Good car ? Bad car ?

I can't think of any particular reason to 'stay clear' of the IS300. They are fundamentally decent cars - ok the interior is lacking compared to something like a BMW but they are pretty reliable - certainly more so than a 330i - and unlike the IS200 they do actually offer some semblance of performance that goes some way to justifying the thirst. The only real downside, if its an issue, is that they only come in Automatic form unless you pick an IS200, and the IS200 has a ridiculous thirst to performance ratio.

The only reasons I can think of NOT to buy a Lexus IS are personal preference. If you like the way it looks inside and out and you like the way it drives its a fairly decent compact exec.

And that one has a hint of being a nice one too - low miles and 1 owner from new. No idea what its worth, mind.

It's less sporting than the Mondeo ST220 so it depends what you want. It'll feel more solidly built and better put together than the Mondeo, it'll also be a bit less sharp and a more wafty than the Mondeo.
 
Great car for £4k TBH, any German equivalent will be leggy and worn in comparison.
 
Exactly what fox says, I had an is200 sport cross for a while and it was superb. Thirsty for the performance but that didn't bother me until I started doing higher mileage.

I don't know if I'd call it wafty though, they're not firm and harsh but they're wonderfully balanced and a great drive. That i6 makes a superb noise too

They are very similar to the e46 3 series - with good reason as that's what Lexus were aiming for! So what you've got is something very comparable to an e46 330i touring but more Japanese - so slightly more plasticky inside but very reliable. It doesn't have the image of the BMW, which is a downside for some but a bonus when buying as its not such a minefield when buying one.

That one appears to be very low mileage, I don't know if that was the intentional trap that people get themselves into but my 05 200 was on ~120k and was in exceptional condition. At 5000 miles a year, what sort of use do you think it's had? Possibly kept in a garage and only taken out at weekends, possibly driven short journeys around town every day...don't worry about mileage with these, get one in with the best history and condition, they wear very well
 
[TW]Fox;23717460 said:
It has a V6 mated to a torque converter automatic.

This, compared to a manual box, is 'wafty'. It certainly isn't 'sporty' :p
Click to expand...

It has a straight six :p

I was more talking about the ride which is a nice balance. The auto is why I ended you with a 200 though, it suits the car better. It really is a shame they didn't do a 300 manual, I think the Americans got one, bizarrely.
 
Completely agree with what fox has posted.

That engine is pretty nice and the cars are typically very reliable. i dont think many people are that familiar with the lexus brand so dont know what to make of them
 
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