2000 GS300, Platimum Edition
Purchased in 2001 (with about 20K miles) for about $28K from Lexus of Tampa Bay. Purchased the max extended waranty.
All maintenance has been done by the dealer.
Car has about 72K miles as of 10/30/2007.
Problems have included:
1. AC distributor (the unit behind the dash) failed; it was replaced under warranty. No further problems (except #3).
2. window regulator(s); passenger front failed in 2005, and it took 3 visits for the dealer to confirm the problem (it was intermittent at first). The regulator was replaced under extended warranty, but has just now failed again; consequently, I suspect that "repair" was a patch, or the repair was done with a used part. The drivers side front window is now also acting up.
3. When on AM, the radio often crackles and cut out when going over rough pavement. This sounds like the speaker wires might be loose, but it does not occur on FM or the CD, so I suspect there is a separate AM antenna that has a loose connection. This problem began some time (but not immediately) after the AC dist. unit was replaced. It refuses to manifest when at the dealer.
No mods yet, though I have switched from Michelins after years. I now have Yokahama ES100's, 225/55ZR16's. This is a great rain tire for Florida - I haven't felt them hydroplane yet. Too early to tell about wear characteristics at this point.
I have been considering after-market turbos (having once had one of the few Alfa GTV-6 Callaway Twin Turbos, I miss that kick in the a$$). I understand there were units specifically engineered for the IS300, and since this engine has the same bosses on the block it should be a bolt-on operation. Has anyone had experience with them?
My first Lexus was a 1990 LS400 purchased in 1991 (with 17K miles) for about what I would have paid for a new Maxima... the dealer wanted to get trades back on the street as fast as possible, and I happend to catch this one when the original owner just had to have the new Coupe. I put the larger coupe wheels on it, but made no other changes. I still got about $8K in trade for it (for my GS) by which time it had 135K miles (and a drivers seat that wouldn't aty upright, plus various electrical problems).
My wife also bought an off-lease 1995 LS. The kid ran that into a palm tree in 2004, and while it didn't look that bad (the air bags didn't even deploy), it needed a wiring harness. Sayonara, baby! She's now in an Avalon.
