Was set on a 325i until I drove an IS300

"Mark Klebanoff" <maxikins.RemoveThis@spamless.os2bbs.com> wrote in message
news:nze6zYQT7gHB-pn2-d0y2k5d4UW3O@localhost...
 > Mechanically the IS is virtually unchanged from 01-03. As far as I
 > know the main differences are that the interior was slightly nicer in
 > 02 than in 01-- they inlcuded an armrest/center console. I think they
 > added air bags either in the windshield pillars and/or sides of the
 > seats. You can get a spoiler on the 02, but they're rare or
 > non-existent on the 01 (the spoiler is fairly discreet looking, by the
 > way).
 >
 > In 03 they included a memory function for the driver's seat. They
 > also include a storage compartment on the top of the dash where the
 > Nav screen would otherwise go-- it's just a shelf in the 01 and 02.
 >
 > there are other changes, but they're of that magnitude. In 01 (as an
 > 02 model) Lexus began importing a manual tranny-- it's supposed to
 > have stiffer springs, but most people don't see much difference.
 >
 > I have an 02 manual and love it-- fun to drive and rock-solid
 > reliable.
 >
 >
  > >
  > > I've seen more '01 models for sale, were there any significant
improvements
  > > from '01? Did the car change much from 2001 to 2002 to 2003?
  > >
  > > Thanks in advance,
  > >
  > > John K.
  > > '98 A4 - SOLD (halleluja)

I bought a brand new 2002 IS300 and 'HIGHLY' recommend this vehicle to
anyone. Mainly because of the incredible build quality and reliability of
this car. Of all the vehicles that I have owned in my life, my IS300 has
been the absolute best one by a long shot. The second best car that I have
ever owned from a quality and reliability standpoint was also made by
Toyota. Seems to me that Toyota is the common denominator here. I own Honda
and Nissan vehicles too, but both of the vehicles that I have owned that
were manufactured by Toyota have been virtually flawless. Overall, they are
much, much better cars than the Hondas and Nissans have been. Honda's
automatic transmissions have a tendency to shift pretty rough sometimes when
compared to those manufactured by Toyota and Nissan. Some of the Hondas
shift clunky even when they're fairly new.

At any rate, I just don't think that you can go wrong with a Lexus IS300.
These cars are way, way underrated if you asked me. I consider them to be
one of the automotive industry's best kept secrets. A true value. If Lexus
had marketed these cars properly, they would be wildly popular even outside
of Southern California and South Florida. They steer, handle and brake
remarkably, and the cabin is tight and quiet for a car of this nature. This
car also has the best safety rating in its class. The stereo system is
adequate unless you're a serious headbanger. Then you may be a bit
disappointed. If I have any criticisms, they are as follows:
-Space intruding gooseneck hinges for the trunk lid are a bit lame for an
entry level 'luxury' car nameplate.
*Not a major drawback for me.
-Hood prop rod instead of hydraulic arms that you have to work around if
you're servicing your car. Of course prop rods don't wear out, fail and
cause a hood to whack you on the head or neck. Although accidents can
certainly happen under a hood that is supported by a prop rod too.
*Not a major drawback for me.
-Rather small back seat for adults--especially the ones that have been
SuperSizing at Mickie Ds for a few years running.
-Fuel economy could be better--but the inline 6-cylinder engine is as smooth
and quiet as they come. Plenty powerful too unless you're a street racer
type.
-Cupholders aren't very good.
-Requires premium unleaded fuel only.
-Insurance is a bit steep for this car.
-Steering wheel is wrapped in a material that feels and looks cheap. Can't
be real leather in most IS300s I've seen.

At any rate, nearly all of the negatives that I have listed above are nit
picky ones. Again, I am over and beyond satisfied with my IS300. I'd buy
another one in a heartbeat!!!

V.H.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Was set on a 325i until I drove an IS300 

If you don't mind the mileage (I get about 17 with NO freeway driving, all
short trips with a cold engine in LA and I recently got 25 on a 3hr per from
LA to San Luis Obispo and back in my '03 Sportcross), go for it.

You'll miss your Audi; I know I do. I loved that car. I had lots of great
friends at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, got to take time away from work (was at
Keyes Audi 1 morning a week for the last few months I owned the car), and I
STILL wish I still had it. I also wish it lasted long enough to pick up my
personalized license plate, HNDNBRG, that I had ordered a few weeks prior.

But alas, my '98 A4 Avant 2.8, that I purchased new, was doomed. I had
suffered through the 6 instrument clusters, the 4 batteries, 2 speakers,
stereo, engine computer, climate control computer, steering rack, cam shaft
tensioner seals, cat-back exhaust system, coolant reservoir, coolant
temperature sensor, fuel guage sending unit, tiptronic switch, cruise
control switch, turn signal flasher, passenger seat bushings, 2 passenger
side CV boots, and the fouled out engine after Rusnak Pasadena tore the oil
cap's gasket. After $5,000 in repairs during the last year, not including
the cat or exhaust system which was warranted, all of which was performed by
Keyes Audi, I had only intermittant air conditioning and the check engine
light was on barking for another $500+ repair. I had been in constant
contact with Audi who told me to go screw myself since the car was out of
warranty. I traded it in on the IS and have had no, zero, nada repairs; 3
oil changes.

What was amusing, however, was the call I received 2 months after I traded
the car in. According to the sales manager at Longo Lexus, Rusnak Pasadena
purchased the trade in. Since all the repairs had been done at Rusnak and
Keyes Audi, they had access to the full service history and knew the car was
a lemon... and still bought it. The call I received was from Audi Roadside
Assistance. They had apparently sold the car as a "certified pre-owned" and
the piece of shit was back under factory warranty. The poor bastard who
bought it was stuck on the freeway... it had overheated.

Thank God their record keeping is as good as their build quality. I laughed
about that call for days while still mourning the loss of that car. My only
solice: I knew my Lexus would get me home... and WITH a working air
conditioner.
 >> Stay informed about: Was set on a 325i until I drove an IS300 

Hey, here's one that will test your memory and how old you are:

Can you remember when German cars were "reliable"?

I can, but I'm over 50.

--

- GRL

"It's good to want things."

Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)
"Cary Scheck" <cary DeleteThis @compcond.com> wrote in message
news:PI2uc.59195$ip3.57643@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com...
 > If you don't mind the mileage (I get about 17 with NO freeway driving, all
 > short trips with a cold engine in LA and I recently got 25 on a 3hr per
from
 > LA to San Luis Obispo and back in my '03 Sportcross), go for it.
 >
 > You'll miss your Audi; I know I do. I loved that car. I had lots of
great
 > friends at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, got to take time away from work (was at
 > Keyes Audi 1 morning a week for the last few months I owned the car), and
I
 > STILL wish I still had it. I also wish it lasted long enough to pick up
my
 > personalized license plate, HNDNBRG, that I had ordered a few weeks prior.
 >
 > But alas, my '98 A4 Avant 2.8, that I purchased new, was doomed. I had
 > suffered through the 6 instrument clusters, the 4 batteries, 2 speakers,
 > stereo, engine computer, climate control computer, steering rack, cam
shaft
 > tensioner seals, cat-back exhaust system, coolant reservoir, coolant
 > temperature sensor, fuel guage sending unit, tiptronic switch, cruise
 > control switch, turn signal flasher, passenger seat bushings, 2 passenger
 > side CV boots, and the fouled out engine after Rusnak Pasadena tore the
oil
 > cap's gasket. After $5,000 in repairs during the last year, not including
 > the cat or exhaust system which was warranted, all of which was performed
by
 > Keyes Audi, I had only intermittant air conditioning and the check engine
 > light was on barking for another $500+ repair. I had been in constant
 > contact with Audi who told me to go screw myself since the car was out of
 > warranty. I traded it in on the IS and have had no, zero, nada repairs; 3
 > oil changes.
 >
 > What was amusing, however, was the call I received 2 months after I traded
 > the car in. According to the sales manager at Longo Lexus, Rusnak
Pasadena
 > purchased the trade in. Since all the repairs had been done at Rusnak and
 > Keyes Audi, they had access to the full service history and knew the car
was
 > a lemon... and still bought it. The call I received was from Audi
Roadside
 > Assistance. They had apparently sold the car as a "certified pre-owned"
and
 > the piece of shit was back under factory warranty. The poor bastard who
 > bought it was stuck on the freeway... it had overheated.
 >
 > Thank God their record keeping is as good as their build quality. I
laughed
 > about that call for days while still mourning the loss of that car. My
only
 > solice: I knew my Lexus would get me home... and WITH a working air
 > conditioner.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Was set on a 325i until I drove an IS300 

The IS300 is pretty nice, as you say. It has two annoyances, however. It's
on the small size inside and the six is a pretty old design, does not make
great power for its size, and is something of a gas hog.

It takes to turbo-charging very well and was a GREAT engine in the (sainted)
Supra TT, but Toyota never saw fit to put the turbo in the IS (space issue,
I suppose). Kind of a pity they did not as they would have ended up with
something that would be able to hand an M3 its (the M3's) head on a platter,
performance-wise, for $10,000 less.

Coulda' woulda' shoulda'.

Sure wish Toyota was more serious about building high-performance cars.

- GRL

"It's good to want things."

Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)
"JohnK" <john.kirksey.DeleteThis@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:fvIsc.101$U66.69@nwrddc03.gnilink.net...
 > I was looking hard for an '03 325i with the sport package until I decided,
 > for the heck of it, to drive the IS300 yesterday. Wow! Not quite as
"classy"
 > inside as the 325, but that's okay. It seems to be well made, the
 > performance is better, and it is Japanese, so I can put my troubled German
 > car ownership behind me (had an A4). Now to just find the right one. The
 > local CarMax has an '03 with 4,362 miles for 28,799. Although I love the
 > "thrill of the hunt" that goes along with beating car dealers over the
head,
 > I think that sounds like a pretty good deal, while my wife thinks I should
 > shop around and try to find a better deal, i.e. cheaper (where just a few
 > days ago she was preaching about how much better CarMax's "no haggle"
 > pricing is than the "oogie" car salesman at most dealerships.)
 >
 > I did some research on the web and it doesn't seem like there are a whole
 > lot of '03s floating around out there, let alone any with fewer than 5K
 > miles. I'm set on an IS300, should I jump on this one? It seems to me that
 > it is basically a new car minus depreciation.
 >
 > I've seen more '01 models for sale, were there any significant
improvements
 > from '01? Did the car change much from 2001 to 2002 to 2003?
 >
 > Thanks in advance,
 >
 > John K.
 > '98 A4 - SOLD (halleluja)
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Was set on a 325i until I drove an IS300 

As I understand it there are 3 TRD turbos available for the IS which don't
affect the warranty. Stage 3 is supposed to total almost 400HP while the
stage 1 should be around $4K.

Happy?
 >> Stay informed about: Was set on a 325i until I drove an IS300 

You sure about the warranty?

--

- GRL

"It's good to want things."

Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)
"Cary Scheck" <cary DeleteThis @compcond.com> wrote in message
news:_49vc.77460$zX7.45214@newssvr25.news.prodigy.com...
 > As I understand it there are 3 TRD turbos available for the IS which don't
 > affect the warranty. Stage 3 is supposed to total almost 400HP while the
 > stage 1 should be around $4K.
 >
 > Happy?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Was set on a 325i until I drove an IS300