Ownership Question (is200)

[Paradroid]

Can I ask at what age you start needing to get things looked at with an is200. A lot on the used market are older cars than I would normally consider, but being a good quality car I might think about one 4-5 years old and hope it's in good shape.

I know the common problems like ball joints and tracking, but I guess this doesn't affect every car?

How many of you have had to have work done in the first five years (apart from servicing of course)?

Thanks :)

[Parthiban]

My car will be 4 yrs old soon, and all that's been replaced on it are the alloys, the stereo, and the ball joints. Anything else has just been routine service parts, brake pads, discs, tyres, the usual.

First car in our household that's been completely trouble-free (touch wood!) :D

[winnie]

My cars nearly 6 yrs old and apart from the normal tyres,pads and routine parts for service the only other thing i have had to buy is:

a h/light bulb.

:D

So far no probs with b/joints.

[swfcdan]

My cars nearly 6 yrs old and apart from the normal tyres,pads and routine parts for service the only other thing i have had to buy is:

a h/light bulb.

:D

So far no probs with b/joints.

ditto only mines a 99 T plate

[Infinity]

Same for me, I bought a 51/02 IS200 and ran it for 2 years only thing other than servicing was a pair of front disks and pads.

Its the first car i have ever owned that never blew a bulb not one in two years.

Great car.

If anyone has DA51 OOW give her a kiss from me.

Infinity.........

[Paradroid]

This all sounds good :D

So the only real (small) risk is the ball joints on a well looked after car, how much do they cost? Is it a DIY job at all? I do some bits and bobs (wheels off etc) but don't want to start mucking about with spring compressors if it's suspension work.

One other thing - what do people thing are the best buys at the moment? To me it seems to be the low mileage 02 platers that are around for about 10k. 2003 or later cars still seem a bit dear for my budget. I guess owning an 02 plate Lexus is not really anything to worry about if it's been looked after?

Many thanks

[PQuist]

Mine is just over 4 years old and apart from tyres and brake pads which are wear and tear items, I have replaced the two rear bulbs. Total cost is £4.98

Grat car

[Parthiban]

This all sounds good :D

So the only real (small) risk is the ball joints on a well looked after car, how much do they cost? Is it a DIY job at all? I do some bits and bobs (wheels off etc) but don't want to start mucking about with spring compressors if it's suspension work.

One other thing - what do people thing are the best buys at the moment? To me it seems to be the low mileage 02 platers that are around for about 10k. 2003 or later cars still seem a bit dear for my budget. I guess owning an 02 plate Lexus is not really anything to worry about if it's been looked after?

Many thanks

Well mine is an '02' plate, that I've owned from new, and yep if its been looked after, it'll be fine. And to be honest, I've done no maintenance other than its yearly service, and cleaning it :D

Might be worth stretching to an '04' if you can because those cars have full leather, but otherwise you won't have any trouble with an '02'. My car is just as quiet as it was when it was new, no squeaks or rattles at all

[PQuist]

Mine is just over 4 years old and apart from tyres and brake pads which are wear and tear items, I have replaced the two rear bulbs. Total cost is £4.98

Great car

[Paradroid]

If you guys had the choice again what would you go for?

A 3-4 year old is200 or a 1-2 year old boggo standard car like a Vectra or Mondeo for similar money (under warranty of course)?

[Infinity]

A colleague has a Astral Black IS200 on a T plate, bought for around 8k 12 months ago, previously had 4 owners and a mod'ed hifi system.

He has not done anything but have it serviced, although i dont think its done by a main dealer.

Dont bother with the off the shelf salons even an older IS is better than a newer clone carriage.

Infinity..............

[swfcdan]

If you guys had the choice again what would you go for?

A 3-4 year old is200 or a 1-2 year old boggo standard car like a Vectra or Mondeo for similar money (under warranty of course)?

simple the lexus, i wouldnt even compare the two

[codlord]

If you guys had the choice again what would you go for?

A 3-4 year old is200 or a 1-2 year old boggo standard car like a Vectra or Mondeo for similar money (under warranty of course)?

I recently bought mine - a 2001 but with only 11k miles. Been VERY well cared for with Lexus servicing every year and also had some mods done too, so I basically bought it as you see it.

I would look more at the mileage than at the age of the car - mine really is more-or-less like brand new, and as long as its been looked after there is no reason why anything should go wrong on an older car if its got low milage.

Deffo, go for the IS200 its in a different class to most cars let alone the Vectra/Mundane-o crowd. If you are worried about warranty issues and stuff you can always get a "warranty" on an older car from any number of third parties. Basically just insurance against mechanical problems but personally I would not bother.

[star a]

mines 4yr old, 80k miles, only ever had to replace tyres in the 18months i've had it.

[Bobski]

Mines coming up on 6 yrs (45k) and no problems.

Bought Tyres

And a few small toys :)

Touch Wood.

[Paradroid]

well I had a nosy at one today at a dealers (an IS200), he started it up, I thought the engine note wasn't as meaty as I remembered, but then the door was open, from inside I seem to remember the IS200 sounds nice and brawny. Air con seemed good, stereo was good but not quite as good as the upgraded setup on my current car.

Biggest concern was every used IS I looked at seemed to have scratches and scuffs. Hmmm. Lot of money for a car with paintwork not cared for properly...

I checked the new IS in the showroom too and was stunned. Photos of the car both inside and outside do it no justice. Even though prices have gone up I'd say the car's a bargain given the quality of the interior. in the right colour and seat material it's got the measure of an e-class merc i'd say, for less money and more reliability!

[puresilk]

Mines 99/T 72K

Bought it May 05 with 52K

Changed 4 tyres when bouught the car as they were on minimum tread, Cam belt change, and full service since I bought the car!

Apart from that never had a problem not even a bulb and put it through MOt in Feb 06 and the MOt sheet was clean no naughts and crosses lol!

So its just been essential cambelt service and wear and tear for me!

And I would never comprihend getting a new reg vectra or mondea even if it were to swap for my car!

[Rich OB]

Bought mine just over a year ago with 51k on a 2001/X, now 61k and not one problem out of routine, FLSH was with it.

Now gettin its 60k service and needs ball joints, tyres, discs and pads and usual cambelt/plugs change so a tad on the expensive side but after all its a Lexus and this is my first prestige car, i came from brand new Fords and tbh i would still prefere this 5 year old Lexus.

Sayin that the other day i was tempted to part ex for an ST220 FULLY loaded in silver 52 plate with factory satnav, grey Racaros, sunroof, coilovers the biz, was a friend of a friend so i knew the car well and when i declined his offer of a swap he was amazed! But i would still prefere a newer model IS if i could afford but then again whats the difference in a plate!!

When people ask what your driving and you say a Lexus it means something, if you say a Ford no matter if its a flagship model or not its JUST a Ford!

[DeckerUK]

Mine's a 2001/Y, bought it May 2004 with 47K and FLSH - probably paid over the odds but the missus wanted a bee em 3 series. She is well chuffed that I talked her out of it.

Been spending on some exterior bits lately and the front discs haven't got long left, but apart from service and tyres not a penny spent (yet) - not even a bulb gone. She's on 64K now and still as smooth.

Got some 18's to put on, so will need the geometry done - and a few TTE body bits - but the cost of buying and putting them on will be less than I would have spent on the type of cars I had before.

I use an old ford escort for going to the office when I am home, the wife works local and uses the Lexus, but that thing has cost me over £600 in the last year and it's a crock of s :tsktsk: t.

The kids won't go in the escort - even dropping them off at the leasure centre means using the Lexus - too embarassing!!!!