2000 Lexus IS200 S review from UK and Ireland

Someone liked the car so much they stole the rear badge after two weeks. Otherwise no problems yet.

The engine is smooth, revs easily and is especially quick in the 4000-6000 revs range. It could do with a little more power lower down but is still quick. The close-ratio six speed gearbox lets you keep in the 4000-6000 rev range as you move up through the gears and you get a nice (although a bit too quiet) growl from the exhaust.

The car handles really well although the rear-wheel drive takes a bit of getting used to. With the traction control on the car just appears to understeer a little at first if pushed hard. Push it harder, especially in the wet or without the traction control and you can get the rear of the car moving out. With the traction control on the car is easy to correct though.

The car is very comfortable - on a 200 mile round-trip in a day I felt fresher than when I did a single 100 mile leg of the journey in my previous M-reg Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0 CDX.

Fuel consumption is not brilliant for a 2 litre car - I get 27mpg on a combination of town and motorway driving when I commute to work. On longer journeys I get 32mpg.

The looks and build quality of the car are excellent. Little features like having the handle on the inside of the boot so that it stays clean make a difference. Also useful are the remote boot release on the key and the folding wing-mirrors for parking on narrow streets.

I'd have liked the nice 17-inch alloys of the SE, but I'm getting used to the 16-inch ones on the S. With less open space between the spokes they seem to keep a bit cleaner (from brake dust) than the ones on the SE that I've seen.