My poor IS 220D (06), buying a IS250(07)

[PhilEFT]

Hello, I have sadly just been informed that my 2006 Is220d (full info, sat nav, reversing camara) has to be scraped because of a head gasket issue..,  Wednesday 6th November 2024, I was cruising down the duel carriage way, touching the accelerate, just a tad harder and the engine and car just floated past a lorry without even missing a beat.. I just said to myself.. I LOVE THIS CAR 🤩🤩🤩

What a star of a car I have/had😢

Yesterday(Thursday) the car went in to the garage to have a full service and a renewed windscreen bottle replacement... was expecting a good chunk of money to be spent on it to give me at least another year to glide past people and not even feel a bump, but didn't think that was a bad move, as I love my IS220D...

Sadly the garage called me a few times, after finding a pool of antifreeze on the bottom plates and investigating the reason..

I was called a few times...this is what i was told, in a sad voice..(the machanic likes lexus' also.. and must have felt my pain), the engine has exhaust gases going into the head (head gasket gone) need you to find someone to hug, or at least have a shoulder to soak withnyour tears, because the head gasket has gone and the car will need changing ASAP, his advise was this won't get you 5 minutes down the road without major issues, so start looking for a new car or £3000 + VAT engine repair.. minimum..

After a small tear dropped down my check, walking the short distance to the garage, and thinking that the universe was punishing me for enjoying my IS220D (06) , for 8 years with very little issue.. with a few mechanical jobs being done to it, and the lexus dealership charging me 10 times the amount in £s for a job, that a normal garage would.

I now have to buy a new car on a budget that is so small I might need to choose not to eat for a while.. 

So I have seen a IS250 Sport (07) (Only says sport not SE-I), this car is without the sat nav, camara, or blue tooth cons, so a little sad with that.. but I was nearly hit with a heart attack, bowel release and jaw hitting the floor, when I was told that LEXUS IS250 sport (07) Road Tax is £710 per yer.. 

I have seen some say, £480 just like the 220d, others less, but I need a car now.. with a budget of £2500 and Love my lexus 220d... but want a IS250.. now, so is it true...

£710 per year🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🥶😵‍💫

[LIJO151]

£415 for a is250c 2009. Sorry to hear about your car.

[Lexusjim]

Sorry about your car

 

Try here

https://cartaxcheck.co.uk/car-tax-calculator/

Look on autotrader and put the registration number of a vehicle you like in.....also....most vehicles on AT have the tax amount somewhere in the ad

 

More details here

 

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables/rates-for-cars-registered-on-or-after-1-march-2001

 

Hope you find something suitable.....keep the forum updated on your quest

[McShmoopy]

Sorry to hear about your Diesel IS, they are lovely enough cars but are plagued with reliability issues so getting 8 years out of it was impressive enough. 

I own a 2010 IS250 with an auto gearbox and the tax for that I'll include below , the manuals are significant more in tax for some odd reason aside from 06.

Tax (12 months)*
£415
Tax (6 months)*
£228.25
Insurance Group
29E

Truth be told the IS is much better suited to be an auto in my opinion. The gearbox is silky smooth and the gearbox doesnt need any maintenance usually aside from 60k fluid changes if youre not a high mileage IS. F Sports and SE-L specs come with paddle shifters too if you feel like driving manual but I'd try and find an F Sport or SE-L top spec from 2005 to 2010 ideally, I picked up an SE-L top spec 09 for my mum for around £5000 mark. 

 

[Linas.P]

£715 is because it is Manual. Automatic is £415.

You can also get very first Manual cars, registered before March 2006 and they are also £415. 

That said Automatic cars are much better (from reliability standpoint) and I generally think Automatic suits IS much better, manual in IS being kind of agricultural and really low light of the model. Seems almost like afterthought and not properly adjusted/engineered unit. Don't get me wrong - I love nice manual boxes, but one on IS250 is just not one of those.

[PhilEFT]

Thanks for the reply guys

My budget is really low, so the car I was looking at is £710, thanks to @Lexusjim for the links..

I will be going for a 2005, 91000 miles, automatic, petrol, with all the same trimmings as my IS220d, sat nav, reversing camara..

But costs nearly £1000 more.. but im hoping that the person I have is as good as he says he is at know a good car, as well as I have a garage that said they would get it up on the lift and give it a complete inspection, top to bottom..

So hopefully the engine is as OX (🐂) like and I can love this one, just as much as the IS220d

Thanks again, next week, I might be a IS250 owner🙏🏼🙏🏼

[McShmoopy]

1 hour ago, PhilEFT said:

Thanks for the reply guys

My budget is really low, so the car I was looking at is £710, thanks to @Lexusjim for the links..

I will be going for a 2005, 91000 miles, automatic, petrol, with all the same trimmings as my IS220d, sat nav, reversing camara..

But costs nearly £1000 more.. but im hoping that the person I have is as good as he says he is at know a good car, as well as I have a garage that said they would get it up on the lift and give it a complete inspection, top to bottom..

So hopefully the engine is as OX (🐂) like and I can love this one, just as much as the IS220d

Thanks again, next week, I might be a IS250 owner🙏🏼🙏🏼

Best of luck! First thing to do if you get is look at the rear brake callipers ensure theyre not sticking or seized, have a look at the condition of the exhaust as these tend to perish with age and get any recalls done if any, lucky if you do have an outstanding recall Lexus will do a complimentary health check so could give you an indication of anything that may need doing. Generally as long as you service your IS250 every year itll look after you and last forever, 

[Linas.P]

2 hours ago, PhilEFT said:

Thanks for the reply guys

My budget is really low, so the car I was looking at is £710, thanks to @Lexusjim for the links..

I will be going for a 2005, 91000 miles, automatic, petrol, with all the same trimmings as my IS220d, sat nav, reversing camara..

But costs nearly £1000 more.. but im hoping that the person I have is as good as he says he is at know a good car, as well as I have a garage that said they would get it up on the lift and give it a complete inspection, top to bottom..

So hopefully the engine is as OX (🐂) like and I can love this one, just as much as the IS220d

Thanks again, next week, I might be a IS250 owner🙏🏼🙏🏼

IS250 was always much more expensive than IS220d, if you can get one which is just £1000 more, then I think it is very good deal. Provided the car you looking at is in good shape.