2001 Lexus IS200 SE review from UK and Ireland

Front ball joints which are known for wear on these cars.

Front and rear discs and pads.

Fog lights seized up and needed replacing.

Lexus being notorious for its reliability and refinement aswel as having a good image lives up to all those things with the IS200!

I bought this car after owning a Focus ST so I wasn't overly impressed with the performance, but on the plus side this is more along the lines of being built for comfort and cruising and not performance thrills, if its this car you want AND performance to match buy the IS300.

The car looks the part and it speaks for itself as Lexus didn't give this car a face lift in its long 7 year production, and of course you have the bonus of driving the car that started the worldwide trend for 'Lexus' lights!

Interior is very modern, some say a bit too funky, but you get used to it and if its the contemporary look you like you will like this, very solid and soundly put together not to mention the levels of standard equipment, electric tilt/slide 'moonroof' climate control, electric/heated seats, power sensitive steering and power folding mirrors to mention a few.

So the car otsself is overall is indeed a good buy at the right age, meaning I wouldn't advise you go out and spend the asking price of some late models that are in the 15k pus bracket when you can grab a 4/5 year old example for under 8k, nearly half, the only benefit of the high price tags on later models being the newer plate and lower mileage, but as these cars are said to get better with age and mileage why bother!

On the down side if your running an auto they can be juicy and taking into account the price of a litre at todays forecourts you looking at a £70 fill for 350-400 miles per tank! Ouch!

Servicing can also be expensive especially at Lexus, but there are plenty of independent garages around to offer the same standard and the non main dealer stamp shouldn't make that much of a difference to the resale value which as it goes is very good, holding its value very well and the cheapest you will find will be in the 5k plus bracket and that's for a high mileage early example!

I would advise anyone who is thinking along the lines of the 3 series, C-Class, A4 route to seriously consider the Lexus IS200, but if its performance you want as mentioned before don't expect it, if its luxury, refinement, reliability and satisfaction you want get looking at the classifieds under Lexus now cos' it they certainly don't come much better tan in this car!

The badge will do you justice!

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