Thinking of picking up a 2003 GS300 need advice
05-05-16, 04:50 PM
#1
Thinking of picking up a 2003 GS300 need advice
Hello everyone,
I was meeting with a seller tomorrow to check out his 2G GS. Its a 2003 white ext with beige int. with 113-115k miles. Carfax shows its been in a front end collision nothing major. The owner states timing belt, water pump, can and crank seals, thermostat, thermostat gasket, hydraulic tensioner, idler, drive belt and valve cover gasket were all done with OEM Lexus/Toyota parts at 100k miles. The seller also stated that after the valve cover gasket was replaced he noticed a little oil in the area a month later so he's thinking faulty gasket or left over residue from before. Is this something i should be concerned about? What is the cost to change out a valve cover gasket? What do you believe is a fair asking price for this car? What kind of questions should I have for the seller?
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lg...554015239.html
I'm not a big fan of the wheels fortunately the seller is offering to sale with the OEM wheels.
I was meeting with a seller tomorrow to check out his 2G GS. Its a 2003 white ext with beige int. with 113-115k miles. Carfax shows its been in a front end collision nothing major. The owner states timing belt, water pump, can and crank seals, thermostat, thermostat gasket, hydraulic tensioner, idler, drive belt and valve cover gasket were all done with OEM Lexus/Toyota parts at 100k miles. The seller also stated that after the valve cover gasket was replaced he noticed a little oil in the area a month later so he's thinking faulty gasket or left over residue from before. Is this something i should be concerned about? What is the cost to change out a valve cover gasket? What do you believe is a fair asking price for this car? What kind of questions should I have for the seller?
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lg...554015239.html
I'm not a big fan of the wheels fortunately the seller is offering to sale with the OEM wheels.
05-05-16, 10:30 PM
#2
Hi, I saw your LS430 thread. I wanted a GS for the weight and styling but I bought mine for around $6k with only 96k miles on it. It only needed an engine mount on the drivers side. No accidents, in near show room condition. Everything was perfect, the bumpers were even repainted.
I wouldn't ever consider a 300, but this has to do with my personality and need for power. Especially at that price, and that it may have problems, I wouldn't do it personally. You can mod a 400/430 and get stock ISF torque levels with headers, exhaust, and tune. Ill be the one guy to tell you to wait for the eight cylinder, you are worth it!
I just turned twenty three when I bought mine, and my full coverage insurance, is about $98 a month.
I wouldn't ever consider a 300, but this has to do with my personality and need for power. Especially at that price, and that it may have problems, I wouldn't do it personally. You can mod a 400/430 and get stock ISF torque levels with headers, exhaust, and tune. Ill be the one guy to tell you to wait for the eight cylinder, you are worth it!
I just turned twenty three when I bought mine, and my full coverage insurance, is about $98 a month.
Last edited by GS400V8; 05-06-16 at 12:55 AM.
05-06-16, 03:47 AM
#3
Hi, I saw your LS430 thread. I wanted a GS for the weight and styling but I bought mine for around $6k with only 96k miles on it. It only needed an engine mount on the drivers side. No accidents, in near show room condition. Everything was perfect, the bumpers were even repainted.
I wouldn't ever consider a 300, but this has to do with my personality and need for power. Especially at that price, and that it may have problems, I wouldn't do it personally. You can mod a 400/430 and get stock ISF torque levels with headers, exhaust, and tune. Ill be the one guy to tell you to wait for the eight cylinder, you are worth it!
I just turned twenty three when I bought mine, and my full coverage insurance, is about $98 a month.
I wouldn't ever consider a 300, but this has to do with my personality and need for power. Especially at that price, and that it may have problems, I wouldn't do it personally. You can mod a 400/430 and get stock ISF torque levels with headers, exhaust, and tune. Ill be the one guy to tell you to wait for the eight cylinder, you are worth it!
I just turned twenty three when I bought mine, and my full coverage insurance, is about $98 a month.
05-06-16, 09:23 AM
#4
The 2GS seem to share some common problems like TPS, although I don't think my car has seen a check engine light in seventeen years.
I think the 300 is more prone to the VVTI seals going bad, which is something I definitely wouldn't want to deal with for such little power. Again, this is very car dependent, even among the same models. The GTE is a different story. The 1UZ and 3UZ are very proven motors, very overbuilt and understressed in these platforms.
I think the 300 is more prone to the VVTI seals going bad, which is something I definitely wouldn't want to deal with for such little power. Again, this is very car dependent, even among the same models. The GTE is a different story. The 1UZ and 3UZ are very proven motors, very overbuilt and understressed in these platforms.
05-09-16, 08:12 AM
#5
They are good cars. Personally, I would go with the 300 as the car has plenty of power and is easier to work on.
The timing belt needs to be changed at 90K intervals. I would just change the valve cover gasket at that next interval. He should have changed the spark plugs when he did the timing belt. If there was oil around the plug, it would have dropped into the cylinder.
Price seems a little high.
The timing belt needs to be changed at 90K intervals. I would just change the valve cover gasket at that next interval. He should have changed the spark plugs when he did the timing belt. If there was oil around the plug, it would have dropped into the cylinder.
Price seems a little high.
05-09-16, 09:33 AM
#6
great looking car.
my personal thoughts:
The seller is advertising an accident free car but the carfax shows a minor accident? hmmm. I personally wouldn't buy car w/ a flag on the carfax, unless you can get it for a song. There are just too many others out there.
I wouldn't buy a lexus w/o full maintenance records (regardless of price). I'd want some firm documentation on his stated repairs as well as all previous work. With a lifetime of preventative maintenance, Lexus can be the greatest cars on the planet. But, if they weren't maintained, they can eat you alive if you are on a budget as every repair seems to cost at least a grand.
have you checked the vin on the lexus history website?
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...serviceHistory
The 300 is a recommended daily unless 17mpg sounds good to u. 430 drivers are much heavier footed and after 100k this may start to increase maintenance costs. If you are on a budget, I'd also recommend the toyota solara sle v6 until you have $8-10k minimum for the right Lexus.
Good luck to you.
my personal thoughts:
The seller is advertising an accident free car but the carfax shows a minor accident? hmmm. I personally wouldn't buy car w/ a flag on the carfax, unless you can get it for a song. There are just too many others out there.
I wouldn't buy a lexus w/o full maintenance records (regardless of price). I'd want some firm documentation on his stated repairs as well as all previous work. With a lifetime of preventative maintenance, Lexus can be the greatest cars on the planet. But, if they weren't maintained, they can eat you alive if you are on a budget as every repair seems to cost at least a grand.
have you checked the vin on the lexus history website?
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...serviceHistory
The 300 is a recommended daily unless 17mpg sounds good to u. 430 drivers are much heavier footed and after 100k this may start to increase maintenance costs. If you are on a budget, I'd also recommend the toyota solara sle v6 until you have $8-10k minimum for the right Lexus.
Good luck to you.
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