Hello all!

I'm new here and this is my first post.

I like these cars in both colours, but wondered what everyone else thought.

I've been a fan of Lexus for a while, excellent build quality, comfort and style, and am getting ever closer to buying the one I've wanted or a few years: the title says it all.

My Dad has owned a 1994 LS400 and currently has a 1994 GS300.

The Series I GS300 Sport is a favourite of mine and I'm going to look at a black one soon, is there anything specific I can check on the car to ensure it's a genuine factory Sport as the mods could be performed after market to achieve the Sport look?

Also, in general are there particular things I should know or look out for with this model?

Thanks in advance and I hope to be a Lexus owner soon.

Black is certainly an eye catcher... I must admit i like silver too... and I was deciding myself which to go for.. but I am now actually happy with black... I get more looks and good comments then I did with my silver soarer

Take a look at mine with aftermarket wheels

http://www.lexusownersclub.com/gallery/album02/IMG_0951

When test driving make sure you give the car a run on the dual carriageway.. if you have any vibrations then it could be a buckled wheel problem... thats why i have aftermarket wheels now

Both nice colours ,i think black is nice but hard to keep clean.not sure there is a way of checking you have a genuine sport other than asking dealers to check chassis number etc.i think they are bullet proof pretty much but watch out for buckled sport alloys as this seems to be a problem

check for vibration when driving at 60/70 mph

when was the cambelt changed ?

has it got service history 'pref lexus'

otherwise there bulletproof, mines done 150k and still going strong. the only part what i have changed in 2 years of ownership is a starter motor

I hope it doesn't suffer the vibration problems, I love those standard Series I Sport wheels.

It's a late '96, so the revised model, has the 10" wide rears and has 74K on the clock; the cambelt was done last service, I've been told it has a full Lexus history.

The previous owner was head of a valet company and the car is supposed to be immaculate.

Sounds nice.

I would have thought the log book would state if it's a sport or not. A dealer should also be able to find out via the chassis number. I personally wouldn't mind if it was a modified SE except it would need to be insured as an SE with the mods and would therefore cost more than insuring a standard sport.

my log book has sport written on it too

one snag.. be carefull you do not ground the car.. these are pretty low and only a few days ago i bottomed the car out in a car park on very uneven ground.

most garages moan how low these are as sometimes they cannot get the jack underneath!

Also make sure you buy a new wheel brace as the standard one does not fit the TTE wheels.. its really daft!

mine is rock solid!

Okay, I'm having a memory blank: what's the wheel brace for and where can I get one for the Sport alloys?

The thing used to undo your wheel nuts.

best go into Halfords and pick up a new wrench for £11

All the black ones I've seen have cream leather whereas the silver ones seem to have grey, so that might be a factor to consider - its all down to personal choice in the end. My neighbour thinks the privacy glass makes mine look like a gangster's car...!

My 10" rears aren't buckled (checked when new tyres fitted recently) so they don't all buckle despite a high mileage - perhaps its because its mostly been cruising round the M25 - its just a shame Lexus couln't find a way to make the lacquer stay on

By the way, my service record says 'sport' on it too, so perhaps that's a fairly good indicator, and someone told me if its an import rather than a UK model, all the warning labels in the engine bay won't be in English...can anyone else verify whether this is a good check?

Good luck with your purchase - owned by the head of a valet company, it really should be totally spotless or its not a good advert for his/her company

good point on the leather color.. the grey put me off a silver one i was looking at.

yesterday i spotted a couple walking past the car the the bloke said to his wife.. "oh thats one of those posh motors"

She had obviosuly asked what the hell it was.

Shame about the driver

I've never heard it referred to as that before.

Why did they supply one with the car that doesn't fit the wheel nuts?

Did the Sport come with any anti-theft wheel nuts or were they all normal ones?


I've had the windows tinted on my last two cars (one was silver and one was black) and I like the privacy aspect. I'll be getting the Lexus windows tinted too.

I think the colour of Mudzs car - a sort of darker grey-green is a good compromise between black and silver - very 'up-market'.

My Sport has locking wheel nuts - but you have to get the centre wheel caps off first and I reckon thats an even better anti-theft deterent

I saw one for sale last year in that colour and it looks very nice.

I guess they left in the factory wrench. The car is modified in the UK to become a sport and I guess Lexus GB left the old one in there. I thought they supplied an extra one that does fit but most seem to get removed.

I can't fully agree about the build quality though... interior is a bit Toyota still in places.

I would expect they've improved a great deal over the years though. And i'm not saying it's rubbish though either, just not what I expected.

Exterior and engine is bang on though, just what Toyota do best!

something else to consider is the cream leather comes with a brown dashboard which can make the car seem a little dated ,personaly i would go for the silver it's a much more modern colour and once you take of the side repeaters and indicaters and replace them with clear ones it realy make a difference to the look of the car . grey leather don't look that bad after all it's still an option on most new cars

and it doesn't have that nasty brown dashboard.

i like MY grey leather.................

cream leather and brown dash.................. IMHO

sorry if i upset anybody !

i agree with the series 1 dash.. its fugly.. only thing that put me off.. series 2 dash is much better

but the rest of the car is ace.. I had more comments today... every day I get comments on my motor.. especially when polished.

cream leather on the doors is nice... the dark brown is not that bad... just the dash display i dislike. But easily get used to it and when i get into any other car mine always looks better

Biggest niggle for me is the boot space ,with two kids under six i realy struggle sometimes .

yes must agree there tony.. my windom had double the space and ski hatch

but i guess having a full size spare instead of a retarded one is better.. but then again I would prefer a space saver.

Also were the eck do's everyone keep that four star brace, with a boot that small i need all the room i can get

4 star brace.. dont have one of those mate

my tool kit is unused.. looks prestine

steve i mean't the brace for the sport alloys the tool kit one don't fit

nothing a hammer and chisel wont fix

I must buy a 5th aftermarket wheel as i still have an original in the boot.... useless if i cannot fit it

Well, I went and had a look at the car today and all I can say is !

It's absolutely stunning, full service history (cambelt and plugs were done on the last one), the alloys are in remarkable condition and no shaking at 70, 75K miles on the clock, it has quite a few service receipts and most MOT certificates, two new front tyres and two part worns on the rear (with plenty of tread), the pads and discs are looking good, it has all the keys and both remotes.

Can anyone tell me what type of alarm this one has as it uses a remote key fob instead of an integrated key? I was told about this a few years ago, but I can't remember the specifics.

To be honest it's flawless for its age give or take a few very minor things.....so I bought it and collect it on Tuesday.

I've been looking at these for years and am very pleased to have finally got one. I like Japanese cars.

Oh yeah, I'm a Lexus owner!

Nice one,

GS300 Dec 95 - Dec 97 has Toyota TVSS IIIB Cat 1 alarm/immobiliser and the Toyota EIS Immobiliser

i have competition now then heheheh




nice one mate.. you'll love it!

I checked the log book and it doesn't specify Sport, nor Series I.

On the confirmation page of a HPI check, it cross references the plate as a GS300 Sport though.

The car has the etched rear windows and Sport badge on the front skirt (along with the mods). It looks lower than my Dad's GS300.

Don't worry nearly all of them have not got sport on the log book,sounds like a nice car and with the sport sticker on the bumper sounds very origonal as most i looked at including my own had been sprayed at front to cover chip etc ,sounds like your has not been touched so a good sign ,they were all changed at port of entry into sports so explains why log book do's not state sport ,happy motoring you will love it

Congrats, you've made a good choice if ya can take the fuel drinking!!

As for the alarm, did you say it's a seperate key fob that operates it? Does the sport have a different alarm to the standard GS peeps?

No they were changed 96 onwards and the central locking is on a seperate fob not on the key

Are the sport logos on the rear quarterlights etched, I thought they were just stickers...?

That gives me peace of mind, I've just been being over cautious.


Now here's the thing, I currently have a 1989 Nissan 300ZX normally aspirated three speed auto (with overdrive), it's a 3.0l V6, and in comparison to what I get out of £20 town driving my Dad seems to get more from his GS so it looks like I'll be on a winner in that department. Granted it's not like driving a 1.whatever, but I've got used to having a bigger engine. The Sport is also cheaper to insure than my 300ZX.

I'll be sad to see my ZX go though.


They might be stickers, at a glance they looked etched.

They are stickers and if you have small children like me they tend to pull them off , i have just seen my second set go from sport to ort in a couple of weeks keep meaning to get some exteriour ones in vinyl.

Small exterior children in Vinyl??? Now there's a thought for the ultimate auto-accessory! You wouldn't get crisps and sticky sweets stuck down the back of the seats either

Well done on getting a great car.
I too have a Nissan 300ZX but with 3 pedals instead of 2 and a distinct lack of a pair of windy millers. I bought this to replace my Lex and there is no comparision so I too will be rejoining the Lex fold sooner rather than Later.

This time though it will have to be a real MK1 sport in the unloved white colour.

I'm just trying to wait patiently now to pick it up on Tuesday.

I assume you have a Z32 then (twin turbo shape), mine is a Z31 facelift model (pop-up headlights). The Datsun/Nissan Zs and ZXs have been in the family for quite some years, my Uncle Pete is a huge Z enthusiast and has owned virtually every model except the new 350Z. He recently got his first 300ZX Twin Turbo UK car (1992) and it's a very nice stock example. My Dad has owned various Zs and ZXs too.

My Dad's had two Lexuses, a 1994 LS400 and now a 1994 GS300.

We all like our Japanese cars.

You are right. It is a Z32 without the Turbos. Its my fifth Z car but first Z32. It follows a pair of 280ZXs and a pair of Z31s.
I tried to work out how many Japanese cars I have owned and have lost count. The best one has to be the complete impulse buy which was the Lexus although my Supra comes in a close second.

Excellent!

I like the twin turbos: Z32 and Mark IV Supra, but have always been put off by the complexity of the twin turbo engines and maintenance, and I don't drive fast so it never seemed worth having all that power.

I have got some pictures of my Sport. The top two is the actual car I've bought (silver badges) and the bottom one was for sale at Lexus Swindon a few years ago, but it's the same colour and interior except it has gold badges:

MINES PEARLESCENT WHITE OVER SILVER WITH GREY LEATHER AND ITS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.
APPARENTLY A RARE COLOUR COMBO

GOOD LUCK WITH THE PURCHASE AS THE REST HAVE SAID THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH BULLETPROOF

REGARDS



G****

I've seen a picture of that colour combo and it's nice.

I pick it up tonight, but for some reason I'm concerned that the Vehicle Registration Document doesn't specify 'Sport.'

Is there any difference between the standard GS and Sport chassis numbers, e.g. my Dad's standard GS starts J153JSE7000***** and my Sport is J153JSE7001*****?

no need to worry ,as i said the sport has not always got it on the log book ,i did the same thing even phoned the dealer saying they had ripped me of ,the problem is they were all registered as normal cars and then turned into sports after they get here,Chassis numbers will not tell you the only way to tell is to phone some of the dealers that have serviced it from the log book ,and while you have them on the phone clarify the service history,phone the owner and ask for the numbers etc and check it before you pick it up

I wasn't doubting you Mudzs, I've just never spent this much on a car before.

I phoned my local Lexus dealer to confirm the chassis number and they couldn't find it, is this becuse the car has no history with that dealer?

Possibly, may be worth phoning one of the dealers where the car has been serviced.

Thanks for your help people and I hope I haven't been a pain, but I'm sure I'll have more questions though.

I've just had confirmation from Lexus that it's a Sport, now I can sleep well.