Should I buy a Lexus IS200?

tommiejoie

Hi.
I know there've been many of these threads before, but I wanted to get the general opinion of people on what you make of the IS200.

I'm itching to upgrade from my 97 Escort 1.4 Ghia before I've to put it up for the NCT later this year. Its a great car, fantastic on the road but I know to pass the NCT will take a few hundred quid and I dont think its worth it. The car is only worth 759-ish I suppose, and thats if I could even sell it.

I've been looking around at a few cars, A3's, TT's, 3 Series and then I thought of the Lexus IS200. I found one for sale locally so went for a look. An 01 SE model, Jap import. . To a certain extent it looks dated but my budget isnt that massive. Its well kitted out, very very tidy. I appreciate nice cars but I'm far from the boy racer type and wouldnt like to be associated as such (no offence mind, its just not me).

I could take it away for 6000, but I'm not sure if thats good value. Despite the quality of the car, and the decent spec, it still 9 years old. I could get a more standard car, corolla or something like that of more recent vintage for similar money but I dont know if I'd be all together happy with it.

Anyway, I'd appreciate peoples thoughts on this. Thanks.

mullingar

Is it the 2.0 6 cylinder or the 4 cylinder "beams" engine?

The 6 cylinder is very smooth but very thirsty.

Atomic Pineapple

€6k sounds a bit expensive for the 150bhp version, the is200 is a thirsty car and you've mentioned TT'S, I'd take a TT over an is200 every time!

Mr Benevolent

Avoid. They look a lot better than they drive, and they don't look that good

colm_mcm

The 2.0 engine is underpowered, and the junior exec image has been transformed into boy racer diffing image.
Not as fast as it should be, thirsty enough but I suppose I'd still have one over a 320i.

tommiejoie

mullingar wrote: »

Is it the 2.0 6 cylinder or the 4 cylinder "beams" engine?

The 6 cylinder is very smooth but very thirsty.

Think its the 6 cylinder, it did feel very smooth.

draffodx wrote: »

€6k sounds a bit expensive for the 150bhp version, the is200 is a thirsty car and you've mentioned TT'S, I'd take a TT over an is200 every time!

I'm thinking 6k is a lot. Dont think the GF-factor is a fan of the older TT's. I think theyre quite nice, but not sure I could live with one for several years.

Confab wrote: »

Avoid. They look a lot better than they drive, and they don't look that good

I thinik they look good, and drive good too!

colm_mcm wrote: »

The 2.0 engine is underpowered, and the junior exec image has been transformed into boy racer diffing image.
Not as fast as it should be, thirsty enough but I suppose I'd still have one over a 320i.

I really dont want the dodgy image. I know its something silly, right up there with what colour it is, but there are some things one just cant live with.

colm_mcm

If it's an IS200 it'll the the 6 cylinder engine. there was only one engine option.

mullingar

colm_mcm wrote: »

If it's an IS200 it'll the the 6 cylinder engine. there was only one engine option.

Correct if it was an original Irish car, OP said it's a jap import so somebody could have rebadged it from an Altezza to a IS200 so it's either a 4-pot or a 6-pot.

colm_mcm

Yep, if it's a Jap import then it's not a Lexus, it's a Toyota. There's no point in buying an Altezza unless it's a manual BEAMS,

VolvoMan

colm_mcm wrote: »

If it's an IS200 it'll the the 6 cylinder engine. there was only one engine option.

What about the IS300?

I always thought they were a nice looking car but have an engine that, while smooth, is entirely gutless.

martydunf

Id say avoid it as well. You'd probably pick up a fairly nice 3 series for that money.

The MPG from the IS200 just doesnt justify its performance It also has bad rep thanks to the boy racers.

EDIT: Re-read post. If its BEAMS then maybe

tommiejoie

The 3 series was my original preference but I've found it difficult to find a quality spec that I'd be happy with. I've spotted a few more that come in at the 4.5-5k mark but chances are they've been pushed hard.

robtri

personally think the IS200 is as good a car as the 320.....

but as stated they drink a feck load.....
i swear you can nearly see the fuel needle drop when pushing it hard....

pushed one hard to cork and back from Dublin..... 2 full tanks :eek:

mullingar

VolvoMan wrote: »

What about the IS300?

I always thought they were a nice looking car but have an engine that, while smooth, is entirely gutless.

the IS300 is pointless in this country, better off with the GS300, same excellent 2jz-GE engine which I have a 98 one for the last 4 years , excellent car. ( plans to turbo her soon )

unkel

tommiejoie wrote: »

I thinik they look good, and drive good too!

Coming from your Escort, that's hardly surprising

Sorry, can't help myself

6k for an '01 IS200 is mad money. Have you ever driven a 5-series BMW of that year? My guess is you haven't. Try it!

VolvoMan

mullingar wrote: »

the IS300 is pointless in this country, better off with the GS300, same excellent 2jz-GE engine which I have a 98 one for the last 4 years , excellent car. ( plans to turbo her soon )

I was just responding to Colm saying that there was only one engine in the first gen IS, to which I pointed out that there was the IS300 as well. I wasn't making a case for it.

Topdeck

I had a loan of a 01 is200 for 3 days and i was very disapointed by the way it drove.It was a six speed manual that was very sluggish when pulling away at the lights,but once it was going it was ok. I did about 230miles and spent 75euro on petrol.Its a guzzler.my friend that owns it paid 4000euro for it a year ago.

Essien

6k for an is200 is pretty steep. They're a beautiful car imo but you just can't keep petrol in them, the performance certainly doesn't reflect the fuel consumption either, they're pretty sluggish.
I have a '99 Altezza (4cyl 3SGE,6spd manual) and my friend has a '99 is200 (6cyl 6spd manual), the Altezza is a fair bit quicker not to mention using half the petrol of the is200. That is the only fault I can find in it (albeit power and fuel consumption are 2 pretty big faults). You should be able to pick one up cheaper than 6k and if you do happen to pick one up for a reasonable price then they can be a pretty good car for the money in terms of luxury and extra features. Having said that, you'd find some bmw's with the same extras around the same year if you have a look around.

ottostreet

i had one for a little while, and i hated it, apart from that engine note and...it looked nice.


desperate on petrol. absolutely desperate.

SV

ottostreet wrote: »

i had one for a little while, and i hated it, apart from that engine note and...it looked nice.


desperate on petrol. absolutely desperate.

You hated it because you're like an old man!

for the record everyone..he hated it because it was too 'bumpy' and 'hard' on the suspension..come on now!

and your petrol consumption was justified whatever the fúck was done to it!

bf

very steep price for a 2001, you could get a 2004 for that kind of money

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201014197519639

VolvoMan

bf wrote: »

very steep price for a 2001, you could get a 2004 for that kind of money

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201014197519639

It's amazing because about 2-3 years ago, cars of that age equivalent were selling for twice that. They seem to have gone out of fashion.

tommiejoie

Right, OP here. Even though I really like the styling and the spec (and I cant think of anything else that could match it) my main concern is fuel efficiency. I dont mind spending that extra bit more for something I absolutely want knowing that Im willing to keep it for 4-5years at least, and maybe then even get some resale value. But if it'll cost me that much extra in petrol, its not worth it really.

Surprisingly (or maybe not) no one here is singing its praises and telling me to go for it! Despite what I've just said, if I got a better deal I might just take it yet!

turbogirl

just buy an Altezza altogether:D

colm_mcm

VolvoMan wrote: »

What about the IS300?

I always thought they were a nice looking car but have an engine that, while smooth, is entirely gutless.

colm_mcm wrote:

If it's an IS200 it'll the the 6 cylinder engine. there was only one engine option.

.

JCDUB

6 grand is off the wall for a 01.

No more than 4 grand at most is what they're worth.

Never owned one, but all you gotta do is read the thread and if you go for one after that on your own head be it.

VolvoMan

JCDUB wrote: »

Never owned one, but all you gotta do is read the thread and if you go for one after that on your own head be it.

At the end of the day, Alan Partridge seemed to be quite fond of his, so they must'nt be that bad:

Testament1

If you are intent on buying a Lexus I'd be considering one like this:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1103968

01, supercharged so should be fairly lively and also cheaper than the one you were looking at.

colm_mcm

Contrary to what the ad says, I'm pretty cetrtain there were no RHD factory supercharged IS200s. that one probably has the TTE compressor kit. still impressive I suppose. think they're about 200hp

fonecrusher1

Owned one for about six months. Nice car. Its not a particularly fast car but its pleasant to drive. I sold my one because i just got bored of it, they are a bit boring alright. Apart from the nice seats & lovely 6 cylinder engine note theres not much more to them to be honest & they can guzzle fuel around town.
If you get one i promise you will start to yearn for a different car within a few months.

Testament1

colm_mcm wrote: »

Contrary to what the ad says, I'm pretty cetrtain there were no RHD factory supercharged IS200s. that one probably has the TTE compressor kit. still impressive I suppose. think they're about 200hp

I know a guy that used to have a black IS200 with a supercharger and he maintained that it was a factory job. Dont really know enough about the IS200's myself to say whether he was right or not. Anyways if the OP really fancies an IS i reckon a supercharged one is the best bet. Either that or just buy an Altezza!

colm_mcm

The TTE compressor kit was a dealer fit option AFAIK.

Would rather a supercharged 6 cylinder to a 4 cylinder BEAMS tbh.

samsemtex

I think the folk here are being unfair on it. Its heavy on petrol alright and a bit underpowered but they are not a bad car. They look good inside and out and are unlikely to cause you many problems.

People really should stop going on about how dull to drive it is. It's not that bad. The fact of the matter is 90% of people wont notice and someone who is coming from a 95 Escort will certainly find it a huge step up in all respects.

That 6 cylinder engine is superbly smooth.

Testament1

colm_mcm wrote: »

Would rather a supercharged 6 cylinder to a 4 cylinder BEAMS tbh.

Oh ya i know thats what i was suggesting. Just saying that a supercharged IS wont be all that common. It would be easier to find a supercharged Altezza. A turbo Altezza would be a great buy but these are pretty rare!

BRIAN.IS200

I have had 7 lexus is200`s and i love them. They dont give much trouble. That price of 6 grand for the 01 lexus you were lookin at is way to much. My mate is sellin his one cause he bought a touareg. its a oo se brought in from england in october 2008. The car is perfect. Have a look on donedeal and you`ll see a load of the at good value. Like i said I`ve had 7 and never had any trouble with them. But like you said dont buy one off a boy racer, it`ll have the arse ragged off it

Testament1

BRIAN.IS200 wrote: »

But like you said dont buy one off a boy racer, it`ll have the arse ragged off it

Fair point but I wouldnt imagine many "boy racers" would buy an IS200 when theres a more powerful alternative with the Altezza. Most IS's for sale probably wouldnt have been dogged.

colm_mcm

IS's used to be chaper than Altezzas so a lot of them have ended up with so called "boy racers"

fonecrusher1

Holy sh!t how times have changed eh? I bought my 2001 lexus IS200 in 2007 for 16,000 euro!!!
And people are saying the same car now would not be worth more than 4/5 grand.:eek:

I got just under 15 grand for it about six months after i bought it. Which is ok.

Thinking about it now you could do a lot worse than a decent IS200 for about 4k. Only thing is the engine is a bit lazy. Well thats just my opinion.

Personally i would go for a 2.0Ltr vtec accord with a nice set of alloys. Lovely car that may not have the upmarket appearance of the lexus but is superior in just about every other department.:cool:

tommiejoie

OP here, thanks for all the advice guys. I'm still very tempted by the IS but only for a much better deal than what I mentioned originally. Other than that, 3 series is the most likely alternative for me. What can I say, I know what I like!

Cheers