Brickhouse

I have had my Mondeo MK3 2.5 V6 for nearly 3 years. Low mileage, in need of nothing.....But I have seen a Lexus near to me for sale.

Its a 2003 Lexus IS300. I know nothing about Lexus, but this one has caught my eye as it looks good and from what I was told many years ago about the IS200 they are meant to be very good cars, so I suppose the same applies for the IS300?

Good idea to buy this IS300 or should I stick with my Mondeo?

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

Had my 200 for over 5 years now, never failed me or let me down. They are built extremely well, and like anything if you find one that's been looked after it will run perfectly happily for many years to come. Since I've had mine I've changed the cam belt and water pump (advised to do at same time, original Lexus interval was 100,000 miles or ten years, later this was revised to 60,000 or 6 years, so I did mine as a matter of course after getting it), as well as all four shocks, springs and lower front ball joints. It actually only needed one front shock (started misting, then weeping) but I figured you don't do them singularly, so I need at least a pair, then thought there's no point putting tired old springs back on, then since springs come as a pack of four no point putting the old rear shocks back on, so they all got done and the lower front ball joints are a common failure part so since everything else was coming off, I did those too (advice, only fit OE ones from Toyota, not aftermarket ebay ones - unless you're getting Moog ones from the US)

Other known problems - calipers do seize up, either pistons or sliders, which leads to warped discs. The optional 18" 6 spoke alloys are made from butter and buckle/flat spot at the mere sight of a pot hole.

Fuel consumption is not great. Mine was getting average 27/28mpg as a mixture of urban and motorway, but for some reason it's dropped to 25 recently, not entirely sure why. But the 300 generally seems to get 24/25 real-world results, less if you drive is less forgivingly.

Good points, built like a tank - legendary Toyota build quality with Lexus-cost parts - and they drive superbly. Handle like they're on rails, great fun for flicking round country lanes and just as enjoyable to drive on long motorway journeys; smooth, quiet, very un-fatiguing.

IS300 comes loaded with everything the IS range had to offer; xenon lights as standard, the much coveted front armrest (£400 option in the IS200), all the little dress-up bits the 200 Sport had, slightly lower (-15mm) suspension the 200 Sport had, but bodykit, wheels and sat nav were still all option (sat nav was £2k when new, and now is worth fuck all as it's ten years out of date, no postcode look up and non touch screen). Electric EVERYTHING, including electrochromatic mirrors.

Tax is a bastard, £300 this year - expect it to be £320 next year.

They're not quick, at least the 200 isn't with it's 153bhp 2L 6 pot motor. The 300 is better with 211 3L 6pot 2JZ engine (turbo conversions are available, 350bhp on standard internals is no drama), but they're more about cruising than ragging.

Rear diff in Sport (and I believe the 300's too) is a Torsen LSD, which is quite frankly shit in the snow. I fitted winter tyres to mine and they made all the difference in the world in the snow and slush. Flip the TRC off and the arse comes out nicely though. 300 only comes in auto, with a 5-speed box with tip-tronic controls. 200 came in manual (5sp) and auto (4sp).

If it wasn't for the fuel (and tax) it'd be the perfect car (with a few more ponies). On paper, as it is, it makes little to no sense to own one; not fast, poor mpg, high tax, expensive to fix if it does go wrong. But I'm hard pushed to get rid of mine even with the above as they're just so nice to use and drive. I can get a Fiesta TDCi thing that does 50/60 to the gallon and costs £30 a year tax, but I just love my Lexus to drive I know I'd be disappointed with the Fez (although my bank account wouldn't be - I could tax it for ten years on just a single years tax for the IS!)

Your best bet is to get out there and drive a couple. Drive a 200 too, to see the difference.

Brickhouse

Thanks greatly mate for a really informative and helpful reply.

My Mondeo 2.5 V6 auto is averaging 22-23mpg around town and country lanes and around 28mpg on A and some B roads. Tax is £305 on my Mondeo......So it seems they are about the same as in running costs.

This IS300 has done 150k, not much history. The guy selling it has taken pictures of all the work he has carried out. New cambelt, plugs, rad, coolant flush, new back box and some other little bits.

Wondering compared to my Mondeo if it would be more fun to drive? My Mondeo is 167bhp, IS300 is 211bhp. 0-60 on my Mondeo is in the late 9's to early 10's. I think the IS300 is mid to late 7's?

I read that the engine in them is the same as the Toyota Supra used to use without the turbo? Also being a Toyota engine I am sure it will last forever if looked after.

Parts wise. Wonder how easy parts are for it, say a starter motor, alternator, things like that?

Last thing...... Love your 200 in your av' pic. The best colour, classy yet sporty!!

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

Low 8's for the 0-60, and yes the engine is a naturally aspirated 2JZ, found in range of Toyota's but most memorably the Supra (which had N/A, single turbo and twin turbo variants). Like all Toyota engines, if looked after and serviced it's essentially bulletproof and will run forever.

Most parts can be got from motor factors and places like Euro Car Parts, and there's a small, but dedicated, network of specialist breakers for 200/300's

Thanks on the compliment - I originally wanted blue, but finding a Sport model, in blue, with the black interior wasn't as easy as I expected, so this silver, fairly low miles (77 or 79k when I got it) Sport came up, it was so nicely looked after I had to have it.

IS300 spec sheet added to post

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

The Lexus are a cracking car. I wonder what the price on parts will be like compared to the mondeo.

Brickhouse

Wondering exactly the same thing Glenn mate. Wonder if they are better to drive than a MK3 Mondeo?

My insurance wants......Ready for this........An extra £174 a year to insure an IS300, I was expecting it to be around £50 a year more!

DAN@ADRIAN FLUX

Hi,
if you need any help with insurance then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.

cossynut2

As others have said find one to take for a test drive, you will find out pretty quickly if you like it. Lexus are the up market Toyotas and probably a step up from your Mondeo. The only thing I would say is try to find one with less miles and a service history. Once you are heading towards the 200,000 mile mark components do wear out.
Good luck if you make the change.

The Crocodile Hunter

Up until recently I had a blue 200 sport with a black interior as my daily, had it for over 3 years and apart from a sticking front caliper it was spot on, even with 155k on the clock.

Eventually I did a supercharger conversion to it, drove it around for a bit and sold it to my brother who still has it.

The Crocodile Hunter

Going back on topic I would like to have a drive of a 300. I bet they are worlds apart from the 200 cars, only problem for me is that they only sold auto versions in the uk

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

I know it sounds daft but I drove my Mondeo the other day for the first time in over a week and I thought to myself how nice it drives.

Just and road test a Lexasssss and see what you think. I worked on them for about 6 months and in that time all we changed on them was water pumps.