Well, my car is getting old and a getting rust in an annoying hard to fix place. I'm thinking maybe to move on to a 3rd gen GS. Has anyone here done that? or owns both cars now? How do you think they compare. I'd prefer to stay with the V8, because you know, they're indestructible. Appreciate any experiences you have to share.

 

I have personally thought about that as well but the 3rd gen would be a daily. Only problem is the 06/07 GS430s are harder to find and they have tons of mileage on them by now.

 

If you do a quick wiki search of the GS line, you'll find that as with most cars, the next generation is better. About 40 more horsepower depending on the year you are going from and to, 6 or 8 speed auto trans depending again depending on the year. Half second faster 0-60 time. Probably a little lighter weight and sure to be more fuel economic as federal regulations require better and better efficiency. The 3rd gen arguably lacks the sex appeal of the 2nd gen. But it's grown on me a bit. I'm sure you'd find it to be a more up to date, refined, smoother, more comfortable car all around.

 

My concern is repairability... every new generation becomes harder to diagnose (computers and controls), and repair (integrated systems)... that's not a slam on Lexus, that's the reality of the car industry of the last 10-15yrs, combined with the new lease-environment, and people not maintaining their cars the way they used to. Take a look at 15yo Merc/Audi/etc, that are basically worthless, as the repairs are more then they cost at auction. There's a thread over in 3G of "more then 175k miles?"... we have 215k+ on our 2G, and expect to drive it until we just get tired of it... 350k, or more? We have 300k+ on our '00 Camry, and expect to drive it until the oil rings go, and that's... 400-450k+? And most of that is ease of maintenance and repairability.

There's some parts (forget labor!) on the 3G and 4G that cost more then we paid for our 2G... we've made the joke that "one of our cars cost less then you paid for your tire change" (19" low-profile run-flats). It's getting harder and harder to find quality vehicles, post-new post-CPO, that isn't either too expensive, or too broken.

Yet we'll see... in 5yrs or so, we'll be with the 3G that we are with the 2G, knowing it's weaknesses and strengths, and what's fixable and what's not. Sure, would be nice to one day get a GS350 AWD, yet imagine what fixing the AWD system will be, when something goes..?!

 

You hit the nail on the head my friend. Besides, I find the 2G to be incredibly comfortable and relaxing, while enjoyable to drive. Mine is 2jzgte powered and I love it. the coilovers provide a much more confidence in the turns. All around, if you modify a 2G (of which the sky is the limit) it will outperform any other newer generation of Lexus GS while remaining relatively easy to work on and inexpensive to repair.

 

If something happened to my 2GS I'd look for another 2GS...not that there's anything wrong with the 3GS (or later models for that matter) I just like the style better. After 20 years I'm a little biased though. That and I find it's easy to work on if there is ever a problem.

 

Strongly disagree. If anything, driving a newer GS like a 3G or a 4G will put into sharp relief just how old and outmoded the S160 platform is. The idea that a 20 year old platform with bolt-ons will outperform 20 years of R&D by the OEM is laughable. The GS-F would like a word.

 

I had a 98 GS400 and now have aa 10' GS350. Interior still feels somewhat the same expect more modern with the titanium finish gauges and the nice wood finish. Look more mature going to functions and nowadays every highschool kid has a 2GS lol. Still love the 2GS as well dont get me wrong but as growing up the 3GS is more tech savy and makes life easy like the push start, back up camera, heated/cooled seats, updated and bigger NAV screen, AUX and BT with 2010+, and with mods to the 3GS looks more gangsta/mafia pulling up.