Don't know if I could have sold ours, if we had fixed all of the little annoyances and customized like some. The last couple of years, we were spending upwards of a monthly payment on a 25k or so car to keep the old girl running. We did so, because we just loved that car. It was all stock except for the sound system and that was replaced two years ago when the Nakamichi one failed. She was maintained by the book and up to two years ago solid as an anvil. The AZ heat had done its deed, so things began to fail at the worst moments. Early December we got hit with a major oil leak, then a check engine light for emissions yet again.

We had two broken AC servos, two broken door locks, headlight self leveler so, which would fail at times, cooling fan motor that would screech on occasion warning us it was on its way out. The paint on the top and wheels suddenly went dull last summer. I was able to restore to its original luster, but it went right back in two weeks. All four shocks died this past year, just after we put in 3k in other repairs!

When she ran perfectly and just before the seemingly domino effect of all of the above, a kid offered us 5k cash for the car and really really wanted it, but that made my wife want to keep it even more. Once all of this started happening, it was just another problem car being dumped and I was better off parting it out.

Moral of the story...you can listen to advice all day regarding the benefits of keeping old cars running, to which I also adhere. Knowing when to say enough is as much of a skill as curbing your appetite for the next best thing. Had I been able to convince my wife it was time last year, we would have had 5k+ toward a new car. In her condition, I barely got 2k out of her and that was after no nibbles at all on CL at 3k. Of course, we disclosed all issues. Had we said it was pristine like most listings, we would have tons of buyers, but that would have been a waste of time for us both.

Only you can honestly know if it's time for new, but either way, it sounds as if you could sell the GS for decent coin to the right buyer. It'd be a shame to get nothing for the mods, but mods are a crap shoot as you well know. If I could have kept the GS and restored fully I would have, but I have no room or budget for another toy.

Good luck with your decision.

 

"I'm not considering the 2006 GS430 or 2008 GS460 because I consider the 3GS to have squeaky dashes and cheap components and too small with tiny trunk."


After coming from a GS300, Gs400 and Gs430, I find my 2007 GS350 a major upgrade and very enjoyable. The quality is better than the 2GS. It is more refined. Everything is thicker and more solid and nothing has faded in the interior (ie button controls etc) . The suspension is far more superior. Many more suspension components and thicker control arms etc. Rides like a dream with 17 inch wheels and Michelin tires. Much more quiet on the highway and no notorious 60+ mph vibrations. No failing door locks, Lower ball joints disaster and no timing belt to deal with. Yes the trunk is a little smaller but there is a pass thru for thing like skis or long 2x4 lumber. No squeaking problems so far. If there is then there is an easy fix. It has aged very well over the years and looks better than the newer models out there IMO.
I miss the V8 sound but the high revving V6 sound pretty cool and it performs equal to a V8. I chose the Gs350 over the Gs460 due to the rarity of the Gs460. Also the Gs350 has regular shocks vs the expensive electronic ones. There are many to chose from to get the desired one you want. Your price range is pretty broad so you could get a 2008-2011 for the right price.

Good Luck

 

Hi All,

Just wanted to let everyone know that I decided to keep my black/black 2001 GS430 with 200K miles for another 2 years so I invested about $4000 from a great (but pricey) mechanic I've been using for a few years, and fixed it up. Been driving it for 2 months and I love it!

On my 2001 GS430, I did:
- New power steering pump
- new front lower control arm bushings
- replace inner tie rod
- replaced both broken engine mounts
- new rear brakes w/rotors
- replace transmission pan gasket
- alignment
- replace driver side air mix servo
- Had an aux input added to my stock radio from FactoryRadioService, he also replaced the LCD backlight bulbs.
- few other things.

I decided not to get an aftermarket navigation system, mostly because the placement of our radio on the base model GS430 (no nav) is so low, I don't like the idea of looking downward toward the nav. I prefer it up higher near the windshield, so I use a smartphone mount for navigation instead.

In about 2 years I'm considering to pick up the Tesla Model 3 brand new. Might be faster than GS430 (with 2 motors) and an affordable new car after $10K in tax credits. Another idea is the 2008 to 2011 GS460 (I really want a V8 engine unless I move to electric/Tesla).

Thanks to everyone for your advice!
- Joe in Los Angeles

 

Dont forget the crank/cam seals and water pump/timing belt, it will push you back about 2k, if there taken care of your good to go i'd say for another 200k miles on that engine/tranny.

 

Good choice!

 

That's great! I've recently done something similar to my '99 GS400 in the last 2-3 months.

- motor & transmission mounts
- brakes and rear rotors
- new radiator (developed a hairline crack on top)
- new tires

All told I've spent well over $2k but it's worth it. With 216,464 miles the car runs like new. I consider tires and brakes normal wear and tear items, and the motor mounts will last for a long time. Same goes for the radiator. I'm coming up on another TB/WP change at the 220,000 mile mark, which should be in the next couple of months.

I'm looking for an '06-08 SC430 with low miles, but it will be mostly used on weekends and sunny days. I will always keep the GS as my daily driver. Since it's so dependable I can take my time and look for the right SC, I'm in no rush. Even if it takes all summer I can pick and choose the right color combination and miles.

 

You guys are bumming me out. I had at least 7k come due on ours with $160k miles, so I had to let her go. That after I had just spent 3k not too far before the 7 k quote.

 

Bummer rj4510, what was the $7k for? I am going to try and drive mine until the wheels fall off!

 

$1500 of it was discretionary to bring the paint back to life. The other $5500 was new tires and breaks, which of course we're maintenance, new shocks and struts, leaking cam seals and valve covers, a starter that was starting to act up. Lina handy considering its relationship to the cam seals, so savings on labor. Tranny leak, two door lock modules and two HVAC servos were no longer working. Some idiot put it on the lift wrong and punched an 8 inch hole through the floorboard, discovered during the repair quote process, replacement hoses and a few misc. parts to complete the above.

If I did all these things, I wasn't going to drive it with the paint fading off and flaking after doing the other things. so that was the discretionary $1500. If I was to keep it, it wasn't going to look like a junkyard car. Except for the sudden paint failure on the horizontal panels, the car looked great and only ever had one ding in it

I had full intention of driving it till the wheels fell off, but it seemed they kinda did, financially anyway. Three months or so prior, I had put in 3k on bushings, tire rod ends, reverse module, emissions parts to get her to pass again and something else I can't seem to remember at the moment.

I don't harp on maintenance items too much, but the other things all at once made it very difficult to justify keeping it. I may have still kept it, but had a GX that went south too. I was looking at new tires, breaks, front struts and then the tranny started dropping out of drive at odd moments. That was to be an either $1k or 8k repair depending, so I found myself motivated to trade both.

 

Keep the GS.
Last summer my 99 got totalled by a drink driver while parked in front of my house.

Got a G35 sedan to replace it which is nice but now for sale bc I miss the GS and plan to get another!

 

Craigslist in Seattle shows a 2004 gs300 with under 40k... Another option

 

you cant replace perfection

 

Nice, but 5k too high at least.

 

I definitely suggest a gs460. They're kind of unicorns. I would get a 10 or 11. I really want one!!