Advice For An Old Gs 300 Buyer

[rbryant]

Hi there, I am new to the forum, but am maybe about to buy a GS 300 and would appreciate the benefit of your experience.

The car is a 1994 with 118,000 miles, which in itself doesn't worry me at all, drives very well indeed, feels very tight, no clunks or rattles, goes, stops straight, steers. In fact, I was more than impressed with the drive and the level of comfort, plus all the toys.

Reservations are this - the last dealer stamp was 101,000 so 17,000 miles ago. The oil is clean so it almost certainly has had a service since then. The rear nearside brake is binding but that will be fixed and it will have a new MOT (it is a dealer sale - £2,700 or so before haggling). 3 things -

1) cambelt is every 63,000 mile it says so due soon - I am guessing a £500 job and essential yes?

2) the tyres (BF Googrich) whilst having plenty of tread are a bit perished and look like they are maybe quite old, so I think a new set will have to be bought within a year - maybe £400

3) Is it essential to go for main dealer servicing or is there a network of smaller specialists who would be cheaper?

Many thanks in advance

Richard

[mudzs]

The only advice i can give you is buy mine .only kidding (but it is a nice one).Is it a sport model ? .would not worry about dealer servicing as they are very dear ,also cambelt will be cheaper than you quoted if you use a good independent garage .price seems about right for the sport model if not a little exspensive for standard car with those miles .

[TigerFish]

Depending if it is the sport model with the 10" wide rears, a set of tyres is likely to come to more than £400.

The callipers binding seems to be a common thing, caused most often it seems by the slide pins. I have dismantled all of mine and re-greased etc after one of the rears started binding badly. A re-grease of the pins and the piston seals sorted it out easily enough. Other than an intermittently dodgy starter motor (got a spare just need to put it on) I haven't had any significant issues with my GS300 Sport (1996 with 151,000 miles) in the two months and 3000 miles covered since I got it.

[IanCornwall]

OK a few things, based on my experiences with my GS300

A 1994 GS300 at £2,700 is overpriced, you can get an A1 newer model for that much cash or you should be looking at under 2K for a 1994 model

First thing is look closely at all the gaps doors boot bonnet and around the lights, Lexus should be even and not show any difference, Lexus as you are aware is about quality, run away from anything that has gaps wrong or bad fitting anything

Make sure everything works, I mean everything, all the seats, all the switches, all the sunroof including the tilt, dont forget the rear windows and all the lights, the radio the cd player everything

Take a test drive for at least 20 minutes, when you stop open the bonnet and feel the top radiator hose, do not open the radiator top under any circumstances, if the hose is solid be prepared for a head gasket, the hose should be firm but have some give in it, apart from that the engine is bombproof

ON the test drive think Gearbox, check it is smooth, apart from the LS this is probably the smoothest auto box on the market, any judder or jumping means bad things, kick down should be good and crisp and immediate on flooring the throttle and also check this in pwr and normal, also on the gearlever is a button on the handle, this is the overdrive / 4th gear on a flat road low throttle and doing about 40 click it in and out you should feel it change up and down as you click the button

Basically the ride should be smooth, probably quieter than anything else you have driven, listen for any knocks or squeeks, mine is the same age as the one you are looking at and it is quieter and smoother than my mates new BMW 5 series

Cam belt changes should be listed on the service book, it isn't a hard job on the GS, I have done it myself and it is a lot easoer than a transverse Ford or Vauxhall, no cam belt change in time means no buy, unless the garage changes it before you buy and you want to see it done, as it is to easy to say yes it was changed and all they have done is write it in, just ask when they are going to do it and pop along, if it hasnt moved since you saw it or the front of the engine isnt off then walk away. Peace of mind is worth a lot

everyone says tyres can be expensive, but actually that is a myth, I bought 2 tyres for my Lexus cheaper than 2 tyres for my Nissan Pickup, and I bet they will last longer

Being in a Lexus is about enjoying the drive, and boy will you enjoy it if you get a good one, I go for a drive just to enjoy the car, so will you

Oh and if you are worried about fuel consumption,,,,,, go and buy a Punto diesel,,,,, the Lexus is pretty economical when you compare it against others the same size

Good luck and hope you enjoy it

[IanCornwall]

Hell I rambled on a bit there

[TigerFish]

everyone says tyres can be expensive, but actually that is a myth, I bought 2 tyres for my Lexus cheaper than 2 tyres for my Nissan Pickup, and I bet they will last longer

Come on mate, bust the myth and tell us the brand, size and price of the tyres :winky:

[rbryant]

OK a few things, based on my experiences with my GS300

A 1994 GS300 at £2,700 is overpriced, you can get an A1 newer model for that much cash or you should be looking at under 2K for a 1994 model

Oh and if you are worried about fuel consumption,,,,,, go and buy a Punto diesel,,,,, the Lexus is pretty economical when you compare it against others the same size

Good luck and hope you enjoy it

Fantastic, thanks for the help, so basically what you all seem to agree on is that it is a great car and I should have no major problems as long as it has been serviced properly ? I will either haggle or look further, but I do think this is what I shall buy. Then the TVR will be for sale soon - great car, just not a cheap date.

Richard

[garethr]

TVR >>>>>> GS300?

Should be TVR >>>>>> Aristo TT, surely?

:)

[rbryant]

TVR >>>>>> GS300?

Should be TVR >>>>>> Aristo TT, surely?

:)

Well I have done it - a 1996 GS300 for £1,700 from eBay. I know it isn't the best way, but I was in a hurry and it was local. It could do with the alloys tarting up, 2 new back tyres soon and probably a service soon, but it has had the cambelt changed, pads and discs quite recently and looks good.

Couple of more questions if I may

1) there is no key to remove those wheel centre caps - it needs a sort of hexagonal insert thingy - Lexus dealer I guess or and suggestions?

2) Any specialists who can be relied on in Croydon or Bromley area and charge less than main dealer rates.

And I can assure you that after the TVR almost anything is going to feel slow, it is a 4.5 Chimaera and the power in a lightweight car can be highly addictive ...... but it has cost me a lot, just having a new clutch fitted and a few other bits then I think I will sell. The Lexus is the complete opposite but they say a change is as good as a rest - TVR's version of traction control is a long-travel accelerator, and the noise and ride are somewhat more extreme. But the GS300 ain't slow, and I think I am going to enjoy it.

Cheers for the help

Richard

[IanCornwall]

Hey Richard

Hope the car is a good one, and you enjoy it, let us know how it gets on

I once got in my neighbours TVR, being 6ft 5 I couldn't get out again without sitting my bottom on the pavement and wriggling backwards, great car but I could never be cool in it

or getting out of it definatly

[rbryant]

Hey Richard

Hope the car is a good one, and you enjoy it, let us know how it gets on

I once got in my neighbours TVR, being 6ft 5 I couldn't get out again without sitting my bottom on the pavement and wriggling backwards, great car but I could never be cool in it

or getting out of it definatly

Cheers, will do

One of the advantages of being 5' 7" I guess. And you find out when you drive one that everyone likes them. Shame Mr Smolensky ****** it all up the wall. Mind you I don't think the GS is going to use much less fuel from a quick read here. I am used to 15 in town and 24 on a run, so perhaps a small improvement will be possible.

[peter026]

Enjoy your new purchase

[genius149]

2) Any specialists who can be relied on in Croydon or Bromley area and charge less than main dealer rates.

I would recommend These guys as they know their stuff and are closer to you than they are to me.

Hope this helps

[TigerFish]

Congrats on the new buy. I'm sure you will love it.

On the fuel economy, I get average of 24-25 for combined, and 30 for a long run. Not bad for the type of car.

Are we talking about the Sport wheels? Not sure about a hex shaped key unless the lock nuts have been changed on yours or on mine. On mine they have three little pegs on the key. I believe a kit is available from Lexus to replace them, oddly it seems the kit is for one lock bolt and one key I would've thought 4 bolts with a key (plus maybe a spare key) would've made more sense.

Edit: I think the key kit number from Lexus is PZ439-10671-2P

[wow300]

TVR >>>>>> GS300?

Should be TVR >>>>>> Aristo TT, surely?

:)

Well I have done it - a 1996 GS300 for £1,700 from eBay. I know it isn't the best way, but I was in a hurry and it was local. It could do with the alloys tarting up, 2 new back tyres soon and probably a service soon, but it has had the cambelt changed, pads and discs quite recently and looks good.

Couple of more questions if I may

1) there is no key to remove those wheel centre caps - it needs a sort of hexagonal insert thingy - Lexus dealer I guess or and suggestions?

2) Any specialists who can be relied on in Croydon or Bromley area and charge less than main dealer rates.

And I can assure you that after the TVR almost anything is going to feel slow, it is a 4.5 Chimaera and the power in a lightweight car can be highly addictive ...... but it has cost me a lot, just having a new clutch fitted and a few other bits then I think I will sell. The Lexus is the complete opposite but they say a change is as good as a rest - TVR's version of traction control is a long-travel accelerator, and the noise and ride are somewhat more extreme. But the GS300 ain't slow, and I think I am going to enjoy it.

Cheers for the help

Richard

Quote

1) there is no key to remove those wheel centre caps - it needs a sort of hexagonal insert thingy - Lexus dealer I guess or and suggestions?

A flat blade screw driver will do it

[rbryant]

Quote

1) there is no key to remove those wheel centre caps - it needs a sort of hexagonal insert thingy - Lexus dealer I guess or and suggestions?

A flat blade screw driver will do it

So it does, thanks