Considering buying one of these for transport once my kid arrives. Its being sold by a friend of mine and I trust his assessment of the car.

Y reg Lexus IS 200 SE, 92k miles, full service and timing belt just done. 6 months MOT, 1 month tax. A dealer has told him the clutch is going and will likely need doing in the next 10k miles - I've been quoted £350 for the parts and work.  Faultless apart from the clutch.

I'll be driving it for the weekend to confirm all this, looking at about £1500.

Thoughts?

I've never driven one, but I understand they are overall pretty reliable and if it's just had a full service AND timing belt I think you can't go wrong for that money, 92k miles is nothing either. How much is tax for a year? Seems like a good deal to me.

Tax is £143 for 6 months which I assume is on the expensive side?

Insurance will likely be about a grand as well since I have zero no claims, live in East London and its a 2L petrol.

The price is what he's been offered as a trade in, certainly seems to be reasonable looking at others around, even including the new clutch cost.

Nice to drive, the 2 litre is a little on the slow side to warrant it's MPG.

Is300 better all round, similar mpg and a smoother drive.

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Quote from: addictweb on February 21, 2012, 12:50:27 PM
Tax is £143 for 6 months which I assume is on the expensive side?

It is a bit, but 6 months is always more expensive when broken down than paying more for the full year.

They are great cars, very well screwed together and all top quality materials so will last for ever.

As soopa mentioned, they have very poor economy:performance ratio, but it is a silky smooth 6cyl.

if you can cope with 25mpg then you'll love it.

Quote from: soopahfly on February 21, 2012, 12:50:51 PM
Nice to drive, the 2 litre is a little on the slow side to warrant it's MPG.

Is300 better all round, similar mpg and a smoother drive.

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Agreed those 20v builds from Lexus are pretty bad though a lad I know turned up at the unit the other night and has just supercharged his with an M60 I think and it goes like stink now.

Had it for the weekend. I found it slow off the mark, especially for a 2L but it seemed to have plenty of power higher up. Not efficient on fuel either, but it is immaculate and very comfortable to drive.

It's having a full service and the timing belt done this week, if it passes with no issues or major advisories then I'll probably buy it.

I don't think I can be bothered with the faff of buying from an unknown private seller.

Quote from: Poison_UK on February 27, 2012, 10:44:58 AM

Quote from: soopahfly on February 21, 2012, 12:50:51 PM
Nice to drive, the 2 litre is a little on the slow side to warrant it's MPG.

Is300 better all round, similar mpg and a smoother drive.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

Agreed those 20v builds from Lexus are pretty bad though a lad I know turned up at the unit the other night and has just supercharged his with an M60 I think and it goes like stink now.

The toms ones are pretty rapid. Rs200 I think they are.

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