2001 LEXUS IS200 SE - advice/opinions?
Discussion
Just had a small bump in my 1998 Toyota avensis, but unfortunetly the insurance company have still wrote it off. I'm now looking for a replacement and I've just seen a LEXUS IS200 SE (2001) advertised on ebay which is sold locally.
I'm looking for something reliable, not too expensive to run, and have about £3000 to spend. I like the look of the Lexus in the pictures I've seen, but don't know much about them.
I'm looking for something reliable, not too expensive to run, and have about £3000 to spend. I like the look of the Lexus in the pictures I've seen, but don't know much about them.
I ran a 2001 (Y) IS200 SE for a year or so
Not a bad car, nothing went wrong with it mechanically, but the alloys have a nasty habit of corroding and needing refurbishment and the drive is not as nice as a 3 series.
Interior is a nice place to be, I had the sat nav which is on a screen that flips up out of the dash - it's not that accurate so I'd not be too concerned about it.
Stereo was excellent although I think I read somewhere that Ipod connectivity is difficult.
Servicing costs were low and the car needed nothing when I sold it with relatively high miles to a PHer who was coming off a company car scheme.
Not a bad car, nothing went wrong with it mechanically, but the alloys have a nasty habit of corroding and needing refurbishment and the drive is not as nice as a 3 series.
Interior is a nice place to be, I had the sat nav which is on a screen that flips up out of the dash - it's not that accurate so I'd not be too concerned about it.
Stereo was excellent although I think I read somewhere that Ipod connectivity is difficult.
Servicing costs were low and the car needed nothing when I sold it with relatively high miles to a PHer who was coming off a company car scheme.
The car I've seen is here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2001-LEXUS-IS200-SE-BLUE_W0Q...
I'm not interested in paying more than 2000 for it, maybe I could get it for less if I offer the seller cash before the auction ends. My only concern before I arrange to have a look at it is the high mileage. How much life should be left in this car?
I'm not interested in paying more than 2000 for it, maybe I could get it for less if I offer the seller cash before the auction ends. My only concern before I arrange to have a look at it is the high mileage. How much life should be left in this car?
).Im hopefully going to look at an IS200 on Saturday, Ive been doing a bit of research and most of the points are covered by people above.
One other thing is that the cambelt interval is 6 years or 60k miles. Apparently they have a habit of chewing cambelts as a result of the tensioner / idler failing.
One other thing is that the cambelt interval is 6 years or 60k miles. Apparently they have a habit of chewing cambelts as a result of the tensioner / idler failing.
They are good cars. I had a 200 and now have a 300.
Alloys corrode but that's only a small job to get fixed.
Look for:
1. Service schedule - Must must must be serviced on time
2. If manual - check the syncro into 2nd - if very notchy then walk
3. Front tyres - they all skin the inside tread blocks - the suspension is set up with camber to make it more pointy at the front - again one of those things
4. Crash damage that has been badly repaired
Alloys corrode but that's only a small job to get fixed.
Look for:
1. Service schedule - Must must must be serviced on time
2. If manual - check the syncro into 2nd - if very notchy then walk
3. Front tyres - they all skin the inside tread blocks - the suspension is set up with camber to make it more pointy at the front - again one of those things
4. Crash damage that has been badly repaired
J-Skid said:
2. If manual - check the syncro into 2nd - if very notchy then walk
To double check this rev it out in 1st and change up quickly. If it baulks at all then as the man has just said walk. It will get much worse.They can be very tatty underneath, though all should be fine it just looks bad and the hubs corrode badly too. All Toyota alloys around that time corroded or buckled. Worth an upgrade with something classy.
The only thing I don't like about these now is that they have become a bit of a chav mobile.
furtive said:
I bought a brand now IS200 Sport in 2003.
Nice car, but my heart told me to buy an Alfa 156 at the time and I wish I had listened to it rather than to my head. Shame the Alfa dealer was completely hopeless
i guarantee though, if you had bought the 156 you'd be wishing you got the lexus a lot more Nice car, but my heart told me to buy an Alfa 156 at the time and I wish I had listened to it rather than to my head. Shame the Alfa dealer was completely hopeless
Seems a few IS owners have popped up on this thread, so Ill ask a few questions, if I may.
Are they any niggly electrical faults that I should keep an eye out for?
Any obvious signs of suspension / bush wear that should be listened out for?
Any areas of bodywork that are prone to rust, Im hoping not?
Whats the fuel consumption like? Is 6th more of a motorway gear, will it do 30ish mpg at 75/80mph?
Cheers.
Are they any niggly electrical faults that I should keep an eye out for?
Any obvious signs of suspension / bush wear that should be listened out for?
Any areas of bodywork that are prone to rust, Im hoping not?
Whats the fuel consumption like? Is 6th more of a motorway gear, will it do 30ish mpg at 75/80mph?
Cheers.
I don't mean to be rude but if £3000 is your top budget, and you insist on a Lexus IS, can you really afford to run one? £3000 is the very bottom of the barrel, well into 100k plus, 10 years old, and more than likely already been in the hands of cheapskate owners territory for me.
For sure it should be reliable, but if a bill were to rear it's head it wouldn't be motor factor money, and it may well be 4 figures. Running costs aren't cheap, neither is annual servicing especially the big service, and alot of parts are main dealer only. Just as long as you are under no misconceptions that you can run one on a E36 BMW 320 budget...
For sure it should be reliable, but if a bill were to rear it's head it wouldn't be motor factor money, and it may well be 4 figures. Running costs aren't cheap, neither is annual servicing especially the big service, and alot of parts are main dealer only. Just as long as you are under no misconceptions that you can run one on a E36 BMW 320 budget...
I'm only interested in the Lexus because it's local and maybe I could pick it up for under 2 grand, but I wouldn't pay more than that and it would have to impress me when I see it.
Are they really that expensive for parts and servicing though?
I would prefer something cheaper to run if I'm going to pay out my full budget.
Are they really that expensive for parts and servicing though?
I would prefer something cheaper to run if I'm going to pay out my full budget.
RD99 said:
I'm only interested in the Lexus because it's local and maybe I could pick it up for under 2 grand, but I wouldn't pay more than that and it would have to impress me when I see it.
Are they really that expensive for parts and servicing though?
I would prefer something cheaper to run if I'm going to pay out my full budget.
I never thought it was that expensive to be honest, compared to the 3 series BMs that we had in the fleet at the time it was pretty reasonable.Are they really that expensive for parts and servicing though?
I would prefer something cheaper to run if I'm going to pay out my full budget.
The only caveat I would say is that Lexus do not seem to do menu pricing, so the servicing costs can vary hugely between dealers (this is assuming you're going to use main dealers - not sure why you would on a 2k snotter but.....)
check out http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/lofiversion...
for a rough guide on service prices, seems to be around 200 quid for all bar the major (300 quid) a cambelt is 200 or so.
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