RE: SOTW Lexus IS200
Discussion
Had one of these new in 2002, same spec 3 series was nearly £5k more money, was a no brainer, 3 years and 70k later was still like new, Toyota running costs and Lexus service levels, nothing not to loke, was a lovely refined place to be, drove nicely, looked good and was roomy enough .... would have one as a shed any day if the right one came up and I had a need ....
Had one of these new in 2002, same spec 3 series was nearly £5k more money, was a no brainer, 3 years and 70k later was still like new, Toyota running costs and Lexus service levels, nothing not to loke, was a lovely refined place to be, drove nicely, looked good and was roomy enough .... would have one as a shed any day if the right one came up and I had a need ....
FlashBastd said:
I ran an IS300 for about 8 months, it was without doubt my worst ever motoring decision. Bought at 3yrs old, 29k for £12k, sold 8 months later (took that long to find a buyer) for £8.5k. I hated it that much.
211 BHP - check
RWD - check
LSD - check
Dull as dishwater - check
Incredibly naff hard plastic interior - check
ESP that you can't turn off, and that beeps at you when activated - check
Incredibly thirsty even when driven gently - check
Quick, yes, but no character whatsoever. Also incredibly juicy. A cheaper more reliable 3 series it is not.
I don't agree - I ran two of these from new (a 200 and then a 300) one for several years and loved them both. The 300 was reasonbaly quick, comfy and well built. Dynamically it wasn't as good as a 330i, but it had a few nice things like a proper LSD. 211 BHP - check
RWD - check
LSD - check
Dull as dishwater - check
Incredibly naff hard plastic interior - check
ESP that you can't turn off, and that beeps at you when activated - check
Incredibly thirsty even when driven gently - check
Quick, yes, but no character whatsoever. Also incredibly juicy. A cheaper more reliable 3 series it is not.
One area Lexus dominate is the dealer service - top drawrer doesn't even come close, which is why I will be looking at them again when when the BMW goes back - the dealers are total crap.
On the downside.............Alan Partridge...........
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YllyBr_4Kxk
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YllyBr_4Kxk
Edited by thewheelman on Friday 27th July 11:12
They're only 150hp? Really?
Good perceived-price to actual-price ratio though, I wouldn't have pegged these in shed land.
ESP that beeps when off = no ta. I find cars are more predictable with it off. I kerbed the missus' 3 series when it decided to give me understeer instead of oversteer on the apex of a roundybout
Good perceived-price to actual-price ratio though, I wouldn't have pegged these in shed land.
ESP that beeps when off = no ta. I find cars are more predictable with it off. I kerbed the missus' 3 series when it decided to give me understeer instead of oversteer on the apex of a roundybout
Being a Sport it should also have an LSD.
I looked at a few before I bought my ATR, like the front end styling, not keen on the rear lights or the interior really though.
I did a bit of research and coil packs were a reasonably common fault, new ones were very expensive from what I can remember too.
They drive nicely though, nice mechanical gear change, engine sounds good, but does need to be worked to get the 150bhp working though.
I looked at a few before I bought my ATR, like the front end styling, not keen on the rear lights or the interior really though.
I did a bit of research and coil packs were a reasonably common fault, new ones were very expensive from what I can remember too.
They drive nicely though, nice mechanical gear change, engine sounds good, but does need to be worked to get the 150bhp working though.
thewheelman said:
An SLK for £1500! That would have been a bag of s
te, even rough ones still go for over £3k. As for the prices of the other cars you mention, they've all been around those prices for quite sometime.
It was actually a decent example mate, 97 'P' Reg, Silver, Read Leather, 230 Kompressor model.te, even rough ones still go for over £3k. As for the prices of the other cars you mention, they've all been around those prices for quite sometime.It did have 160k on the clock, but lady owner and FSH. She had been given a company car, with no room on the drive, so was desperate to sell. Was up at £2k originally, but she came down to £1500....
My point is that you can get so much car for so little cash these days, and some people are not aware of that fact....
I had a sport for three years and really enjoyed driving it. Could of done with a bit more power tho, and it was thirsty and ate tyres.
Three happy years of motoring - including a trip to Lemans four up crammed with luggage. And it needed nothing other than tyres and servicing!
Then I got sick of the Alan Partridge and old man jokes, so replaced it with a Civic Type R. Now I miss the smooth ride, reliability and comfort. Does this mean I am actually old?!
Three happy years of motoring - including a trip to Lemans four up crammed with luggage. And it needed nothing other than tyres and servicing!
Then I got sick of the Alan Partridge and old man jokes, so replaced it with a Civic Type R. Now I miss the smooth ride, reliability and comfort. Does this mean I am actually old?!
Edited by bumrar on Friday 27th July 12:06
pSyCoSiS said:
thewheelman said:
An SLK for £1500! That would have been a bag of ste, even rough ones still go for over £3k. As for the prices of the other cars you mention, they've all been around those prices for quite sometime.
It was actually a decent example mate, 97 'P' Reg, Silver, Read Leather, 230 Kompressor model.te, even rough ones still go for over £3k. As for the prices of the other cars you mention, they've all been around those prices for quite sometime.It did have 160k on the clock, but lady owner and FSH. She had been given a company car, with no room on the drive, so was desperate to sell. Was up at £2k originally, but she came down to £1500....
My point is that you can get so much car for so little cash these days, and some people are not aware of that fact....
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