1994 Lexus GS 300 3.0 24v 6 cylinder

Summary:

Great value, good solid buy, a lot of car for a reasonable price

Faults:

The car had a dashboard light that had blown when I collected it. This was replaced by Lexus for no charge.

General Comments:

Car is seven years old and still drives as new. There isn't a single cabin rattle or squeak. Once the engine is on you can barely hear it.

The car has electric everything, seats, windows, sunroof, steering column, 12 CD changer, full leather seats and dash, illuminated dashboard, the only thing I think it lacks is a fuel computer (which you need). The leather is of a high quality - mine is still in excellent condition after seven years.

Driving experience is smooth and refined, the car is a bit of a pussycat in economy mode, but once you switch to power mode, and let the variable valve timing have a go it flies - the car just will continue to go and go.

Fuel economy is OK, you don't own a car like this and worry about the costs of petrol, just enjoy all the glasses you will collect from the privilege points you amass at the petrol station.

I bought this car as an approved used car from Lexus, even at this age and miles they will approve them, the warranty is the same as any new Lexus, it is to manufacturers standard so if anything goes wrong that isn't a consumable and they will fix it. Even once I had bought the car, in the pre-delivery check they decided that the car needed two new tyres (they weren't illegal by any means). At £150 a piece I was more than happy. With the exhaust being stainless steel I'm only expecting bills for brakes and tyres.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th June, 2001

9th Feb 2004, 05:15

Well, three years on from writing this review, and I still own the car. Mileage is now 120000K, and I've only paid for one set of tyres and new brake pads in this time, plus a mandatory timing belt at the last service. The car is now almost ten years old, and is still in excellent condition, still drives and feels the same since I bought it. If anything I wish the car would give me a big bill sometime, so I have a good excuse to change it and try something different... but in all honesty I don't really want to, it does everything I need in a car, behaves flawlessly, and I'm going to drive it until it drops.

10th Mar 2005, 04:32

The GS300 MK1 does not have variable valve timing.

They do come 'on cam' around 4000RPM which may explain the slight 'push' in the higher rev range.

1998 Lexus GS 300 SE New Model 3.0 litre

Faults:

Nothing at all.

General Comments:

Excellent car. Very well designed with high quality materials used. Engine and 5 speed auto work smoothly together and are virtually silent in operation. Ride is a bit firmer than in US but the handling is better as a result. The car looks great especially from the front. If you want one, get it in black.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st March, 1999

10th Dec 2000, 15:14

I bought a GS300 in Oct 2000. Generally very happy, however one or two points:

I find the steering too loose and sensitive; dealer let air out of tyres but really no difference. Anyone else find this problem?

Secondly, the paintwork develops lines very easily, not scratches, just lines. I can't figure where they come from.

Finally, and perhaps trivially, the volume button (on the really excellent sound system) is too shallow and broad.

Any comments?

27th Nov 2001, 08:43

I agree with the steering being too sensitive. I have a 1999 GS300 SE and decided to replace the front tyres with some very expensive ones. This has made a slight difference in the handling but not much. As far as the paint work goes scratches seem to appear very easily, don't know why.

9th Mar 2006, 14:54

If you wax the car enough you won't have that problem.

1994 Lexus GS 300 3.0 petrol

Faults:

Heated front seat matrix needed attention at 30,000m. Front suspension rod damp and brake caliper sticking at 27,000m.

General Comments:

Easy to drive fast, even round the twisties. Auto gearbox nowhere near as refined as M-B, BMW or Jaguar; clunky and rough when cold. Supposedly this has been addressed in the latest version of the GS.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th March, 1999

14th Apr 2013, 13:51

The automatic gearbox is much better in the Lexus GS300 than any Jaguar, Mercedes or even BMW. I speak with many years experience of all of the above marques.

My 1996 GS300 has done 170k miles and is still driving sweet. The down side is it's a guzzler, but we all know that when we get one.

1994 Lexus GS 300 3.0 petrol

Faults:

When new the indicator ticking used to come out of a rear speaker, but the dealer fixed this.

It once cut out in traffic but restarted immediately.

That's it.

General Comments:

With 73,000 miles in 4 years this 94 Lexus was magnificent except for sluggish performance below 60mph, the stereo and air conditioning were the best I have ever encountered. No matter how far I drove I always felt as fresh and relaxed as when I got in.

Just purchased the 1998 model, which sorts out the main flaws in the car. It has a 5 speed auto box, a practically sized boot and better headlights.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th July, 1998