i know the 2000 gs400 has Brake Assist as standard but how important is it compared to a 1998-1999 gs400 without Brake Assist?
i'm considering buying a gs400 but i'm having trouble finding a 2000 gs400. (this is probably due to the fact that 2000 is the last year for the gs400) but i wouldnt mind getting a 1998-1999 if there isnt much difference between those years
thanks for any info

 

imho, very important. i had 98 gs400 without the brake assist, tried 01 gs430 with it. also had sc430, gs350, and ls460 all with it. the brakes are a lot more responsive

 

damn i was hoping a 99 gs400 would be as good. i guess i'll keep looking
thanks for your advice

 

well, i am not saying the 98 and 99 brakes are bad. i had a 98. but seriously stock wise it's quite a bit different from the later models i had driven.

 

well i currently have a 03 v6 accord sedan right now and it has ebd which i assume is the honda equivalent of brake assist. i quite like the response from my brakes although others think its too sensitive
from what it seems a 2000 gs400 would have similar brake response to my accord

 

if i were you, i would really go and test drive a 99 and 00/01 and see the difference for yourself on how you like it. to me, i wouldn't get 98/99 just coz' i am used to the feel of the newer ones.

in fact that was the reason why we got bbk for the gs400. couple weeks ago when we put it back to stock for sale, gosh, it was a scary week braking since it's so different

 

the brake feel in your honda and in the lexus is completely different. While the brakes in the lexus are better they are not the same responsiveness as in your honda. IMHO the 2003 accords brakes feel very unreal and I hate that feeling to me it seems that whenever you apply the brakes no matter how light they are too sudden for me. I have driven the 7th gen accord on many occasions I just do not like the feeling of the brakes. The Lexus has a much nicer brake pedal the travel is more pronounced and feels more real. I have driven my friends 99 and I have a 00 honestly the brakes feel very alike I could not tell the difference between the 2. But now in my car I have the supra TT calipers and rotors and the braking is like day and night. For your info the 1998 GS outperformed the 540 in the braking department. So if the only thing stopping you from picking up the 98-99 gs is the brake assist I would say dont.

 

my sister's 05 accord and my mother's 05 odyssey brakes feel touchy to me. They feel artificial and non-linear. Even a little tap would stop the car too much. I guess I'm too use to my non-brake assist 99 GS400.

Then again, I hae LS400 calipers on the way

 

I had this problem when driving my GS and than driving my Maxima. The Maxima would stop on a dime with very little force (more sensitive). As you all know the GS will stop, but will require more persuasion than other cars. I think our brake system still does it's job rather well because I can still stop my 2 ton beast at will, with 20s. I think this was a lexus desing because my girls IS is not as sensitive as other cars too IMO

 

Brake assist only operates in emergency situations.

Personally, i consider it a very important feature. Brake assist recognizes when you break suddenly, and applies full braking force.

Research has shown that people don’t apply the brakes fully in an emergency, and this system will do just that by sensing the way you depress the accelerator and apply the brakes.

It has saved me a few times; its one of those things you dont notice or miss, until you try it. You can be sure it will make my priority list when buying a new car.

P.S. in 99, Automatic brake distribution was added to decrease the dive when braking, and to adjust braking power according to load.

 

hmm.. i see.. the only way for me to see how important brake assist is for me is to test drive both years. i've been considering between a 2000 gs400 or a 1998 gs400 in the last 2 weeks, but the 2000 gs400 has serious frame issues so i passed on it. i'm now left with the 1998 version but am still undecided if i should buy it or wait out for a 2000. damn 2nd gs are hard to find here in BC...
thanks for everyone's input and advice

 

You can always get a 98, and put a set of BBK, and you'll be better off.

 

okay this is gonna sound stupid, but i dont remember getting it or hearing about it when i got my car its a 99 GS3, so, my question, how do you know if you have it or not??
I was planning on putting Supra BBK but if its gonna be the same then i shouldnt...

 

if you have 99, for sure you don't have it

the supra brakes (especially with ss lines) will help. just not the same effect as that on the later models

on our sc430, we put on stoptech and the car stops crazy. our 98 gs400 with ap racing had much better braking than the stock one, but nothing like the sc430 with stoptech

 

Brake assist comes in handy for folks with slow reaction time. All it does is boost brake pressure during panic stops. This lone feauture should not be the deciding factor in your purchase. Get the cleanest GS you can as 98-00 are up there in age. Good luck.