Lexus GS300 Mk2... what to look out for?

[Soundwave]

So, I don't have time, money, space or need for another project at the moment, but one of my work colleagues sent me an interesting email yesterday:

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Hi <Redacted>

I am getting rid of my dad's 2003 (53) plate Lexus GS300 Sport. He has hardly used the car in the last 4 years so it needs a clean and polish It has MOT till November i think and 5 very good tyres. Its Black with Black leather Full screen DVD sat nav Fantastic Mark Levinson infotainment with trip computer and more. Its a 3.0 2JZ GE with a 5 speed auto. Mechanically these things are totally bomb proof. Not looking for much money for it more interested in finding it a good home. 

Naturally, my interest was piqued, so I sent an email back asking roughly what he'd be looking for. The reply was:

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Its more about finding a good home than a good price, but probably in the hundreds, I haven't looked at what it may be worth if it was all cleaned up and made ready for sale I don't really have the time for that so that's why I just want to find someone who deserves a car like this and will give it the home that it deserves. 

Now of course, I haven't seen the car yet so I can't gauge its overall condition, what works and doesn't work etc, but what are the major pitfalls with these? And does "in the hundreds" sound reasonable for one?

If I were to go for it, it'd be from the perspective of tidying it up and moving it on, or perhaps seeing what I can swap it for - does that sound viable or am I going to end up saddling myself with an unshiftable liability?  I know the running costs and lack of badge presence put people off these sometimes. I'll add more information as I get it, I understand it's all a bit vague, just wanted to know what the crack with these things was and whether it'd be a worthwhile project. Thanks!

[Conan]

The only thing that can kill these is poor owner and there's a lot of the sort out there. People always think of them as unkillable and abused them accordingly, so many out there are moon miles, hasn't been maintained, and in piss poor condition. Finding one that isn't one or more of the 3 is difficult.

They came standard with A LOT of electronics and they're an age where these components start to fail more. Some are annoying, some are expensive, depending on the luck to be honest. If you can make sure all the important stuffs works then it'd be great. I also don't think they rot badly but who knows at this point. They are also surprisingly (or not) pretty difficult to work on if you think of it as a Toyota, if you understand that it is not, then it's logical enough.

I wouldn't hesitate if the price in the hundreds. They are incredible cars when they work right, and people who rate them, really rates them. Myself included. They're so good I'd rather have a JZS160 rather than W210, W211 or W212. Hell, I'd rather have a JZS160 than the Mk3 GS. It took the Mk4 to exceed the Mk2 IMO. The only liability is that they're 20+ year old now and with all the generic 20+ year old car issues.

[Schaefft]

Like Conan said, poor ownership and maintenance is probably by far the biggest issue, otherwise they are rock solid cars. Rust and cosmetics might be the biggest deciding factor here.

[Soundwave]

On the maintenance side I'm not too worried - my colleague is a vehicle technician trainer, also owns an SC430 himself which he maintains quite fastiduously, and I assume he won't have allowed his old man to fall behind on maintenance as well. Guess it's just going to be one of those where I need to go and take a look!

[Conan]

Another note about high mile. They do wear the miles ridiculously well. If it's a maintained car, they can indeed go multiple hundreds of thousands of miles and feel like new.

I believe the common touch points on the interior do wear relatively easily though on this era Lexus. Centre console, gearknob, steering wheel and door top, etc. Although as it's something you can immediately see once you're at the car it's not even a gamble or anything. If it's too much just walk away. It'd cost too much to put the cosmetics right that's another reason why a lot of them died.

[Ianlea73]

Did you get it in the end?

[Soundwave]

2 minutes ago, Ianlea73 said:

Did you get it in the end?

No, passed on it. It was a tempting proposition, but I just couldn't make the numbers work in the end. Far too many projects already.  

I do believe my colleague found a suitable home for it though.

[grogee]

Knowing @Soundwave as I do (I sold him a Saab) he's not the type to keep an incoming/collection Fred from us. So I'm guessing not. 

 

A shame, as I'd like to read about life with one of these and was tempted myself when reading the correspondence - with usual get-out clause of no money, space etc. 

 

[Ianlea73]

2 hours ago, Soundwave said:

No, passed on it. It was a tempting proposition, but I just couldn't make the numbers work in the end. Far too many projects already.  

I do believe my colleague found a suitable home for it though.

Shame, they're fantastic cars. This was mine, from standard to modified with loads of custom parts.