Ultra low mileage IS250 Advance

RolandK · February 5, 2022

Anyone else spotted the 2012 Advance on Autotrader with 3300 miles on the clock? Full MOT and Lexus service history. Tempted even at £13k. Aware though that very low mileage cars like this can still deteriorate by standing around. Be grateful for your opinions.

Cheers

Vintagesixtysix · February 5, 2022

Yes interesting, only being driven seven miles ish a week up until Covid and then it goes down a bit…. Lol.

It’s had a new Battery and I’m guessing those Bridgestones may not be original…. Just on age…. But could be.

If it’s been serviced then the only issues are going to be moisture in the exhaust not being burned off so would need checking front to back.

Rubber suspension parts deteriorating (but I’d expect to see a heads up on the mot if any signs).

bar that we know they’re pretty solid with 3k or even 100k+

My only worry with low milers on any marque is electrical and Im not keen on ultra low miles diesels.

Apart from that it looks mint!

J Henderson · February 5, 2022

Looks like it might have been sold! Was definitely on AT when I checked earlier, but gone now.

Linas.P · February 5, 2022

8 hours ago, RolandK said:

Anyone else spotted the 2012 Advance on Autotrader with 3300 miles on the clock? Full MOT and Lexus service history. Tempted even at £13k. Aware though that very low mileage cars like this can still deteriorate by standing around. Be grateful for your opinions.

I would definitely stay away from such car as far as possible 3000 miles in 10 years just means it was siting around a lot and that can't be good. Maybe at £6k and compared to 100k miles car this would be viable alternative - one car would need some TLC due to being driven 100k, the other one due to sitting too much so all in all it probably would be nice to pay a little bit extra to have what is basically never used car, for thing like paint, leather an steering being in good condition. But paying almost double for the car just because it was sitting makes no sense.

That is unless somebody can prove it is like "museum piece" - started very week, warmed-up and dry stored all the time.

RolandK · February 5, 2022

Thanks all for your valid input. Now it appears sold that removes my dilemma! I agree that it might have needed some attention and money spent to get it out of its slumbers and check it through and fix any glitches. On top of the price that would have made it a bit expensive overall. I did get stung once buying a very low mileage classic car which, once I started using it,sprung oil and fluid leaks nearly everywhere! Neither fun nor cheap as it was an XJ12 Daimler Vanden Plas! There are other low mileage IS250's around that might be a better bet.

Cheers

Linas.P · February 5, 2022

The best overall value for IS250 are in high miles but well maintained cars - high mileage depreciated the car, but if used on motorway doesn't really wears it out - so could be great purchase. So to get best value for money I would look at the service history rather than mileage.

Buying lower mileage cars on Lexus are just not as important as on other makes, where at 60k is about where they start to fall apart.

RolandK · February 5, 2022

22 minutes ago, Linas.P said:

The best overall value for IS250 are in high miles but well maintained cars - high mileage depreciated the car, but if used on motorway doesn't really wears it out - so could be great purchase. So to get best value for money I would look at the service history rather than mileage.

Buying lower mileage cars on Lexus are just not as important as on other makes, where at 60k is about where they start to fall apart.

I would agree and reliability and durability are big attractions for Lexus. Lower mileage usually equates to better overall condition for interior and bodywork which is important to me. I say "usually" but not always! Seen a couple of rough low mileage cars.

Linas.P · February 5, 2022

yes... just as example - in 2014 I got 2008 IS250 with 120k miles, drove it for 6 years to 200k miles and sold it still in great shape, bodywork in good condition (bar few stone chips) leather is nice and no mechanical faults. In comparison recently got one IS250 from auction 2006 and with 102k miles... and it is just horrible all around, probably 4 times as bad as mine one was at 200k miles.

So one should not assume good condition on the mileage alone.

RolandK · February 6, 2022

10 hours ago, Linas.P said:

yes... just as example - in 2014 I got 2008 IS250 with 120k miles, drove it for 6 years to 200k miles and sold it still in great shape, bodywork in good condition (bar few stone chips) leather is nice and no mechanical faults. In comparison recently got one IS250 from auction 2006 and with 102k miles... and it is just horrible all around, probably 4 times as bad as mine one was at 200k miles.

So one should not assume good condition on the mileage alone.

Very true. Some people are happy to drive dirty, tatty cars and just let them deteriorate. Myself I just can't do that. Even if I'm driving an older car it has to be the best it can cosmetically and mechanics. Kind of auto OCD my other half says! Each to their own.

GMG · February 7, 2022

...same for me; my cars need to be tip top mechanically and cosmetically...Will not live with anything not working or any worn/ damaged interior/exterior...I keep my cars like this...talk about ocd!

RolandK · February 7, 2022

30 minutes ago, GMG said:

...same for me; my cars need to be tip top mechanically and cosmetically...Will not live with anything not working or any worn/ damaged interior/exterior...I keep my cars like this...talk about ocd!

It's very satisfying to have a car where everything is just so regardless of it's age. Problem is I generally run 2 to 4 cars at a time so will never be a rich man!! Nor have much spare time! Apart from that a harmless pass time but sadly not wholly supported by 'her indoors'!

GMG · February 7, 2022

Tell me about it ...other cars are an old Porsche 911 and Mercedes slk!!!

A recent engine rebuild for the Porsche was over £14k !!

RolandK · February 7, 2022

5 hours ago, GMG said:

Tell me about it ...other cars are an old Porsche 911 and Mercedes slk!!!

A recent engine rebuild for the Porsche was over £14k !!

Ouch!!

true blue · February 7, 2022

Hi Giles. OCD not a bit of it I am the same and call it pride of ownership that car is a credit to you ,keep up the good work as you obviously get satisfaction from a job well done ,as I do ( and it keeps me out of the pub )

Dave

2Ravens · February 10, 2022

It would have most likely have been a superb car.

I understand the concern about sitting around as that's the conceived wisdom but it really does come down to quality of engineering, and servicing. They aren't tinpot cars where everything goes brittle and rubbish just because it's unused.

I can only give you my experience, 2007 IS250, 36k on the clock when bought, bought in 2019. Not a single thing does not work or has failed on the car. It has never had an advisory in its life. I've changed some rear brakes and that is it as thankfully it had new tyres when I got it.

It's an experience of one so take it for what it is but if they've ran it on fresh oil I don't see anything to fear in low mileage 250s so if anyone finds another snap it up pending inspection. Not gonna be many left of that ilk.

Mine is showing some slight kerbing and bubbling on the alloys, typical Toyota product there. So that isn't about mileage, just pot luck and age.

Texas · February 11, 2022

Same boat here, bought a 2007 (38k miles!) and only got 48k on it now 5 years later all fully functional with an impeccable MOT history ( apart from a few previous advisories for tyres!! There’s a thing!)

Car will prob outlive me….other nuggets permitting🙄