Lexus IS300 Sport Cross, what has ownership been like?

[CEB011]

Hello Lexus owner's,

I am wondering what ownership has been like for an IS300 Sport Cross as I am looking at getting one for my next daily and I would like to know what the trial and tribulations of ownership has been like, any and all tid bits of information is appreciated!

[Truckosaurus]

Seeing as there's a grand total of one (1) Sport Cross for sale on the Autotrader I suspect the bigger problem would be finding one to buy.

If you can find one it'll be a better ownership proposition than a similar aged BMW or Mercedes.

Also, we are not puritans with speech impediments like the Americans, the word is titbit

Edited by Truckosaurus on Tuesday 18th July 14:11

[griffsomething]

Had the saloon version of the IS300 for a few years.

Fantastically comfortable seats.

The 2JZ had a lovely bassy startup and idle.

With the LSD mine had it did amazing tight and fast donuts.

For what is now an oldish car, it felt very safe, solid and cosseting.

The most troublesome it got in 3 years of owning it was the CD changer kept getting stuck, and the rear mirrors didn’t always dip when going into reverse

Until….

Gearbox eventually left a massive pool of oil on the floor and couldn’t be fixed by local garage, even after they put a new one in. Lost patience and swapped it for an IS200 - reviver and with a nice manual box, but definitely missed the bigger straight six of the 300.

[CEB011]

griffsomething said:

Had the saloon version of the IS300 for a few years.

Fantastically comfortable seats.

The 2JZ had a lovely bassy startup and idle.

With the LSD mine had it did amazing tight and fast donuts.

For what is now an oldish car, it felt very safe, solid and cosseting.

The most troublesome it got in 3 years of owning it was the CD changer kept getting stuck, and the rear mirrors didn’t always dip when going into reverse

Until….

Gearbox eventually left a massive pool of oil on the floor and couldn’t be fixed by local garage, even after they put a new one in. Lost patience and swapped it for an IS200 - reviver and with a nice manual box, but definitely missed the bigger straight six of the 300.

Fair enough, I appreciate the response! Did you not consider manual swapping once the auto box went? What was the running cost like?

How is the IS200? Do you daily it?

[CEB011]

Truckosaurus said:

Seeing as there's a grand total of one (1) Sport Cross for sale on the Autotrader I suspect the bigger problem would be finding one to buy.

If you can find one it'll be a better ownership proposition than a similar aged BMW or Mercedes.

Also, we are not puritans with speech impediments like the Americans, the word is titbit

Edited by Truckosaurus on Tuesday 18th July 14:11

I have seen a few for sale in eBay, FB marketplace and Autotrader. So there are a few around.

Considering I have looked at E46 tourings how would the ownership be better?

Apologies, I didn't mean for the working to come across as fancy or jargon. But thank you for the correction.

[Truckosaurus]

CEB011 said:

....
Considering I have looked at E46 tourings how would the ownership be better?....

I've owned a ten year old E46 (ten years ago) and parts were failing and it was starting to rust. I currently have a 16 year old Lexus IS250 where everything works perfectly.

[griffsomething]

CEB011 said:

Fair enough, I appreciate the response! Did you not consider manual swapping once the auto box went? What was the running cost like?

How is the IS200? Do you daily it?

I briefly considered it and should have swapped it - was a lovely car. Think they might have manual versions of the 300 in the states maybe, or remember pricing up 350Z gearbox swap kits but didn’t go any further.

Kept the 200 for about a year after. Interior was not as nice and felt a lot more downmarket compared to the 300 somehow. (300 was leather everywhere and lots of toys, 200 a lot more basic)

Then it started running hot and going a bit rusty (suspect this will be number one thing to worry about when trying to find one) so part exed 200 in for an E46 330i. Which predictably many years later is now also looking full of rust

[CEB011]

Truckosaurus said:

I've owned a ten year old E46 (ten years ago) and parts were failing and it was starting to rust. I currently have a 16 year old Lexus IS250 where everything works perfectly.

How has your ownership been with the IS250, what are running costs like, what's the driving experience like?

[CEB011]

griffsomething said:

I briefly considered it and should have swapped it - was a lovely car. Think they might have manual versions of the 300 in the states maybe, or remember pricing up 350Z gearbox swap kits but didn’t go any further.

Kept the 200 for about a year after. Interior was not as nice and felt a lot more downmarket compared to the 300 somehow. (300 was leather everywhere and lots of toys, 200 a lot more basic)

Then it started running hot and going a bit rusty (suspect this will be number one thing to worry about when trying to find one) so part exed 200 in for an E46 330i. Which predictably many years later is now also looking full of rust

That is fair enough, that's interesting I haven't looked at an IS200 but I thought it was worth an as, I should stick to IS300s then?

I know this isn't the BMW thread but, how has your ownership been of the E46 330i I have looked at tourings, but I've read very mixed things about owners.

[Truckosaurus]

CEB011 said:

How has your ownership been with the IS250, what are running costs like, what's the driving experience like?

I've had it 6 years and other than consumables it has only needed 3 brake calipers (at £90 each) and a couple of bulbs.

Driving experience is more leisurely than the E46, but still nicer than a FWD 4 cylinder saloon.

The mk1IS200/300 was a bit more 'sporty' I believe.

The best advert for the IS250 is that I bought it as a cheap stopgap and still have it 6 years later and can't think of anything nicer to replace it with that isn't hugely expensive and vastly more exotic.

[CEB011]

Truckosaurus said:

I've had it 6 years and other than consumables it has only needed 3 brake calipers (at £90 each) and a couple of bulbs.

Driving experience is more leisurely than the E46, but still nicer than a FWD 4 cylinder saloon.

The mk1IS200/300 was a bit more 'sporty' I believe.

The best advert for the IS250 is that I bought it as a cheap stopgap and still have it 6 years later and can't think of anything nicer to replace it with that isn't hugely expensive and vastly more exotic.

That is fair enough, I do appreciate the response. Would you rate the driving experience of an E46 higher than the Lexus? That is definitely reassuring as multiple people I have spoken to have said repair costs are fairly low and reliability is top notch with Lexus.

[griffsomething]

CEB011 said:

That is fair enough, that's interesting I haven't looked at an IS200 but I thought it was worth an as, I should stick to IS300s then?

I know this isn't the BMW thread but, how has your ownership been of the E46 330i I have looked at tourings, but I've read very mixed things about owners.

If you don’t mind an automatic box (at least until you if/when manual swap it if that’s your plan), then absolutely wait to find a good 300 over a 200 yep.

I’m probably not really a good enough driver to gauge the differences in chassis of IS vs E46 to be honest - from what I can remember I think the BMW cornered flatter and had more steering feel but they’re both good enough considering they are normal saloons not sports cars!

2JZ felt torquier than M54 330i, M54 felt happier to rev.

Mines been pretty reliable, just going rusty around the sills.

So basically, both chassis are nice, six pot, getting retro but still safe and comfy, not overloaded with tech/eco gubbins, decent driving cars, and in my ownership at least, both reliable and both rust prone

[CEB011]

griffsomething said:

If you don’t mind an automatic box (at least until you if/when manual swap it if that’s your plan), then absolutely wait to find a good 300 over a 200 yep.

I’m probably not really a good enough driver to gauge the differences in chassis of IS vs E46 to be honest - from what I can remember I think the BMW cornered flatter and had more steering feel but they’re both good enough considering they are normal saloons not sports cars!

2JZ felt torquier than M54 330i, M54 felt happier to rev.

Mines been pretty reliable, just going rusty around the sills.

So basically, both chassis are nice, six pot, getting retro but still safe and comfy, not overloaded with tech/eco gubbins, decent driving cars, and in my ownership at least, both reliable and both rust prone

I'm not overly fussed about auto if the box is decent, and if I was to keep it long term (which is my plan) I am open to manual swapping it.

Alright thank you, it's nice to hear both drive pretty decent. I would have thought the M54 is torquier than 2JZ. That's nice to hear both are pretty reliable, I have read mixed things in the E46 and the owners form in Facebook was not overly helpful.

Thanks for the response it really helps!