The Older Lexus That Is Starting To Look Like A Modern Bargain

8 minutes reading

Thursday, 24 Sep 2026 00:30 0 5 autotech

What makes a car a potential modern classic? It has to have panache, unique styling, a killer powertrain, and maybe even a slight cult following that gives it a heightened personality. A car technically has to be between 20 and 25 years old to be considered a classic or antique. It also depends on state laws and emissions regulations. In Georgia, for example, you only qualify for an “Antique” license plate when your car has reached 25 years of age.

The Used Market Right Now

High-angle front 3/4 action shot of 2015 Lexus GS in red driving on road

Lexus

The used market right now is a mess. Brand-new cars are so expensive, the demand for used cars has gone up, resulting in used cars not being as much of a bargain as they once were. This statement mainly applies to SUVs as they’re in high demand. What’s not in high demand are mid-size sedans that could double as sports sedans.

Pricing, Pricing, Pricing

When the current, and last generation, of the Lexus GS 350 came out for the 2013 model year, it had a starting MSRP of a whopping $51,795. It also climbed higher if it had the Luxury or F Sport packages. Now, you can find them all day long for between $12,500 and $20,000, depending on how well-maintained they are and whether they are the rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive variants. Mileage-wise, the best examples of these can span between 80,000 miles and 110,000 miles, but there are some rare examples at 70,000 miles or under. In Lexus usage, though, they’re just in their infancy.

Serious Advantages Over German Competition

While mid-size sedans have had a steep decline in overall value, German mid-size sedans have taken the brunt of the aforementioned decline. Not to mention, the staunch differences in reliability and overall ownership propositions are astonishing. While this generation’s Lexus GS 350 costs nearly the same as a BMW 535i and an Audi A6 from the same era, the cost to fix them is in a completely different ballpark. According to RepairPal, the same 535i that we mentioned costs between $1,500 and $2,000 to maintain annually, whereas the Lexus costs between $600 and $850 a year.

Naturally Aspirated V6 That Hits 60 In Under Six Seconds — And Rarely Breaks

Close-up shot of 2015 Lexus GS engine bay2

Let’s talk powertrains. Part of the reason these are so reliable is how well-maintained and proven their engines are. The Lexus GS 350 is powered by Toyota’s famous naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine that outputs 306 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of impressive torque. Domestically speaking, you could also find this powertrain in the IS 350. The 2013 uses a six-speed automatic while the 2014 to 2015 models use a Sport Direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission, but the all-wheel drive version still retains the six-speed automatic.

A Killer Naturally Aspirated V6

Here’s what makes this naturally aspirated V6 so killer. It employs the use of not only direct injection, but also port fuel injection. This dual-style system helps clean out the intake valves and eliminates the destructive carbon buildup that is commonplace on the Lexus’s German competitors. According to J.D. Power, 2013 has an overall reliability score of 87 out of 100 with the other two model years still within the 80s. Quality and Reliability itself maintains an 89 out of 100, which is next to Porsche when it comes to maintenance and reliability scoring.

This Thing Is Basically A Muscle Car

Now, we’re not technically talking about the 5.0-liter powerhouse, but this thing was built to be almost like a muscle car. Therefore, it has the bones to uphold the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8, even though it has an already impressive V6. Supporting that claim is the very stiff chassis with aluminum control arms, a double-wishbone front suspension system, and a multi-link rear suspension. Again, even though it’s not the V8, you’re still going to get up to 60 quickly with between 5.6 seconds and 5.8 seconds to speak of. The F Sport package adds fuel to the fire with an adaptive variable suspension, 14.0-inch front brake rotors, and even four-wheel steering.

Timeless Interior Features

Shot of 2015 Lexus GS interior showing front cabin and seats

What this generation Lexus GS 350 is great at is keeping a timeless interior coupled with modern touches that you would come to expect from something that was around in the early 2010s. There’s actual stitched leather or the optional semi-aniline hide, real wood trim (the Luxury package features Shimamoku wood), and even an analog clock. Lexus has also always been a class leader when it comes to quietness and comfort, with floor dampening as well as double-sealed doors. All of these features give it that timeless feel coupled with the tech that’s up next.

The Tech That Made the GS 350 Feel Like A Flagship In 2013

For the time, it had a huge infotainment screen. It comes with a widescreen 12.3-inch split-screen center display. This size of screen is what you’ll find on a lot of Toyota products today. The Lexus GS also has the Lexus Remote Touch Haptic joystick as opposed to touch functionality and real buttons for the majority of the controls. Returning to the luxury features, the front seats are 18-way power-adjustable with side bolsters and thigh extenders.

You Can Have It All, After All

If you are desperate for something that has Apple CarPlay, don’t worry, you can have your proverbial cake and eat it too! There are decoders that you can buy for these models that add wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for roughly between $500 and $750. It utilizes the pre-existing screen and also adds steering wheel controls and a backup camera.

General Ownership Costs

The most alluring thing about owning any older Lexus is the sheer lack of ownership costs. The parts in the GS 350 are high-wear items that are shared with the more mainstream Toyota products. Because this is an older car as well, you benefit from an easier engine that you could potentially work on yourself or not pay as much to take it to a shop. There are no dealership diagnostic computer locks or specialized software needed.

No Air Suspension, No Turbos, No Plastic Valve Covers: Why Repairs Rarely Happen

RepairPal says that a catastrophic repair probably won’t happen with a rate of around 5.9 percent. In contrast, most European cars have between 12 and 16 percent that they have to potentially deal with. Some of the most common fail points simply don’t exist on the Lexus GS, such as air suspension bladders and plastic valve covers — and certainly no turbocharger complexity, which not only makes DIY fixes more difficult but also raises the probability of failure.

If Resale Values Could Kill

Side rear 3/4 shot of 2015 Lexus GS in silver parked off-road

This model has been completely discontinued. With the discontinuation of the Lexus LS, their longest standing model, it doesn’t seem like the GS is going to come back any time soon. Therefore, with its discontinuation in 2020 and a cult following continuing to grow, the naturally aspirated V6 has a serious enthusiast following. If you drive it for three years and put 36,000 miles on it, you really are only depreciating it by $900 annually.