Well i've been looking around for a while now after having my vRS for four and a half years now from new. Today i think i decided what the replacement will be at last.

It's something we had before i got the Furby..... I think we got rid of it just about the same time as i got the furby.

and it is.....

A Lexus IS

Been looking at the old shape cars and hadn't realised how good a bargain you can get if you look around!!!! We got our last IS (IS200 Sport with Aero Pack) in 2004 it was an 03 plate and cost £18,000. I'm looking at an IS200 Limited Edition model a 2004 04 plate for £5,700 with 55k on the clock. Thats with Xenons, full leather, 8 speaker stereo, in dash 6 CD, full climate control, electric sunroof and windows, electric heated seats, privacy glass and more..... Actually very very similar to the spec we had before!!!

I've just got to have a look at it and see if they can do me a deal part-ex for mine and we'll see what happens. If this one falls through i've got another couple of Sports to also look at too.

So i may be going back to the Lexus club but i'll still stay on here seeing as we'll still have one vRS still on the drive.

Cheers

Dave.

Interesting - any particular reason for going back Dave? Just fancy a change? That'll be a petrol I take it? All IS's were petrol at that stage weren't they?

I remember driving a Sport when they first came to the UK and was impressed with the spec and fit & finish, especially compared with what that money bought you in BMW-terms, for example....

Cheers,

Steve

Hey up Steve,

Yeah i always said rather than buying a year old or so car and having it for two or three years i would buy the vRS new and have it for four or five years instead. As i said we had a sport a few years ago and it was a great car but we decided we didn't need a big car at the time and traded it in for the Civic Type-R.

It is very much a case of getting a lot of car for your money and there are still some very tidy, low mileage examples out there as they were never a massive company car type.

I'm still in the same job but where as when i got the vRS i was working a four or five day week we now just work three days a week (12hr shifts) so where i would have been doing around 250 miles a week i'm now only doing 150 so it's not too important to have a diesel at the moment.... And we'll still have the other vRS if a diesel is needed.

There's not much between the sport and the Limited Edition models..... Both have the same engine and power output. The sport sits slightly lower and has the option of the aero pack(Body kit and 18" wheels). Where as the Limited Edition has HID's as standard and different grille and alloys along with full leather rather than a leather and suede like mix in the sport.

Cheers

Dave.

Edited 20 October, 201015 yr by WaveyDavey

I considered an IS200 when looking for my octavia.

While well spec'd, i didnt like the interior, and i thought the engine was gutless.

That said, they are a mighty pretty car, and i do look every time i see a nice one, and wonder if i made the right choice.

Dave...Dont do it!!!

Skoda through and through!!

Its like Supporting United and then changing to Wednesday!!!!

Dave...Dont do it!!!

Skoda through and through!!

Its like Supporting United and then changing to Wednesday!!!!

lol don't forget we had the IS before the Skoda. :yes:

Cheers

Dave.

I considered an IS200 when looking for my octavia.

While well spec'd, i didnt like the interior, and i thought the engine was gutless.

That said, they are a mighty pretty car, and i do look every time i see a nice one, and wonder if i made the right choice.

It's the old shape i'm going for although i do like the new shape too. I know what you mean about the interior. I only look at the one's with the black leather interiors as the cream one's seem to have the two-tone interiors like some of the new Skoda's have which i can't stand.

It's defo not a massively powerful car but it has enough there to still be an enjoyable ride. And it's a great motorway car which most of my driving is. The 'snow control' makes it a little easier to handle in the snow too except when it's like last years snowfall.

Cheers

Dave.

before I got the VRS furby I was seriously looking at the IS200..

+'s

168bhp, not big power output for a 2l straight 6, but it drove so smoothly, with SS you get alot more fun out of it,

The chassis handling rated at 300bhp+ so you chuck it in any corner it will grip and grip. (test and proven, yes lots of research done.. )

SS will get you 200+bhp? LSD fitted as std iirc.? lots of fun time....

Looks the dogs! I still look at some passing by and be :( because that would've been so my car. so much class and so solidly built

Reliability, nothing much goes wrong with them (I searched and searched on the forums, except the few in the -'s).

Lexus paid so so much attention to this model because it was their flagship to punch into the market of BMW's and Merc's, on paper it was hands down win for price vs functionality. I looked at the newer model (220d or 250i?) for my parents, and imo their interior and general vibe of quality manufacturing dropped..

-'s

Services!! if you can do alot yourself, excellent. if not.... uh..... expect more Merc prices.

Few niggles, like manufacture geometry settings are WRONG! you'll get inner tyre wear on the rears iirc, so look at that before you buy. You'll need to go to some specialist WIM place or something.. sorry I don't remember exactly but its on the forums.

Few other mechanical niggles but wasn't anything expensive to repair (compared to turbo going @ ~100k, cam belt services on fabia)

Not v eco comparatively, Im a student so every penny counts..

Tax... insurance..........

I would say have a look at some on the forums which are modded and what-not. they seems to be quite well looked after (when I was looking). I simply couldn't afford the tax.insurance, fuel, servicing costs as a student.. :( and its one of those white elephant motors which will fade away and never been seen again because of environment etc.. :(

Edited 20 October, 201015 yr by JLneonhug

Bizarrely I was sitting behind a IS300 Sportscross yesterday. Made me think back to when I was considering getting one.

Rare as the proverbial.

This one had some strange after market alloys on unfortunately

Wouldn't agree that it was Lexus's 'flagship' model to go up against BM and Merc. They'd had the LS out for about 5yrs before the IS to do that job. That's another mightily impressive vehicle, just lacking in a bit of character.

At the end of the day Dave, it's all about what feels right and what fits the bill. And yes, that is a lot of car for the money. Can't think of an alternative at that price, with the spec/age/mileage that can compete.

But I reckon it's only worth changing if you really, honestly 'just fancy a change' - can't think of much other reasons to pull you away from your vRS really :yes:

Cheers,

Steve

Wouldn't agree that it was Lexus's 'flagship' model to go up against BM and Merc. They'd had the LS out for about 5yrs before the IS to do that job. That's another mightily impressive vehicle, just lacking in a bit of character.

At the end of the day Dave, it's all about what feels right and what fits the bill. And yes, that is a lot of car for the money. Can't think of an alternative at that price, with the spec/age/mileage that can compete.

But I reckon it's only worth changing if you really, honestly 'just fancy a change' - can't think of much other reasons to pull you away from your vRS really :yes:

Cheers,

Steve

To be honest Steve i always said i'd only have it for a max of five years. There's also a reason or two or three why i'm not selling it privately and am looking to part-ex the Furby. If you catch my drift and if i were to deal with these issues i'd have to look at keeping the car for a good while yet and i'm ready to change now anyway.

I've had a small car now for 7 years, having had the Polo GTi before the vRS, and just fancy something larger again. (It was the mrs who owned the IS before and then the CTR).

There have beena few occasions recently where us both having a small car has caused problems andf i've even had to travel across Sheffield to borrow my folks' V70. So that's another reason for a larger car again. We're still looking at getting rid of the other vRS soon-ish but the mrs does like her little Furby hence me just getting rid of the one and getting something for roughly the same amount..... I might only have the IS for 6-12 months then get rid of both and maybe get an Octy vRS etc.... once the used facelift models have come down in price a little. (I don't like the 1st gen Octy 2).

Cheers

Dave.

before I got the VRS furby I was seriously looking at the IS200..

+'s

168bhp, not big power output for a 2l straight 6, but it drove so smoothly, with SS you get alot more fun out of it,

The chassis handling rated at 300bhp+ so you chuck it in any corner it will grip and grip. (test and proven, yes lots of research done.. )

SS will get you 200+bhp? LSD fitted as std iirc.? lots of fun time....

Looks the dogs! I still look at some passing by and be :( because that would've been so my car. so much class and so solidly built

Reliability, nothing much goes wrong with them (I searched and searched on the forums, except the few in the -'s).

Lexus paid so so much attention to this model because it was their flagship to punch into the market of BMW's and Merc's, on paper it was hands down win for price vs functionality. I looked at the newer model (220d or 250i?) for my parents, and imo their interior and general vibe of quality manufacturing dropped..

-'s

Services!! if you can do alot yourself, excellent. if not.... uh..... expect more Merc prices.

Few niggles, like manufacture geometry settings are WRONG! you'll get inner tyre wear on the rears iirc, so look at that before you buy. You'll need to go to some specialist WIM place or something.. sorry I don't remember exactly but its on the forums.

Few other mechanical niggles but wasn't anything expensive to repair (compared to turbo going @ ~100k, cam belt services on fabia)

Not v eco comparatively, Im a student so every penny counts..

Tax... insurance..........

I would say have a look at some on the forums which are modded and what-not. they seems to be quite well looked after (when I was looking). I simply couldn't afford the tax.insurance, fuel, servicing costs as a student.. :( and its one of those white elephant motors which will fade away and never been seen again because of environment etc.. :(

I'm not all that fussed about modding it to be honest. Don't forget as i said above i've already had one so i know how it performs. I might do the odd cosmetic mod but i'm quite looking forward to just being able to go with the main stream run of the mill insurance instead of hunting around the mod friendly companies and brokers.

I went back on the Lexus Owners Club to see if my old logon still worked and it did!!! So i've already been back on there and even had a trip down memory lane by going through my old posts from when we had the last IS. Costs wise i've got to check again but when we had the last one the insurance wasn't too bad for us and the road tax is the same £245 a year as i've been planning to pay for any of the cars i've been looking at (A4's, 9-3's etc....).

We loved the last one we had and the mrs still says now that part of her wishes she'd not traded it in for the CTR so it's another big plus knowing that we both like the car and how it behaves.

Bizarrely I was sitting behind a IS300 Sportscross yesterday. Made me think back to when I was considering getting one.

Rare as the proverbial.

This one had some strange after market alloys on unfortunately

The Sportscross had the better stereo system too with the big sub woofer in the boot just behind the back seats. :yes:

Cheers

Dave.

Edited 20 October, 201015 yr by WaveyDavey

Fair enough Dave, seems like you've got it worked out well

Don't like the pre-FL Octy2 though?! How very dare you! :'(

Fair enough Dave, seems like you've got it worked out well

Don't like the pre-FL Octy2 though?! How very dare you! :'(

Yeah i'll be selling all the bits off mine on here just not the car itself.

Nah i've never been a big fan of the Octy2.... I like the FL though but just can't afford one.

Cheers

Dave.

Yeah i'll be selling all the bits off mine on here just not the car itself.

Put a post up when you start taking bits off, as I might be interested in a couple of things...especially your RARB

Put a post up when you start taking bits off, as I might be interested in a couple of things...especially your RARB

Yeah i'll keep you in mind matey.

Cheers

Dave.

And so the vultures begin circling.... :p

And so the vultures begin circling.... :p

lol Yep.

Cheers

Dave.

You want to get yourself over here one...theres thousnads to choose from as they were a massive hit here on the import scene.....plus theres lots of the Toyota alltezza (220hp) versions to boot

I wanted one so bad years ago but they didnt do a hatch back version and the sportback was very rare!!

K:)

Checked out the insurance today TOO.... Works out just about exactly the same as i'm paying now for the modded vRS so not too bad there.

Wonder if the recall today will give me some extra bargaining power.

Cheers

Dave.

Hey, nice choice Dave, your gonna look so cool...

Still...at least you'll be with people more your age at the Lexus meets

For Christmas, We'll buy you some Stringback Leather driving gloves and a nice pair of Cream Action Slacks

Just kidding mate, I actually quite like the Lexus IS200's

Cheers

Damo

Hey, nice choice Dave, your gonna look so cool...

Still...at least you'll be with people more your age at the Lexus meets

For Christmas, We'll buy you some Stringback Leather driving gloves and a nice pair of Cream Action Slacks

Just kidding mate, I actually quite like the Lexus IS200's

Cheers

Damo

You nicked that bloody picture while you were at ours last weekend din't ya?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I seem to remember someone texting me earlier this year asking for the pro's and con's of the IS as someone who'd previously had one.......

Cheers

Dave.

Still...at least you'll be with people more your age at the Lexus meets

He'll be barred from the East Mids meet if he dares turn up in one of those

I have a friend who lives opposite me who bought an IS Lexus and doesn't like it. He says it is guttless and not much fun to drive. Before he had a Golf GTI which was great compared to the Lexus.

He'll be barred from the East Mids meet if he dares turn up in one of those

Hmmmmmmmm that sounds like a challenge I can't refuse.

I have a friend who lives opposite me who bought an IS Lexus and doesn't like it. He says it is guttless and not much fun to drive. Before he had a Golf GTI which was great compared to the Lexus.

As I've already said a couple of times in this post I know what the IS200 is like as we had one for just over two years from 2004 to 2006 and were perfectly happy with it.

Cheers

Dave.

Edited 22 October, 201015 yr by WaveyDavey