Hello, I'm new here although I've been reading most nights for about a week. I'm in the process of hunting down a GS to be a daily drive for me.
So far I've driven a 99 GS300 that had 66k on it, and the dealer wanted $17.9
He's got a 2000 GS400 coming in this week that has 25k on it, and he is thinking they will be asking $26 for it.
I've also looked at a 2002 GS300 at a Toyota dealer. That car had 37k on it, and was listed for $24k

None of the cars are CPO, and I'm assuming none of the cars have any factory warranty left.
My budget is capped at about $25k.

So I have a few questions to ask.

1. What is the original factory warranty?
2. Is there anything that I need to look at right away when looking at a GS? Are there mechanical issues related to any particular year? (I'm thinking that I'll be getting something between a 99 and 03. I don't really want a 98 being the first model year.)
3. Is CPO worth the money? I know this opens up the whole warranty question, but I've been looking at Audi and BMW and everyone says that a warranty is a must for those vehicles.
4. What maintenance can I expect. I found the 99 maintenance guide on this website and it looks like the biggest thing is the timing belt at 90k which leads me to my next question...
5. Are any of the GS motors "interference" motors? (you know, where the valves smack the pistons when the timing belt breaks. )
6. Can I get the service records for a car somehow? Is there a dealer website I can run a VIN through? or am I at the mercy of my dealer. (I had a BMW motorcycle and there was a dealer that would run the service records for free, just thought I'd ask)
7. Do you think that depreciation will accelerate now that the 06 is out? I'm thinking that there may soon be a lot more GS's traded in on the new 06.

Thanks in advance. I'm off to do some more reading and research. If you can think of anything I missed, or any good links I'd appreciate it.

 

cs,

Please use the forum advanced search feature - most all of your questions have been asked many many times

I'll edit this post and give you some links in a second (these get asked so many times I have them saved)

 

Should I get a GS400 or GS430

Try the search feature and you'll find a lot of the stuff you're asking, no waiting. For example, I searched for "gs400 gs430 difference' and found the following threads among others.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...430+difference
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...430+difference
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...430+difference
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...430+difference
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...430+difference
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...430+difference
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...430+difference
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...430+difference
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...430+difference
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...430+difference

Should I get a GS300 or GS400?

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs400
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=149311


Should I get a GS300 or GS430?
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ch+gs300+gs430

 

Is it worth getting a CPO vehicle? (found by searching for 'CPO worth"

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=76991
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ight=CPO+worth
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ight=CPO+worth
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ight=CPO+worth
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ight=CPO+worth
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ight=CPO+worth

 

The GS Series has few problems, if any. The earlier years (98/99) have more quirks then the later years, but both have been known to have:

Moisture in Healights
Low/rough Idle Issue
Door Actuator Problems
Dash Rattle
Sunroof Rattle
Vibration at Highway Speed


https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...400+Rough+Idle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...=Door+Actuator
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ht=Dash+Rattle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...Sunroof+Rattle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...GS400+low+idle
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light+Moisture
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...s400+Vibration

 

What year is best

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=15832
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=83730
TSBs

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...&highlight=tsb
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=28501

 

#5 I'll let you sharpen your own search skills. Just go to advanced search (top left of forum), put in interference and point at the GS forum.

#6 ,just take the VIN to the dealer and they will usually give it to you for free in the service dept. Note that 'run me a carfax' requests are not allowed on our forum... just heading off a common issue

#7 IMO no, its already happened.

 

Thanks. I figured a lot of these questions popped up, but was having a hard time finding them. Apparantly if you don't register for the forum, the search function doesn't show up. Soooo I just registered tonight, and just saw the search button. DOH!

Thanks for the links, that should keep me busy for a while! Sorry to repost so many questions.