Lexus IS200 diesel - I just dont get it

Lexus IS200 diesel - I just dont get it

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BE57 TOY

Original Poster:

2,628 posts

148 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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Why are 3 or 4 year old examples with low mileage so cheap?

The equivilent Audis, BMWs and even Fords/Vauxhalls seem to be priced higher.

Presumably being Jap they're more reliable too.

I just dont get it.

Might have to buy one!!

versus

612 posts

149 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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cus they're crap?

Vulgar LS2

1,785 posts

184 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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The diesel only came in manual box, and I presume if buying an exec car you expext it to be an auto.

jonah35

3,940 posts

158 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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they're great cars - the is250 more so

Matt UK

17,745 posts

201 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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It's a pretty crap diesel engine - not that poweful and mpg / cCo2 tax way off the class leaders.

Why drive a weak diesel and get sub-40mpg?

cossy400

3,166 posts

185 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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just got rid of one at work because they hammer fuel. and as stated there manuals

madmover

1,725 posts

185 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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I noticed this and i have to say i think for the price of what they are if your happy driving a manual and you just want a car for driving 'normally' I think they are superb value. comparative cars are alot more and okay you get auto but not everyone wants auto and i dont think the difference in fuel outweighs the cost of buying.I reckon my Mum will come out of her E92 330i saloon for one in the not too distant future as they are great value for money and its all she needs these days as she hardly utilises all of its potential and drives it like it should be driven! Dont think its ever changed gear above 3500rpm! paperbag

tranter5

352 posts

165 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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Do not buy one drove my uncles for the day earlier in the week worst car I have ever driven! he had told me it was bad. its only a year old does 36mpg less around the same as his previous BMW 335d. You can only use 6th gear if your are doing sort of 80-85 mph or it starts struggling. there isnt any power in 1st gear and it feels slow. Much better cars are in its class

BonzoG

1,554 posts

215 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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Do you mean the IS220d? Or the old shape?


My folks had one and as said, the gearing is comical. 6th only ever felt comfortable at around the ton (so I've heard ahem), and in town you were constantly in 1st/2nd gear. Fuel economy was terrible for a modern diesel. 26mpg about town, lucky to push 40 on a relaxed trip up to the Highlands. The thing does weigh nearly 2 tonnes wet though!

However, whilst the electric steering lacks a bit of feel they are lovely to hustle along a back road in despite the weight, and the build quality inside comprehensively sts all over a lot of more expensive metal. With the right options (Mark Levinson + Nav) they are a very nice place to be in.

BE57 TOY

Original Poster:

2,628 posts

148 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
quotequote all
BonzoG said:
Do you mean the IS220d? Or the old shape?


My folks had one and as said, the gearing is comical. 6th only ever felt comfortable at around the ton (so I've heard ahem), and in town you were constantly in 1st/2nd gear. Fuel economy was terrible for a modern diesel. 26mpg about town, lucky to push 40 on a relaxed trip up to the Highlands. The thing does weigh nearly 2 tonnes wet though!

However, whilst the electric steering lacks a bit of feel they are lovely to hustle along a back road in despite the weight, and the build quality inside comprehensively sts all over a lot of more expensive metal. With the right options (Mark Levinson + Nav) they are a very nice place to be in.
No, the current shape chap. 08 plates

BonzoG

1,554 posts

215 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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Sorry - didn't realise they'd released an IS200d not that long ago! Thought from the title you might have meant the old IS200, or mistyped the newer IS220d.

Detuned by 30bhp apparently? With the same gearbox, I doubt that'll be much fun to drive. Involving, but in a 'constantly having to work it' way. Shame.

BE57 TOY

Original Poster:

2,628 posts

148 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
quotequote all
BonzoG said:
Sorry - didn't realise they'd released an IS200d not that long ago! Thought from the title you might have meant the old IS200, or mistyped the newer IS220d.

Detuned by 30bhp apparently? With the same gearbox, I doubt that'll be much fun to drive. Involving, but in a 'constantly having to work it' way. Shame.
Ah dear. I did mean the IS220d and NOT I repeat NOT the IS200d.

Were the above comments for the 2 litres diesel only and not the 2.2?

BonzoG

1,554 posts

215 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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Sorry. hehe

To clarify, my folks had the new shape IS220d, and it was over-geared and under powered but ridiculously nice to be in/steer.

They've just released an IS200d which is still a 2.2 but detuned, and I can only assume it'll be even worse especially if it has the same gearbox.

Otispunkmeyer

12,620 posts

156 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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BonzoG said:
Sorry. hehe

To clarify, my folks had the new shape IS220d, and it was over-geared and under powered but ridiculously nice to be in/steer.

They've just released an IS200d which is still a 2.2 but detuned, and I can only assume it'll be even worse especially if it has the same gearbox.
Are you sure? My parents have a IS220d and love it. It's crap in the snow but all other times it's a pretty nice car to puts around in. I don't know what milage they get mind, but my parents think it does pretty good compared to past cars.

Bit of a clattery engine, but 180bhp and 400Nm isn't exactly under powered.

Baryonyx

18,006 posts

160 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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BonzoG said:
6th only ever felt comfortable at around the ton (so I've heard ahem),
Oh dear, that doesn't sound very good at all, not for a smoker barge in this country.

russy01

4,693 posts

182 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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Parents have one. Bargain for the kit and quality, feels much more special than your standard 3 series and a4. Same with the dealer network.

220d weighs a stupid amount and the gearing is laughable (need to be over 60-70mph in 6th otherwise it labours.)

Performance wise it's not bad, with 180hp and 300lb it pulls nicely once moving. Economy is awful mind, you'll struggle to get 40mpg. Also needs servicing every 9000.

Newer 200d is the same lump and doesn't feel a huge amount different.

V88Dicky

7,305 posts

184 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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Sounds like the IS250 is the one to go for then?

russy01

4,693 posts

182 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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V88Dicky said:
Sounds like the IS250 is the one to go for then?
If you want similar performance, but an autobox then yes. You need to drive them both.

BonzoG

1,554 posts

215 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
quotequote all
Otispunkmeyer said:
Are you sure? My parents have a IS220d and love it. It's crap in the snow but all other times it's a pretty nice car to puts around in. I don't know what milage they get mind, but my parents think it does pretty good compared to past cars.

Bit of a clattery engine, but 180bhp and 400Nm isn't exactly under powered.
Quite sure! My folks loved it too, but couldn't live with the poor economy. I had it for a week and covered a fair chunk of Scotland in it, and loved being in it. It was a lovely place to be sit. They're good fun to throw down a nice back road and they do shift at a fair lick when kept on the boil, but that's precisely the problem. You shouldn't have to work a repmobile, especially not one with as much torque as that. I borrowed it because I wanted something a bit more relaxed than the MX-5 to cover some distance, but felt I'd had to work almost as hard by the end of it.

When I say under powered, I really mean they feel under powered because of the heavy weight and ridiculous gearing. You'd pull up to roundabouts at 15mph in second gear, floor it to make a gap and.... nothing. So you'd change down to first (which seemed oddly short rather than long like the rest of the box) and lurch away a couple of seconds too late.

With an autobox suited to the engine (but keep the tall 6th gear) they'd be a perfect mile muncher - leagues ahead in terms of interior comfort and build IMHO, and very well refined for blasting down the motorway at the silly side of legal speeds. Also quite pleasing on the eye (again, IMHO smile).

russy01 said:
feels much more special than your standard 3 series and a4. Same with the dealer network.
Got it in a nutshell. Just a shame about the drivetrain/economy.

EDLT

15,421 posts

207 months

Saturday 14th January 2012
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BonzoG said:
My folks had one and as said, the gearing is comical. 6th only ever felt comfortable at around the ton (so I've heard ahem), and in town you were constantly in 1st/2nd gear. Fuel economy was terrible for a modern diesel. 26mpg about town, lucky to push 40 on a relaxed trip up to the Highlands. The thing does weigh nearly 2 tonnes wet though!
The one I drove felt much like a normal car, the gearing was slightly longer but I wasn't driving around town in first or second and sixth was fine when you were doing 60+ not 100. And I don't think it weighed two tonnes either, they are pretty close the the 3-series/C-class confused