2001 Lexus IS 200 SE 2.0 petrol

Summary:

A quality alternative to a BMW or Audi

Faults:

An annoying rattle in the dashboard somewhere.

Dealer will sort it, when I get around to it.

General Comments:

Nice car, looks good, smooth, quiet, every possible extra including the excellent Sat Nav guidance.

Dealer service to date, excellent. Very customer focussed. No problem too small for them.

Would definitely recommend it as a more individual alternative to an Audi A4 or BMW 3 series.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th November, 2001

2001 Lexus IS 200 SE 2.0

Summary:

Great compact executive

Faults:

I've owned two IS200's over two years, and nothing has gone wrong with either.

General Comments:

Owned an IS200 S previously, and liked it so much bought a new SE in Silver this year.

Was thinking about a BMW 320CI which has same list price but would cost upto 3500 UK pounds more for equivalent specification. The 320 is a great car but the Lexus is far more unique and BMW 3 Series are very common on UK roads.

The specification is huge with full electrics, leather, and gorgeous 17 inch alloys. It also has great build quality, not a rattle over two years. It makes it an extremely comfortable car to drive over long or short distances.

It handles great with its rear wheel drive chassis, but my only reservation is that it could do with a bit more power, probably 20 horses. It is also quite frugal for a six cylinder engine, something you have bear in mind because of the price of fuel in the UK.

Looking forward to the IS300 when it comes to the UK this year, with 230 horses it should be seriously quick. Hopefully I'll get a pay rise, and I'll be trading in for an IS300!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd July, 2001

2001 Lexus IS 200 Sport 2.0 straight 6

Summary:

Great overall package

Faults:

Nothing at all.

General Comments:

What a great car...

Looks good.

Performs quite well, it's not a Ferrari but has more than adequate performance.

Huge specification list.

Masses cheaper than rival cars.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th April, 2001

4th May 2001, 11:26

I agree top notch.

8th May 2001, 04:05

Picked my IS200 Sport up last Thursday and have already put 500 miles on it. It is a joy to drive... a true drivers car without a BMW price tag. For the same price I could have got an entry 318! The build, the top notch standard spec everything makes this package brilliant value. Also how many people look at BMW's now? They're two to a penny. With regards to performance... if you want to do 7 seconds 0-60's off the lights and drive at 130 then you shouldn't be on the road anyway...

22nd May 2001, 11:02

Had my baby (IS200 Sport with fitted body kit and other nice extras - but NOT sat/nav) 10 days - and I'm afraid to take it out! It's THAT nice a car. Looks, performance, drive, comfort - just about the lot. But with under 200 miles on the clock, I can't say about economy - yet! It turns heads and I don't care WHAT they say about the dash styling, I think the retro look compliments the car completely! I was thinking of a TT about a year ago. Now, there are SO many of them about, I'm glad I didn't do anything more than think about one...

14th Nov 2006, 04:09

I agree. Lexus IS was not a sales success. BMW are popular, but for a very good reason - they are very good cars. I don't think given how popular they are that there is any real badge snobbery.