Lexus is250 opinions?

zweton

Hello,

Have been on the look out for a low mileage one, overpriced or reasonable?


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lexus-is-250-executive-automatic-4dr/11432324

colm_mcm

it's probably the best colour combo on an exec. price not bad considering it's a dealer.

zweton

yeah im same, really liking the colour combo too. know anything about the garage?

christy02

Kind of fancying one of these as well. Reckon there is a bit of wiggle room with price as no one buys petrol cars over 1.4l anymore!!!!
Apparently auto is the way to go also.

zweton

4500 miles a year, 375 per mth, 93 a week, 13 a day.
Seems to good to be true! may do a motorcheck on her.

zweton

have you driven or looked at any christy.

bazz26

Watch out for those pesky Ford Focus drivers trying to chase you.

zweton

haha, im guessing this is in reference to an is250 owner who used to post in here a while back:) could be wrong! what you think of the car bazz?

bazz26

Hard to tell, only two photos of the outside of the car which is piss poor really. Generally though the petrol Lexus are fairly rock solid reliability wise.

zweton

yeah must drop them a txt tomm for some more pics.

Oafley Jones

zweton wrote: »

4500 miles a year, 375 per mth, 93 a week, 13 a day.
Seems to good to be true! may do a motorcheck on her.

That's more than I did in mine. That ad won't link in mobile so can't comment on it.

Edit: Finally saw the ad. It's the almost same price I paid for my 07 (better Colour, FSH, Executive spec) over three years ago from a Lexus Dealer. Seems way over priced. Having said that, I bought at terrible time for "big" petrol engines and I've watched the price go up a bit in the last year and a bit.

Bobjims

On the look out for one of these myself too. Very hard to find one with a decent spec and in good condition.

zweton

tis alright, been looking for a while now! anyone know if they come in a gun metal grey color at all?
red/cream leather or black cream leather seems the nicest out out the lot.

christy02

zweton wrote: »

have you driven or looked at any christy.

Add your reply here.
No not yet. Still weighing up pros and cons. Be interested to know what they like to live with. Mpg, service costs etc.

Bobjims

zweton wrote: »

tis alright, been looking for a while now! anyone know if they come in a gun metal grey color at all?
red/cream leather or black cream leather seems the nicest out out the lot.

Have you driven any or been to see many yet zweton?

Padraig Mor

Personally, I think the IS250 is kind of pointless as the GS300 is a whole lot 'more' for the same (or less) cash, with only a marginal increase in running costs. GS is more powerful, faster and better kitted out. Of course, it's also in a higher class. Lookswise, the IS probably shades it, but the GS interior is generally nicer (standard leather, heated, cooled seats, blind, other stuff etc). They're both very reliable. With running costs, IIRC the GS has almost exactly the same consumption as the IS; its tax rate is a couple of hundred higher (1400 vs 1200 off the top of my head).

A no brainer in my eyes!

zweton

Bobjims wrote: »

Have you driven any or been to see many yet zweton?

yes and yes.

Oafley Jones

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Personally, I think the IS250 is kind of pointless as the GS300 is a whole lot 'more' for the same (or less) cash, with only a marginal increase in running costs. GS is more powerful, faster and better kitted out. Of course, it's also in a higher class. Lookswise, the IS probably shades it, but the GS interior is generally nicer (standard leather, heated, cooled seats, blind, other stuff etc). They're both very reliable. With running costs, IIRC the GS has almost exactly the same consumption as the IS; its tax rate is a couple of hundred higher (1400 vs 1200 off the top of my head).

A no brainer in my eyes!

1080 for the IS. You'll get all that spec in executive trim in an IS as well. Think the GS looks fairly dated, while the IS still is decent looking. Personally wouldn't bother with anything other than the 450h in the GS. But of course you'll pay for it.

bazz26

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Personally, I think the IS250 is kind of pointless as the GS300 is a whole lot 'more' for the same (or less) cash, with only a marginal increase in running costs. GS is more powerful, faster and better kitted out. Of course, it's also in a higher class. Lookswise, the IS probably shades it, but the GS interior is generally nicer (standard leather, heated, cooled seats, blind, other stuff etc). They're both very reliable. With running costs, IIRC the GS has almost exactly the same consumption as the IS; its tax rate is a couple of hundred higher (1400 vs 1200 off the top of my head).

A no brainer in my eyes!

A GS might just be too big for some folks, same a 5 Series or A6 might be too big for someone who prefers the more compact 3 Series or A4.

Bobjims

zweton wrote: »

yes and yes.

What kind of quality have you come across?

I test drove one last Saturday which was mint, but didn't buy because of no service history and I got the impression that the seller was hiding something. Didn't wan't to take the risk on the first car I viewed.

Most of the examples up for sale at the moment look rubbish.

zweton

Bobjims wrote: »

What kind of quality have you come across?

I test drove one last Saturday which was mint, but didn't buy because of no service history and I got the impression that the seller was hiding something. Didn't wan't to take the risk on the first car I viewed.

Most of the examples up for sale at the moment look rubbish.

a nice red/cream leather combo exec, 40k miles one owner from new went on saturday in dublin, wasnt quick enough:( im other end of the country though so thats the hard part come saturday they are typically gone.
would love to get one in from the uk but the way sterling is...

Bobjims

Oafley Jones wrote: »

That's more than I did in mine. That ad won't link in mobile so can't comment on it.

Edit: Finally saw the ad. It's the almost same price I paid for my 07 (better Colour, FSH, Executive spec) over three years ago from a Lexus Dealer. Seems way over priced. Having said that, I bought at terrible time for "big" petrol engines and I've watched the price go up a bit in the last year and a bit.

Ever thinking of selling your IS?

zweton

seen any nice ones bobjims?

Bobjims

zweton wrote: »

seen any nice ones bobjims?

Drove a lovely one in Wexford last week. Black 2007 with only 48k miles. Had the cartell check done and all, was certain this was going to be the one.

Drove nice but I got suspicious during the viewing. It was a trader, the car had no service history whatsoever, was still on it's original 9 year old factory tyres. The trader said they got it from a dealer in Waterford, but the pictures in the advert were taken at a dealer in Bunclody.

He was also asking too little for it. If it seems too good to be true it probably is.... I walked because of all of this. It was only the first one I've driven and didn't want to take that risk. Have been burned bad in the past.

Is the red one in Bolands the only one you've tested? Did you go see any others?

zweton

yes, a lad in work has one also took it for a spin was very nice to drive.
there was a good few going up before the xmas but they went prettty fast, they seem to go pretty quickly despite the high tax:)

christy02

Bobjims wrote:

Drove a lovely one in Wexford last week. Black 2007 with only 48k miles. Had the cartell check done and all, was certain this was going to be the one.

Saw that on dd. Gone now though. Looked mint

Bobjims

Is there any particular type that you're looking for?

I'm only looking for an auto with leather and sub 100k miles, preferably not silver but I'll compromise on that if the right one came up.

Bobjims

christy02 wrote: »

Saw that on dd. Gone now though. Looked mint

Yeah the mileage was definitely true. Not a mark on it, gorgeous car. Just had a gut feeling telling me not to buy it though.

zweton

red/cream leather or black/cream leather. auto with service history and decent mileage.

Oafley Jones

Bobjims wrote: »

Ever thinking of selling your IS?

It sold last week. Needed something bigger unfortunately.

MadYaker

A GS wouldn't be as nice to drive because it's heavier. More expensive to run and a lot uglier.

Padraig Mor

Oafley Jones wrote: »

1080 for the IS. You'll get all that spec in executive trim in an IS as well. Think the GS looks fairly dated, while the IS still is decent looking. Personally wouldn't bother with anything other than the 450h in the GS. But of course you'll pay for it.

Well, 300 difference in tax so! To get all that trim in the IS (and I don't think it's actually all of it), you also need to get the tech pack AFAIK, which is pretty rare.

Padraig Mor

MadYaker wrote: »

A GS wouldn't be as nice to drive because it's heavier. More expensive to run and a lot uglier.

It's only marginally more expensive to run. Yes, it's a boat but I don't think the IS is exactly considered to be a BMW level sport saloon anyway.

Oafley Jones

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Well, 300 difference in tax so! To get all that trim in the IS (and I don't think it's actually all of it), you also need to get the tech pack AFAIK, which is pretty rare.

Had all of that in my executive. As did the three other 250s I viewed when buying. The 220d do seem miserable.Tech pack here would have been the touchscreen unit with Bluetooth with reversing camera.
The IS250 wouldn't have been as good to drive as the equivalent 3 series of the era, but it's a damn sight better than the A4. Never driven the GS300 though. Again I think it's not a good looking car and I'd only be happy with the 450h. Really looking around for a new shape GS450h atm.

Padraig Mor

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Had all of that in my executive. As did the three other 250s I viewed when buying. The 220d do seem miserable.Tech pack here would have been the touchscreen unit with Bluetooth with reversing camera.
The IS250 wouldn't have been as good to drive as the equivalent 3 series of the era, but it's a damn sight better than the A4. Never driven the GS300 though. Again I think it's not a good looking car and I'd only be happy with the 450h. Really looking around for a new shape GS450h atm.

GS300 is much faster than the IS250, but the 450h is in a different league altogether - it's an absolute beast, in straight lines anyway! Highly recommend test driving one if you haven't previously. I'd say new shapes (2012 on I think?) would be rare and expensive. 2008 on 450hs are only ~€650 to tax IIRC but of course carry a price premium relative to pre 08s - I'm not sure how much that premium is these days though (been a while since I looked). Older 450hs could be picked up quite cheap last I checked - many with very high mileage, but if any car can take big miles in its stride, it's a big Lexus! There was a facelift in 08, but changes were very minor so only difference really between pre and post 08s is tax (~650 vs 1800 I think).

Bobjims

zweton wrote: »

red/cream leather or black/cream leather. auto with service history and decent mileage.

They're hard to come by in a decent spec like that. I'm giving myself 6 months to get one in Ireland and then it'll be a trip to the UK if I fail here. Some lovely ones over there on parkers.

zweton

yeah i agree, have seen some cracking ones allright over there.

Bobjims

zweton wrote: »

yeah i agree, have seen some cracking ones allright over there.

Here's a nice looking one that just went up: http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/11507785

I'd go look at that but it's not an auto, otherwise it looks mint.

zweton

yip, thats a nice one allright, how bad are the manuals do you know?

Bobjims

zweton wrote: »

yip, thats a nice one allright, how bad are the manuals do you know?

I haven't driven one. I've my heart set on the auto because I've always driven manual and want a change.

I heard the diesel version with the manual (only gearbox available on the diesel) is terrible though.

You tempted to test it?

zweton

not really just wondered.

Oafley Jones

zweton wrote: »

yip, thats a nice one allright, how bad are the manuals do you know?

Avoid. Horrible notchy yoke.

zweton

how about this one bobjim


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/09-lexus-is250/10814819

Bobjims

zweton wrote: »

how about this one bobjim


https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/09-lexus-is250/10814819

That's a lovely looking one. A bit over my budget I'm afraid. Are you going to check it out?

zweton

dont like the colour plus black leather

zweton

as a guesstimate would anyone know roughly how much you would be paying to get this one from the uk:)

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/for-sale/search/lexus/is/saloon-2005/usedcfs-820304540066951/

bazz26

Just use the VRT calculator. But VRT ain't going to be cheap on the petrol model.

christy02

They are more expensive anyway in UK due to sensible tax system. High tax here bring prices down. Plus Irish obsession with diesel cars

Truckermal

Would you not go for a GS as 250 asking prices seems fairly steep..

Bobjims

Truckermal wrote: »

Would you not go for a GS as 250 asking prices seems fairly steep..

The GS looks probably don't appeal to some drivers. The IS is much better looking car.

zweton

yeah the 250 is much nicer.