1998 GS400 black/black about 120k for $20k (Sept 2007)

Well, i just got my car about 3 weeks ago... and it went like this...

I got in U of Manitoba, I can't really use my DSM that I've been using in Vancouver for about 5 years... since my car need 94 octane and it's way too low plus no heat seat and A/C's not too well... (Winnipeg's hot (30'C) in summer, cold (-40'C)in Winter) thus I'm getting another car.

I bought the car from a Cali CL member, I'm in Canada, I went through a company in Vancouver as I used to live there... then I went to Winnipeg and wait for the car... about the day that car's supposed to be here in Winnipeg, the company called me they can't ship the car from Vancouver to Winnipeg since the suspension's leaking. Thus I flew over to Vancouver and check it out... I got the car, and found
1. table that came with the car's missing (still no reply from the company)
2. front bumper's paint was chipped in the pass corner. (can't see in pictures from the ad and the owner said it's not there before
3. sound coming from front left suspension
4. the rear of the air suspension's leaking (car's equipped with Canover that's said in the ad, rebuilt 9 months ago...)
5. Navi doesn't recognize Canada

First, I've found noise from front left, it's ball joint, it's very loud, going to come out any second...

Then, I got my tires changed onto the stock rims, found 1 is bent very badly and wobbles like hell....(though he gave it to me with the 18s mounted on the car, but I'm using the stocks for snow)

I finally found a shop that can deal with air suspensions... back here in Winnipeg... thus i have to drive all the way, yeah, the whole 2000km+ during the trip, the back fell on the ground a few times, pump failed 3 times, I think it's due to over heat as one of the 2 pumps was seized (found out later) and I have to adjust the suspension every 2 seconds while driving endurance mode, it's fine if it's a normal non leaking suspension....
Anyways, now I got my car in the shop, they first thought it's an easy fix, I though so too, but found out later I need: dryer for lined and tank to not have moisture thus may crack the seals, a new pump, hoses changed to better hydraulic lines, and do something to the rear left suspension, my choices are either sent it back to Canover in Japan (I have to somehow contact them, any help will be greatly appreciated) which I don't know how I would do that, but it should be cheap... or go with air runners in the back, it'll be at least 1600, just for the rear 2 etc... or rip out the entire system and mount either HKS Hypermax RS in the Vender FS section, or Tein CS.... But if I take the air ride out, there's no point left for my car...

Why?
I bought it for...
Navi............doesn't work in Canada
Condition.....not any good as wing's loose, paint chipped here and there
Air Ride.......Biggest problem as of now... almost got me stranded in the middle of no where a few times
Table.........since the switch for the air ride is in the cup holder, thus I need a place to put drinks, but stolen by transporters we think?
Price..........At the time, it's a good price, a bit expensive, but still good, but when I got the car, it had took so long and I've found the condition, I've bought a junk.. though it's clean title

Others......Told it's clean.. but with all the problems that came up? I don't know anymore...
...............I'm told it's been inspected by Lexus and nothings wrong not long before sale... ummm... ball joints almost falling off?
...............I'm also told it's done the 120000k service.... I'm unable to think anymore.

Oh, I went to the shop that my car's at right now, we called the guy that last installed the air suspension on the car... that guy remembers... it's a used suspension... 15years old to be exact?

I guess all I can say is no matter what happens, even if you're like me school just started and you can't afford to miss any classes, GO and CHECK/TEST DRIVE THE CAR FIRST even if you have to miss classes... 3 courses are about $1300 and you can always drop and retake if necessary.



So what do you guys think? should I go for coilovers? (I'm in Winnipeg, roads are horrid, and snows a lot, thus the reason I want air ride, to ride on top of the snow...) and just leave it a bit lower than stock? Should I sell the car? What should/can I do?... kill myself?

 

Sell the car. It's not worth the hassle to keep on replacing parts. The guy who sold you the car is not very honest at all. You would think buying from a CL member, you'll get some honest answers. I hope $20k is in canadian money because $20k USD is a ripoff.

 

it's 20K USD, thought at first it's worth as it's one of the only blk/blk and air sus...

OH a miss... 1 HID failed when I received the car, I have to change both bulbs....

Sell the car eh... but how much should I ask and should fix the suspension first? with what?

I'm undecided as the only thing right now that have to fix is the suspension....

and not necessary the sellers fault, maybe he didn't notice the problems.... but I think the ball joint's obvious as they take time to develop problems, it won't be like the day he ship it's fine and the day I get is broken....

 

20k US for that? dammmmm. what a rip.

 

Damn, you paid WAAAYYY too much for that car, not only is it a '98, but it also has 120,000k on it, you should've bought it for no more than 15k USD ... I'd say try to resell it and get what you can back, but if you really like the car and are willing to drop the cash to fix it then go for it, good luck man

 

The thing is I can't even sell the car like this right now, I HAVE to fix it before anything, and even after I fix it, it'd be like somewhere in the 15-20kCAD range if I bring it back to Vancouver.... but I kinda think it's stupid if I sell it right now since I basically haven't enjoyed the car at all and I have to lose 10k already...

I think I'll give it 1 more chance to see if it'll have any more problems after I fix it... and I think I can get sell for a bit more money if I got Canovers on... There's a white 98 gs4 with black roof, intake, TRD LSD etc selling for 25kCAD... but I've seen the ad for about a year already.... actually I saw that last owners ad selling for 24, but sold to dealer....

 

dam paid way to much...... i paid 9300 for a 99 lexus gs400 with 120,000 miles .. few problems but nothing like u mention..sorry to hear that bro .. wat a scumbag that sold u that car

 

who sold it to you?

 

Member name: C33W.
Well, I don't think he's any bad, maybe Lexus forgot to check the ball joint and the transport company damaged/stolen stuff out of the car... at least that's what I think...

Right now I think I'm deciding on buying the HKS RS and install them for now and fix the Canover later before I sell the car and mount them on for higher price or when I leave Winnipeg and goes back to Vancouver after University since the roads in Vancouver are much smoother than Winnipeg and in Vancouver, you can slam the car a lot more....

Does anybody know if Canovers can adjust dampers? I found them too hard... but I'm constantly at 80-100 psi (I think) when the car rides high... since the back's leaking so I want to stay high as I know it'll scrape anytime.... But I think high = hard... that's one of my main reason for thinking swapping out for HKS RS... plus HKS RS in the vender buy is just $1300...


Oh... and he only gave me 1 remote key... shouldn't there be 2 key fobs and 1 valet key?
He also does reply to my E mails as he told me he set up the e mail just for selling the car.... ???

 

you're better off parting out the air system than to sell the car with it.

 

i saw an add in the canadian auto trader, 2000 Gs4 with 120km for 15k cad(dealer), and their still having a hard time selling.. the demand for GS is just not there anymore,

your wholesale value on the car is 8k CAD with your milage according the black book so you got ripped big time my friend.. no 1 pays for mods these days anyways and most buyers prefer the car stock,

thats the harsh reality my friend... i would just fix the problems and ride it out for 1-2 years and enjoy the car atleast


also, canadian and US dollars are pretty much even right now give or take.. CAD is still a little higher

 

Yeah, I've checked the prices in Vancouver, and they are about 15-20K, I would be able to sell with that price... IF my car's paint's good and suspension fixed...

I've today decided to go with HKS RS and ordered via MVP... then once it arrives, I'll tell the shop to rip out the 4 strunts, leave other parts in, lines and everything... (I can take care of those myself and I may return to air after I finish University here and move back to Vancouver....)

Paint wise, I have to do something about it next summer the soonest, snow stays for a long time here anyways, no point to repaint atm...

The Garson table I still want it back, but I guess tough luck on that...

Navi I can live with, as Canada's cities are close to US anyways and I'm not going to get lost in my city....

Going to keep the car for a while instead of losing all my money on selling the car now... That or drive til it or I die. :P

Oh, anyone got a straight chrome 17" 5 spoke OEM wheel? condition doesn't have to be perfect, someone said they'll email me the pictures and stuff, but no response thereafter....


So, I guess my life restarts by next year.

 

damn man ... I am hella sad to hear people are still out there ripping others off ~!


Best of luck .. I would get Tein Ha coils and roll on those until you can get better air suspension ... or go with universal air suspension ... But then again you will have problems ... one of my compressors is seized so I wont be driving it until the one compressor comes back ... I need to find the leak in my air system .. too ... blah !


Best of luck and I would hold on to it ... unless you can throw coils on there and let the new buyer what you have for him at time of buying it .. ??


good luck

 

you got any pics of the car?

 

These are basically the only pictures I took... it's during the trip when I drove all teh way from Vancouver to Winnipeg.... and almost killed myself a few times.... oh, I know it's bad pictures, but it's the only camera with me on the phone...

I've already took off the 18"s and left them in Vancouver...