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 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.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.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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