Reliable Luxury Performance | 1998 Lexus GS 400 Full Tour & Review

[@benjaminroy2946]

Thought you might want little update, I'm the owner of the GS in the video. The car has been repainted and polished, it now genuinely looks like a new one. The car now sits on Tein coilovers, which are a bit too stiff for my liking, but definitely gives the car a sportier feel. I am putting it away (as I do every winter) and I've bought an LS430 Ultra Luxury package as a winter car. Cheers Nile👋

[@PRNTestDrive]

Excellent choice for a winter beater! A friend of ours just picked up an LS 430 also, back in Ontario. We’re hoping to film it, but maybe we can look at yours if you’re interested!

[@benjaminroy2946]

@@PRNTestDrive Yeah sure, I have not even gotten it yet tho, supposed to grab it this week end However, It's not perfect, but I guess you can't have everything when you pay half the market value (3000$!!)

[@PRNTestDrive]

What a steal! Definitely keep us updated if you're interested, we're hoping to squeeze in another classic review before the end of the year!

[@daved3948]

Cool! I have the Gs 430 it's still running strong. I wish borla still made the exuast system though.

[@Nino_J]

Benjamin Roy I love you

[@rawn4203]

Almost made the mistake of selling mine..granted 300HP isnt that much today, but its still faster than 80% of cars out there in 2019 and still reliable as hell. I may have it til I die.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Don't sell it if you can! These cars might not appreciate in value the same way a similar BMW 540i would, but it's going to be impossible to buy a nice example soon.

[@nicebergslim]

this gen GS is pretty much the official vehicle of "cool" having seen it in many early 2000s tv and movies, very nice car

[@PRNTestDrive]

We really like the look of it, but we can also see how it's a very love/hate sort of design.

[@meeee500]

Big facts.. so true

[@sicilylive2203]

The greatest car ever made

[@PRNTestDrive]

We saw one yesterday in-town in the gorgeous blue paint colour Lexus offered. Still a great looking car today, and very underappreciated by enthusiasts unfortunately.

[@sicilylive2203]

@@PRNTestDrive absolutely my 98 gs 400 is triple black, borla exhaust, k&n cai, strut bars, led taillights hid fogs, the works, owned it since 2011, enormous cult following

[@runningmole]

Definitely a great car. 304k miles on my 99 gs400

[@JLP2X81]

@@runningmole 🙌

[@CarsofGlasgow]

GS is stunning, sad its discontinued

[@gavinhope5926]

I love my 02 GS. 190k miles and going strong. I drive it every day!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it!

[@bruceyung70]

Mine has 225k. Runs very well. I recently bought another Lexus after having such a good experience with the GS.

[@MPowerSubie12]

I own a white 2000 Lexus GS400 in like new condition with 42,000 original miles driven by a 87 year old man who recently passed away. The car is rust-free and problem free! THIS CAR IS AWESOME!!! And this is my 51st car!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! Hold onto it if you can, finding one of these in that sort of condition is next to impossible these days, even back when we filmed this episode it was already really hard to find them.

[@MPowerSubie12]

@@PRNTestDrive I will and yes I’ve searched for years.

[@aprlv6732]

Greatest car ever developed by Toyota . Luxury. Looks. And ridiculously reliable

[@PRNTestDrive]

I can't argue with that! We really loved being able to feature this GS, we'd love to add one to our own garage.

[@zacksalvatore9443]

Ive been waiting for this review on this channel. This car is simply amazing and the amount of effort that’s put into these videos is second to none. This channel should have 10x its view count and subscriber count

[@PRNTestDrive]

We really appreciate that, thanks! We really found the level of care put into the design and functionality of this car to be top notch. We feel Toyota went above and beyond to make sure the interior was designed with purpose which is rare these days.

[@mikeylikey6176]

Bought my '99 GS400 brand new..it is now almost 20 years old, with only 167k miles in it..still look brand new, all original, kept spit-shined, and only drive it to golf courses since retirement..not a week would go by without any young fella would ask me if I'm thinking of selling it - my answer is always "I'll be buried in it." Best car I've ever purchased and owned..and I once had a '70 Dodge Duster that can do 12.9, and a Plymouth Barracuda that'll put Kowalski's car to shame; yup, my Marybelle (the GS400, that is) is the freaking heat!!!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it! We don't see as many of these on the road as we'd like to out here, but we're always happy when we do. Lexus was absolutely killing it with cars like this, but most enthusiasts still brush them off, which is their loss.

[@RuizSBLVIChamps]

Ay mike do you still have that lexus...?

[@mikeylikey6176]

RUIZ LA RAMS Sure do..in the garage and just got done polishing it..

[@mikeylikey6176]

RUIZ LA RAMS ..in FB..search the name neekon shootist..you'll see it on my cover photo..

[@ryanb8736]

This car was officially the fastest sedan for 1998. The E39 M5 took the title a couple years later. I had one the same color all modded up. Loved it.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! I'd love to own one of these as a daily driver, it's the perfect mix of power, comfort, and reliability.

[@iheartgs400]

Comparing this to the newer GS this one has actually aged quite well the wood and leather quality was miles better than the new generations. This model itself is already a cult classic considering you can have a monster 4 door turbo for thousands less than a JZA80 Supra or a solid DD that can go over 300K miles this model has earned its distinction in the Lexus history.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Agreed! We love these older Lexus models, and since most enthusiasts still ignore them you can pick up a fantastic car like this with less competition/price increases than a BMW 540i from the same era.

[@oausa5851]

I believe it because I have one too, 20 year old no rust, no leaks 260000 kilometers.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! We don't see these on the road as often as we'd like to, but when we do we notice them.

[@Gameboytri77a]

Your reviews are amazing. I appreciate the selection of vehicles you choose to review when it comes to earlier models and the attention to detail you provide. Keep it up! I’d love to see more 90’s SUV reviews in the future. If possible.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We’d love to make that happen!

[@dieselbuddysatgeisslertran777]

....thats a realy awesome car man.....and the quality of the Lexus is so good!!! Perfect video.....stay well :)))

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! We were very impressed with the quality of the car, we're looking forward to feature more of them to see what else Lexus was doing back then.

[@jenakrajca8704]

I love my 2000 GS400 ❤️! 230K and going strong!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Awesome! I hope it keeps on serving you well, these are hard cars to find these days!

[@TTSPOG]

I have just gotten a Garage kept and very well maintained GS400 with 99k miles on it. Drives great and very smooth/comfortable. 24 years old and still a 'finest of rides.' I hope to drive it for another 20 years.

[@davidmwood560]

An interesting video. The engine in that car is also to be found in the redoubtable LS400, where it performs extremely well. I own a 2006 gen3 GS300 here in the UK; the 3litre V6 and 6 speed transmission produce a phenomenally rapid car; with a top speed in excess of 160mph! All in an almost eerie silence. On 18" wheels with massive 245/40/18 tyres give a ride comfort that's hard to equal and rarely exceeded. Reliability is second to none, as to be expected from Lexus, and fuel economy is outstanding to say the least. I regularly achieve 41 mpg on the motorway and a staggering 25 - 31 around town! I've owned 7 Lexus's, every one an example of true excellence. I intend to stay firmly with the brand. In the past, I've owned many luxury cars; Cadillac Fleetwoods, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Jaguars, BMWs, Mercedes-Benz, Audi (A8), to name but a few. None can equal the all-round quality, performance, economy or comfort and reliability of the Lexus. I shall keep a watch for more videos.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I did have the pleasure of driving this era LS 400, lots to love about it. These 90s Lexus models are all hidden gems, we've had the chance to drive most of their fleet and can't say anything bad about any of them.

[@happyperson9359]

this car is a smooth operator

[@PRNTestDrive]

Absolutely is! One of our favourite classics we've driven so far.

[@ahuman9864]

Deff in the top 5 Japanese cars of the last 25 yrs.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We agree!

[@mmedley9894]

I own a 2002 430, and a 2005. I run K&N air filters; NOT Cold Air Intakes, in both; with BP hi-test. I have a 1.5' drop on the front of both, and a 1" drop on there rear of the 02'. I run 8.5" & 9.5" staggered. And I get much pleasure picking on ANY BMW that is a 2008 and lower. I'm now entertaining the idea of running a Borla exhaust.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! Hold on to those if you can. We rarely see this era of GS on the road but we notice them when we do!

[@mmedley9894]

@@PRNTestDrive And great job on the critique.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! I think I've improved considerably since we produced this episode, I'd love another go at the GS in the same style we just filmed the 94 Mercedes E-Class.

[@mmedley9894]

@@PRNTestDriveWell keep it up!! And fyi the "430" had 325lbs torque. You probably already knew that tho

[@AutoAgitator]

can hear some saabkyle04 here. Very informative review, good work.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We appreciate that, thanks! We've watched plenty of his reviews over the years, I think he's the only other channel that has a review of the second gen GS that isn't severely modified.

[@dxraaaaa]

I got a top of the line 2001 V8 Lexus GS430... BEST car ever!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Hold onto it if you can!

[@dxraaaaa]

@@PRNTestDrive Thank you... I'm planning on keeping it as long as possible. I've kept it fully stocked. I always schedule it's routine maintenance.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Nice, that’s the best way to keep ‘em!

[@alizierny]

Just bought a 2001 430 90k original miles in great condition!!! Love it. Will preserve it to the best of my ability!

[@MrCarGuy]

Proud to have a GS400 Platinum with a build of June 2000. I'd bet it was about the last made. Millennium silver and the spoiler. Only a few hundred GS400 platinum. Less than half with spoiler. Only a fraction in silver.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! We really do like these cars, even though most of the enthusiasts out there ignore the Lexus brand entirely. This was a great car to drive, and one we’d definitely love to own. Congrats on yours! Definitely hold on to it!

[@MrCarGuy]

Perpetual Radio Networks Other thing with these S160 is to frequently put leather balm on the seats to preserve and soften them. They crack easily. The platinum models did have different leather inserts and birds eye maple wood on inside.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I've heard the same thing about the leather actually, we should all be doing it really with genuine leather seating but I'd be willing to bet more than 99% of people will never do the proper care for their seats, which is ultimately unfortunate.

[@MrCarGuy]

Perpetual Radio Networks Very true. For all leather other than full aniline like in Rolls-Royce, I like the Autoglym balm. Definitely works better than Mother's or Meguiar's.

[@anthonylale1142]

This was the car that got me hooked on Lexus. Named my dog Lexus after the car lol.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Nice lol.

[@JDJD-mw9rr]

The ECT power button is "Electronically Controlled Transmission" , not throttle control. That's why snow mode is on the same button since it holds 2nd gear on a start

[@PRNTestDrive]

Fair enough

[@Interesauto]

90´s Modern Classic! Real Cars!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're hoping to feature a lot more of these 90's classics!

[@norcalcasey14]

Love your stuff Niall. Notifications turned on

[@NileLivesey]

We certainly appreciate that, thanks!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Hope you're still checking out our content today!

[@CarsofGlasgow]

Great video man! Lexus fan myself

[@PRNTestDrive]

Awesome! We rarely see these GS' on the road anymore, but they're fantastic.

[@CarsofGlasgow]

@@PRNTestDrive Yeah especially early ones such as that model.:)

[@ravipeiris4388]

Back in the late 90s and early 2000's, it was rare to see the V8 version of the GS. I do prefer to see any Lexus as stock as possible.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I imagine it was, I don’t believe too many of these ended up selling, and few exist today.

[@1995RangeRover]

Now these are great cars. Reliable and very comfy to daily drive!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We agree! The owner said the seats aren't as comfortable as in other cars for long drives, we still really liked the feel of them both front and back. If we had cash lying around and needed a reliable daily, this would be at the top of our list.

[@wendell7173]

My brother still owns a 1998 GS 300. Runs very well. Minor fixes here and there.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it! These are solid cars overall, as long as you're doing the maintenance you shouldn't have any serious problems.

[@christiand2721]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the aftermarket FIPK intake by K&N installed on your test vehicle. It adds a dyno-tested 9ish WHP and double-digit TQ. Not to mention the increased sound when your foot is in it. My 400 was so quiet when I got it that I replaced the THREE resonators with pipe in the exhaust system and installed the K&N FIPK. Now it sounds great and is only loud when I want it to be.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We usually don't talk about mods, only because we try to make these videos serve those looking for stock versions of the cars. I forget if we ended up mentioning any of the changes the owner made with the car to be honest.

[@christiand2721]

You did mention the exhaust a couple times, but not the intake. Good job on the video overall. I know how how hard videos are to shoot! My 98 GS4 has 150K miles and I still look forward to driving it. For anyone interested, I have the K&N FIPK, 3 exhaust resonators removed, front and rear Megan Racing sway bars, 20mm front roll center adapters (minimizes the front gap but keeps the stock geometry), 25mm H&R rear wheel spacers (to push the rear wheels out and fill that huge factory offset), 18x8 GS350 wheels and yellow fogs. I feel like this is a great combo while still keeping the GS very stock looking.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! These cars can definitely be total sleepers, no one's expecting something like a GS to have more power than it should. It's one of the reasons we really like these cars, and hope we can feature more of them down the road!

[@theguy249]

Next month cross my fingers ill be in a gs 400

[@PRNTestDrive]

We'll keep our fingers crossed too, let us know if you get it!

[@JDJD-mw9rr]

Get it?

[@andreytsoy44]

Quebec representt, i own a 2000 gs400, love it

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! We don't see too many of them out there, but when we do we notice them!

[@joebabyboy2918]

I have one with 80k original miles no scratches everything in the car all original no changes car drive better than a lot of these new cars and I love it more than a lot of cars

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it, hold onto it if you can! These are pretty rare.

[@chiefgraffiti9811]

I love my GS400 tbh whenever I be pulling up everywhere people always think I’m driving a Mercedes till they see its a Lexus

[@PRNTestDrive]

It's a solid car, these Lexus models have aged very very well, considering you look at a similar Audi A6 and it looks horribly dated.

[@wholeNwon]

Who could confuse them?

[@Cj-rg8lc]

Thinking of buying my uncles gs400. Has 212,000 miles. You guys think the car can last me 5 more years? Should I go for it? It is well maintained. Just need some insite.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Absolutely! These are indestructible cars as long as they're maintained properly. How long has your uncle had it? If he's done most of those 212k miles and has the service history for it you should jump on it.

[@djbhe]

It's just being broken in at 212000 miles. I have a 98 GS400 with 228000 miles and I stay on the highway between Tampa and Atlanta. I get so many compliments and people can't believe it's a 98. I get all of my parts including timing belt kit from Rock Auto for half the price of auto stores and have my mechanic do the labor. It looks and ride flawless.

[@4sstylz]

Hi there, Did some people hesitated between LS430 and GS430 ? I wonder if the pneumatic dampening and 6 speed gearbox from the phase 2 LS give the car some very important additions.

[@PRNTestDrive]

It's a question that we'll probably never get an answer to unless we have some original buyers who chime in with their thoughts. I'd imagine most went with the GS 400 as it was more affordable and fit in with what you'd ultimately need out of a car, as the LS and other full-size luxury cars are typically a lower sales volume.

[@andrewchristianson2086]

Nice car. There was one ahead of me yesterday evening and it decided to take off. I did too and we both matched. I couldn't gain on it! I have a modded 3.7L 2014 Mustang. I was impressed! So of course had to look it up! Lol

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks for sharing!

[@boisantana7962]

I own this car and still do. The greatest down fall for this car is the back seat don't fold down . One time I stupidly close the trunk with the keys inside and had to call for a tow truck to open the doors, i got in but still couldn't get my keys since the lock trunk bottom was pushed in . I had to remove the rear speaker and dig around the hole to feel for my keys . Luckily it wasn't to much junk inside and found it . Took me like 2hrs 🥵

[@PRNTestDrive]

Darn eh! We rarely talk about the folding seats or lack thereof, I'm surprised Lexus didn't have them, but then again I believe it was the same for our Acura Vigor with only a ski passthrough.

[@cleanwhips3469]

all time fav, think about adding one to the collection as a daily

[@PRNTestDrive]

It's definitely opened our eyes to doing the same! We're really impressed with this car, and really want to get another BMW 540i and a Mercedes E430 together to produce a real Showdown on these cars. I think it would be really interesting to see those 3 side by side.

[@4wdaddict41]

Great video !

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you liked it, thanks! We'd love to do more classics like this one.

[@Rooster_of_Rivia]

I see that there's a cd button on the radio, but where do you actually put in the cd? I don't see it anywhere on the dash. Trunk maybe?

[@PRNTestDrive]

The CD Changer should be located in the glove box on this generation GS.

[@Rooster_of_Rivia]

@@PRNTestDrive Thanks for the reply. I've been thinking about buying a gs300 or gs400 if I'm lucky & having a cd player is a must for me personally. As long as a car had working A/C for the summer months and a cd player, it's a car for me. Bonus if it has a v8 with rwd.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Can’t go wrong with either one in terms of reliability. Though I’ve seen some forum posts about failed CD changers for this generation, so if you do find one to buy make sure it works first!

[@robdove8341]

Bit late to the Party, but Lexus UK never imported the GS400. We had to wait for the 3UZ-FE 430 released with the facelift models in late 2000. Although a GS Sport version was later available..similar to L-Tuned..TTE Mesh Grille & Spoilers, 20mm lowered & lightly uprated suspension + beautiful OZ Salina 18x8" Wheels. Unfortunately the L -Tuned Exhaust Tips & staggered wheels were'nt offered....deemed by Lexus to be a bit too "racy" for the more consrvative British market :( Had my 2003 GS430 Sport over 7 years now & a 2001 GS300 for the 7 years prior to that. The Sport has 111,000 miles & is completely stock. 164 were registered in the UK between 2001-2004, but there's only 70 odd examples left. I'll never sell this magnificent Automobile...well on its way to Classic Cult status.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I can’t remember the last time I saw one of these on the road, it’s been a couple years at least. I really enjoyed this one, would definitely like to have one as a daily.

[@rocknrolla7288]

great colour! every time i hear about these cars i envy the quality of this v8 engine, especially compared to the 90s bmw v8s :(

[@PRNTestDrive]

We love the colour on it too. The engines definitely seem to be built well, we found no common issues with them during our research.

[@WilmerJael]

If you ever come to New York I have a 2003 ES300 if you want to review.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We'd certainly like to! NY State is close by, but if you're in NYC then we're going to have to plan something out. We're filming a 99 ES300 tomorrow, it would be great to follow it up with the next generation.

[@WilmerJael]

Sounds great!

[@ShadowTheSC]

One of these with cams, intake, headers, full exhaust and a 93 tune would be an absolute blast.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I'm sure it would be!

[@jonathang6522]

Can we see an LS400 or LS430 review? Impressive car by the way.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're really hoping to make that happen. We had a first gen LS400 scheduled for yesterday but that has fallen through. We're hoping to film a second gen LS400 in a few weeks if we can schedule it.

[@mechanicandi1064]

Best in its competition 😎

[@PRNTestDrive]

We really don't doubt that! We'd love nothing more than to find a 1998 BMW 540i and a 1998 Mercedes-Benz E 420 and compare the three.

[@Nino_J]

If I lived in a warmer climate with no snow I’d absolutely own a GS

[@PRNTestDrive]

I hear ya, rust and corrosion is what kills these cars.

[@Nino_J]

PRN_TestDrive not even that, this generation gs is rear wheel drive

[@95steeptech]

I'm about to sell my 01 740i sport and buy one of these. Less headaches and seems like a comparable driving experience

[@PRNTestDrive]

We really enjoyed the drive of this GS 400, in fact we saw one of the rare blue ones in our little town last week, looked phenomenal. We'd absolutely buy one if we could!

[@zerosumgamez]

Do you know how can tell the different between the two GS design from the same generation? I have no clue whatsoever.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Aside from the badge on the back, the differences are pretty subtle.

[@williampelzer9191]

Where can I find out more about the Lexus GS 400 as an owner in America

[@PRNTestDrive]

I'm sure there are some Lexus GS enthusiast forums still out there, or Facebook if you use that platform too.

[@imserious2187]

Did they stop making the 400 before they stopped making the 3 00, or did they stop making both at the same time?

[@PRNTestDrive]

The GS 400 became the GS 430, but I believe the GS 300 continued as-is until the next generation.

[@waleedjahmed]

Would love to see an update on This car. Where is it today in 2024. Can you please make an updated video

[@PRNTestDrive]

Unfortunately we don't really have a way of finding out, we moved from Quebec several years ago and don't have the owner's contact details anymore.

[@benjaminroy2946]

Still have it! I'll be putting it up for sale this spring since I don't drive it as much anymore unfortunately. It's only at 230k, still rust-free.

[@DodgerBlueRobert]

It's not just the 300 hp, it's the 310 lb/ft of torque that makes it feel quick. It's a V8 after all.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very true! If only they made these in AWD, I'd be able to consider one.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

without weird spoiler and with a supercharger this car become the perfect sleeper :D the interior leather looks also good for a 20 yrs 200k km car, i see a 9 yrs old 250k km bmw 5 series with much more aged interiors.

[@PRNTestDrive]

So have we, we're very impressed with the interior's condition. It would need a tiny amount of touching up, but that's about it. Everything inside works as it did when it left the factory, something we can't always say for the BMWs or Mercedes we feature.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

one of my friends buy an 1974 mercedes w115 200d, crazy slow with 55hp but very good interiors, when i check the interiors im was very surprised because looks 3 not 43 yrs old, but i dont know how many km have the car because the odometer restart every 100k km. totaly different story some years ago when my mother buy used but recent mercedes A class and we sold it after few years because was very thirsty and engine was unreliable.

[@williamgson4055]

The E60 can't sadly age well. Compare it with an E39 and the Lexus get it's butt kicked, but just by a margin ;)

[@MPowerSubie12]

Awesome video! I almost bought a GS400!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We really love these cars, and even saw one of the rare blue ones in our town a few weeks ago! We'd love to own one of these if we needed a reliable, comfortable daily driver.

[@MPowerSubie12]

Perpetual Radio Networks I saw the rare blue V8 one as well in my town driven by an older lady. Gave her a thumbs up and she smiled back lol. I almost had a super clean white one. But I ended up buying a crappy RX300. Wish I bought the GS instead. But I still have my GS300 haha. These V8 babies are very rare now!

[@jayhatch4143]

In your opinion, how does the GS400 handle and accelerate compared to the 540i?

[@PRNTestDrive]

I'd say the E39 540i handles better and the auto transmission on it shifted quicker than the GS. It would be a very interesting Showdown if we could have both together since I'm going on memory for the BMW.

[@Bostongreenm3.]

I currently own a 2003 midnight pine pearl Ls430. But im slowly liking the gs400 more. Im stuck between the two lol. I already own 2 other cars so i can only pick one.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I'd stick with the LS, unless you really want the sportier drive.

[@arthurxu849]

I just bought one with twin turbo inline6 2JZ-GTE engine. What mods should I put in?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Depends on what you want to do with it. Personally I like to keep my cars OEM, but the engine itself should have plenty of upgradable room if you're looking for some extra power.

[@aleksiesko885]

A Timing belt change is not a common problem, its basic maintenance.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Which is part of our third act of any classic car video, it's not just problems, but things the average buyer should consider, not just die-hard car enthusiasts.

[@noonions7099]

they dont make em like these anymore

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's certainly true, they don't!

[@reidsmith4423]

Beautiful

[@PRNTestDrive]

We think so too! Reliable and handsome.

[@reidsmith4423]

Car was kept in great condition. I love that Black 7 series u have too

[@SirAuron777]

Anything to look for when buying this car? Found one for a good deal and want to know what kind of problems these have, even if they are minor

[@PRNTestDrive]

We pretty much covered the problems we found during this episode. There doesn’t seem to be anything specific to this car that needs special attention, we always recommend having any vehicle checked over by a trusted mechanic and getting the full service history if possible.

[@benjaminroy2946]

Lower ball joints, change them anyway after buying, you can never be too sure with these cars. Check all fluids and find a way to inspect the underbody for rust, SPECIFICALLY the rear subframe and fuel tank. These cars are often totalled because of that. Door lock actuators often go out. Oh and expect to throw a replacement abs pump in the car, they all go out eventually and are big $$$. Otherwise, great, reliable car!

[@arturmirzoyan4744]

Nice GS400. Love your videos. Too bad you are not in California, could shoot my CL600 and E63 Wagon.

[@PRNTestDrive]

The CL is one of the cars high on our list! We're hoping to make it out that way one day.

[@jakeziko7473]

Is it possible to add a dual clutch automatic transmission into these older models?

[@PRNTestDrive]

I'd say no, unless someone's gone through the trouble of making some sort of adapter that would match up a newer DCT with this engine. I think you're more or less stuck with the transmissions that came on this when new.

[@bro2660]

Realistically how does it do with fuel???

[@PRNTestDrive]

Depends on where you drive, if you’re on the highway you’ll see decent enough fuel efficiency for a car of this size. In town though you’ll hate it.

[@bro2660]

@@PRNTestDrive thanks for the response

[@seff5677]

car sounds really good

[@PRNTestDrive]

Sounded even better in person! I was really surprised with the entire experience.

[@freddiekyei-balffour945]

Absolutely awesome car , I had one for eleven years , and only I just got real of it damaged front end otherwise I would still kept it , awesome beautiful blue i cried to see her going from hands in East Lonodn England, That was my proud car , out of all my cars , Bmw’s V.W , Jags , that was simply the best , and I’m looking forward for one GS . 430 or Lexus 560 LS , I love Lexus they are beautiful and awesome and buns less petrol too , especially thank you so much for sharing this wonderful great car’s I know This week Toyota are celebrating 80 years making cars in the hole wide world , God blessed Toyota & Lexus Company , keep up the good work absolutely, thank you so much ,for Poor-man and Rich - men have a chance buying your cars using them , stay beautiful blessed , yours truly from Frederick-KYEI , London , Dargenham, U.K .

[@PRNTestDrive]

This is definitely a special car, I'm really glad I had the chance to drive this one! I'd love to own one myself.

[@RevLexus]

Nice GS!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We think so too! The owner has since repainted the hood to match the car, and as far as we know is still enjoying it as a daily driver.

[@dungdoan9830]

We have a 2000 gs400 V8 pearl white with 70k miles 👍

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! Hold onto it if you can.

[@JLP2X81]

DON'T EVER SELL IT

[@kimjongun6014]

Great channel

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks!

[@YouArentSlick]

You should have redlined it at least once. VVTi on this V8 is pretty great

[@PRNTestDrive]

I think we did, but we didn't end up keeping it in the final cut. The twisty road we were on didnt allow us to get completely up to redline, but I think I hit it once when we first took it out.

[@Itgetslonely]

I have a 01 gs430 i love it best car ive owned coming from a honda

[@Itgetslonely]

Hondas* and yes ik they not luxury but i have way more fun in my gs thats for sure

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice, hold onto it if you can! I rarely see any of these on the road now.

[@dnam2859]

LS430 review please :)

[@PRNTestDrive]

You'll have to settle for the LS 400! We filmed a 99 a couple weeks ago, we're just working on the video for it now.

[@dubsteppwarrior]

Im Ready to move my civic along and get one of these I’m willing to pay the gas in it as I live near downtown in A big city and bike a lot of places because parking and traffic can be crazy I would use it mostly weekend and for grocery runs etc

[@PRNTestDrive]

It’s a seriously nice car, as long as you can find one for sale!

[@dubsteppwarrior]

PRN_TestDrive there is about 4-5 for sale where I live but 2 of them have body kit /; one has really high k and the other 2 are decent !

[@Grubbs415]

I have an option to buy this car in pretty good condition for $4500. Is that way too much?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Hard to say without actually seeing it, knowing the mileage and service history and overall condition. These are pretty rare and solid daily drivers, I’d jump on it if I found one for sale.

[@billygreenhorn9275]

what kind of exhaust does it have?

[@benjaminroy2946]

billy greenhorn Borla mufflers, everything else is stock besides k&n intake

[@PRNTestDrive]

Nothing better than hearing from the owner himself! Hope you still have this car Ben!

[@justWIN96]

would you buy it as a first car?

[@PRNTestDrive]

It’s one of the few classic cars we’ve featured that we’d recommend as a first car. They’re incredibly reliable and provide a high level of luxury and comfort for what you pay!

[@wholeNwon]

Remember the extra expense of 91 octane +. But that's more than compensated for by the very low frequency of repair rate.

[@miguelaguilar8632]

Does anyone have a link to the headlight washers?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Hope you found some.

[@mistamj224]

Je vis au Quebec moi aussi et j'ai un GS400 depuis 2017 (I speak english too)

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! Je ne voix pas beaucoup de GS 400s sur la route, peut-être 4 par année!

[@mistamj224]

la meme chose pour moi mais juste pour te dire que je suis content de tomber sur une video d'une GS 400 et qu'il est du Quebec

[@mistamj224]

Moi je suis dans la region de Montreal

[@db9904]

Love these cars.

[@PRNTestDrive]

So do we, we've found that the Lexus models in general are pretty under-appreciated in the enthusiast communities outside of Lexus groups. We really loved the design and engineering that went into these late 90s models.

[@francocagayat7272]

It was Lexus's fastest and most powerful car in their staple: -GS400..............."300HP (154MPH)" -LS400................290hp (146mph) -SC400...............290hp (149mph) -ES300...............200hp (139mph) -IS300................215hp (141mph) -LX470...............240hp (119mph) -RX300..............220hp (121mph)

[@PRNTestDrive]

Certainly makes sense! We drove the LS 400 and it wasn't quick, but it also wasn't the point of it.

[@francocagayat7272]

@@PRNTestDrive yah....maybe as their most comfortable model....the LS400 was it...... ..........but as their sportiest one that's almost their most halo model too, This was it......the GS400

[@francocagayat7272]

@@PRNTestDrive and as a bonus too.......this Lexus GS400 generation already packs a lot of toys that was way ahead of its time: -Optitron gauges (daytime illuminated gauges) -steering wheel mounted controls -paddle shifters -in-car mobile phone -all-auto one click power windows in all 4 doors -Traction Control system with ESP among those..... All standard feats.......not optional (in 1998)

[@sonyhk3824]

Very nice cars. Thanks

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you liked it, thanks!

[@sonyhk3824]

PRN, thank you SR

[@xikefocus]

Wow, rear ventilation in 1998!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Still a feature you don’t find in cars today!

[@teddypainable]

I wanna buy this .Where can I find one? Lol

[@PRNTestDrive]

They're pretty hard to find these days, I rarely spot them on the road anymore. I think everyone who has one plans on holding on to them, but you might get lucky and find an original owner out there ready to sell, or an enthusiast moving onto a different car. We hope you can find one! They're awesome cars.

[@adriand817]

Lexus still uses the same cruise control stalk.. my 2020 rx350 is the same

[@PRNTestDrive]

Wow! And I thought Nissan kept parts in their circulation for a while. I'll have to get my hands on newer Lexus.

[@fludeball]

OMG, this guy looks *exactly* like me, except he’s 15 years younger and his beard fills in, and I’m like 20 lbs. lighter. Other than that, he’s totally me driving around in my Solara.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I hope that's a good thing!

[@fludeball]

I wrote that when I was high- sorry. Still a resemblance, though.

[@lightsurfer5721]

reliability

[@PRNTestDrive]

Sums up this car perfectly!

[@MyKeeP81]

had a black 98 gs 400 with chrome wheels and spoiler exactly like the one showed here at 11:06. it had the navigation, and i put some bump in that bitch and some fatter chrome exhaust tips. i loved her. i bought her for $12,500 in 2006 when she had 111k miles and was damn near flawless. i sold her at 225k miles and lil bruised and scraped but still running great for $3500 in 2011 when i moved to nyc from cali. i wish i could find a mint 05

[@PRNTestDrive]

These are pretty hard to find today unfortunately. I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road, probably only spotted one or two since filming this.

[@orangejuiceneggs]

Change those shocks to kyb gr2 and you have a totally different car in a great way.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Fair enough!

[@mohammadshahin8758]

Have you tried gs 430 ! A real rocket

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're hoping to be able to! We haven't found anyone yet, but we also haven't been looking since most of the nice cars are in storage for winter.

[@colinstu]

at 3:43 you said "ECT" stands for "Electronic Throttle Control" ... it really stands for "Electronic Control Transmission"

[@PRNTestDrive]

According to the owners manual which we referenced for the video, Lexus has it written as the way we presented it 6 times, 'Electronic Control Transmission' doesn't appear in the manual. drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM30506U/pdf/OM30506U_edited.pdf While it certainly makes sense that it stands for electronic control transmission, they go with another term for it, at least with the 1998 model's owner's manual.

[@1kounter]

rekt much?

[@EthanGlozman]

Does it say the same for "vehicle skid control"? Or is it "Vehicle Stability Control" Other then that, great review!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We wanted to make sure we got everything as 'right' as possible with this video, since in other's we've had complaints that we don't even read the manual. 'Vehicle Skid Control System' appears 16 times throughout the 98's owner's manual. It's a weird name for it, but that's how they called it. No clue why Lexus went with these names over more traditional wording, but maybe they wanted to try and make these sound fancier than the competition.

[@orangejuiceneggs]

Colin Stuart I remember my 88 cressida had the Etc power button, loved it.

[@zxc-lx5hw]

Very old Good car 👍🏻🙌

[@PRNTestDrive]

It sure is! Getting some renewed interest in this Lexus which is always nice to see. Hard to find these in Canada, but so worth it if you can find one!

[@hYBRYDcOBRA]

I have a 1999 GS 400 with an optional manual drive setting, how would a driver new to manual driving, properly operate this?

[@PRNTestDrive]

I just want to clarify, is it a manual transmission, or an automatic transmission with a manual shift mode?

[@hYBRYDcOBRA]

PRN_TestDrive auto with manual shift mode.

[@PRNTestDrive]

It shouldn't be much different than driving normally, since it should be optional to use you can skip over the manual shifting if you want. Even the older systems like this should still shift automatically if you are in manual mode, but you'll want to shift up to the next gear a little bit before the red line, around 1,000rpm, and you can shift down once you learn where the gear ratio sweet spot is, you'll want to make sure any down shifting keeps the rev count below the red line, which the auto transmission should do anyway.

[@hYBRYDcOBRA]

PRN_TestDrive it starts it out at 5th gear when i switch it to manual, but i’m not sure if I’m supposed to switch it down while driving or what, i’m totally new to manual driving.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Each system is different, but it sounds normal for it to start off in the current gear it's in. It's a lot easier than driving a true manual with a clutch and transmission linkage. I'd suggest putting it into manual shift mode when you're stopped and try shifting it up as you approach the red line, then as you slow down try shifting down a gear when the tachometer is around 3,000rpm, that should be a safe speed to go down into the lower gear at.

[@jdm_obsession]

Ect is electric transmition controll

[@PRNTestDrive]

Fair enough

[@varffman1053]

So mutch better then Doug : )

[@PRNTestDrive]

Considering I actually care about editing and quality, I’d hope so 😂

[@RossEnzo]

Also the wheels are from the facelifted GS

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's certainly possible, the owner did upgrade from the stock 16" rims.

[@RossEnzo]

PRN they look great I think, and I love the color! Hey another great video from you guys!

[@benjaminroy2946]

Ross Enzo Nope, it's my car, they are 17 from factory since 1998:)

[@RossEnzo]

benjamin roy I'm pleasantly surprised. I've always loved the second gen GSs, the 400 and it's V8 is the one to get clearly! Lovely sound!

[@Finesse460]

Doesn't sound too far from the newer 5.0 N/A by Lexus F performance

[@PRNTestDrive]

Fair enough

[@jamiecox2256]

Word!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Microsoft Word!