Lexus IS Saloon (1999 - 2005) 3.0 4d Auto (2001/51) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I imagine others think I'm a grandad driving his last ever car! Or that I'm desperate to have a premium badge but can only afford an thirteen year old one! But if it wore the Toyota badge rather than Lexus it wouldn't bother me; I bought it for the reputation of good quality engineering and reliability rather than 'perceived quality' that dashboard-strokers seem to value. I doubt many will appreciate that though. At least people won't think I'm a company car driver forced into miserable grey diesel eco-box by some beancounter.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

My family like all my cars because they get taken places for nothing! Work colleagues do like it and had a good poke about when I bought it.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Well, I'm planning keeping it for another few years yet, hopefully to get to 200k, so by then there will be very few IS300s about. But if it was writen-off tomorrow, yes I would.

What are you likely to buy next?

I'd love to have a V8 before they stop making them in all but the most expensive marques. So I'm intrigued by either a GS430 or an LS430 next. I know there are Phaeton's and 7-Series, but I'm not convinced they would be as good a long term prospect as a Lexus.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£2,800

When did you buy the car?

May 2013

Did you get a good deal and why?

I probably paid over the odds a bit but it was by far the best example I had come across; full Lexus history and only one owner after it has served time as a demonstrator.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

After years of counting pennies, I wanted to indulge in a six-cylinder motor but without taking a huge gamble.

What was the dealer like?

Down to earth, open and ensured it got through a new MoT despite some difficulty with parts.

What's it like to drive?

Lovely. Nice to use the autobox to bumble about town or in heavy traffic but need to use the steering wheel buttons to control it when pressing on down A or B roads. Still hate those silly kickdowns it does to second if I'm not careful. Very capable at motorway speeds, easily putting on speed. And I never tire of the engine note when I start it up. Steering is accurate and handling is good but I never get near it's limits.

What's it like to park?

Being rear wheel drive it has a good steering lock and being quite a modest size fits well in parking spaces, unlike more modern cars. Still finding the bonnet difficult to gauge but boot is short and haven't backed into anything yet.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Given the mileage when I bought it (just under 100k) I was budgeting for major items like discs and pads all round, exhaust, front suspension etc. These have been replaced over the first year as required so nothing has kept it unexpectedly off the road, so far!

What's most practical about your car?

It's not a practical car really, not for going to the tip or IKEA (that's the wife's car's job!). But 95% I'm alone with perhaps a couple of small equipment bags in the boot so that's fine. The remaining 5% of the time I can carry the four of us in smooth comfort, if without too much luggage.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Probably cruise control. Otherwise, it's mercifully free of extraneous gadgetry.