Lexus IS 250

callmeBadger

callmeBadger

callmeBadger

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427
Anyone know anything about the Lexus IS 250? I've got a Celiva Gen 7 T Sport 03 at the moment had it three years and wanting to replace it. I've looked at some 320's, A4's and Mondeo's all around the £14K - £16K price bracket, but from driving a couple of hours a day on motorways I just see these all the time after something a little different.

I'm after a less than 3 year old petrol, 4/5 year old.I've seen the lexus and read a few things about it but does anyone have any real experience of them?
 
The BMW 325i is a better car, but if you can't stand BMW's and want something that just blends in the IS250 is far from a bad car.
 
My brother has a 2 year old black 250.
If you want to drive the star ship enterprise, that's the car for you. It's all very slick buttons and displays and touchscreen and all that stuff.

However, he thinks it's not very engaging. It gets you from A to B and that's about it. He used to have an A4 which he said felt a bit more involved. Very nice car, just a little dull.
 
Good cars. Have you driven one?
He said it just just a bit more grippy and pointy. You knew what it was doing instead of it being electronically separated from the feeling of the car.
 
Yea I've driven one and my appraisal was the opposite, it felt pretty detached. It was 'nice' but in a solidly built way not an involving way.
 
Fox, i've had a play in 320 M's and 325 M's, sporty but on my daily drive rounds about half the cars i see in the outside lane are either A4's (which I had for 4 months over the summer) or 3 series's. I've got a test drive of the SEL Auto and Manual sorted out for early next week.

As for engaging drive, I spend most of my drive in rush hour strolling up and down the M1 and M69(Juction 24/25 down M69 Jct 2) 50 miles each way of heavy motorway traffic.

Any other recomendations then for the price bracket. It's a private purchased car and needs to be reliable, and not to grand-dad like. Prefferably under three years old. Petrol (work pays 40p/mile petrol, 20p/mile diesel), for around 14-16K.

At the moment i'm split between 320 M Sport 07 and a Lexus IS 250 SEL 57 both around the 16K mark. Also, on a random side line, how likely are there to be a decent price drop in cars when the 09 plates are out in March? Would i be better off waiting a month and trying for a 57 / 08 plates then?
 
callmeBadger said:
Fox, i've had a play in 320 M's and 325 M's, sporty but on my daily drive rounds about half the cars i see in the outside lane are either A4's (which I had for 4 months over the summer) or 3 series's.
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Why do you care so much about that? You are buying a Compact Executive, there are lots around, thats what happens. If you were buying something exotic fair enough but it does seem rather daft to try and buy the blandest car possible just so you dont see other ones driving about.

Any other recomendations then for the price bracket. It's a private purchased car and needs to be reliable, and not to grand-dad like. Prefferably under three years old. Petrol (work pays 40p/mile petrol, 20p/mile diesel), for around 14-16K.
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Go for the Lexus because its the best uncommon car. The other stuff that isnt very common isnt very common because its cack (ie Alfa).

Why are you deciding between a 4 cylinder 320 and a 6 cylinder IS250?
 
The IS line has gone a bit too "posh" imo, their two best cars, the RS200 (IS200 from Japan with better engine) and the manual IS300 were the two cars we never even got in UK :(
 
[TW]Fox;13337989 said:
Why do you care so much about that? You are buying a Compact Executive, there are lots around, thats what happens. If you were buying something exotic fair enough but it does seem rather daft to try and buy the blandest car possible just so you dont see other ones driving about.
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Point taken I know, one could also point out that their are lots round becouse they are good and better than others in the same class. If they were not any good they wouldn't sell in such numbers.


Go for the Lexus because its the best uncommon car. The other stuff that isnt very common isnt very common because its cack (ie Alfa).
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I like the look of the Alfa 159, but it's an alfa. If company owned vehicle it might be worth a go, as they would pick up all the hassle and costs of keeping it going.

Why are you deciding between a 4 cylinder 320 and a 6 cylinder IS250?
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What's the odds of finding a decent 325 M Sport, less than three years old for under 16k? The stupid three year age is becouse I sometimes travel with clients and work has a "new and respectable" rule which is interpreted as less than 6 years old. Stupid but that why i ended up in a A4 for the summer as my celica wasn't respectable enough, "sent out the wrong message".
 
The IS250 is nice, but only if you get it in SE-L spec. The lower S and SE spec cars don't have the touchscreen nav and lack all sorts of other niceties.
The best thing about owning a Lexus is the dealer service. There is nothing else quite like it in the car world.
 
Rilot said:
The IS250 is nice, but only if you get it in SE-L spec. The lower S and SE spec cars don't have the touchscreen nav and lack all sorts of other niceties.
The best thing about owning a Lexus is the dealer service. There is nothing else quite like it in the car world.
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According to the bloke at the Lexus dealship yesterday i spoke to, the Mark Levinson touch screen system is an upgrade option available on all IS250's, unitl the 09. The 09 has a standard 6 speaker, a 6 speaker plus touch screen sat nav (same screen as ML and no DVD playback) and the Mark levinson dvd system that the previous models had.

The SE-L has the headlights that "look round corners" and memory settings on exterior mirrors and seats linked to the key fob thing. Unfortunatly the SE-L also comes with the wooded finish, that has so much varnish laquer and other stuff that it looks plastic, even though it's meant to be expensive and hand finished. SE-L also has the rear window blind, i think air conditioned ventilated seats also.

Not sure about the extra's to expect on the 3 series, nor am i likely to see a 3 series which has the i-drive available in this price range.
 
If you're looking for an involving drive then it's not the car for you. If not, it's well built, reliable and if you get the auto petrol, it's a damn easy, smooth and quiet drive no matter how long the drive. Decent value for money considering the kit included.
 
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