibration for 5 years and i just got used to it. turned out i had crappy tires that were "cupping"
^ Amen to that. I am notorious for buying an older car with high mileage with cash. the new car payment and trade value game can go on forEVER. the less bills i got, the more i have left to customize
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From: Texas
I had a 99 GS400 to 110k, and now an 01 GS430 at 147k. They are great cars, I'm selling my current one just to get into a newer car; this 2001 I know will be a great car for a long time. It's built so well. If you have any vibes and I have on my 2 GS's over the years, it's a simple thing to fix. Here's what I have found:
1. OE type Lexus wheels run smoother, than aftermarket ones that I have had.
2. Rotors warp and can add imbalance, I used to have mine turned, they do get thinner and then can warp even more. At over 100k I recommend new rotors, Bosch ones at OReilly's are only $55/ea. That with new Lexus brake pads, solved all my imbalance problems.
1. OE type Lexus wheels run smoother, than aftermarket ones that I have had.
2. Rotors warp and can add imbalance, I used to have mine turned, they do get thinner and then can warp even more. At over 100k I recommend new rotors, Bosch ones at OReilly's are only $55/ea. That with new Lexus brake pads, solved all my imbalance problems.
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Alberta
As the others said, 106K is nothing on modern cars. In the 60s and 70s that was well worn out. I have a 1998 Olds that has well over 200K miles on it and it still runs like a top. I have had it since 20K miles in 1999. Including brakes, suspension etc, but not tires and oil, I have just rung up 5,000 in total life time repairs. Car was 20,000 and repairs of 5000, means cost per mile, not counting gas and oil has worked out to be 14 cents a mile. The depreciation on a new car, let alone if you make payments, will be a lot more than that.
My 2006 GS has 65K on it. It has a long ways to go, it is just barely broke in.
When you do the math, a paid for car, as long as you aren't eating big repair dollars all the time, is definitely the way to go as long as you are happy driving an older car and with the GS, the 98s are still a good looking machine.
My 2006 GS has 65K on it. It has a long ways to go, it is just barely broke in.
When you do the math, a paid for car, as long as you aren't eating big repair dollars all the time, is definitely the way to go as long as you are happy driving an older car and with the GS, the 98s are still a good looking machine.
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Joined: Jan 2013
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From: idaho
Thanks for all the replies. I forgot to mention that it some glitch in the electrical (interior lights) only in the summer when it is hot. They hold told me last year that it would probably cost about 1000 to fix that. Should that be fixed?
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: DC area
I recently picked up a 02 GS300. I originally intended to drive it for a year or two and get something nicer, but after driving it for a few days, I fell in love... the overall build quality is better than the modern day Lexus cars, and everything works like new. Everything is tight as a drum and there are no rattles or unusual noises... I really was pleasantly surprised on the build quality. Only thing that's broken: light on the seat warmer switch for driver's side. Mine has just over 60k miles. I plan to keep it until it dies, which I think should be another 10 years... No car payment = money to spend on other more meaningful stuff.
Seriously, I don't see any reason why you'd want a newer car over 2GS unless you want something more fuel efficient(but the money you pay for it is way too much more than you save on gas...) or something with a lot of tech gizmos to play with(I like my cars simple, and if I want bluetooth integration or a good navigation with lots of features, I can just spend $1,000, give or take a couple hundreds, on a new aftermarket headunit.). 2GS still looks good after all these years, and will still be a great car to drive, even compared to new cars, even after a few years down the road.
Seriously, I don't see any reason why you'd want a newer car over 2GS unless you want something more fuel efficient(but the money you pay for it is way too much more than you save on gas...) or something with a lot of tech gizmos to play with(I like my cars simple, and if I want bluetooth integration or a good navigation with lots of features, I can just spend $1,000, give or take a couple hundreds, on a new aftermarket headunit.). 2GS still looks good after all these years, and will still be a great car to drive, even compared to new cars, even after a few years down the road.
Last edited by SBM IS3OO; Jan 7, 2013 at 06:40 AM.
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From: NY
I agree with everyone else. If you love the car just repainted and keep it. I just recently bought a 2002 GS300 with 164k and it runs like a champ. Had to replace the cat converter which was pretty expensive but it beats making monthly payments on a new car that will eventually just not be worth the money you paid for it.
As the others said, 106K is nothing on modern cars. In the 60s and 70s that was well worn out.
I forgot to mention that it some glitch in the electrical (interior lights) only in the summer when it is hot. They hold told me last year that it would probably cost about 1000 to fix that. Should that be fixed?
I will have to disagree on that statement. You see old car's with high miles that start after sitting in one place for 7 years. I had an 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass supreme with 187k and it drove so strong, you couldn't even tell it was used. These surpass 200k miles easily, maybe some of the cheaper old ones in the 60's didn't last that long, but a majority of them were built to last, and they do.