Is200T Ordered

01taj239 · November 3, 2015

Hi this is my first post on the forum.

So I've been interested in the IS since it was unveiled 2 years ago, when the 200T was announced I knew I had to have look. So on test driving an F-Sport 300H I was seriously impressed with the car so it didn't take much convincing to place an order.

I settled on an F-Sport in Azure blue with black leather and electric seats with the business sat nav. I initially wanted grey with the rose leather but the azure blue one was already in build so it means a delivery just before Christmas.

Very excited and cannot wait for the Lexus Experience!

rayaans · November 3, 2015

Congratulations on your purchase!

Did you drive the IS200T? or just the IS300H? They are very different vehicles

01taj239 · November 3, 2015

Thank you!

I test drove the 300H f-sport, I know it has a totally different engine and gearbox to the 200T but the dealers demonstrator was not available for test drive until the first week of December.

If I had held off I may have not taken delivery of a car until February/March so I thought I would take a gamble.

If the 200T drives anywhere near as well as the 300H I will be a happy man! I think mine will be ready around the 2nd/3rd week of December.

rayaans · November 3, 2015

Thank you!

I test drove the 300H f-sport, I know it has a totally different engine and gearbox to the 200T but the dealers demonstrator was not available for test drive until the first week of December.

If I had held off I may have not taken delivery of a car until February/March so I thought I would take a gamble.

If the 200T drives anywhere near as well as the 300H I will be a happy man! I think mine will be ready around the 2nd/3rd week of December.

I've driven it. To put your mind at rest it drives very well

The 4 cylinder is very smooth and the torque is great. Fuel economy isn't great tbh, I couldn't get over 28 mpg but hey ho

01taj239 · November 3, 2015

Aw good!

The dealership are letting me drive the 200T when it comes in to see what it is like. Fuel economy isn't too much of a concern as I do low mileage and I was expecting to get around the late 20s early 30s mpg.

forbes · November 3, 2015

you test drove a IS300 H and was very impressed yet you ordered a IS200 T that dosnt make sense as they are 2 totaly different cars

Martin F · November 3, 2015

you test drove a IS300 H and was very impressed yet you ordered a IS200 T that dosnt make sense as they are 2 totaly different cars

Really? Have you ever been accused of exaggerating?

Congratulations James. I for one will be interested to hear the feedback from IS200t drivers once deliveries start to be made. Will be interesting to see if any of the buyers of this variant take to modifying them more so than the owners of the hybrid version.

rayaans · November 4, 2015

Aw good!

The dealership are letting me drive the 200T when it comes in to see what it is like. Fuel economy isn't too much of a concern as I do low mileage and I was expecting to get around the late 20s early 30s mpg.

If you're doing low mileage then the 200t does make more sense, I think its only £1k cheaper though but we don't know how well it'll depreciate yet which may offset things.

Being nosey, what kind of discount did you get on the IS200T? I think they're giving out £2-4k discounts on the 300h which may have offset the initial £1k cost on the 300h.

After driving the IS200T, it takes off slower than the hybrid due to the way the gearing is set up, somewhat like its starting in 2nd gear all the time but torque is very useable in day to day situations. Having said that, the refinement is ever so slightly less and the performance difference is not as big as I expected it to be. I went in thinking itd be NX300h vs NX200t all over again but its closer than I thought this time!

ganzoom · November 4, 2015

you test drove a IS300 H and was very impressed yet you ordered a IS200 T that dosnt make sense as they are 2 totaly different cars

Not really, you can tell the IS has a great chassis setup by driving the 300H, the weakest part of the IS300H as a 'drivers' car is the hybrid power unit. I suspect the 200t will be a much nicer car to throw around some B road purely based on engine.

But the vast majority of buyers rate mpg/lower tax as been more important than pure driver engagement, hence the success of diesel and why Lexus promotes the IS300H over the petrol versions.

Hope the OP, let us know how you get on :)

01taj239 · November 4, 2015

Aw good!

The dealership are letting me drive the 200T when it comes in to see what it is like. Fuel economy isn't too much of a concern as I do low mileage and I was expecting to get around the late 20s early 30s mpg.

If you're doing low mileage then the 200t does make more sense, I think its only £1k cheaper though but we don't know how well it'll depreciate yet which may offset things.

Being nosey, what kind of discount did you get on the IS200T? I think they're giving out £2-4k discounts on the 300h which may have offset the initial £1k cost on the 300h.

After driving the IS200T, it takes off slower than the hybrid due to the way the gearing is set up, somewhat like its starting in 2nd gear all the time but torque is very useable in day to day situations. Having said that, the refinement is ever so slightly less and the performance difference is not as big as I expected it to be. I went in thinking itd be NX300h vs NX200t all over again but its closer than I thought this time!

Thanks everyone!

I was offered a £1500 deposit contribution from Lexus and £1000 from the dealer although after a bit of negotiation it was raised to £1500.

DanD · November 4, 2015

Can't wait to hear your first report!

I like the twin exhausts of the 200T... makes it look more sporty.

dompremier · November 22, 2015

I have just sold my Atlantic blue IS250 SE-L 2011 (with DRL's) to make way for a new IS200T Premier due in March. I loved the 250 and it wasn't an easy decision as when i drove the 200T the legendary silence and smoothness i had on the 250 is missing on the 200T. Although it's no exactly unrefined the gruff 4cyl note wasn't a nice welcome initially. From reading the only reviews currently available on the IS200T from Australia they state how quiet the car is compared to the IS250! These Sheila's must be crazy! Otherwise the car is much more up to date and tons more responsive. I have gone for Velvet black solid, ivory leather and a sunroof Premier model. The Celestial black seemed to not have the richness of the Velvet. Lexus Hatfield so far have been the best by a long way!!

capese21 · November 23, 2015

the weakest part of the IS300H as a 'drivers' car is the hybrid power unit.

That sound like a ignorant motoring journalist line. Who honestly buys a car to drive at break neck speeds around the country lanes? Assuming that is what is meant by a "drivers car"

Saying that an is300h in sport mode is fun enough.

I would say the strongest part of the IS is the hybrid drive train. It offers refinement decent mpg as an alternative to a clattery diesel with no DPF to block up. The instant take off and use of electric around towns is another feather in its cap.

Let us know how you get on with your 200t & post some pics!!

Ed

ganzoom · November 23, 2015

the weakest part of the IS300H as a 'drivers' car is the hybrid power unit.

That sound like a ignorant motoring journalist line. Who honestly buys a car to drive at break neck speeds around the country lanes? Assuming that is what is meant by a "drivers car"

You should write to the 'M' division at BMW, 'RS' at Audi, 'AMG' at Mercedes and tell them they are wasting their time :p

At the end if the day it's all a matter of opinion, I've owned some of the best petrol cars around. The chassis on th IS300H is up there with the best of them, the hybrid unit....humm sorry, it's great in traffic jams but any kind of 'spirited' driving finds it lacking. Both response and power.

If you want to see what I'm on about, go and test drive a M3, M5, or even the new GS-F, and than compare it to the drivetrain of the IS300H. My wife loves the IS, it is hers after all...I enjoy how relaxed it is on long M way drives, but every time I ask the drivetrain to deliver that extra bit of performance I wish it either had a 'normal' petrol engine or a pure electric power source, not the confused mis-mash that is the hybrid setup.

Zood90 · November 23, 2015

After a few months owning the 300H id have to agree that "spirited" driving doesn't suit the hybrid drivetrain, that said in sport mode, i find it really impressive for overtaking, pretty much the only time I use it. Otherwise I've really come to appreciate the way to IS just eats the miles. I appreciate it for the waftmobile it is. And not a peep from the engine. Sublime.

rayaans · November 23, 2015

the weakest part of the IS300H as a 'drivers' car is the hybrid power unit.

That sound like a ignorant motoring journalist line. Who honestly buys a car to drive at break neck speeds around the country lanes? Assuming that is what is meant by a "drivers car"

You should write to the 'M' division at BMW, 'RS' at Audi, 'AMG' at Mercedes and tell them they are wasting their time :P
At the end if the day it's all a matter of opinion, I've owned some of the best petrol cars around. The chassis on th IS300H is up there with the best of them, the hybrid unit....humm sorry, it's great in traffic jams but any kind of 'spirited' driving finds it lacking. Both response and power.

If you want to see what I'm on about, go and test drive a M3, M5, or even the new GS-F, and than compare it to the drivetrain of the IS300H. My wife loves the IS, it is hers after all...I enjoy how relaxed it is on long M way drives, but every time I ask the drivetrain to deliver that extra bit of performance I wish it either had a 'normal' petrol engine or a pure electric power source, not the confused mis-mash that is the hybrid setup.

M3, M5 and GS-F are all full on M or F cars. The IS300h should be compared to something like the BMW 320d - in which personally, it beats hands down.

ganzoom · November 24, 2015

^^ Don't ask my views on the 320d....In short I cannot think of a more pointless car on the road. The fact so many are in 'M-sport' guise tells you most people choose form over function.

Personally I prefer things the other way round :).

I actually like the IS300H, it's so relaxed and comfortable, just wished it had that extra bit of grunt for the odd few occasions....But I've already found a car that'll offer the same relaxed drive as the IS300H and has the same performance as my old 335i, but that's been discussed before ;)