03-04 M45 VS 98-00 GS400 which one would you buy?

[MightyMax20]

Hi guys, my 98 GS400 that I owned for 5 years was totaled by someone last year and I really loved the car. I needed to change a lot of suspension components on it (their known for weak suspensions), ABS/Brake Booster and a few other things for it to be road worthy and it was great.

Problem now is their is not many left that are clean and if they are real clean, people are asking way to much for my budget.

I've always liked the 03-04 M45 looks and I've read that they go 0-60 in 5.6 seconds compared to the GS400's 5.7, but a lot of sellers are telling me that their M45's are not very fast, I don't know if that's a false rating or are they having issues like Oil Consumption.

Owners with well maintained and good running M45's, are they as quick/faster as a GS400 or is that a false rating? I like off the line power and I don't want anything less then the GS, only the same or more.

So far I've read the major issues are Oil Consumption, so I need to watch out for smoke on start up, check air intake for pooled oil also the 03 gas gauge issue. Is that all I should look for besides the regular Brakes/Rotors, Plugs,Suspension? That's all regular wear and tear to me.

Would you take an M45 over a GS400?

How are they with Blizzak tires or any Winter tires in the snow? The GS was pretty good going 4 winters with Blizzaks, but horrible with regular all seasons.

Would you buy a M45 with 190k-205k, because theirs quite a few but I don't know the longevity? The GS goes 300k+ if well maintained.

I'm trying to get a loaded one with all the options.

Does Voice Recognition work with the Navi only or also Climate Control? Is it worth holding out for one with it or is it no big deal? I want heated and cooled seat though.

[Ilya]

I'm a 'looks matter' kind of guy and unless you put a lot of work into the M, it's not that good looking IMO. The 06+ were 10000x more better looking than the 03-04. I've seen some NICE Y34's, but they had THOUSANDS in work done to them.

So with that being said, GS for me.

[Larz]

I've always been a fan of the early M's. I agree they didn't have as an aggressive stance as the 06 and up, but they had classic lines. However, the GS 400 has a much better interior. Assuming you get a well-maintained car, I'd fancy the old GS 400 over the old M simply for the interior. Far as 0-60 times, neither car will match that time after so many years. I reckon they are pretty much equally fast. I wouldn't do any race track tricks with either of them at that old age. The only bad thing I have noticed on the old GS models is that the tail light lenses change color and fade out.

[MightyMax20]

See in regards to body lines and shape, the 03-04 M45's were unique and different then the more modern looking GS400 and the 06-10 M45's which have similar shapes. I like them because they resemble a concept looking 65-69 Lincoln Continental with the suicide doors and it kinda looks like the 2002 Continetal concept.

I honstley like the way the M45 comes factory as long as it has the darker grill. I don't know if the color of the headlight bezels vary or some are just way to yellow over time to see but I like the darker bezel on those also (I feel like there's a light silver and dark gray). Any classy looking concave wheel sets it off.

In regards to the interior, the GS wins with the gauges, seats look more comfortable then the M, the Navi I think wins in the M because it's much newer though, a loaded M has way more features then a GS.


186k on my GS and it still pulled hard. I'm not a crazy driver by any means or race, I just like that power, like when that idiot is in the lane next to you or in front of you and you want to get away and quick.

I have many brand new after market parts for the GS400 from tail lights, leather seat covers, front lip, which would make sense to buy another, but this M is intriguing. I just want to drive the M with no cosmetic modifications until summer and maybe wheels.

I'm also looking at 03-05 FX45's which also suffer from oil consumption & cracked dash boards. The 06-08 fix all those issues but there out of my price range and the most i'd pay is $3,500-$3,800 with 140k max miles. 4x4 and SUV that handles like a G is intriguing also.

Any Y34 M45 owners to chime in?

[Gene Ln]

I have a high mileage M45, at the time of the video 219,345 miles and it still pulls hard, as good as new I doubt it but not bad. The dyno was difficult to get accurately because of one major flaw in the Y34, the transmission could not lock into gear so every time you hit the throttle it would drop a gear and that messes with the true power levels, so this is approximate as best they could tell and I think its low. they initialy said it was 279 but then revised that down.

[EdBwoy]

Holy crap man! I knew the M45 resembled the Mercury Marauder in a way, but that Continental concept looks very similar to the Y34 in shape and layout! So, either Lincoln was lazy and copied a Japanese car (that copied other American cars) or the M45 is somewhat futuristic, lol.
It was a very polarizing design as you'll learn. Not too many people have looked at my car and ignored it at first glance. They either like it or hate it, although I've seen it growing on a few people who absolutely abhorred its looks at first. Obviously, Ilya isn't one of these people.


One thing about the reliability is that as much as they seemed to consume oil when they came out, these are reliable engines when kept up with maintenance. I'd like to hope that the bad ones were all caught and replaced within the warranty period, or that the cars on the road didn't have issues.
I don't know what the magic sauce is, but there have been periods where my VK45DEs showed very minimal oil consumption, if at all.
As a tangent, did you do the maintenance on your GS by yourself? If so, did you always drain out the same amount you put in during oil changes or did you see some oil consumption?

I honstley like the way the M45 comes factory as long as it has the darker grill. I don't know if the color of the headlight bezels vary or some are just way to yellow over time to see but I like the darker bezel on those also (I feel like there's a light silver and dark gray).

A classy car, that is hard to screw up when it comes to wheels. I've seen some that are definitely not my type.
They have silver/grayish grilles from the factory but some people address paint peel by just painting them darker. They should all have dark headlight bezels unless, you're seeing lens glare or plastic fading.

In regards to the interior, the GS wins with the gauges, seats look more comfortable then the M, the Navi I think wins in the M because it's much newer though, a loaded M has way more features then a GS.

I have NAVI in my newer cars, but it's nothing to write home about. I think my phone's google maps trumps OEM Navi any day.
I've been in a GS300 and the seats were definitely nicer. Neither heated nor cooled, but they felt like a nice plush glove cradling for the tush - good for the highway. The M45 one is a tight baseball glove that will ensure you don't slide in corners, and you could get them ventilated.
Ugly is not a word I throw around much, but that is the badge that Lexus gets from me when it comes to the center stack of that period. The dashboard and controls area are repulsive enough to keep you looking nowhere but through the windshield or at that beautiful instrument cluster.


Performance
The M45 will outrun many vehicles from 2003, and even newer ones. Stoplight championships might not be its forte anymore, but passing on the highway is a breeze. Powerfully effortless cruiser that will get you to your destination 8 hours away with a smile although at the back of your mind you'll ask yourself if you could have used a butt pillow to your advantage.

I'm also looking at 03-05 FX45's which also suffer from oil consumption & cracked dash boards. The 06-08 fix all those issues but there out of my price range and the most i'd pay is $3,500-$3,800 with 140k max miles. 4x4 and SUV that handles like a G is intriguing also.

You seem like a V8 person, but I'd recommend an FX35 as well if you care for handling. I've never seen a cheap FX45 but I've seen some crappy ones for big money.
Where I'm from, you can't get a GS300 or GS400 for the price you can get a comparable M45. Typically you get more features, tech and performance Dollar for Dollar in an Infiniti. I reckon reliability is the same, but hey old perceptions stick around and I benefit.
Another thing, a cheap Mercedes is an expensive Mercedes. It will take you to the poorhouse with the neglected things you have to fix. A cheap M45, on the other hand, probably just has bad interior and dented exterior. It's pretty difficult to neglect an M45 to the point it becomes inoperable.
It can be maintained with Nissan components, unlike the Lexus we had that Toyota dealerships wouldn't touch.


Still on performance, segway into the aftermarket...

I have many brand new after market parts for the GS400 from tail lights, leather seat covers, front lip, which would make sense to buy another, but this M is intriguing. I just want to drive the M with no cosmetic modifications until summer and maybe wheels.

Some aftermarket components are shared with other platforms, but if you like cheap mods, the M45 ain't it.
The M45 wasn't traditionally regarded as mod friendly when it came to sound systems either, but these days people are doing things to them. Otherwise, the stock sound system is very... decent.
I'll tell you with no shame that Nakamichi beats BOSE all day, and twice on Sunday.

Oh, and if you ever have adult rear seat passengers, the M45 is surprisingly small inside.
If you've been test driving them, then this probably won't surprise you.


Let us know any exciting prospects you run into, either way this goes.