As above, just been offered a swap for my little 1.4 focus, what are the problems with them?
Its a 2001 2.0 petrol

 

When they go wrong , they go seriously wrong.at that age IDE rather have focus.

 

The water pumps used to leak.The discs and pads always corroed.Finding reverse gear is a nightmare.They arnt quick. They do drive nice though.

 

I'll steer clear, focus is just too under powered for me, shame though as its a lovely drive

 

Yeh focuses are a bloody good car.Shame they rust like any other ford.

 

Maybe just swap for a 2.0 focus is your best bet? Do think the lexus looks nice mind.

 

I would have a good condition IS200 anyday

 

My focus dont have a spec of rust its just the 1.4 that does me in, I do think the is200s look good, the one in question has done 145k though

 

So is the focus a cl then. Can you not pimp it up a bit by fitting front fog lights n fit an intermittent wiper speed stalk.

 

Is any day a bit sluggish to take off but lovelier drive

 

Bought the misses one 5 or 6 years ago. Its now done 170k miles. I've put a number plate bulb, 3 tyres, a set of pads and a clutch in it. Cheap motoring imo and the have all the extras you ever need. Oh and a lsd

 

No glen the cl is a poverty spec, im upmarket I have a lx haha, it is literally just the engine size that fusses me, I thought I was being grown up and economical when I got it lol

 

Yeah Dixie it is a fantastic spec and I thought being a Toyota the milage shouldn't be a problem but wanted to check lol

 

Clutch is an ass hole to change and they are dual mass. Give it a boot full and see if she slips.

 

Cheers mate, im sure that must do a solid flywheel conversion for it

 

Yeah they do fella. Not a lot cheaper though. Well wasn't from the motor factor I use.

 

I get a tasty discount from my local motor factors, I only paid 210 for my solid flywheel for my mondeo as opposed to over Ł500 for a new dmf

 

153bhp straight 6, under powered and heavy on fuel, 6 disc in dash jams up and chews cd's.

 

Not quick, not economical, but they are lovely to drive, handling is superb, quiet, smooth, refined, nimble and agile for what is a pretty heavy car, well specced, and very comfortable. Granted, they could do with another 40 or 50 horses, but they aren't that slow; just not quick off the line. There's also an IS300, which is same as the 200 Sport, but with a 3L n/a 2JZ engine, making 211bhp, but only comes with a 5speed autobox, with tiptronic controls.

I've the 200 Sport; slightly lowered and stiffened suspension compared to the S and SE, only came with manual (6sp) box. Love it, best car I've ever owned.

Reverse isn't THAT hard to find - it's just got a pressure gate (it's next to first, so you have to forcefully push it over to the left to get into reverse). The 6sp box is the nicest manual box I've ever used; tight, precise, and positive.

CD player is a common fault, because people don't know how to use it and just try and force CD's in without loading them. It's an in-dash 6 disc changer, and doesn't use a cartridge, so you need to load each one individually. Never had a problem with mine though.

Cam belts need doing on them, or risk loosing the engine. Lexus say 10years/100k, in reality, 60-80k is better. Water pump can leak (look for pink furring underneath it), and if you're having the belt done, might aswell do the pump (it's not belt driven, but you need to take the cam belt off to get to it, so for an extra Ł40, might as well do it at the same time). Calipers are reported to stick (never had any problems with mine), so refurb kit or recon calipers are common.

Lexus build quality is legendary, and they are pretty bomb proof, provided they are serviced and looked after. Mines ~90k, FSH, loads of reciepts, and it really does drive almost like new. Very tight, grips like fuck - it's actually hard to unstick it and push the arse out with grippy tyres and TRC on; even with TRC off, you have to beans it to get it stepping out - and is soooooo much fun through the twistys!

 

Bet the 6sp box is the same in my celica. Sounds bang on. Very crisp gears even at 90k

 

I've been in some that aren't as tight as mine, so I guess it's how it's looked after. Mine is still very crisp and solid, and you do have to want to get reverse to get it - others I've been in offer little to no resistence when you go to pass the pressure gate to select reverse.

On the mention of reverse - it beeps to tell you you're in reverse. Not once, but constantly; beep, beep, beep, beep, like a lorry reversing But inside the car, not outside. And no, you can't disable it! It appears to be built into the dash clocks! Most think they have reverse sensors, but they don't, and those that do have reverse sensors, can't hear them cos the Lexus beep masks their beep Apparently, Americans wouldn't know they are in reverse unless they either have a display on the dash (autos) or a beep (for manual), so we have to put up with it. Annoying at first, but you get used to it

 

Yeah mines got the beeps too. Sounds about right for Americans though

 

Oh, and if you can find one, and afford the Ł2k price tag, there's a purpose built supercharger kit for the 200. Bolt on job, piggyback ECU controller, originally made by the now defunct TTE department of Toyota, which adds about 50hp, taking it to circa 200bhp. Me personally, I'd like the extra oomph, but Ł2k for 50bhp isn't worth it, and I'm also not a fan of the supercharger noise. Much prefer a subtle little turbo whistle, myself.

It's worth noting, that other than turbo conversions, engine swaps or supercharging, the 1G-GFE in the XE10 IS is virtually untunable. It just doens't respond to it. You can't remap it, there's little to nothing in the way of performance parts, like cams, etc. Exhausts, filters and the like make little to no difference. It's just not worth doing anything to it, and if you want faster, then either buy the IS300, or spend large amounts on turboing or supercharging it. Either that, or rip the lump out and slot in another Toyota engine, such as the 1JZ-GTE (2.5, I6, twin turbo - later models were single turbo - with 280bhp standard), or go full on 2JZ turbo nutter bastard with it, using a F154 5sp manual box from a Supra. And we all know what the 2JZ is capable of - could be the ultimate sleeper

 

Im sure they did a limited edition is and it was turboed????.

 

I have just bought one, a 2001 sport with 115k on the clock, its a great car.

Not as bad of fuel as I thought it might be, although it isn't great does about 30mpg

Surperb build, not particuly fast but ok for a n/a 2.0! I think people think that just because they are a 6 they should go like a rocket! Handles great too for what it is.

Tbh I can't really fault it, go and have a go in one.

 

Dunno bout 30mpg - I ran mine 450 miles to Leeds and back and managed an average of 29 - around town it's about 22

 

Southampton to Wales i get around 36 mpg cruising at about 70 ish. However mine is just a SE.

 

Nope. They did do "LE" models, but all they were, were the last year of production, and they upgraded the 200's to the same spec interior and toys that the 300 has (full leather interior, front armrest, Sat Nav, auto dimming chromatic mirrors) with different wheels and a a couple of different colours. Engines in all of the IS range has never changed; it's either 2.0L I6 n/a, or 3.0 I6 n/a in the 300

 

Still early days for me to accurately tell, I've only had it a week!

However my 17 mile each way commute is on generally traffic free A roads at steady speeds so about as good as you could ask for really?

As soon as I've used a whole tank then filled her back up again I'll know for sure! If I can average 30 over a tank I'll be happy!

 

My top tip to you is - don't fill up the tank! For a start, it's about Ł90 And for the second thing, it's 70L, which in weight is about 8 stone. So I only ever fill up max of 35 litres, as I just can't see the point - in a car already bad enough on juice - to carry around the extra weight. And as we all know, weight destroys fuel economy

 

I think people may be getting mixed up with the Toyota altezza jap import which was available with 2.0 4cyl turbo around 200 BHP,

 

That (the Altezza RS200) wasn't a turbo either. It was a 2.0L I4 n/a 3S-GE BEAMS engine tuned by Yamaha to 210bhp. Never has been a production XE10 IS/Altezza with forced induction.

GE engines are n/a - GTE engines are turbocharged.

 

Ah my mistake

 

Im sure I heard of someone that there was a turboed is.Or well not to worry.

 

Not as standard, no.

 

The is200 is a brilliant car though, yeah the engine is slightly underwhelming but I know of a few lads that that have thrown the supra tt engines in them. Now that makes an amazing car that should have been built from the start

 

I've had one of these in the past always wanted one then when I got one was a little disappointed if I'm honest but I will say it was built well it looks nice and the drive wasn't that bad.

I found it to be quite slow unless you kept it high in the rev range the VVTI's do drink oil so keep you're eye on that I had to replace the water pump as mine was leaking and the siders in the brakes had seized which apparently is quite common.

Parts are expensive if they need changing mine had 145k with full Lexus history it drove like new with no rattles gearbox clutch suspension and engine was all good and wasn't that bad on fuel for what it is.

I sold mine onto my inlaws who drove it without keeping there eye on the oil and ran it dry which seized the engine. They ended up paying Ł800 having a 2nd hand engine fitted I should've bought it back and dropped the Supra engine it.

Thats my 2 pennies worth hope it's of some help

 

Ive got to say mine doesnt drink any oil what so ever?

 

Ok, used a tank of fuel and filled it up again, mine averaged 34.4 mpg.

To be fair I gave it the best possible chance driving wise and as said before my commute is on fairly traffic free A roads at constant 50 odd mph.

Still better than I thought it would be!

 

Fucking is Mine barely makes it over 22 I nursed it up and down from London to Leeds and back, and averaged 29.9

Oh well, I didn't buy it for fuel economy. I also didn't buy it for speed. So what the fuck did I buy it for?

Oh yeah, cos it's comfortable, leccy everything, and handles like it's on fucking rails

Shit in the snow though - winter tyres FTW!