Lexus IS200 next - good call?
Discussion
I'm looking at buying a Lexus IS200 next, and wondered if other people thought it would be suitable given my circumstances, which I'll briefly explain.
I've only owned a few cars previously - a MK2 1.3 Golf, an M Reg 1.3 Fiesta, an R Reg 1.4 Fiesta, and now driving a W Reg 1.4 Polo!
I don't do many miles at all (about 8 miles a day and up to 50 miles a day at weekends but generally much less) so fuel thirsty doesn't worry me. Some say they're not that quick for what they are, but given my car history I doubt I'll be disappointed?
I've got £2k cash to spend and I really can't afford to spend a penny more. That should see me with a 51 reg with avg. mileage for the age.
The car doesn't need to go on for ever, as long as it lasts me the next 2yrs I'll be well happy.
What do you reckon for something stylish, well equipped, quicker than previous cars, nice to drive, and good overall reliability? Lexus IS200 a good call?
I've only owned a few cars previously - a MK2 1.3 Golf, an M Reg 1.3 Fiesta, an R Reg 1.4 Fiesta, and now driving a W Reg 1.4 Polo!
I don't do many miles at all (about 8 miles a day and up to 50 miles a day at weekends but generally much less) so fuel thirsty doesn't worry me. Some say they're not that quick for what they are, but given my car history I doubt I'll be disappointed?
I've got £2k cash to spend and I really can't afford to spend a penny more. That should see me with a 51 reg with avg. mileage for the age.
The car doesn't need to go on for ever, as long as it lasts me the next 2yrs I'll be well happy.
What do you reckon for something stylish, well equipped, quicker than previous cars, nice to drive, and good overall reliability? Lexus IS200 a good call?
I've driven the IS200 and the IS300.
They are very reliable, very well screwed together and the engine seems unstressed which helps for reliability....
Comfortable places to be for a long drive as well.
Nice dealers, even on older cars they seem to be pretty good. I hear some spares can be pricey but no worse than a German marque.
They are very reliable, very well screwed together and the engine seems unstressed which helps for reliability....
Comfortable places to be for a long drive as well.
Nice dealers, even on older cars they seem to be pretty good. I hear some spares can be pricey but no worse than a German marque.
I've owned an IS200 for 8 years wihtout any problems.
I took my X reg IS200 from 40k right through to 145k. As long as you buy a good one, you'll only be replacing consumables- tyres, brakes etc. Servicing on these are every 10k/12 months and yeah the IS200 is heavy on petrol.
One thing to watch on these is that the timing belt needs replacing every 60k- so make sure the car that you are looking at has had this work done. 3 items need doing when doing a timing belt change on the IS200- the timing belt, idler and tensioner. Some people get the water pump done at the same time at the timing belt change, as to change the water pump is a timing belt off job.
Also look for excessive inside tyre wear on the front- if the car has excessive inner tyre wear, then the geometry needs setting up- someone like Wheels-in-motion can set the geometry, in fact they rewrote the geometry settings for the IS200 as the factory settings were wrong.
You won't win any races with an IS200- it only has 150bhp, unless you go for the IS300. Go for the SE/Sport spec, avoid the S spec, as its the basic spec. The cabin of the IS200 is a nice place to be in- very comfortable.
Plenty more info on the IS200 at: www.lexusownersclub.co.uk and also www.outlawjapclub.co.uk
I took my X reg IS200 from 40k right through to 145k. As long as you buy a good one, you'll only be replacing consumables- tyres, brakes etc. Servicing on these are every 10k/12 months and yeah the IS200 is heavy on petrol.
One thing to watch on these is that the timing belt needs replacing every 60k- so make sure the car that you are looking at has had this work done. 3 items need doing when doing a timing belt change on the IS200- the timing belt, idler and tensioner. Some people get the water pump done at the same time at the timing belt change, as to change the water pump is a timing belt off job.
Also look for excessive inside tyre wear on the front- if the car has excessive inner tyre wear, then the geometry needs setting up- someone like Wheels-in-motion can set the geometry, in fact they rewrote the geometry settings for the IS200 as the factory settings were wrong.
You won't win any races with an IS200- it only has 150bhp, unless you go for the IS300. Go for the SE/Sport spec, avoid the S spec, as its the basic spec. The cabin of the IS200 is a nice place to be in- very comfortable.
Plenty more info on the IS200 at: www.lexusownersclub.co.uk and also www.outlawjapclub.co.uk
Edited by kam05 on Wednesday 30th May 12:06
Edited by kam05 on Wednesday 30th May 12:07
I bought one as a motorway cruiser. As said above the cabin is a nice place to be and well put together. Nothing ever went wrong - I don't think it even blew a bulb. If you use the dealer network then servicing can be very expensive.
However it was soulless. There was no feeling of connection with the road through the suspension and no feeling of connection with the engine through the accellerator pedal. The only car out of many I've bought that I consider to have been a mistake and the one I got rid of quickest. As said above they drink fuel alarmingly fast considering the performance isn't commensurately quick.
However it was soulless. There was no feeling of connection with the road through the suspension and no feeling of connection with the engine through the accellerator pedal. The only car out of many I've bought that I consider to have been a mistake and the one I got rid of quickest. As said above they drink fuel alarmingly fast considering the performance isn't commensurately quick.
Edited by UnderTheRadar on Thursday 31st May 09:37
Thanks for the replies, it's reassuring that where ever I go online, whatever forum or website I can't find anything negative about the reliability of the IS200. It certainly looks like I'll be headed towards one for my next car!
Given that the two cars I've only really driven are a 55bhp 1.3 MK2 Golf, and a 75bhp Polo, should I ignore comments about them not being that quick? I'm assuming that given my car history, a Lexus IS200 would be silly quick??
I do like the equipment levels in the Lexus too, heated seats standard, good stereo etc. Do they have CD changers as standard? IIRC they have them built in to the head unit or something??
I have to stop looking on autotrader, I've seen a few silver ones (one W and one 51 reg) with dark 5-spoke alloys and they both look lovely!
Given that the two cars I've only really driven are a 55bhp 1.3 MK2 Golf, and a 75bhp Polo, should I ignore comments about them not being that quick? I'm assuming that given my car history, a Lexus IS200 would be silly quick??
I do like the equipment levels in the Lexus too, heated seats standard, good stereo etc. Do they have CD changers as standard? IIRC they have them built in to the head unit or something??
I have to stop looking on autotrader, I've seen a few silver ones (one W and one 51 reg) with dark 5-spoke alloys and they both look lovely!
bigukg said:
Given that the two cars I've only really driven are a 55bhp 1.3 MK2 Golf, and a 75bhp Polo, should I ignore comments about them not being that quick? I'm assuming that given my car history, a Lexus IS200 would be silly quick??
The engine is not very 'torquey' so doesn't feel massively powerful. You need to rev it to get the best performance. As such it will be easy to get used to from a less powerful vehicle.My first experience of an IS200 was when I was used to driving a 60bhp Ford Ka. Had no problems with the Lexus' power (other than loving the extra speed when you get the engine spinning fast!)
I have wanted my own IS200 ever since, and was very tempted by a titanium grey one the other day, but the small boot and poor fuel economy sadly don't fit my circumstances at the moment. Its a fab car though
Both IS200 and IS300 engines are belt driven- not chain driven.
The IS200/300 comes with a 6-disc (in-dash) CD hi-fi unit- there's no multichanger to be found in the boot or in the glovebox. If the factory headunit is showing an ERR3 message that basically means that the unit is goosed. When most people get an ERR3 message on the headunit they replace the factory unit with an aftermarket system.
You can get a lot of bass out of the standard hi-fi system in the IS200 if that's your thing.
The IS200/300 comes with a 6-disc (in-dash) CD hi-fi unit- there's no multichanger to be found in the boot or in the glovebox. If the factory headunit is showing an ERR3 message that basically means that the unit is goosed. When most people get an ERR3 message on the headunit they replace the factory unit with an aftermarket system.
You can get a lot of bass out of the standard hi-fi system in the IS200 if that's your thing.
Thanks for that comparison,
I have looked at Bora TDI 150's for torque and tunability (e.g. re-map!) but they're out of my budget - I would have to go and beg the bank to lend me some money to get one of those, and I'd like to try to avoid that.
Plus, as my circumstances allow for a juicy petrol car I don't see the point in a sensible diesel. (Although, torque figures are so attractive I do sometimes think a small loan might be a good idea).
Has anybody had problems with their Lexus being vandalised? They're apparently the most vandalised car there is, but I suspect this is now well out of date?
Kam - I do like a sound system to have a bit of a kick to it (because I like music with a bit of a kick of bass!) but so many put volume before sound quality! One of my mates likes drum and bass (not a big fan myself tbh prefer stuff like Katy B!!!), he has a massive great sub in his boot and always has it so loud! It shakes and rattles interior trim on the car and sound quality is non existent, it's shocking! I'd rather have the bass turned down a bit sensible and retain some sound quality. I hate listening to speakers bottom out so I dont' tend to put them past their limits.
I have looked at Bora TDI 150's for torque and tunability (e.g. re-map!) but they're out of my budget - I would have to go and beg the bank to lend me some money to get one of those, and I'd like to try to avoid that.
Plus, as my circumstances allow for a juicy petrol car I don't see the point in a sensible diesel. (Although, torque figures are so attractive I do sometimes think a small loan might be a good idea).
Has anybody had problems with their Lexus being vandalised? They're apparently the most vandalised car there is, but I suspect this is now well out of date?
Kam - I do like a sound system to have a bit of a kick to it (because I like music with a bit of a kick of bass!) but so many put volume before sound quality! One of my mates likes drum and bass (not a big fan myself tbh prefer stuff like Katy B!!!), he has a massive great sub in his boot and always has it so loud! It shakes and rattles interior trim on the car and sound quality is non existent, it's shocking! I'd rather have the bass turned down a bit sensible and retain some sound quality. I hate listening to speakers bottom out so I dont' tend to put them past their limits.
Edited by bigukg on Thursday 31st May 09:37
My daily is an IS300. It has been totally reliable. It is also a good blend as an all rounder - swift enough, quiet, effortless, auto mode for traffic, tiptronic if you want to push on, handles well. For an everyday family hack they are great.
The only issue I have discovered is the factory fit CD player. Not sure who made the CDs but they could do with being replaced with something better. Alpine or something would be an improvement.
The only issue I have discovered is the factory fit CD player. Not sure who made the CDs but they could do with being replaced with something better. Alpine or something would be an improvement.
It looks more and more like an IS200 is going to be the best choice the more I look in to it to be honest!
I'll be looking seriously in to buying one when I get paid on June 25th (I've been saving for a few months, but can only afford to spend the £2k I'll have by then on a car). I'm going away on holiday at the end of September but I want the IS200 for the 6 weeks or so before then to get some miles in!
lol - no partridge jokes here yet but I've seen plenty on other forums! (So we don't need them here =p)
I don't see why there's such a thing about that - AP isn't like Ian Huntley or Harold Shipman etc etc.
I'll be looking seriously in to buying one when I get paid on June 25th (I've been saving for a few months, but can only afford to spend the £2k I'll have by then on a car). I'm going away on holiday at the end of September but I want the IS200 for the 6 weeks or so before then to get some miles in!
lol - no partridge jokes here yet but I've seen plenty on other forums! (So we don't need them here =p)
I don't see why there's such a thing about that - AP isn't like Ian Huntley or Harold Shipman etc etc.
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