RE: Shed of the Week: Lexus GS300

[obscene]

So no one is suggesting to put a great big turbo on it and have it as a sleeper car with that 2J? Just me?

[gareth_r]

Blackpuddin said:

BIRMA said:

Blackpuddin said:

That one has the CVT box though.

Couldn't agree more, I was looking for a luxo barge daily and test drove the LS600h that had a CVT box, truly dreadful. The CVT and the Aston Martin paddle shift system (the Italian sourced one) are two of the worst auto-boxes in the world.

Seems extraordinary that with all their engineering know-how Lexus couldn't bring refinement to the CVT package, but not as extraordinary as realising that they couldn't and going ahead with it anyway.

Are you sure it's the CVT? I know the ads always say it is, but I think that the CVT is only used with the hybrid.

I'll have to find a 3rd gen GS300 for sale locally and check the gearbox code on the data plate.

obscene said:

So no one is suggesting to put a great big turbo on it and have it as a sleeper car with that 2J? Just me?

Would need conrods to cope with that great big turbo.. The VVTi 2JZ-GE has weaker rods than all the other 2JZs (same applies to the UZ V8s), which limits the advisable boost.

Edited by gareth_r on Saturday 26th January 01:38

[carte blanche]

gareth_r said:

Are you sure it's the CVT? I know the ads always say it is, but I think that the CVT is only used with the hybrid.

I'll have to find a 3rd gen GS300 for sale locally and check the gearbox code on the data plate.

You're right, the non-hybrid 3rd-gen GS uses a 6-speed torque converter auto. It's a good gearbox IMO. I think the DVLA made a mistake when registering the GS300s new, I looked at a few that stated CVT in the model name on the V5 when I knew that it wasn't a CVT model. Autotrader just draws the model info from the DVLA, which is why all the adverts state CVT.

[st4]

ReaperCushions said:

Probably because the cream leather is a million times nicer! Can't believe anyone ever spec'd this car with this hideous cloth.

Why - cloth is nice to sit on - leather isn't.

[gareth_r]

carte blanche said:

gareth_r said:

Are you sure it's the CVT? I know the ads always say it is, but I think that the CVT is only used with the hybrid.

I'll have to find a 3rd gen GS300 for sale locally and check the gearbox code on the data plate.

You're right, the non-hybrid 3rd-gen GS uses a 6-speed torque converter auto. It's a good gearbox IMO. I think the DVLA made a mistake when registering the GS300s new, I looked at a few that stated CVT in the model name on the V5 when I knew that it wasn't a CVT model. Autotrader just draws the model info from the DVLA, which is why all the adverts state CVT.

That explains it.

You'd think that at least some dealers would know enough to correct it.

[Willy Nilly]

Cloth seats, big, wafty, Jap car that's old, been looked after and probably still utterly reliable. Mega.

[st4]

Willy Nilly said:

Cloth seats, big, wafty, Jap car that's old, been looked after and probably still utterly reliable. Mega.

Agree - one of the best SOTW's ever. I'm half tempted to get it so I have two Lexi...

And I like the colour scheme

[Blackpuddin]

Has the price gone up? I don't remember it being £1500 at the beginning.

[PATTERNPART]

BFleming said:

Is anyone else amazed that in 1997 there was an interior as dire as this in a 'luxury' car? No wonder the thinking man bought a W210 or E39.

It's no worse than my 2002 3 Series BMW and doesn't seem to be showing any wear. Agreed funny colour and plain boring materials.

[obscene]

gareth_r said:

Would need conrods to cope with that great big turbo.. The VVTi 2JZ-GE has weaker rods than all the other 2JZs (same applies to the UZ V8s), which limits the advisable boost.

Edited by gareth_r on Saturday 26th January 01:38

I would imagine you could get a good 400 out of it easily?

Blackpuddin said:

Has the price gone up? I don't remember it being £1500 at the beginning.

It was £1250 yesterday.

[oilit]

and they dont seem to be answering questions - just taking advantage of the interest -

[dapprman]

Some one on the Lexus UK forums is taking a look at it. Photos were shot round the corner from where I work (it's outside the GSK building at Stockley Park, West Drayton/Uxbridge - just down the road from the main Tesla garage in the UK. Turns out it's not a private sale but a dealer (or at least now) and apparently the seats were standard for the base spec..

[carinaman]

The advert has gone from PH.

[clonmult]

J4CKO said:

BFleming said:

Is anyone else amazed that in 1997 there was an interior as dire as this in a 'luxury' car? No wonder the thinking man bought a W210 or E39.

I dont mind it but to be fair it still looks like it did when it was new and I expect everything still works.

That on its own could be a selling point. I had a 2002 A6 Avant, and the dashboard was best described as functional and uninspiring, and whilst everything on it technically worked, quite a lot of the switchgear did not stand the test of time anything like as well as this GS.

[connoisseur21]

Solid and reliable is Lexus all over, and this shed is a great example. Due to need am waving goodbye to a 2009 Gen 3 GS450h which has cost me nothing but servicing and tyres in 60k+ miles. Am replacing it for a year with a 2006 Lexus RX 88k miles, great condition, from a Lexus main dealer complete with 12 months manufacturer used warranty. Lexus reliability and usability is epic. How many BMW/Merc main dealers have the bottle to fully used warranty their cars at similar age/mileages? None perhaps?

[Hoofy]

BFleming said:

Is anyone else amazed that in 1997 there was an interior as dire as this in a 'luxury' car? No wonder the thinking man bought a W210 or E39.

I think that's a non-standard one. When I was looking for a cheap GS300, they all had leather seats. Maybe the first owner preferred cloth.

[Blackpuddin]

Story says seating was a special order. According to its ebay ad, the car now seems to be with a 'virtual garage' in West London.

[Mr-B]

connoisseur21 said:

Solid and reliable is Lexus all over, and this shed is a great example. Due to need am waving goodbye to a 2009 Gen 3 GS450h which has cost me nothing but servicing and tyres in 60k+ miles. Am replacing it for a year with a 2006 Lexus RX 88k miles, great condition, from a Lexus main dealer complete with 12 months manufacturer used warranty. Lexus reliability and usability is epic. How many BMW/Merc main dealers have the bottle to fully used warranty their cars at similar age/mileages? None perhaps?

12 year old car with 12 month warranty! Very impressive. Bravo Lexus.

[Hoofy]

Blackpuddin said:

Story says seating was a special order. According to its ebay ad, the car now seems to be with a 'virtual garage' in West London.

Ah, I was right! God I'm sad sometimes.

[dandare]

st4 said:

ReaperCushions said:

Probably because the cream leather is a million times nicer! Can't believe anyone ever spec'd this car with this hideous cloth.

Why - cloth is nice to sit on - leather isn't.

+1