At the moment’s Good Value or No Cube GS300 was branded as a Lexus in America, however it glided by the title Toyota Aristo when bought in Japan. Let’s see if this low-mileage four-door can now be referred to as a cut price at its present asking worth.
Essentially the most perplexing factor about yesterday’s 1994 Olds Cutlass Cruiser wagon was why it wasn’t already in a brand new proprietor’s palms. Positive, it did have the everyday ’90s GM slap-dash inside, however its 3100 V6 and four-speed automated drivetrain ought to provide unimpeachable service, and the automotive total seemed to be an ideal package deal that’s simply not seen in any respect in new vehicles nowadays. A $3,950 asking worth sealed the deal and earned the Olds a strong 83 p.c Good Value win.
You’ve little doubt heard of the infamous comic’s inside joke referred to as The Aristocrats. The gist is a person selling to a expertise agent a household act that’s, directly, vulgar, obscene, and unfathomably transgressive. Horrified, the stammering agent asks what such an act might be referred to as, to which the storyteller responds with a flourish of their hand, “The Aristocrats!”
At the moment’s 2003 Lexus GS300 doesn’t look like vulgar or transgressive within the least. In its house market of Japan, this mannequin was referred to as the Toyota Aristo—apparently Greek for “one of the best”—and, naturally, that reminds us of the joke.
Whether or not GS or Aristo, this mid-sized sport saloon is predicated on a platform shared with the up to date Toyota Crown and, on this mannequin’s case, will get marching orders from a 3.0-liter version of Toyota’s legendary 2JZ straight six. At the moment’s automotive hails from the mannequin’s second era. The primary version, launched in 1993, featured that very same JZ mill wrapped in cool Italian garments, because the bodywork was penned by Italdesign, beneath the steering of Giorgetto Giugiaro.
This second era arrived in 1997 with in-house styling that adopted a few of the cues of the primary mannequin however paired these with retro-styled lights in entrance, one thing that was well-liked on the time. Toyota additionally softened the automotive’s total look to deliver it nearer consistent with the bigger LS sedan, admittedly making it look a bit much less particular and distinctive.
That’s damning the automotive with faint reward, although. This one, with simply 91,000 miles on the ticker and carrying upscale-appearing metallic gold paint and chrome-plated manufacturing facility alloys, nonetheless maintains a laudable presence. It additionally has the ever-present gold badging and wheel logos, which, admittedly, are a bit garish right now. Except for just a few minor bumper nicks, this one additionally seems to be in positive form.
It’s an analogous story within the cabin. The good-looking two-tone beige and brown shade scheme is accented with actual wooden trim and a small little bit of added brightwork. The leather-based and vinyl upholstery has held up nicely, though the seat-edge piping has not. That reveals breaks on the outer edges of each entrance and rear seats, as a result of years of butt-swipes throughout them.
Additionally, relying in your opinion, the darkish grey ground mats are both a pleasant contact of distinction or an affordable resolution to preserving the carpet clear. This being a Lexus (at the very least right here within the States), it’s naturally crammed to the brim with consolation and comfort options.
As to the mechanicals, the vendor states, “Now we have at all times maintained the automotive on time together with oil adjustments, tune ups, tire rotation fluid adjustments and so forth, so every little thing is in nice working form.” After all, in addition they misidentify the automotive’s engine as a V6, even after snapping an image of the 225 horsepower straight six beneath the open hood.
That six is paired with a four-speed automated and drives the rear wheels. The vendor does word that the Bridgestones have “some threading [sic] left on them,” so potential consumers ought to most likely be budgeting for brand new meats throughout the subsequent 12 months or so.
The automotive comes with a clear title and a latest discount in asking worth from $11,500 to the present $10,000. In your thoughts, is that sufficient of a drop? You don’t see many GS300s of this period on the highway any extra, maybe due to attrition or possibly as a result of they don’t seem to be all that memorable a design. First-generation vehicles seemingly have nearly completely disappeared.
This one seems not solely price saving, however having fun with to the fullest. May it’s price that $10K asking to take action? Or is that worth for this Lexus only a joke to you?
You resolve!
San Francisco Bay Space, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
Assist me out with NPOND. Hit me up at remslie@kinja.com and ship me a fixed-price tip. Bear in mind to incorporate your Kinja deal with.