Oops, I Accidentally Bought a $600 Lexus GS300.

"ethan drives dumb cars" (helloroad)
08/11/2020 at 16:05 • Filed to: lexus gs300, toyota aristo, lexus gs

Somehow I’m now the owner of a moderately broken 1990s luxury rear-wheel drive sports sedan. Whoopsie!

A good deal of my free time is spent searching for cars from the ’80s and ’90s, especially vehicles that are obscure, forgotten, or maybe just didn’t sell very well. The Lexus GS300 isn’t exactly obscure, however looking back at sales figures you’ll find this first generation wasn’t exactly flying off showroom floors. Perhaps that’s why you just don’t see very many of these anymore.

When I came across this relatively clean 1994 GS300 for sale, the nostalgia center of my brain took over and I had to grab it! Though once in my possession, the seemingly reasonable $600 purchase price started to feel a bit steep the more I learned about the car. The vehicle had been sitting since 2016, so there are a few issues lurking with the 2JZ-GE inline six. I’ve already replaced several parts but it’s still not running right.

I wish the nostalgia center of my brain would realize that I don’t really need another project, but I guess that’s what I now have!

Do you have a project car that you shouldn’t have purchased? (I will admit I have more than I should...)

P lease feel free to check out the video with my new GS300 here!

DISCUSSION (10)

arl > ethan drives dumb cars
08/11/2020 at 16:12

Awesome - always been a Lexus fan. And the GS models are cool. Keep us updated on the repairs!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > ethan drives dumb cars
08/11/2020 at 16:18

I’d think that even at $600, you could part out that 2JZ and sell it for a lot more.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ethan drives dumb cars
08/11/2020 at 16:23

Oh fun video. Those aren't really on the roads anymore and I am shocked at how good it must have been before it got filthy.

ethan drives dumb cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
08/11/2020 at 16:40

Thanks! I do think that a good cleaning can bring the interior back to life. But first I need to get it running right!! :)

ethan drives dumb cars > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/11/2020 at 16:40

Very plausible ...

For Sweden > ethan drives dumb cars
08/11/2020 at 17:04

I hate it when that happens

hillrat > BaconSandwich is tasty.
08/11/2020 at 17:09

Came here for this, left satisfied.

From what I read on here, seems like any kind of viable 2JZ block would be worth at least $600 by itself, to say nothing of the bits and pieces you could sell at a premium on eBay or something.

ethan drives dumb cars > For Sweden
08/11/2020 at 17:15

Nauraushaun > ethan drives dumb cars
08/11/2020 at 18:19

I didn’t know they were sold as Lexus. Here we get the occasional JDM Aristooo

NojustNo > ethan drives dumb cars
08/12/2020 at 01:08

Hey ethan! Im kinda like you in that i seem to like cheap cars even though I’m not very mechanically inclined lol.

Nevertheless I’ll give advice. H o back to basics. Check air filter is clean (or remove it to checkif it helps) and plugs. Also whatsthe smell like? Rotten eggs? If so cat converter should be checked and changed if needed.

Good luck!

Also still got the purple probe gt? I love those things and had a blue one myself last year. Fun car great handling ! Sold min e before something really broke lol.