Buying A Gs300 V Reg - Advice Please For A Newbie

[spitfire]

Hello to you all, this is my first post as I have only just registered on the forum.

I am looking at buying a 2000 V plate GS 300 Sport, I currently own a 325 BMW which is a very good car but fancy a change.

The car I am looking at has done 97k with FLSH and 1 owner from new.

Can someone answer te following questions for me please.

What can I expect mpg wise on the motorway and around town, my 325 returns 32 on the m/way.

What does it take to fill the tank and how many miles to a full tank.

As the car I am looking at is nearing 100k, is this the time for the cambelt change or should of it been done & if I need to pay for this how much will it set me back.

What are the interim servicing costs at the dealers like.

Do the Sport models come with xenons, heated seats and elec memory seats.

Thanks in advance

:zee:

[maneesh]

With the Sport, expect worse economy than your 325. 18-22 around town, 25-27 on a run.

80 litre tank I think on these cars.

Cambelt interval was 60k, but changed to 90 or 100k around 2000/01, someone else can correct me.

You'd be daft to take a 6 year old Lexus to a main dealer for servicing, unless you have money to burn. Expect bills of £250 upwards if you take to Lexus.

Use any independent garage instead.

Yep, Sports usually come with Xenons, heated seats and leccy memory seats.

Just don't expect the Sport to handle anything like a Beemer.

Goood Luck!

[spitfire]

With the Sport, expect worse economy than your 325. 18-22 around town, 25-27 on a run.

80 litre tank I think on these cars.

Cambelt interval was 60k, but changed to 90 or 100k around 2000/01, someone else can correct me.

You'd be daft to take a 6 year old Lexus to a main dealer for servicing, unless you have money to burn. Expect bills of £250 upwards if you take to Lexus.

Use any independent garage instead.

Yep, Sports usually come with Xenons, heated seats and leccy memory seats.

Just don't expect the Sport to handle anything like a Beemer.

Goood Luck!

Thanks Maneesh for the advice, the car I'm looking at has Sat Nav as well which is a bonus, I can get it for just under £8k also.

What's the spec difference between SE & Sport, I know the Sports have bigger alloys, boot spoiler, slightly lower suspension but wat else, do they have Sports seats etc.

Thanks

[Brettster]

if you dont do much motorway driving expect around 250 - 300 miles from a full tank, costing around £60.

the early sports also have lowered suspension and a front lower bumper splitter and not all sports have xenons im not sure of when the cut off point was but mines a 99 T reg and it does.

satnav in the GS is very intergrated with the stereo and climate control so make sure it all fully works and you can control all the buttons on the touch screen . other than they they are great cars :)

[maneesh]

Sport has different steering wheel, different leather upholstery I think, black wood (rather than walnut), Sport mats, stiffer springs (lowered by 25mm). No change to gearbox, engine. No sports seats either. You get rear spoiler though! Woo Hoo! Get a nice colour though.

If you want a GS type car that is pure sports, I suggest you try a 540 Sport. At least with BMW, the Sport models have different gearing, totally different suspension and sports seats. Otherwise, if you want a sweet, luxo-cruiser that can also go round corners without rolling around, then the GS Sport is your cup of tea. Oh, reliable too!

[spitfire]

if you dont do much motorway driving expect around 250 - 300 miles from a full tank, costing around £60.

the early sports also have lowered suspension and a front lower bumper splitter and not all sports have xenons im not sure of when the cut off point was but mines a 99 T reg and it does.

satnav in the GS is very intergrated with the stereo and climate control so make sure it all fully works and you can control all the buttons on the touch screen . other than they they are great cars :)

the one im looking at looks the same as in your avatar, pearl silver colour, going for a drive of it tomorrow so fingers crossed. :)

Sport has different steering wheel, different leather upholstery I think, black wood (rather than walnut), Sport mats, stiffer springs (lowered by 25mm). No change to gearbox, engine. No sports seats either. You get rear spoiler though! Woo Hoo! Get a nice colour though.

If you want a GS type car that is pure sports, I suggest you try a 540 Sport. At least with BMW, the Sport models have different gearing, totally different suspension and sports seats. Otherwise, if you want a sweet, luxo-cruiser that can also go round corners without rolling around, then the GS Sport is your cup of tea. Oh, reliable too!

i have a 325 sport at the mo and i know what you mean about the BM sports models.

one of the reasons i fancy a GS Sport is that you hardly see many of them, well where i live anyway.

[spitfire]

went for a drive of the GS today, nice nic car, talk about fully loaded, makes the spec of my BM look like a Lada.

shame the sports dont have sports seats but thats my only real gripe, very smooth drive as well.

didn't really try the stereo, is it a good sounding system in the GS and who makes it, do they have a integrated amp and sub also.

what benefits will i get if i join the lexus gold membership.

finally who are competitive at insuring the GS's.

cheers

[maneesh]

Stereo is good. Think it's Pioneer on that model. Yeah, has amp and sub too. CD changer in glovebox. I agree, Lexus standard spec makes German model seem spartan. You get money off servicing and insurance through Gold.

[spitfire]

Stereo is good. Think it's Pioneer on that model. Yeah, has amp and sub too. CD changer in glovebox. I agree, Lexus standard spec makes German model seem spartan. You get money off servicing and insurance through Gold.

pick it up on saturday, cant wait, will join the gold then, is there a list of independant garages who specialise in Lexus or will any Toyota garage be able to maintain it ?

nearest main dealer to me is Lexus Chester, dont know if there good or bad though, probably expensive i imagine.

do you know if you can remap the 300's at all ?

[maneesh]

Excellent! Pics please..

Not sure about independents up North. Other members may be able to help. Lexus main dealers are not worth it for an old car, unless you really want a Lexus courtesy car whilst yours is serviced.