lexus is 200 views and reviews please

[dr_jekyll]

hello all,

 

my dads looking to replace his 5 series with something a bit smaller and he wants a jap car now

 

i suggested an is 200 what are the genral thaughts on these

[Suprab1]

A friend of mine has one the last 3 years & never a spot of trouble. They are also very smooth on the road & have a nice engine sound .

[Scooter]

My old man has an old 'W' reg one..........engine is very smooth but a bit gutless unless you get it high up the rev range. Very comfortable and quiet ride even with 120K miles on it.......cabin/drivers seat feels a little narrow to me and the controls (like most modern cars I spose) are very light........throttle especially, I always find myself reving it way to high when pulling away but i'm sure i'd get used to it if it was my everyday car.

 

He had the aircon compressor clutch go but other than that it's just been consumables.........

 

Capable and comfortable just a little bland/white goods'ish

[GreaseMonkey]

IS200's are ok, if a little juicey on fuel and a little gutless.

 

Service History is a must, i.e Servicing has been carried out as per manufacture schedule, as there are alot of poor examples/ "Mutton dressed as Lamb".

 

Check:

 

All the Electrics work, as can suffer Electrical faults from poorly fitted Windscreens.

 

Bottom Ball Joints on the front Suspension, as usually last 40k approx

 

Shock Absorbers for weeping/ knocking.

 

The car has at least 1 Master Key (Black) as cannot code in new keys if only Sub Key (Grey) is present, which can cost up to £1500 to sort.

 

Tyre wear on front Tyres, normal to wear, quite a bit, equally on inner edges, especially if driven locally/ short distances. expect to see between 5,000 -10,000 miles approx on the fronts alone, rears usually last 10,000- 15,000 miles approx.

 

Headlamp Washer jets park fully in front bumper, if not may require new headlamp washer units to sort.

 

Front Fog lamps, if do not work will most likely require new Foglamp light units as the bulb holders Screws corrode the bulb holder into the light unit/ impossible to remove.

 

Engine Coolant Water Pump and or Bypass hose/pipe for weeping.

 

Front Brake Discs and Pads usually last between 10,000- 20,000 miles approx. Rear Pads 15,000 - 30,000 miles approx.

 

Front Brake Callipers seizing/ siezed.

 

6 Disc player Sterio Head Unit operation, as can be known to eat CD's and can be very expensive to repair.

 

Engine Timing Belt has been replaced at either *6 years or *100,000 miles (*whichever first) and if the Timing Belt Tensioner was replaced as well, as can wear the Timing Belt unevenly.

 

Early IS200's Manual gearboxes are slightly slacker in Gear shift feel comapired to later modified/ uprated manuals which have a shorter tighter shift feel.

 

Very slight judder only when cold can be felt from Clutch is normal. Also if the Gearstick hits the handbrake when selecting reverse, this may indicate the gearbox has been off at some point and (Gearstick) refitted incorrectly.

 

Accident damage at the rear, some times indicated by water ingress or the way the spare wheel is jammed in the boot and cannot be removed for this reason.

 

Corrosion on the front bottom edge of the Sunroof glass frame. (can be seen when sat in car with Sunroof glass slid halfway back.)

 

Corrosion on Alloys.

 

That's all I can think of what I have had with these over the years.

Personally would rather go for the IS300 as has the 3ltr 2JZ-GE vvti Engine which IMO is much more driveable and just as economical (equally juicey on fuel) as the IS200.

[adnanshah247]

IS200 are lovely cars for an older driver, i would suggest that or a Gs300. bear in mind if hes still young at heart he can always get the thirstier versions of the cars, the altezza which i owned and will love for ever and the V300 Aristo which is powered by the 2JZ.

 

bear in mind a lex is still a toyota so you can do a million miles without it giving u serious problems.

[nigelboyne]

hello all,

 

my dads looking to replace his 5 series with something a bit smaller and he wants a jap car now

 

i suggested an is 200 what are the genral thaughts on these

 

if he wants a manual then is200 is a fantastic car i had a tte supercharged one 210bhp up 60 bhp or so on original but if he wants auto tell him to go for is300

[Hobgoblin]

Gutless and bland.

 

Get an Altezza.

 

[dr_jekyll]

thanks guys , hes not looking for a fun car just reliable and nice to drive so i think it could be a possibility

[drift_bear]

ive got an is200 i use for my daily (and the supra for the weekends if its sunny and dry), its a fantastic car and i cant fault it on anything, i got full service history and a low mileage car from a local dealer, its a 52 plate with 66k miles on it. never had any trouble at all with it. good value for money i would say.