By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Also, after I left the dealership I realized that I did not do the "check it over before you leave" look. So, I pulled over in a parking lot for inspection. There were several scratches located on the front passenger side bumper near the fog light. One scratch exposes the dark foundation. I immediately brought the car back & showed the service consultant what I discovered. He insisted that the car was hand washed & didn't think that it was his people. I told him that I am the only person that cleans the car & when I do I use a stool & take my time in washing/waxing the car (just did it on Sunday). He didn't say what he could do but said that he would have to get is manager's approval. He called back an hour later said that his manager will approve fixing the bumper at an autobody shop & that I could have a loaner. Sorry for the long history but my question is - do you think that the autobody shop will have to sand the area down & spray paint or brush paint? Or sand the entire bumper & spray/brush paint? Do you think sanding is required at all? Do you think its possible to match the factory paint? I heard touchup paint makes it look worse! Can you clue me on this? I am afraid I am about to be taken.
If you want a real sporty car get an RWD! No self-respecting sports car is without one! I'm sure others will agree on just this one aspect!
I test drove the following cars before making my decision on the IS300: ACURA TL (just a big sedan trying to be everything to ALL consumers-good try on the manufacturer's part-sporty car lovers know better), BMW 3 series (great car but I've just confirmed the "everytime you bring for service it costs $500" someone told me that $500 is just for the computer diagnostics - still gotta pay for repairing the problem, labor, parts. Maintenance on European cars is far to pricey), RAV4 (cute, sorta fun but no guts), CAMRY V6 (not bad, smooth riding, too baby boomership, actually boring), new COROLLA (Toyota made it bigger but forgot about more hp to carry the new weight, try getting onto a freeway!), ALTIMA (FWD-way too much torque, felt like the car was in control-not me, it veers too much to the right, too big, again a big sedan trying to capture all the market, base price is cheap but the options can run you close to $5,000 (V6 model), G35 (only rode-the driver wanted to give me a thrill at 80+ zigging across the freeway, interior was nice, options are expensive (Bose $900?), its trying be the 350Z, the butt needs to be redesigned, generally something missing).
Anyway, thats my 2 cents! Try the IS again - I promise its heavenly. You will fall in love, it will excite you & you will have a difficult time wiping that smile off your face! If you got any other questions let me know! Its 1:30 am & I'm sleeepppy.....
(GS300/430). I would most certainly buy a GS if it came with a stick. For me: no stick: no sale. I do not drive slush boxes, therefore a 5-speed IS is a God send. There is nothing, nothing like driving a close-ratio 5-speed (I do not like 6-speeds) in a car with a torquey inline 6.
I'd really like to replace my E-shift with something like the sequential from the MR2. I don't particulary care to do the leg and stick work anymore, but the control would be nice. The fact that E-shift is soft and will down-shift without driver's button input anyway, makes it kinda too cush for me. Again, I'm just daydreaming here; it's not like a major issue for me.
Zone: I don't think I would sweat the body shop touch up too much. Sending it to a decent body shop should work out fine. I believe they will spray and feather it in, or mask and paint an entire area (bumper). I'd bet on the latter, since it's a whole lot simpler than trying to find a gunner who knows how to feather properly.
I saw the cosmetic update for the GS on that same website, BTW, and I think they cleaned THAT one up just fine (it was getting a bit confused).
http://www.autofiend.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&a- mp;sid=49
Slightly mundane, but definitely cleaner than the Benz-wannabe hodge podge it currently is, IMO.
Mercedes Hodge Podge on the IS300? Please....
Benz-ene hodge podge is the current GS!
Me likey current IS. Big time. Hate the alledged update, though.
The power lock "chirp". Nice and subtle. One little beep for locked, two little beeps for unlocked. My last three cars have all been wired to the horn, which is kind of annoying.
It's not a watershed, but it's a nice detail...
Happy Friday, all!
Admittedly, there are a few areas that I wish my 2002 Lexus IS300 was better in. They are as follows:
-I wish that the door panels were recessed a bit to give the passengers a little more lateral room.
It really doesn't take that much of a recess to create the desired effect.
-A slightly smoother ride would be nice--although I do view the current ride as being acceptable. And no, I don't expect a sports sedan to ride like a 1984 Lincoln Town Car. Again, I don't think the 2002 Lexus IS300 ride is terrible by any stretch of the imagination. But it could be improved upon to some degree.
-The center armrest should be more robust than it is in the 2002 Lexus IS300.
-The console's cupholders should be larger.
-There should be more leg room for the rear seat passengers.
Other than these five issues, I am *extremely* happy with my 2002 Lexus IS300!!! The initial build quality is the best that I've experienced out of the nine vehicles that I've owned since obtaining my driver's license in June of 1977. Also, the factory paint job is superb on this vehicle.
Ron M.
WALE: i likey the "chirp" too! so refined & well thought out. the neighbors are connected to the horn. its annoying when they come home late! thanks for the autofiend website. did you see the IS200 article? Yes, 200. Limited edition, production of 100, numbered badge inside the car, light canary yellow. a friend said its rumoured to be 4 cylinder tho'.
ANYBODY: any websites out there selling Lexus stuff? like car mats, leather wrap for the chrome ball (it gets hot in the parking lot!), cool stuff, etc.?
I would have much preferred to have the IS - no comparing Toyota's reliability with anything the Germans make - but the IS' handling advantage simply doesn't make up for the ride penalty when the car is used every day for everyday kind of tasks.
Would the 16" tires make the difference? Maybe, but Toyota decided I wasn't going to have that choice in our market. Do I want a Buick? No, but I don't need track handling to be happy. I wanted rear-drive, small size, good power, and Japanese reliability. We also tried the G35, and its ride [again, WITHOUT the sport suspension] was slightly better - but we found the front seats to be too uncomfortable, and nowhere in the ballpark of the Germans.
So we all have different priorities and preferences - I would like to see the IS with a real "touring car" suspension as standard, and with a sport package that would satisfy the rest of you as optional. The GS is too expensive, and the ES is frontdrive and of no interest. Until this happens, we will stick with the Germans, and put up with the extra trips to the dealer to handle the problems.
The 200 is available in Europe. English critics have liked it, and yes, it's the 2.0L I4 Altezza with L badges.
jrct: It's definitely a case of diff'rent strokes Willis!
BTW, every time I see a C rolling by, I'm extremely impressed with the styling. To float my boat though (along the lines of your comments), Benz would need to AMG a C-320 wagon!
Re size: I find this thing sized perfectly, and I'm not exactly small, and I haul two young'uns around, time to time. I'm 6' even, mostly leg, and about 185. I have zero issues with leg or head room, but if you ask me to carry adults in the rear, at least one will be hurting. I didn't buy this car to haul three full-size passengers though, just as most 3-series pilots don't buy theirs for carpool purposes either.
This toy is supposed to make you smile the miles away going fast or curvy or both. Utility is icing, not cake...
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
You can, I believe, order it separately if you factory-order the car.
On the tires, outside of certain regions, I think finding summer tired 17-inchers stock might be difficult, though when I bought my SportCross, they offered me any wheel/tire combo I wanted, no charge, no problem.
But that's just a theory.
Consider well the source...
[sigh]
I used the "Build you Lexus" function on the Lexus website and submitted it to a local dealer for a quote. I was quite surprised when the quote came back at about $800 UNDER invoice. I'm getting close here.
Fellow in a big blue Land Rover pulled up next to me yesterday at three successive stoplights. At the third, he rolls down his window to strike up a conversation. How do I like it? What did I cross-shop? Etc. He wants to dump his leviathan for a SportCross. What could I do but praise him for his good senses?!?
Took the mule on a little jaunt over to Stockton last week. She behaved flawlessly. Now my boss is considering replacing his '95 Passat wagon. He won't, because he's in MN and needs his FWD, but he'd like to. All those years of Tahoe trips in a RWD 1965 GM convertible, and I just can't see what the big deal with FWD and snow is myself.
Curiously, a small 6-cylinder.
My dealer sctratched my car but is kindly handling
the repair at his own expense.
Later...AH
FELLOW ISers: Anybody having problems with all the glass water spotting? I wash the car at least once a week - usually twice. I wipe the glass with a microfiber cloth purchased from a car detailing shop. My car is parked in the garage. During a week of heavy rain I did not wash the car for 2 days. On the 3rd day, I washed & noted that water spots were everywhere. Just light spots & annoying. After my first checkup (1,000 miles) & free car wash at the dealers - I noticed that the spots seemed worse. I brought the car in for the service manager to have a look. He suggested a "home remedy" (taught to him at a recent car care seminar) of using a raw potato (will try tomorrow). Also he suggested "Bruce's Water Spot Remover". I took delivery of the car on March 22, 2003. My question is: can this happen to a brand new car? I thought spotting only occurred where the windshield wiper blades do not wipe? I'm not sure if I should attempt anything with abrasives. Seems like the dealer could say tough luck. Is it possible that the glass is defective? Do you think going to an auto glass shop for a second opinion is prudent? Any suggestions would be welcomed!
On spots: I have used Soft Scrub (NO bleach) on every car I've had since 1987. It was recommended in my Acura Legend's factory repair manual specifically for spots. Get a second opinion, but I've never had any issues with it, and always had great results.
rsr: Glad they're taking care of you! Sorry you have to go through it at all. That's a pisser and no two ways.
Thanks for the tip on the 2.0. I had to go back and re-read! That's a small six all right!! Given the inherent smoothness of an inline six, though, I can understand why it might be offered on a "luxury" marque in a European market.
I am a Toyota owner, Tundra Limited 4x4 & Land Cruiser, and I am hoping that the next model will be more enticing because I believe Toyota/Lexus is on to something, but they HAVE to change that God-awful body style!!
No offense, but why not just go buy a 3 before Bangle screws that one up too! The current models are frankly the best looking 3ers I've ever seen, especially the M coupe. And the lease deals are actually pretty sweet.
IS styling was a part of the attraction for me, so I can't really commiserate, but if you want to see a shot of the alledged next generation Altezza/IS, skip on back a few posts and you'll find a link. I don't care for it personally, but it might work for you.
I can't imagine the bean counters at Toyota letting 2 completely different engines (the V6 & I6) fit into the same platform. Enjoy you're Inline sixes while you can. I hope I'm wrong:)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I believe the redesigned 3-series is growing in length by around 4 inches or so, with a slight increase in width, so the IS can grow a bit too, while competing with it directly.
A V6 by itself is not going to mess up anything, if it is implemented appropriately and integrates with the rest of the parts well. This time around, they should come out with a 6-speed manual, right off the bat, along with the Automatics.
Later...AH
I suppose all y'all could be right about updating, but I find the thing so close to perfect now that if they just freshened the interior and added a 5-speed SMG, I'd be good to go again. This is the most fun I can remember having fully clothed, so I just don't want them to STP on this car!
Ah well, we shall see, we shall see...
I understand the aversion to the clear lenses (not my favorite), but on an RX300, nobody seems to bat an eye.
It's not like there are wings, ground effects, grapefuit launcher, etc.
BTW, anyone know where I can get a "Powered by YOYODYNE PROPULSIONS SYSTEMS" windshield banner for mine?
"LEXUS IS, FALL 2005 As with the Lexus GS300, the IS300's in-line six-cylinder powerplant will be replaced by a similarly sized V-6. A larger-displacement engine (3.4 to 3.5 liters) also is expected in the new IS. Toyota has been considering V-8-powered versions of the current IS to bolster the car's image until the new model arrives."
I think it is also safe to assume that the next generation IS will have somewaht more subdued styling compared to the current IS300.
The IS is a great car with a smooth and powerful Inline 6 and sharply tuned chassis. Unfortunately they're not selling well. That's wht Toyota builds 'em, to sell 'em and make money. At least they see the potential to continue on with the IS. Even with a V6 (or 2) and not the Inline 6 and racy styling that we all like so much, it is better than no IS at all (Like there is no more of my beloved Prelude).
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Humble case in point: Eclipse. The changes for 2000, including more room, more power, bigger paws, less adolescent styling, etc. all added up to more sales. It also shifted the demographic upward, and according to the press and most every enthusiast ruined the agile, nimble, FUN feeling of the car. This is not to say the car doesn't handle, it does, and posts some pretty good numbers all the way 'round. But it no longer FEELS the way it did. It went from feeling like a sports car to feeling like a boulevard cruiser, and though the numbers look fine, the feeling is what it was really all about.
[sigh]
called "Altezza-style" in the aftermarket.
Why? Because they originated on a car called
Toyota Altezza, a.k.a. IS300. So, if you want to know the truth, it all started with the IS300 and then was copied by all the slammed Civic types. If copying is the most sincere type of flattery, we won: our style is the envy and the trend. Look at Mitsu Evolution, Altima, etc.
Here is a link (among many).
http://fmvss108.tripod.com/taillamps_altezza.htm
She's a Husky/Malamut/Shepherd mix at about 75 lbs., so that might be a gauge...
She sits up front whn I take her anywhere. Gets carsick, don't ya know...[-(
Better is I let the Mrs. take her in the T&C! [evil grin}
also how do i tell if my tires need to be changed, i can't really tell if it is worn out or not but mileage wise, it should be the time to change, is it the penny test? how does that work.