Today’s Nice Price or No Dice GS300 was branded as a Lexus in America, but it surely glided by the identify Toyota Aristo when bought in Japan. Let’s see if this low-mileage four-door can now be known as a cut price at its present asking worth.
The most perplexing factor about yesterday’s 1994 Olds Cutlass Cruiser wagon was why it wasn’t already in a brand new proprietor’s fingers. Sure, it did have the everyday ’90s GM slap-dash inside, however its 3100 V6 and four-speed computerized drivetrain ought to provide unimpeachable service, and the automobile general seemed to be an ideal bundle that’s simply not seen in any respect in new automobiles nowadays. A $3,950 asking worth sealed the deal and earned the Olds a strong 83 p.c Nice Price win.
You’ve little question heard of the infamous comic’s inside joke known as The Aristocrats. The gist is a person selling to a expertise agent a household act that’s, without delay, vulgar, obscene, and unfathomably transgressive. Horrified, the stammering agent asks what such an act might be known as, to which the storyteller responds with a flourish of their hand, “The Aristocrats!”
Today’s 2003 Lexus GS300 doesn’t seem like vulgar or transgressive within the least. In its house market of Japan, this mannequin was known as the Toyota Aristo—apparently Greek for “the best”—and, naturally, that reminds us of the joke.
Whether GS or Aristo, this mid-sized sport saloon relies 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. Today’s automobile hails from the mannequin’s second era. The first version, launched in 1993, featured that very same JZ mill wrapped in cool Italian garments, because the bodywork was penned by Italdesign, below the steering of Giorgetto Giugiaro.
This second era arrived in 1997 with in-house styling that adopted among the cues of the primary mannequin however paired these with retro-styled lights in entrance, one thing that was widespread on the time. Toyota additionally softened the automobile’s general look to carry it nearer consistent with the bigger LS sedan, admittedly making it look a bit much less particular and distinctive.
That’s damning the automobile with faint reward, although. This one, with simply 91,000 miles on the ticker and sporting 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 as we speak. Aside from a number of minor bumper nicks, this one additionally seems to be in positive form.
It’s an identical story within the cabin. The good-looking two-tone beige and brown coloration 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, resulting from years of butt-swipes throughout them.
Also, relying in your opinion, the darkish grey flooring mats are both a pleasant contact of distinction or an inexpensive answer to holding the carpet clear. This being a Lexus (not less than right here within the States), it’s naturally crammed to the brim with consolation and comfort options.
As to the mechanicals, the vendor states, “We have always maintained the car on time including oil changes, tune ups, tire rotation fluid changes etc, so everything is in great working shape.” Of course, additionally they misidentify the automobile’s engine as a V6, even after snapping an image of the 225 horsepower straight six below the open hood.
That six is paired with a four-speed computerized and drives the rear wheels. The vendor does word that the Bridgestones have “some threading [sic] left on them,” so potential patrons ought to in all probability be budgeting for brand spanking new meats inside the subsequent 12 months or so.
The automobile 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 perhaps as a result of they don’t seem to be all that memorable a design. First-generation automobiles seemingly have nearly totally disappeared.
This one seems not solely price saving, however having fun with to the fullest. Could it’s price that $10K asking to take action? Or is that worth for this Lexus only a joke to you?
You determine!
San Francisco Bay Area, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up at remslie@kinja.com and ship me a fixed-price tip. Remember to incorporate your Kinja deal with.
Source: jalopnik.com