Lexus IS 200 / 300

[Integroo]

Chaps. I have finally sold my Type R (and it has stung me for a lot of money over the last few months, so I am feeling a little tender - in four months I lost more money than the cost of my next car!).

I have decided to buy cheap, and looking for something interesting, but reliable. I think I have my heart set on a Lexus IS 200 - six cylinder engine and rear wheel drive, Lexus legendary reliability, cheap. Budget is 2k but the cheaper the better.

I had a few questions:

1) Is the 3.0l worth hunting out over the 2.0l? Not fussed re. mpg, the 3.0l is definitely rarer though
2) Manual v auto? Never driven an auto anything before, not totally against it, but I have read it is an old 4 speed. Would I regret not getting a manual? Does the IS 300 come in a manual - can't see any non-autos on autotrader.
3) Which trim? I'm thinking the basic S on small wheels might be the best bet, but maybe going up a trim level to get leather/heated seats might be worthwhile.
4) Anything particular to look out for?

I have my eye on this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... - two owners, FSH, looks pretty good nick.

[Douglas Quaid]

I’ve not owned one but I’ve driven one. Not fast but smooth and nice inside. Good quality shedding.

[kurt535]

Integroo said:

Chaps. I have finally sold my Type R (and it has stung me for a lot of money over the last few months, so I am feeling a little tender - in four months I lost more money than the cost of my next car!).

I have decided to buy cheap, and looking for something interesting, but reliable. I think I have my heart set on a Lexus IS 200 - six cylinder engine and rear wheel drive, Lexus legendary reliability, cheap. Budget is 2k but the cheaper the better.

I had a few questions:

1) Is the 3.0l worth hunting out over the 2.0l? Not fussed re. mpg, the 3.0l is definitely rarer though
2) Manual v auto? Never driven an auto anything before, not totally against it, but I have read it is an old 4 speed. Would I regret not getting a manual? Does the IS 300 come in a manual - can't see any non-autos on autotrader.
3) Which trim? I'm thinking the basic S on small wheels might be the best bet, but maybe going up a trim level to get leather/heated seats might be worthwhile.
4) Anything particular to look out for?

I have my eye on this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... - two owners, FSH, looks pretty good nick.

I own a Lexus IS300 Sportcross. 300 is the better engine over the 200 and bullet proof. BUT you can'r re-chip, etc.
Auto every time although the 300 does feature manual gear change mode.
My 300 came fully loaded - nil options left to buy and that's how they should all come.

Top, top, top car. I will miss mine but refuse to tow with her so have bought a Honda CRV.

[Integroo]

kurt535 said:

I own a Lexus IS300 Sportcross. 300 is the better engine over the 200 and bullet proof. BUT you can'r re-chip, etc.
Auto every time although the 300 does feature manual gear change mode.
My 300 came fully loaded - nil options left to buy and that's how they should all come.

Top, top, top car. I will miss mine but refuse to tow with her so have bought a Honda CRV.

How does the manual gear change mode work? Flappy paddle idea? How is the gearbox - does it feel slow/unsporting?

I think I would regret getting the 2.0l over the 3.0l. I also think the Sportcross would suit my lifestyle best (chucking bikes and camping equipment in the back).

[designforlife]

do you like mpg?

If so, neither is great.

IS300 is the one to go for, IS200 has rubbish mpg and is pretty asthmatic in performance terms.

GS300 may be worth a look also.

[culpz]

Get the '300 if you can. Much better performance for the same economy as the '200. The latter are seriously under-powered for the awful MPG that they will give. They are more rare but impossible to find.

The auto in the IS300 is a 5-speed tip-tronic with buttons on the wheel for up and down shifts. Supposed to be a pretty good 'box and very reliable. Much better than the auto 4-speed slusher in the IS200.

It'd be automatic all the way for me, for one of these. It's a fast little cruiser and the IS300 is automatic or nothing here in the UK. Fuel economy not great but offset that against the fantastic reliability of Lexus and it's a good trade-off.

Parts and consumables can be expensive though. Now, coming from your FN2 Type-R, there is a chance or revising the same experience that you're looking to escape. Parts on these do last longer than other marques though.

[Bandit110]

I have an IS200 and currently looking about for a 250.

The 6 speed manual is a lovely gearbox to use but 4th, 5th and 6th are geared very closely, so 6speed doesnt mean 1000rpm at 70, more like 2,500rpm!

[kurt535]

Integroo said:

kurt535 said:

I own a Lexus IS300 Sportcross. 300 is the better engine over the 200 and bullet proof. BUT you can'r re-chip, etc.
Auto every time although the 300 does feature manual gear change mode.
My 300 came fully loaded - nil options left to buy and that's how they should all come.

Top, top, top car. I will miss mine but refuse to tow with her so have bought a Honda CRV.

How does the manual gear change mode work? Flappy paddle idea? How is the gearbox - does it feel slow/unsporting?

I think I would regret getting the 2.0l over the 3.0l. I also think the Sportcross would suit my lifestyle best (chucking bikes and camping equipment in the back).

yes, sort of flappy paddle.
gearbox is fine. i leave mine in sport mode and drive in auto.she only has 210-ish horses but normal road and m/way no issue.
seat folding is brilliant.
28mpg is my average
i shod mine with michelin cross climates. a truly amazing tyre.

[NDNDNDND]

I was considering an is200 as a 'sensible-ish' car, but stories of an awful drive-by-wire throttle have put me off.

[waynecyclist]

designforlife said:

do you like mpg?

IS200 has rubbish mpg and is pretty asthmatic in performance terms.

^^This, I had one for about 6 months, sounds great but very flat and crap mpg

[Integroo]

Okay, thanks guys. I think I would need to go for the 3.0l.

Open to suggestions from other marques: £1500ish, petrol, interesting in some way (I don't really want a FWD Toyota Avensis or something like that). Looking for reliable and cheap to run (though I am not fussed re. mpg, just want to avoid getting stung with big bills).

[designforlife]

You are deffo in the right area with the Lexi in terms of reliability.

I'm looking to pick up a similar car in the summer, albeit without the need to be interesting as i have the DC5. I've been looking at the Avensis T-spirit.

Anything rwd is going to carry a bit of a price premium, due to them being more desirable to the yoof.

Other suggestions -

honda accord tourer
mitsubishi galant
scooby wagon, poor mpg but at least you get the performance with it
Forester 2.0l turbo

Of those, the forester would be my personal choice, a work colleague picked up a clean one for £1500 a couple months back, and they are fairly swift even in non STI form.

Ultimately any shed is going to cost you a few quid to maintain in the £1k-2k bracket, so just make sure you have a grand or two set aside in the first year to address various bits that need renewing or fixing.

[Integroo]

If I had to spend 2k I would be pretty annoyed! I can afford it though especially without a loan payment.

[designforlife]

Buy as cheap as possible, because whatever you don't spend on the car will absolutely be needed to maintain it.

Parts wise, 90s era mitsubishis (except evos), mazda, and toyota are all reasonably cheap.

You could always go with an old volvo if you want RWD with a load of luggage space.

Or, back in warm watch territory- toyota corolla T-sport, the poor mans type R with toyota reliability.

[culpz]

MX5? MR2?

Can't go much wrong with either. Just keep on top of the rust prevention.

[Integroo]

culpz said:

MX5? MR2?

Can't go much wrong with either. Just keep on top of the rust prevention.

Both my dad and my brother drive MX5s and are encouraging me to buy one! I would prefer an MR2 but it's ridiculously impractical - I spend a lot of weekends exploring the Scottish countryside,and intend to do the North Coast 500 this year, and not sure my girlfriend and I could pack lightly enough...

Other cars i have considered are jaguar x type v6 3.0, but rust and transfer box failures putting me off, Saab 9-5 2.3 aero hot, but fwd. There are also various bmw/mercs but fear the running costs.

[designforlife]

culpz said:

MX5? MR2?

Can't go much wrong with either. Just keep on top of the rust prevention.

and at least on the mx5s, anything that does go wrong is cheap.

My mk2 ate brake calipers and slave cylinders, but nothing super costly ever really went wrong. The rust is the kicker, finding a rust free one at £1500 would take a while.

[ZX10R NIN]

Hi Integroo the IS200 is slow but still can be fun if you find a Sport model they come with a LSD slightly stiffer suspension & manual.

At 2k you can get a very decent one,

Low mileage SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I know I'm bias but CLK's (or C Coupe if you want a hatchback or C Class saloon) are reliable & will be fine maintenance wise.

CLK320 Avantgarde

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK240 Avantgarde

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.5 C230 Coupe SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.2 C320 Coupe SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C320 Coupe Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[culpz]

Integroo said:

Both my dad and my brother drive MX5s and are encouraging me to buy one! I would prefer an MR2 but it's ridiculously impractical - I spend a lot of weekends exploring the Scottish countryside,and intend to do the North Coast 500 this year, and not sure my girlfriend and I could pack lightly enough...

Other cars i have considered are jaguar x type v6 3.0, but rust and transfer box failures putting me off, Saab 9-5 2.3 aero hot, but fwd. There are also various bmw/mercs but fear the running costs.

General rule here is to stay away from the premium brands, for what you're looking for. Or, more specifically, what you're not looking to pay for the privilege.

If you must though, make it a Lexus. Parts on them seem to be developed to last. However, bear in mind that they are quite heavy, so may still go through consumables more than something small and light.

[soad]

Watch dial, anyone?