I have a 98 GS 300 with 127,000 miles on it, and like you, it is now my weekend car. I put about3-4k a year on it for mileage. My Honda CRV is my main use vehicle. Just look at the NADA Book Value of our car, $9000-10000. It ain't worth *BLEEP* without the repairs. I changed the ball joints to the tune of $500. Brake job, about $750. Timing belt with water pump, another $600. Shocks and struts are next, probably $800. The parts for Lexus are goddamn expensive. Half the time you need to order the parts through Lexus, because aftermarket parts companies don't carry it. The rotors are like $280 per set, and pads are alot too. God forbid you need a new brake caliper like I did, $350 just for the part! Again, the water pump was 3 bills, just for a little pump! I suggest finding a reliable, trustworthy mechanic with a good reputation to work on your Lex. The Dealer will stick it up your !Removed! without KY. The dealer was quoting me $1400 for the timing belt and the maintenance associated with that interval. My local mechanic did it for half that, and the *BLEEP* is done right! I made a mistake of getting an oil change at Lexus of Portland to the tune of $100! But i ate fresh baked cookies and drank starbuck's coffee while waiting...I plan on racking 200,000 miles in this Lex, as many before us have already done. I think this car has been extremely reliable and is very well built. I still get inspection stickers and the inspection shops can't believe my car is a 1998! I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for AND preventive maintenance must be kept up with! Any other questions, just ask.
Chris