I Bought a 1998 Lexus GS 400
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Fun fact: in 1998, this Lexus GS 400 was the "fastest sedan in the world"... apparently.
What mods should come first? Let me know!
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#lexus #gs400 #pov
I'm so happy you all love this GS 400 as much as I do :). I love hearing your personal stories involving this wonderful JZ/UZS160 platform.
Couple things:
1. I've returned the wipers back to their "normal" setting. Thanks to all of you that gave instructions on that!
2. Lower ball joints are happening next. Let's hope the wheels don't fall off in the next couple days. lol. More to come on this car.
2jz gte swap, single turbo.
⁵) l❤
@@alvingeroy3242nah KEEP THE V8
These give you a smoother ride than hundreds of 2023 sedans, let alone the luxurious interior for its time.. timeless gems. I miss mine.
Just bought a ‘99 gs400 with 110,000 miles 2 weeks ago. Stoked to see this video. Love mine so far! Hope you enjoy yours
Great Job!!!!!!!!
2jz is better and lighter #GS300
@@Boogieman_1989Garbage It's not as powerful, though... Wish the rest of the world also got the turbo 2JZ, not just Japan
Topher, you just bought yourself an underrated gem, man. These older Japanese luxury sedans are so underrated and solid for what they were. Lexus to Acura! They don't make them like they used to! Total throwback and nostalgia of a car, man. Some minor work done and she'll remain solid for a long time.
Eh could care less about Acura. v8 and RWD this is better the anything Acura offers
i miss my 1999 LS400. sadly even v6's are becoming obsolete@@Toyota4Life
I think he knows what he bought which is why he bought it. lol
I have one of these as well. Always a dream car and the same year I was born, 98’.
Topher’s voice really sounds different in this video. Congrats on the 98’ GS400
@@2004cyrusThat’s because it’s not Topher.
This is a gorgeous ole gs400 I remember the host of my wedding engagement party in 1998 had a brand new one in the garage at the time. He gave me a full tour. I thought it was soooo futuristic with the front and rear tail lamps as well as the sunken gauges on the dash. It was super cool back then! Nice repair and I love the newer wheels ! Great job!
Yeah the late 90's and early 2000's was a very memorable time for enthusiasts. Cars were rapidly getting better and some exciting rivalries began to emerge. The fast sedan is commonplace now but was a novelty then. I very much remember getting my monthly Road and Track in the mail and comparing stats of the GS400, 540i, E420, S4 etc. The GS400 was a real street fighter and not a car to be messed with. 300hp was a big number in those days. Sometimes I wish I could go back to 2002 and live there forever. Enjoy!
Dude, I WOULD go back there & live there forever. Not just for cars, but yes that was certainly the beginning of the end. Everyone had something great & interesting to offer back then.
I'll never own anything newer than 2010 until I'm completely forced to, & I may just stop driving by then.
Yep, that era was the glory days of the sports sedan. The G35! The TL! E46! We were spoiled.
Your 2002 comment is so underrated. Add me to list of wanting to go back.
I had a 400 and recently ended up with a 430, similarly from copart with a dent in the fender, with a winning $300 bid. You're clearly knowledgeable on these and you got a nice one with the Nakamichi, loved that sound system.
The paint on yours is mint! Just picked up my second GS 400, but unfortunately the paint has seen better days. Got two in the garage now so I can drive one while I work on the other. I love these cars.
Also, '98 babies!
Dude. This is cool!
I picked up a Lexus 2004 RX330 AWD I use for the same purpose. I take it to places I don’t take my good cars to. It only has 44,789 miles on it maintained by an older woman at a Lexus dealer. It has become the family favorite! Lol
Спасибо большое за видео! Ракурс съёмки просто шикарный! Чётко виден и спидометр, и тахометр. У других обзорщиков вечно панель приборов не видно.
9:24 People with the IS300 do entire steering wheel swaps from later Lexus models too. It was going to be my next project before I sold my 01
I had a GS 400 sold it and made plenty profit. I still have my GS 300 with the Mark Levinson sound system, Make sure the key hole where the truck pop is isn’t locked.
l used to own a GS 430. I loved that car. I used to commute in it. Regrettably, I got rid of it because I put a lot of miles on it and it needed a lot of work. You bought a gem.
Beautiful color I work at an Auction and got my friend a 98 gs400 for $1200 has been her baby for 3 years now actually got too ride in it a few months ago it's quick and only has 240k miles.
I have an sc400 and experimented with a few setups. I recommend removing the 2 mufflers and 2 resonators and installing a Flowmaster 15150S 2.5”resonator. It isn’t a muffler like the stock resonators but more like a 1/8 wave resonator(J pipe). Sounds like straight pipe but quieter and without any drone.
My dad let me keep his LS430 during my senior year of college. Oh how i miss having a tank V8 and RWD. Ill never forgive the reckless driver for totaling it while it was parked out on the street
One of my favorite Lexus models
I don't push my tach over 2,000 RPMs. In cold weather it is best to baby the transmission if you want it to last a winter or two . . .
Depends on what do you call "a winter"? We today had -15..-18°C (+5..-0,4°F)/ This night and tomorrow morning it's gonna be -24°C (-11.2°F). Really glad my current car has heated seats, and that's on both rows, not just front one.
Only a true car enthusiast would get a 25-year-old rear-wheel-drive 300-HP V8 sedan as their "winter car". 😛
picked up a gs400 with 45k on it ,now it's almost a 300k still rolling strong with little to no maintenance, wheels , lowering springs , exhaust, Tom's air filter, ls400 calipers sand slotted rotors, polyurethane bushing, the car has a lot of options and pretty good power for its age, even still today. also now the worse car in the snow, but probably would be my first choice for driving in the snow.
Homie said i need a wintere car… gets rear wheel drive
I drive a 2008 GS350. The back seat feel is so strikingly similar
Correction: It was dubbed the "The Fastest AUTOMATIC Sedan in the World"
I've had Tanabe exhaust, excellent quality and great sound. Not loud but just enough that you hear it.
Need to source a woodgrain steering wheel with e shift from a sport design gs300. Then grab a wood ashtray from a gs430. Now your stylin!
Car looks in great shape. Most of these on the market for sale are quite beat up unfortunately
Great car I own two but why a semi rare pretty iconic rwd v8 vehicle for a winter driver?
Gs400 prices bouta go up🤣
i like it, I was going to buy a 2013 GS350F but not looking at these.. love the car. what camera do you use for the driving videos.
This video is awesome, I have a 2013 GS 350 AWD and I love it!
I noticed you’re a fellow Michigander!! I love it
Damn I love these 90s cars from the US market ❤
Beautiful. A true classic
These are good cars. I had a 2004 Lexus LS430 a few years ago and was very happy with it.
That GS is mint no wonder Ghost dog stole it
I daily a 2008 gs350, love it!
I love the car, it looks amazing for an European from Romania.
Do you tend to get the hand to change gears? XD
Please don't turn this car into a "performance car" with loud aftermarket parts. Make the car ride soft and quiet.
I had Gs300 was great car
You got lucky with that steering wheel tho
Whipers in snow mode
dude is calling a 7 second 0-60 quick
Just return it to factory condition.
Please hydrate the leather. Test the fluid first, some expensive options actually stink, other neutral colour ones can be a whole of a difference for the interior
Beautiful car
Ball joints asap!
Isn't the GS 400 a luxury version of the Corolla with a V6?
some parts of the US literally look like the darkest corners of eastern europe.
سيارة رائعه شكرا لك استمتعت بمشاهدة الفيديو
What happened to the 4runner
Thinking about grabbing one with 67,000. miles is it worth it?
Легенда!)
Good luck with this
Beautiful ot feels and looks like a car todays looks like playstation.
awesome car
FIRST: Drop the transmission pan and turn up the line pressure dial. That stupid old gearbox needs all the snap it can get. Source: I owned a 1998 GS400. Got hit two years ago, rest its soul.
sorry to hear about that. Great car!
Change the filter and fluid while your at it
There is no need to do this. The transmission is already at its limit with this engine anyway. It's a luxury car.
You really want to chase .1 second differences in this?
@@MrCarGuy If it’s within the factory parameters of the transmission, it’s perfectly fine. They wouldn’t have added that adjustment if the transmission couldn’t handle it. Mine was all kinds of neglected and worn and ran with the dial maxed out with zero issue.
@@dawnpointima do this when I drop my pan for the 3rd time due to the shift solenoid c giving me problems even after being replaced
The wipers have 2 positions: winter and normal. Yours are in the winter position. You simply manually pushed them down by hand to go back into the normal position.
Service position, not winter
@@andrewb71 Service position, and also winter position
i have a middle eastern version of the car but a gs300, does it also have it? bcz i tried doing winter mode so i can clean the wipers and windshield etc but it wouldn't and i am scared to try hard enough to break it
@@lexiconmango6280 You have to give it a good yank
my 2002 Lexus ES300 have the same wiper positions. Japanese quality and they think of everything
I've had a 98 GS 300 since 2020. I often think about selling it because it's not the v8 and it's not really goodlooking, but I just can't bring myself to do it because this car has been so good to me. No other car has ever treated me as good as this car. Everything works, all the time. Engine and transmission are as smooth as it gets.The ride is comfortable, the AC is cold, the stereo is perfect. The car is so hassle free, it's crazy to think that it's already 26 years old.
Keep it in the meantime and save up to sell and buy the v8 or another car. Or you can just keep it and save money for other things :)
That Lexus is better than almost all the new cars of 2024 . Expensive over complicated GARBAGE. I wouldn't get rid of it
The reason i dont wanna sell my is300. Its so well put together. Perfection.
That inline 6 you could put a supercharger on it
that 98 gs300 has a strong 2jz-ge six inline its better than these new cars
My dad custom ordered a 2000 GS 300 when my mother worked for Toyota back in the late 90's. It was gold over beige like this one. It was spec'd with the Nakamichi system as well as HID headlights. Finding a 300 with these options is ultra rare (go ahead and try!) but I will never forget riding home in it after the delivery. The fresh smell of Lexus interiors back in ~2000 is unmatched. It felt soo incredibly premium I still remember it to this day. Beautifuly built and engineered cars.
The closest thing to the exacting build quality of 90’s very early 2000’s Lexus or Acura is Mazda, and it’s beyond both of those now.
There are so many other Aristos lying around in Japan that came with all of those options you mentioned as stock
Lexus officially died in the mid to late-2000s. I've owned 3 GSs an SC300 and an LS400. Nothing today Lexus makes even compares
@@petero958 umm lc500?
i have to disagree. The mazdas were not to the level of acura/lexus. My mx-5 has a lot of inconsistent gaps. Also that era of mazda shared some parts with the Ford supply chain@@NarcFreedom
Congrats and good luck. Seems like it will be a keeper once you get the suspension fixed. Engine sounds great too! Very curious to hear how it sounds when you get the exhaust.
The unanimously agreed upon maintenance thing for the 2gs platform is to get the front lower ball joints replaced!!!
This. I had mine replaced at 120k mi but I recommend doing them sooner as a precaution.
Absolutely, any RWD Lexus/Toyota from this era should have those lower ball joints replaced/checked regularly!!
I’m the original owner of a 1999 GS400 which is identical to what you acquired with the gold trim kit and sans the dealer-installed cellphone. The engine is amazing: so smooth and quiet yet endless power. With an intact exhaust system you only hear a whine as the engine spools up. No vibrations through the floor or gas pedal. Weak spots include the HVAC servos and the power door lock actuators. You have acquired a real gem which will provide years of enjoyment.
This was my second Lexus. It was 99. I drove it for 8 years. Picked it up in 2009. It ended up going to scrap yard with 450k miles. Had severe rust, and several cracks in the frame.
To this day, it’s the greatest car I’ve ever owned.
I actually have several promotional materials framed from when it released, including the famous ad where it says “something wicked it coming. The fastest sedan in the world” …. Which is actually true. Lexus held that record for 5 months until BMW introduced the M5 for that particular year.
Also, make sure get the ball joints changed and make sure they’re OEM, for some reason they’re very finicky. My 400 ball joint snapped, and so did the one of my wife’s 300. Infact, everyone I ever knew with that gen GS had they’re wheel break off😅
Facts on the ball joints! My ‘01 430 went out the second I put it into park in the garage. Wasn’t until 170-180k if I remember.
Issues like this are typical of Asian cars. They’ll be very reliable, but durability, build quality, comfort and driving dynamics will never be as good as most European cars. They’re made for people who want cheap, reliable transportation... and see cars as disposable objects
tell that to all the asian cars that drive around in africa and the Middle East with 1 million km lol@@the8419
@@the8419L take
Goofy reward of the day goes to you @@the8419
When I went from a UZ series engine to the UR in my two LS all purpose highway cars, I was surprised at the change in engine character. The 3UZ like the 1UZ felt torquey. With the 6 speed in the LS 430, it felt like Lexus had actually achieved what Rolls always promised - adequate power - even if it wasn't something designed to wring out. The 1UR matched with the sportier version of the 8 speed was much happier to run up the rev range. Having also had a supercharged 5.0 Jaguar between those two cars, and having driven a range of other NA V8s, I still think Toyota made the best NA V8s I've driven. The 1UZ was certified for aircraft, which is probably what the person was referring to. I'd say that 3UZ is the one I wish I still had. Hope this car treats you right. I would recommend that you put an LS430 with the 6 speed and an LS460 with the regular 8 speed (not the Sport Edition of the 2010-2012 range) side by side with this and compare. Really good powertrains on the whole.
That is an excellent car. Had one for 15 years - no problems expect for 1 starter at 160,000 miles. Megan rear sway bar was my only add on and it changed the car into a different better handling performer. I own a ISF with the 5.0 now and I like the gs400 better. 1998-1999 only since those had the steering wheel shifters. I think 2000 had the buttons too. I think you'll enjoy this the most from your collection.
Woah woah. you like the GS better than the ISF? Let me know lol I have a 430 at 234k miles and I like my IS300 better overall. Interior quality is tighter and much more fun to drive, but definitely way slower.
@@AlexSchwartzATVwhich feels slower? The IS or the GS?
@@moogies3754 The GS is faster because it’s a v8 for sure.
What year is your 430 @@AlexSchwartzATV?
@@JonathanLittle001 2003 but 230k miles.
Always loved the timeless styling! Definitely take it on a long road trip since that's what the GS was built for. Congrats!
aww man thats soo cool i wish you the best on your road trip, i want a GS so badd lol but here in the middle east its hard to find one that in good condition
@@isaamvibez8913where are you in the middle east? The united arab emirates and Oman are full of good condition gs and ls400/430
@@subhanbutt1827 im in the uae , u are right ls and gs are popular here even though they are available they wont be cheap if they are in good condition
welcome to the 1uz family!
bought my 96 sc400 last year for 3500 with 193k miles and its the best car ive ever driven. ill never sell it so manual swap and widebody coming soon.
2/3uz actually the 1uz was in the Ls and Sc
@@TopDogDankSmoker the gs430 had the 3uz. along with the sc430, and ls430. the gs400 had the 1uz.
I also have a 98 GS400 in Cinnabar pearl, I've had it for 5 years and it's one of my favorite products from all of Lexus/Toyota (I worked at a Lexus dealership for 6 years and have driven almost everything they have made). Killer reliability and surprisingly fast for their time. Cam seals is probably the most expensive thing it will ever need. If you ever have a mystery front end shake that comes and goes, its the front calipers.
How much would your Lexus charge for cam seals for the vvti uz? Mine quoted me $2k - 2.3k even if I work in dealer industry with some discount. Wish I could have it fixed just as professionally much cheaper than that, hard to find and trust someone here in Cali for that
@@VietyF Honestly, I wouldn't trust a dealer with a service that is so involved and intricate. In my experience the vast majority of the techs in dealerships are very poor mechanics because the empty suits up in corporate keep cutting pay and benefits so they can't attract or keep real talent. Your best bet is probably finding an independent Lexus/Toyota shop with a good reputation. They are more likely to do a better job and it will most certainly be less expensive. Even if you have to drive 100 miles away to find the right shop it would be worth it for such a big repair that could easily go very wrong in inept hands.
@@UZForLife I work in dealer industry in service, that’s why I don’t buy the $2k quote. Unless you’re lucky enough to fall in the hands of the foreman, but even that can be an issue. It’s gravy as CP for adviser and tech and opportunity to forcefully sell more.
@@VietyF A local Lexus/Toyota shop here in DFW charges $700. He's crazy cheap and puts out great work, I've never seen anyone that can get close to his prices especially for the quality of his work. As you can imagine he's always swamped with work.
@@UZForLife unfortunately I’m in Cali and I called a local Toyota/Lexus shop and they still said $2k lmao
I miss that engine. I had a 98 LS400 and that engine was so great! Also, it's one of the few car engines that could actually be certified for use in an airplane too.
400 98-2000 the best
A good friend of mine had the same car when it was new. Back then it was one of the fastest 4 door sedans around. I couldn't afford it at the time and instead opted for the more reasonably priced ES 300. I eventually was able to afford a new 2005 GS 300 a few years later. To this day, that was one of my favorite cars. Best of luck with it.
It was the world's fastest 4 door car in 1998
I COULD not believe how fast this car is when I first drove one. The engine feels like it’s wants to leap out of the engine bay when you hit the gas. So a great car man with timeless looks
Beautiful specimen right there. You hardly see them ... hell, you hardly saw them when they were new. And this one's a beauty.
I tried hard to get my hands on one, ended up "settling" for a '95 LS. And by the way, you have what is probably THE best tape deck ever installed in a vehicle. Go educate yourself on NAK and what that name means in the cassette world. Damn fine sound system in general, you'll get fine sound through one of those little cassette adapters (and the CD player of course).
Not much needs to be said about the drivetrain you have there. If you don't know already ... ;)
My friend in high school had one! So many good memories in that car! Pretty quick, reliable, and roomy!
This was in Co-Part ? seriously ???? You must have some great connections at Co-part because a very clean car like this would never reach auction bidding time.
Wipers have two settings, a winter and summer. In winter, you physically shift the wiper so they sit higher. In summer, you push them back down to hide them, best feature lol
That cluster is bringing back some SERIOUS memories man...🔥
I had this car 1998 in “02 very reliable… fast all you need is coil overs .. can’t handle curves at high speed .. problems : ball joints weak ..and control arms .. that’s it
I personally own a GS430 myself. Awesome car but you should really replace the lower ball joints on yours ASAP. Its a very common problem with these
Just ordered them!
What about the brake booster/master cylinder? I’ve heard those were common to go bad and cost like $4,000 to replace if you do it at Lexus
@@MaximumDIYGarageWhen brake fluid is changed on time they last longer
@@MrCarGuy Thought it was something to do with the nitrogen accumulator
@@MaximumDIYGarage that's another common failure that early cars had, I believe 98-00
Buys a RWD - "I'm all setup for winter with this thing" 💀
Before I even watch this video: I've been recently thinking a lot about your GS300 from many moons ago, and it has made me want to pick up a GS400. It's getting to a point where it's easier to find an E39 540i, though...
Excited to watch this one!
Edit: I really didn't realize that was only 3 years ago. Everything post-2020 has felt so weird...
you crack me up. "An ashtray for..... ashes".. And a "nakamichi" stereo... haha
Loved the comparison you made about how car guys differentiate between a leaky exhaust and a proper exhaust when terrorizing the neighbors ;) Great video all around!
The wipers are on snow setting you can just push them down and they’ll go back in place :)
Now this is the type of review that you will see me watching, compared when you review high in cars.
Btw your sub acct went up fast, from 3k when I start watching you to almost 30k.
And we want to see at all, road trips/modifications/cleaning/cost of living with a 25 years old car/gas money...everything
McLaren F1 Dash and wheel
I love how these channels hype up these old ass cars and just causally mention they need about $8000 worth of work immediately. This is great for content, but people in the real world, please don't fall for this stuff and start buying and driving the price of these cars up. The reason why driving influencers like gopher buy these cars is to create content. Plain and simple. These cars and everything else are tax write offs for them.
What a stupid comment 🤡
get that front end suspension work done soon, ball joints love to go out on 2nd gen gs's and destroys your fender in the process lol beautiful car though. and your wipers might be in "snow mode" you manually grab them and force up or down to hide in the cowl
Lexus are such classics especially the 90’s ones, so quiet, comfortable, smooth, quick, and ultimately refined
RWD car for winter certainly is interesting!
“Need to get some 2Pac going”
The wipers are in “snow’ position so the defog vents can heat them. Just push down on them and they’ll pop into normal position.
To buy a RWD sedan for the winter driving?
Damn i miss mines. Really thinking about getting another one
The 1uz was aircraft certified and i came so close to buying one several years ago but it had 250k or so on it and had a laundry list of suspension problems my younger self was not equilped for or finalcislly able to deal with so I passed unfortunately
oh yea another thing the 2 or 3rd gear on this car is very short (forget which) so the 30-50 or 40-60 is SUPER fast. Great for getting on the highway.
God I love this timeless Lexus design
I like these cars. Very well balanced so they drift good. You didnt once use the shift buttons on the steering wheel. They really make the car fun and are unique to the gs400.
Push the wiper down with your hand did you try that?