Persuade Me...

[Mike_B]

Hi all,

I've got an IS200SE auto at the moment, lovely car but a little lacking in oomph. Most of you will know what I mean...

I keep having my eye caught by approx 4 year old GS430s for roughly £12-13k. Even quite low mileage ones at main dealers, some of them. Fuel economy isn't too much of an issue, I've got a fuel card from work so they pay for it all anyway. Insurance is only about £100 more. My IS would probably fetch something like 8.5k from a dealer in part-ex, leaving me with a 4k bill to get the GS.

So do I change my little IS for a big GS430? Do I want the SE or the Sport? I suspect they both have more toys than I can possibly use or want... Or should I reign in my ambition to own a V8 before petrol hits £10 a gallon and just get an IS300 to get some more shove? I don't drive desperately hard (got a bike for when I want extreme accelleration). Is the extra for a GS430 worth it over a GS300 - are the performance and running costs (petrol aside) greatly different?

Or should I just stick with the IS200 for a while and think about it later? I guess the prices of those GS430s aren't going to go up again any time soon....

Someone persuade me one way or the other!!

Mike

[ColinBarber]

GS430 sport didn't come out until 2003 so you will not get one for £12. You may get an SE with the sports kit on it but it won't have the lowered/improved suspension.

The running costs difference between the 300 and 430 is really just fuel as the 430 does around 3-4 mpg less.

The GS300 is a bit boring to drive, the 430 gives it a bit of fun. If you don't need the extra room I would have an IS300 over a GS300.

All 3 would be better than the IS200 auto. I don't really rate the auto box on the IS200, engine has to rev too high to get anywhere which makes it noisy. The IS300 and GSs are much more refined.

I would go and test drive an IS300 and GS430 and make your own mind up.

[dangerous brain]

Or keep your eyes peeled for a mk2 aristo, they do come up for sale occasionally.

[Mr Morse]

If you carry passengers, the IS300 is way too pokey......Go for the Aristo Vertex

[chips229]

Hi,

As Everyone else has said above.The MPG wont be that much different to your IS200 but you will have so much more go for your money.

Id go for a GS430 and be done with it ;)

[dangerous brain]

Hi,

As Everyone else has said above.The MPG wont be that much different to your IS200 but you will have so much more go for your money.

Id go for a GS430 and be done with it ;)

Are you trying to keep all the aristo's to yourself??? Why have a slow heavy V8 when there is a faster lither turbo-charged car available that is better on fuel than even the NA 3 liter never mind the V8.

[Mike_B]

Hi,

As Everyone else has said above.The MPG wont be that much different to your IS200 but you will have so much more go for your money.

Id go for a GS430 and be done with it ;)

I'm very, very tempted to. I wandered down to Lexus Croydon where they have a couple for sale, they certainly are big when you stand and look at them next to an IS. Though that's not necessarily a bad thing, I'd soon get used to it. The dealer was shut at the time so I couldn't go for a spin though... :(

Won't be able to get back down there for about 3 weeks, but if it's still there when I'm able to then no doubt they'll be willing to strike a deal. What sort of trade-in might I expect for a mint-condition (inc new tyres & front discs, no dings etc) 52-plate IS200SE auto? I know what it's worth privately but not trade-in...

Mike

Hi,

As Everyone else has said above.The MPG wont be that much different to your IS200 but you will have so much more go for your money.

Id go for a GS430 and be done with it ;)

Are you trying to keep all the aristo's to yourself??? Why have a slow heavy V8 when there is a faster lither turbo-charged car available that is better on fuel than even the NA 3 liter never mind the V8.

Well personally I'd rather have a V8, just cos it's a V8 and I want to own a V8 once before fuel is £15 a gallon. And neither of them are exactly slow. But also there's a lot more GSs about which might make it that little bit easier to own in general, ie buying parts on-line, insuring it, telling the RAC what you've got, selling it on etc etc. Not denying the Aristo is a fine car, but I'd rather have a Lex as that's the UK one!

Mike

[dangerous brain]

I have a V8 range rover trust me the love effect soon wears off :D By about your 10th petrol station :P To be honest the non-dealer support for imports such as skylines, supras, and the aristo, is actually better than some of the lexus dealers around, and in most cases the service is usually considerably cheaper. The RAC don't need to know what car it is as it won't ever break down :). You'll find most insurers have picked up the pace and will from some specialist companies quote you happy. The parts for the car body are the same as its lexus bretheren and the engine parts are mk4 supra parts. Admittedly some of the crossover bits like bulbs and engine to car connection will be different but you'd be looking at a far newer car in a mk2 than the mk1's that most own on the forum so probability of any of these parts going wrong is minimal and if its a regular part to go wrong someone on here will know how to sort it out.

[maneesh]

GS range is a good comprise between pimp daddy luxury of LS and sporty saloon IS range.

Get the GS430. The engine and gearbox combo is sublime. Every man needs to own a V8 at least once in their life.

[jsj24uk]

I have had my 2001 GS300 for a year and a half. It is my first Lexus. I did have a go in an IS200 auto but much preferd the GS300. I found it smoother, quiter and much quicker. When I get bored of this one, it will defanitly be the GS430 next. I had a go in a new one at the Lexus open day. It made my GS300 feel slow. Go for the 430 and you won't regret it at all.

[Mike_B]

Well guys I think you've managed to do it - persuade me that is.

I'll not be around for a week or two what with a skiing holiday and a work trip away, however I shall be looking in earnest when I get back. There's a nice one at Croydon at the moment, if it's still there in a fortnight or so then I shall consider that a sign we are meant to be together... :) So if anyone wants a more-or-less mint 2002 IS200SE auto, you know who to ask!

Thanks for all the input!

[scandy]

Don't know if this will help with your decision but these are my opinions having owned at some point all of the models you mention:

The IS300 is a good choice if you want the same car as you have but with more power and equipment. Not bad on fuel either - if fuel consumption is your main concern I'd go for this car. Unlike the IS200, the engine isn't always revving so hard so in practice fuel consumption isn't all that different over long journeys from the IS200. I'd choose the IS300 over the GS300 for that reason.

GS430 comes with more standard equipment than the GS300 (audio controls on the steering wheel and a few other bits) but watch out for X / Y reg ones with no seat memory!

The standard GS430 is a nice ride but I found it could be a bit wallowy if pressed hard through corners if that's what you're used to doing with the IS200. The 'half' sport models pre 2003 are a good compromise as they offer much better handling but of course come with a firmer ride which isn't to everyone's taste. The 2003 GS430 sport which is what I currently have has great handling which is improved further over the pre 2003 'sport' models in my opinion.

Hope that helps.