Lexus IS200

[alwayzsidewayz]

Thinking about getting one, The first generation model.

Looking at getting a manual sport model

Tops going to pay 3.5k

Never driven one before so going to drive a few before making mind up 100%, any one got any feedback? owned one etc.

I know that they are not the quickest or best handling, but being honest thats not my overall priority just at the minute.

[GT Kodiak]

Hey Rich,

Someone started a thread about getting a Toyota Altezza not to long ago (same car but the lexus comes with more toys right?).

If i remember correctly main comments were:

Bulletproof Engine
Thirsty considering the performance

I guess for a mile muncher it wouldn't be bad...

I do hoping you're not thinking of trading int he Celica for one? ;p

[alwayzsidewayz]

It will be a replacement for my astra mainly.

anyone got a link to the other thread, search not found nada

[GT Kodiak]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Here's one but strangely not the one I was thinking of...

[alwayzsidewayz]

Cheers mate,

After chatting with a few guys in the know, I am pretty much sold on the 6 pot version.

I want a nice chilled drive, and while the extra power of the beams sounds good, I dont want to be threashing the nuts of it.

going to get a manual, Sport AFAIK comes with lowered rear suspension and LSD, and a few have the body kit too.

Be a step up from a M plate base model Mk3 Astra!

[Heaveho]

Hi, I used to work for Lexus, and, as stated, they are virtually bulletproof. Drop links can knock, and ignition switches collapse if it's an early model. If you need any further reassurance, I currently own an '04 plate IS300 among other things, and plan to keep it for 5 more years. They're very reliable, and the 6 cylinder in particular is a very pleasant drive.

[GT Kodiak]

I'd love one of these as it's more practical with the little one now but the girlfriend hates the styling, says it's an "Old mans car"...

Yet she likes Accords

Let me know what you find in your searches Rich

[alwayzsidewayz]

Heaveho said:

Hi, I used to work for Lexus, and, as stated, they are virtually bulletproof. Drop links can knock, and ignition switches collapse if it's an early model. If you need any further reassurance, I currently own an '04 plate IS300 among other things, and plan to keep it for 5 more years. They're very reliable, and the 6 cylinder in particular is a very pleasant drive.

Thank you, thats very reasuring to hear. I am looking for a nice relaxing cruiser so it fits the bill perfectly!
I am tempted by the IS300, as a few are within my budget, How does the auto drive? its been years since I owned an auto car so I have some very old ideas about the way they go..
its only a little bit dearer on car tax and I dont do that many miles re the mpg difference.

Gareth, will let you know fella, btw Jap and Rwd whats not too love for you? :-)

[mgmrw2003]

alwayzsidewayz said:

Never driven one before so going to drive a few before making mind up 100%, any one got any feedback? owned one etc.

I know that they are not the quickest or best handling, but being honest thats not my overall priority just at the minute.

Was wondering exactly the same as one of my mates is looking at spending £2500 on either an IS200 or a Focus (yeah I know) as his commuter for 60miles a day. As he is car illiterate, asked me for feedback, and IS200 wise I was stumped

[alwayzsidewayz]

Going to test drive a couple on Saturday, so will report back.

[Heaveho]

Hi, the auto's lovely, fuel wise I haven't done the maths, but it uses £70 worth of fuel to get from my house in Southampton to my flat in Newcastle ( 335 miles ). It's a very relaxing, painless ownership prospect. I also have an Evo 8 and a Lexus IS-F at my disposal, and taking the IS300 ( ours is a Sportcross for the dog ) is no hardship.

[cptsideways]

IS200's are super slow..... but lovely cars otherwise. Not much if anything goes wrong, lovely interiors & a quality feel to whole thing.

[Heaveho]

Yeah, the 200 is tortoise, we tried one when they were nearly new and ruled it out because of that, needs to be the six in my opinion.

[gareth_r]

Heaveho said:

Yeah, the 200 is tortoise, we tried one when they were nearly new and ruled it out because of that, needs to be the six in my opinion.

The 200 is a six...

[Heaveho]

Lol, I'm tired.......pardon my foolishness!

[alwayzsidewayz]

Driven and looked at a few today.
To be honest my budget means I am looking at older leggy examples, but the ones I saw looked very good still, everything still worked and they drove well.
The part leather trim appears to stand up well to high miles and driving wise they are perfect for me.
I agree that they are far from quick, but as a mile muncher they are great, I took one up a B road and despite its 122k miles, it handled fairly crisply.

I prefer SE trim over Sport, purely as the ride was better, and they are a bit cheaper. The S version has much better headroom though, without the sunroof.

They have a bit of charactor compared to the other 4 door jap saloons I looked at inc Accords etc, I think mainly due to the engine.

And Sadly yes the Celica will be going up for sale Gareth, I dont have the heart for it any more.

thanks all for the advice

[e36er]

I bought myself an IS200 Sport in January and I've certainly not regretted it. The sport models seem to hold their value slightly better than the SE models so you're likely to find yourself something a little tidier if you can live without the extras the sport comes with. As mentioned before, they're not a quick car, but they do sound well if nothing else!

They've 6 gears but 4th, 5th and 6th are very close together so at 70 it's revving at just over 3k. I've not yet managed to get over 26mpg yet, usually around 23 and that's using V Power or Tesco 99. Handling wise they're ok, but ultimately don't seem to have that much grip. That may be down to weighing around 1500kg and have 215s fitted. They don't really understeer, but don't have the power to generate any decent oversteer. However, in the wet with the TC off it's a different story. It's the first car I've had with a LSD and it's something I'm really going to miss going back to an open diff - in the dry it gives great traction pulling away and in the wet it makes me feel/believe I'm a drifting God!

All in all I think it's a great car for the money, it has its downsides but I think they're outweighted by its upsides. The only other alternative I considered was a fairly lowly e46, but the IS just feels that bit more special. If you're ever in Essex you're more than welcome to take it for a spin.