High Mileage 10 year old

[PGarner528]

Hi,

I am looking to buy an IS250 as my daily driver, though with working from home this means driving a couple of times per week and a total annual mileage of around 3k. I have seen a 12 plate with 160k miles and 16 Lexus & specialist service stamps. Its a bit of a way to go to see the car in person, but I would be interested to hear if people think this could be a reasonable buy.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237720147

From what I have read, reliability of the IS is great but 160k is a little off-putting.

Thanks

[johnatg]

Looks like a decent car. It's MoT history only has advisories for worn tyres and a windscreen chip and that's some years ago. Maybe the chip was repaired or the screen replaced. Recent MoTs are clear. It's probably been used for long distance motorway driving so should be in good nick overall and I wouldn't worry too much about the mileage for the price. Do get a garage to check that the brake sliders, especially the rears, are not seized and check the condition of the exhaust, especially the y-piece in front of the silencers.

I had a 2006 for over 7 years - great car, no real problems.

[McShmoopy]

Hi Paul that looks like a rather nice example however it is only an Advance trim so personally I'd go for a fully loaded SE-L as you get all the bells and whistles for the most part! Don't be too put off by the mileage, as long as its had regular oil changes you shouldn't encounter many issues reliability wise particularly if its a facelift (after 2009) as they addressed the carbon build up with these engines. 

[H3XME]

23 minutes ago, PGarner528 said:

Hi,

I am looking to buy an IS250 as my daily driver, though with working from home this means driving a couple of times per week and a total annual mileage of around 3k. I have seen a 12 plate with 160k miles and 16 Lexus & specialist service stamps. Its a bit of a way to go to see the car in person, but I would be interested to hear if people think this could be a reasonable buy.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237720147

From what I have read, reliability of the IS is great but 160k is a little off-putting.

Thanks

Hi, I wouldn't focus on the year of the car at all. They're pretty much the same across 2005-2012. That particular car seems alright, but If I was to spend £6k, I'd be looking at some around 60k miles (and there is a few!). I drive a 2008 IS250 manual, fully loaded with black leather, rev. camera etc and it's on 159k now. Had the car since 2019 and 128k miles. Been spot on, touch wood. I only had to change the clutch last year but 140k+ miles on factory clutch is a good going for any car. If they've been serviced well, there is nothing serious to go wrong with these. I wouldn't be against buying a well maintained 160k car, but I'd be looking to spend £2k, not 6.. 

FIY, my friend has bought her Pearl white IS250 2009 facelift automatic a few weeks ago for £7.5k with 59k miles. Very nice car, drove it back to Derby from London and it felt like a new car. Get one with lower mileage for £6k.. never-mind the bullet-proof engine, suspension, water pump, alternator etc get tired too. It's not worth getting a car with such mileage if you have a healthy budget of £6k.  Hope it helps 🙂 

[AntC]

Definitely a rather high price, even though it's a facelift model.

I got mine last summer for ~3k. 2007 model, 120k miles, almost all features except for AFS and rear shade. While the car looks nice, i think you can do better for this price.

[Texas]

I have never heard of (high) mileage being the downfall of a 250, 220 yes but not the 250.

plenty of 250’s on the Clublexus ( US Owners site) with 200k+.

[H3XME]

4 minutes ago, Texas said:

I have never heard of (high) mileage being the downfall of a 250, 220 yes but not the 250.

plenty of 250’s on the Clublexus ( US Owners site) with 200k+.

Oh yea, there's nothing wrong with high mileage Is250... Unless it's £6k 😂 they'll be sound if serviced well. 

[Texas]

👍correct, the 160k is not as ‘off putting’ as the 6k! 
plenty more fish and all that!

[PGarner528]

Thanks for all the replies. I agree about the price, but prices at the moment are very high for all models. I am in no rush, despite currently being without a car so I will probably wait.

 

 

[eleveneleven]

I agree prices are high, and there's just not much to pick from at the moment. 

Have you considered this one? It's an 07 SE-L with 72k miles. Could save yourself over a grand if everything checks out. Only issue is you'd be limited to using only premium fuel, certainly not a bad thing considering you're only doing 3k per year and car feels much much more responsive on the good stuff. 

 

 

 

[PGarner528]

That is spooky - I was just looking at that one when I was notified of your post. It does sound OK if the history checks out.

 

 

[true blue]

Hi I think the 07-SEL is a better bet than the higher mileage option which is far too expensive in my opinion . This one seems to have a reasonable MOT history apart from consecutive  rear pad advisories ,the brakes would need to be checked out plus new MOT plus service paperwork .It is in Keighley N Yorks but I think you will have to be prepared to travel to find the car you want

Good luck. Dave

[Mr Vlad]

Hi Paul. Re the 07 plate car. Phone the dealer up and ask them for the Variant and Version numbers. One of these numbers and the cars registration number are needed to register it on the Lexus website where once done you can check if the car has a full or part or none at all dealer service history. Plus it'll show you all other work done (whilst at a lexus dealer)

[Thelongterm]

5 hours ago, eleveneleven said:

I agree prices are high, and there's just not much to pick from at the moment. 

Have you considered this one? It's an 07 SE-L with 72k miles. Could save yourself over a grand if everything checks out. Only issue is you'd be limited to using only premium fuel, certainly not a bad thing considering you're only doing 3k per year and car feels much much more responsive on the good stuff. 

 

 

 

On Monday I needed to fill up of E5 (07 SE), gone to our local Texaco and away and behold no queue for the 97ron good stuff at £1.38 about 23 cars queuing for diesel at £1.35 and another 20 for 95ron at £1.34 You take your advantages where you can.

[johnatg]

Interesting that it failed the MoT December 2020 for 'Front reg plate Inscription missing' - that's the BSAU145d bit at lower right of the plate. (Rear brake pads wearing thin as well - that's been an advisory since 2018. Possibly a not-too-caring owner recently?)

[PGarner528]

For information, the 07 car has a patchy service history. Services are 2008-2013 inclusive, then a gap to 2017 when it was serviced at Halfords(!) and another gap to this year when the dealer serviced it.

Do people not look after their cars or am I just too picky?

[johnatg]

In my experience - the more owners the less well cared for a car is. By the time you get to 4 or 5 - watch out. 

[Mr Vlad]

So it's missed a few years of servicing at a Lexus dealer. At the end of the day its an old car with very few miles on it for its age. It's probably had a service or three at a small independent garage that didn't stamp the service book etc. Best you actually go see the car and test drive it. Its probably a really good car and worth the trip to get it.

[GMG]

...ditchfinder tyres suggest that the previous owner was a skimper! Agree it needs to be driven if close...I'd always try to buy privately if possible...less BS ( sports seats !!!) and better deals to be had...need to know what you are looking at mind...

[Thelongterm]

9 minutes ago, GMG said:

...ditchfinder tyres suggest that the previous owner was a skimper! Agree it needs to be driven if close...I'd always try to buy privately if possible...less BS ( sports seats !!!) and better deals to be had...need to know what you are looking at mind...

I agree with Mr Vlad, go and have a look. I went to look at around 7 cars in 18 month to find the best one for me.

 As to ditch finders. My example came with two Dunlop’s Sport on the back and two P7’s on the front. As they were all evenly at 3 mm I changed them a couple of weeks back to a full set of a new to the market Nokian all weather’s, the grip is far better than the summer tyres it replaced, drove it today in blinding rain on the M5 and it felt like the car is glued to the road. I don’t expect longevity to be anything to write home about but I only do 5k annually so that is not an issue.

[dazed]

On 9/29/2021 at 4:00 PM, PGarner528 said:

Hi,

I am looking to buy an IS250 as my daily driver, though with working from home this means driving a couple of times per week and a total annual mileage of around 3k. I have seen a 12 plate with 160k miles and 16 Lexus & specialist service stamps. Its a bit of a way to go to see the car in person, but I would be interested to hear if people think this could be a reasonable buy.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237720147

From what I have read, reliability of the IS is great but 160k is a little off-putting.

Thanks

£6K is too high in my opinion and I say that as the most recent owner. I owned it for 7 years and 150,000 of those miles. While there's nothing wrong with the vehicle, you could do better for that money.

It was well looked after - the independent who serviced it from 100K was a Lexus specialist and knew his stuff. In my experience he was more competent (and better value) then the Lexus dealers I've dealt with.

Apart from the usual consumables, everything is original - and therein lies the dilemma for any potential buyer. I'm thinking exhaust, shock absorbers, water pump etc. One or more of them are likely to need replacement in the not too distant future and this should be factored into any offer.

[PGarner528]

So, upping my budget a bit I found this at £7.8k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106224117840

2011, 66k miles, good MOT history and serviced. What am I missing? Its been listed since the end of June based on the MOT, YouTube video and the Autotrader URL.

[Mr Vlad]

Probably not been bought yet as it's over priced even for an 11 plate.

[PGarner528]

If you think that one is expensive, how about this?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237710473

[true blue]

Hi looks O K subject to the service history  ;age and over 60,000 miles means a big service should have been carried out ;-  plugs ,coolant ,which if not done would need a reduction to cover it . as Mr Vlad says top dollar in my opinion but a trader knows when he has a good car and will hold on knowing there are a lot of cheaper cars that are cheap for a reason .Well worth talking to the dealer ,also car prices are on the up so you will find it difficult to find a bargain at present 

Good luck Dave