The GS430 is a lot slower than an XJR. But it blows the doors off a stock Marauder. It's also going to cost you an order of magnitude less money to get it to 300k miles compared to an XJR. Rust is not a serious issue on them as long as the factory paint is intact. Lexus does rust proofing pretty well.
Handling is very good for what it is. Mine at mid-ohio:
The CTS-V has not aged well, but you think the GTO has?
The average 1g CTS-V is falling apart a lot more than the average GTO is, from what I've seen.
I drove one of the nicest 1g CTS-Vs I've seen for sale about 6 months ago. The guy selling it worked at a Lexus dealership. I told him... please let me know if someone trades in a GS460. The nicest CTS-V was nice in 2003 by 2003 Cadillac standards for their lowest model. Remember after that when the GTO came out people said it was one of the best GM interiors for sale in the US? That car is from 1995..
yupididit said:The XJR rear seat is way smaller than expected for a vehicle that size.
What's your budget? I hear ISF's are getting cheap, if you like small rear seat sedans that make glorious noises.
The Marauder lack of luxury, swap in Grand Marquise interior?
Otherwise, is there any reason a 2003+ e55 isn't an option? Or e39 m5 or e39 540i w/6spd manual?
My understanding with the xj is that the front is very cramped for a car that size aswell.
Hyundai Equus. Seriously.
MotorsportsGordon said:yupididit said:The XJR rear seat is way smaller than expected for a vehicle that size.
What's your budget? I hear ISF's are getting cheap, if you like small rear seat sedans that make glorious noises.
The Marauder lack of luxury, swap in Grand Marquise interior?
Otherwise, is there any reason a 2003+ e55 isn't an option? Or e39 m5 or e39 540i w/6spd manual?
My understanding with the xj is that the front is very cramped for a car that size aswell.
Indy Guy parked his XJ next to my W126 Mercedes at the Challenge and, yes, they're cramped inside. Especially compared to my long-wheelbase Mercedes. (The XJ will of course be much faster and I am in no way recommending a W126.)
When you say GTO and talking about swapping in CTS-V rear seats, I think you mean the G8. The GTO has rear "bucket" seats, whereas the G8 is the sedan w/ the full row.
You can get the Chevy SS, which is the updated G8 GXP. Get '15+ and you get the option of Mag Ride. All years of the SS come with the LS3, even while the LT1 was available.
Very unassuming sedan as it looks like all other sedans in Chevy's line up.
yupididit said:The XJR rear seat is way smaller than expected for a vehicle that size.
That would be true if you're speaking about the X308. The X350 added a lot of room back there.
For the ultimate, hold out for a Super V8. They combined the VandenPlas stretched body with the XJR's drivetrain.
ccrelan said:A W210 Mercedes E55 would be a decent option. They are a lot simpler than the later blower E55 cars and have a bulletproof 5.4 M113 drivetrain. Nice examples are actually appreciating.
Can't argue with this. I love me some W210s. Last time I looked though, it was hard to find one that wasn't really long in the tooth.
Came here to post GS430, but I see that the PO of mine already posted!
Seriously, it is now at 285k or 290k (Does the mileage even matter at this point?), and it is an awesome car. It is extremely comfortable, and even my dad is now searching for [a newer] one. He's now of the impression that the GS-F (2016+, I believe - his budget is a few magnitudes larger than mine) is the closest thing there is to the Mercedes 500E, which has always been his dream sedan. I love hitting that skinny pedal. About the only complaints I have on it are MPG and then complaints that come with almost 300k miles, like the interior is worn and there is a single rattle from the sunroof shield.
In reply to mtn :
That sunroof shield rattle! Oh lord, the only annoying rattle in that thing and it's almost worse for having just the one. ;-)
I must say, I was seriously having sale regret after looking at the photos of it when posting here. One of the few cars (of 50 or so!) that I regret selling. I'm glad it's treating you well.
dculberson said:In reply to mtn :
That sunroof shield rattle! Oh lord, the only annoying rattle in that thing and it's almost worse for having just the one. ;-)
I must say, I was seriously having sale regret after looking at the photos of it when posting here. One of the few cars (of 50 or so!) that I regret selling. I'm glad it's treating you well.
And you sold it TWICE! You are no longer allowed to regret it. As for the rattle, I've "fixed" it temporarily with foam shoved in there, but it always comes back.
Oh, FWIW to the OP, I was not a Lexus fan whatsoever, to the point of it being an unfair prejiduce against them. Until I drove this car. You really owe it to yourself to at least drive one. Don't forget that this (or the GS-400, but same generation) was the fastest sedan in the world when they came out in 1998 .. for about 5 minutes, I think 'till the '98 M3 sedan came out.
In reply to FuzzWuzzy :
Drove one and thought the Charger was vastly superior. I was pretty bummed about that. But I could see a widebody maybe 9-14 years from now in the stable.
In reply to Nickerz :
Current XJR (X308) owner here checking in.
First off, what's your buy-in budget, and realistic allowable per year maintenance $$ tolerance?
Also, you seem to have hinted that you've owned an X308 XJR. How long ago was that? Where (assuming rust belt) do you live.
Can you do most if not all of your repairs/maintenance yourself?
Your answers to these questions will guide the advice and recommendation I send your way.
Also, I see you're new here, welcome to the forum!
I'm a current X350 XJ-R owner and I have nothing but good things to say about the car from my experience and my research. You can do whatever you want to the Marauder, but it will never have RADAR berkeleyING CRUISE CONTROL! Seriously, the value proposition is absurd and mine looks nearly new at 171k. The car is significantly larger than Indy's X308 and I felt it was softer as well. This may or may not be a good thing depending on your intentions. Both of our cars need LSD's, but I feel like the softer suspension makes it even more of a problem for me.
HOWEVER, you want to drive something into the ground with a minimum of maintenance? I don't think the Jaguar is going to be your game. Steel body or not, it sounds like what you actually want is a Lexus, Panther or something so cheap you can just replace it when it's reached the end of its useful life. I understand that you're frustrated with rust right now, but if you're the kind of person that doesn't want to keep up with washing a car or applying an undercoating, I don't know of anything else that's going to age well.
iirc from what I have seen on FB marketplace and craigslist, LS swapped Crown Vics are cheaper than marauders.
If you're cross shopping a marauder and ctsv I would suggest a Chevy SS. Manuals available. I feel like the XJ is better feeling than all but the SS would put up a fight. Plus it's an LS so aftermarket is plentiful.
iansane said:If you're cross shopping a marauder and ctsv I would suggest a Chevy SS. Manuals available. I feel like the XJ is better feeling than all but the SS would put up a fight. Plus it's an LS so aftermarket is plentiful.
They ugly tho lol
Hey, nothing says “drive it into the ground” like a Jaguar.
Indy-Guy said:In reply to Nickerz :
Current XJR (X308) owner here checking in.
First off, what's your buy-in budget, and realistic allowable per year maintenance $$ tolerance?
Also, you seem to have hinted that you've owned an X308 XJR. How long ago was that? Where (assuming rust belt) do you live.
Can you do most if not all of your repairs/maintenance yourself?
Your answers to these questions will guide the advice and recommendation I send your way.
I have not owned a Jag. I've owned pain in the ass cars and also used to live in a rust belt state. I don't have a budget, just trying to minimize the value without setting fun to zero.
Newbie
Thanks! New here but definately not to forums.
I'm a current X350 XJ-R owner and I have nothing but good things to say about the car from my experience and my research. You can do whatever you want to the Marauder, but it will never have RADAR berkeleyING CRUISE CONTROL! Seriously, the value proposition is absurd and mine looks nearly new at 171k. The car is significantly larger than Indy's X308 and I felt it was softer as well. This may or may not be a good thing depending on your intentions. Both of our cars need LSD's, but I feel like the softer suspension makes it even more of a problem for me.
HOWEVER, you want to drive something into the ground with a minimum of maintenance? I don't think the Jaguar is going to be your game. Steel body or not, it sounds like what you actually want is a Lexus, Panther or something so cheap you can just replace it when it's reached the end of its useful life. I understand that you're frustrated with rust right now, but if you're the kind of person that doesn't want to keep up with washing a car or applying an undercoating, I don't know of anything else that's going to age well.
Can you elaborate why you're shying away from the Jag here?
iirc from what I have seen on FB marketplace and craigslist, LS swapped Crown Vics are cheaper than marauders.
I'm a purist. The only vehicles that I think cross brand swaps are okay for are garbage
e.g. Rotories, Landrover runnign gear etc.
In reply to Nickerz :
It's a 15 year old luxury car with air suspension and radar cruise control and a million other little things that sold for $80+k when new. It's not fundamentally flawed, but it's not indestructible either.
yupididit said:iansane said:If you're cross shopping a marauder and ctsv I would suggest a Chevy SS. Manuals available. I feel like the XJ is better feeling than all but the SS would put up a fight. Plus it's an LS so aftermarket is plentiful.
They ugly tho lol
They are not a pretty car. I like the way they look but then again I'm a GM fanboy so I might just be giving them a pass for mediocre design on a chassis I could see myself beating on.
iansane said:yupididit said:iansane said:If you're cross shopping a marauder and ctsv I would suggest a Chevy SS. Manuals available. I feel like the XJ is better feeling than all but the SS would put up a fight. Plus it's an LS so aftermarket is plentiful.
They ugly tho lol
Conceptually, they're everything that we'd want. Visually, nope! Lol
I'll toss this in the ring: 2003-2004 Infiniti M45. A future classic, I think.
Bought the Marauder for the family car. XJ will have to wait!
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