Bought Another GS!

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by knucklebusted, Jan 16, 2018.

  1. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    2018-01-07 12.29.44.jpg 2018-01-07 12.29.25.jpg

    I needed a new (to me, not a 2018) daily driver as the 1999 Honda Civic is a bit too spartan for my tastes under the hood. I don't mind the interior or basic controls but I really want a RWD or AWD car with some power!

    So, I pulled the trigger on a GS 350, Lexus version. A 2013 with AWD and a 306HP 3.5L V6. This bad boy has some pep for a Japanese luxobarge!

    This is my first Lexus and only my second Toyota so I have high hopes for it. I got a pretty good deal because the Carfax listed structural damage but I had it up on a lift and could see no drive line issues or repairs other than the front bumper and possibly a fender or door repaint. I followed my wife down the interstate, it tracks straight and doesn't drive oddly.

    It sat on the Honda dealer's lot for 340 days when I first looked at it in October and made an offer. They didn't bite so I kept looking. Fast forward to the week after new years (in Ky whoever owns the car Jan 1 pays a chunk in taxes) I text the sales lady we've bought 2 other cars from, 6 total at this dealership. They've now had the car for 394 days. 30 minutes later the sales manager calls and says if you want it here's my best deal, come get it or it goes to the auction!

    So, I now own a it! I've only put 300 miles on it so far but it drives nice, has lots of bells and whistles and gets better mileage than either of my Buick GS's.

    Any other Lexus owners? The guys on the ClubLexus.com board are big into writing checks, which is not my style at all!
     
  2. Gallagher

    Gallagher Founders Club Member

  3. steve covington

    steve covington Well-Known Member

    I don't know about this one... Any car that sits on a dealer lot for that long, TWO tax bites on them... Unless you got it for a steal. Considering the sales manager called you back that it was going to auction ( where they go REAL cheap...) I think YOU got taken; but I hope not.
    Sometimes there are good deals. A couple of years ago my sister got a SCREAMING deal on a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis that she wanted me to look at for her. When I heard the price, I KNEW there had to be something major wrong. Short story: She bought the car, with some minor repairs & clean-up/detailing, it has served the family well for several years. It doesn't hurt that it is almost the same as the Bazillions of Crown Victoria's out there, just a little more class. (Think Ford's version of a Buick: Not top of the line (Cadillac vs Lincoln) but not bottom of the line (Ford vs Chevrolet). You May actually have a winner.
     
    knucklebusted likes this.
  4. Brian Albrecht

    Brian Albrecht Classic Reflections

    nice, should serve you well
     
    knucklebusted likes this.
  5. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    I've owned a lot of cars, several I bought at auctions before the inventions of smartphones and CarFax. I only got burned the one time when a transmission went out after 200 miles in a 77 Regal with 70K miles. I did my due diligence on this one so I'm pretty sure it will serve me well. I've been looking off and on for a car for the last 3-4 years before I got this one. New, it sold for way more than twice what I gave for it. I bought it for nearly $5,000 under NADA clean trade-in so I've got some room to fix anything short of a full-on major engine/trans/AWD issue. With only 52K miles, it should not be hurt too much.

    Yes, I know Mercs. I actually looked at a Marauder back in the day but they turned out to be less then advertised when all the hype settled.
     
  6. mrolds69

    mrolds69 "The Cure"

    Congrats on your buy. We have an ES 350 in the stable. Before that, we had a LS 430, both are great cars! I'm thinking about buying another new ES 350. I like the GS, but I don't like the idea of using premium gas for a DD. It's not that much HP, like a Mustang, Camaro, 'vette or whatever. I don't mind running premium in the old cars. The new ES is kind of dated and due for an update. Next year it will have the GS engine, I think. You will love the your GS, they are great road cars and quiker than your average cars. Our LS was a killer car, but they are really expensive now.
     
    knucklebusted likes this.
  7. gs66

    gs66 Silver Level contributor

    The thread title had me hopeful of seeing something else.
     
    knucklebusted likes this.
  8. stangman

    stangman Well-Known Member

    me too but happy for the guy! LOL
     
    knucklebusted likes this.
  9. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    That one looks good! It’s a shame that theme, understated and handsome, has been replaced. The new styling theme makes me think they’re targeting the blind.
    Patrick
     

    Attached Files:

  10. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    Yes, some of the new ones look like koi fish wanting to be fed. LOL
     
    rogbo likes this.
  11. 72STAGE1

    72STAGE1 STAGE 1 & 2

    Blasphemy............please never use the words Lexus or Toyota with the word GS together in a sentence........never.......ever..........
     
  12. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    Hey, I can't drive my old Buicks every day. They are fun but I don't want to get salt on them. This new thing is just transportation that is fun. I beg your forgiveness but at least it isn't a boring FWD Regal with torque steer and the motor mounted the wrong way.
     
    72STAGE1 likes this.
  13. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    And it does great in the snow! Not real great at donuts but gets going and stops reasonably well in the white stuff.
     

Share This Page