This fine looking car is intended by Lexus to compete with the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-series and the Audi A6 in the marketplace. In it's home market Japan, the Lexus brand is not used and the car is known as the Toyota Aristo. The Lexus brand was invented by Toyota in 1989-1990 to give them a presence in the luxury car marketplace.
This particular version (the GS400) has the same V8 engine as it's bigger brother (the LS400) and was not sold as such in Britain or Ireland. The only GS version sold in the British Isles originally was the GS300, which has the same 6 cylinder engine as found in the non-turbo Toyota Supra. Since 2000 though, Lexus have introduced the GS430 to the British and Irish marketplace, which has the new 4.3 litre V8 from the LS430, Lexus's new flagship. In Japan, you can buy an Aristo with the same twin turbo engine as the top specification Supra. The biggest market for Lexus is the United States. Overall they have been a huge hit in the US, but recently the sales of all Luxury saloons have been affected by the popularity of luxury off road cars or "SUV's". Hence, the biggest selling Lexus in the US is the RX300 4x4 (which is also modelled in 1:18th by AUTOart).
The GS400 is a fine car, with all the "toys" one would expect in a proper "Executive car", such as climate control, leather, electric seats and satellite navigation. The large 4 litre V8 engine also gives it great performance. Overall I like the GS series, but personally I'd prefer a BMW!
This model is made by AUTOart, and it is one of their earliest releases (from early 1999). It is extremely well made, and all doors, the boot and the bonnet open. The engine and interior look pretty good but are not as detailed as some more recent AUTOart releases (although much better so than the new sealed body Aa's!). The rims and brake discs look plasticky and in general this is a model that is showing it's age now. But even so it is a model I still think is worth having, especially if you like saloons (or even sedans!) and I believe it is getting harder to find now as Aa no longer make it.
62.5%
