This was a car that I fully expected to hate, yet was pleasantly surprised once I got to drive it.
Having driven more than my fair share of Toyota’s, my assumption was that this car was basically a Camry with some leather and a Lexus badge glued onto the front. This is certainly not the case.
My then girlfriend (now Fiancee) was looking to buy a ‘new’ car after her old Mitsubishi Magna started to get a bit ropey. She wanted something fairly modern, yet didn’t want to be paying for massive depreciation with a new car. We went to the pickles auctions to see what was available, and in the end she bid and won this Lexus GS300. It was a one owner car with full Lexus dealer history. Sounded promising, if boring. At least it’s a rear drive straight six I’m thinking.
The Lexus is not the most attractive car ever made, it’s a little boxy and the styling is rather conservative, but it looks handsome enough in Silver with black leather.
Lexus GS300
When you get into the car the interior is quite nice, much nicer than the outside! Unlike many Japanese cars, it is very comfortable for me at 194cm tall, the seats are supportive, you can adjust them and the steering wheel to get a good driving position. With a nod to its intended buyer, it has a cassette deck, rather amusing for a 2000 model car, and a CD stacker. We’ve never used the CD stacker or the cassette deck since we owned the car.
The 3.0 straight six engine is smooth and willing to rev, and produces plenty of power when you need it. The 5 speed automatic finds the right gears and is well matched to the engine. The steering is direct and feels connected to the wheels, and the suspension is a good compromise between handling and comfort. Like many cars of this era, it is very difficult to park as it has the egg shape, but no parking sensors to tell you where you are. The boot space is good and the rear seats provide ample room for two adults. In short, this car is nice to drive.
In summary, despite this not being my sort of car at all, I have grown to like the car. Having never owned such a modern car, it is quite handy sometimes to have a newish car in the family. I’m still looking for a good mechanic for this car as I’ve always liked to take my cars to a mechanic who specializes in that make and I’ve yet to find a good Lexus specialist.
Verdict: 7.5/10
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