9 Oct 2002. If you're a keen driver, go for the Sport, otherwise pick up an S or SE. Ross, 33, works as a marketing director in Heathrow, west London, and covers about 12,000 miles annually, most of which is local commuting. And while its sister company, Toyota, had a peerless reputation for reliability, Lexus still wasn't really a brand that could cut it with the likes of Mercedes, BMW and Jaguar in the golf club car park. Timing belts need to be changed every 150,000kilometres. 3. The Lexus IS200 and its JDM-only sibling the Toyota Altezza were first introduced in Japan in late 1998, and in western markets a year later. * Door latches on IS are often stiff, so lubricate front door pins regularly. Read about our Security Policy A 3.0-liter engine became available later on, but until then, the obvious choice for sports-sedan enthusiasts was the 2.0-liter six-speed manual variant. To pilot an IS200 down a twisty mountain road is to understand that driver involvement is real, not a figment of the imagination of motoring writers. The Lexus IS200 is a good alternative to the more typical Euro-badged sports sedan that everyone’s uncle has, without giving up any prestige. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model positioned below the ES in the Lexus lineup. The car’s wide trapezoidal grille is ensconced between nicely shaped headlight assemblies. The belt that drives the camshafts needs replacement every 150,000 kilometres, a mark many second-hand examples are now approaching. Protect yourself against fraud. Check for a complete service record. The Lexus IS200 is a good alternative to the more typical Euro-badged sports sedan that everyone’s uncle has, without giving up any prestige. Nifty design cues—like the touring-car-like pedals, gated gearshift mechanism, and rotary HVAC switch- gear—add to the visual appeal of the interior, if not to the ergonomics. Build up enough velocity afforded by the 160 horses of the engine, and you’ll be begging for roads that wind endlessly. Looking at the first-gen IS200, you will be hard- pressed to tell that it’s more than a decade old next to today’s sea of aerodynamically chiseled offerings. Many hit the market just before this mark because it's not a small job. * Front foglights are often cracked, so beware as replacements cost £100. It’s just a disappointment that doing so will definitely make you pay more at the pump. While the IS200 has smaller dimensions than the BMW 3-Series, it actually provides a very generous amount of usable space. by: Auto Express team. Any wandering or wallowing suggests either worn dampers or the need for a four-wheel alignment. and Privacy One recall is listed for the IS200 and concerns cars built between January and November 1999 (so, basically, all the early examples sold here). Its current resale value of P450,000 to P500,000 is significantly lower than its primary rival’s, the BMW 323i, but this model has aged better than the same-era E46 BMW 3-Series. Some owners have gone as far as giving the IS200 the full monty and swapping out the 1G-FE in favor of a 2JZ-GTTE 3.0-liter powerplant from the Toyota Supra, with varying results. Well, in most regards but there were a few areas in which it seemed a fraction underdone. "It feels well built, is great to drive and very smooth at speed. Leather abounds in the IS200's. Its sporty design certainly promises quite a bit of excitement, which the car does deliver provided that you flog the engine in a manner befitting a sports sedan—which is to say hard! The Lexus IS200 and its JDM-only sibling the Toyota Altezza were first introduced in Japan in late 1998, and in western markets a year later. These are responsible for the Banawe taillight revolution. Find out more here. Inside, drawing the eyes’ attention is the novel timepiece-inspired treatment of the gauge cluster. In spades. The nice thing here is that even if the unit had been sourced from the gray market, the presence of an of cial Lexus dealer ensures you won’t feel like an orphaned owner. From some angles, the IS looked reasonably aggressive, yet it was never a standout car visually. One area in which the IS200 went straight to the top of the class was its handling and ride. Policy. As the IS300 didn't arrive until last October, it's pretty rare on the second-hand market - so the IS200 is the only real used choice, and all are well specced. With Lexus products continuing to top quality and customer-satisfaction surveys, it's no surprise the IS200 is a pretty reliable piece of equipment. Enter the LS400, introduced in late 1989 and loaded up to the eyeballs with standard equipment. Cornering was quite flat but the steering was the real highlight. The big worry was the instrument cluster that consisted of closely grouped, tiny gauges reminiscent of an exotic wristwatch. The IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza (Japanese: トヨタ・アルテッツァ, Toyota Arutettsua) nameplate in Japan from 1998 (the word Altezza is Italian for "highness"). Body types of a stylish Lexus IS200 for sale. The IS200 is not a simple car, so maintenance over the years is important. Nobody could argue with the build quality or the style of the little Lexus. A good IS200 should handle crisply and steer sharply. With Lexus products continuing to top quality and customer-satisfaction surveys, it's no surprise the IS200 is a pretty reliable piece of equipment. Canny buyers were won over by its sensible pricing, and the car's success paved the way for a raft of new Lexus models - firstly the 5-Series-rivalling GS300 in 1995, then the stunning compact executive IS200 in 1999. Its current resale value of P450,000 to P500,000 is significantly lower than its primary rival’s, the BMW 323i, but this model has aged better than the same-era E46 BMW 3-Series. However, expect maintenance costs to be a bit higher compared to its European-make counterparts, especially in the underchassis department. Filipino buyers had it worse, with only the four-speed automatic variant available in the gray market (official distributor, Nowadays, given the Lexus IS200’s relative s. carcity, it’s still a popular choice for someone in the market for a compact, non-European, rear-wheel-drive sports sedan. It’s got an air of purposeful aggression about it. But this car truly shines when straight roads turn into corners, which is where driving enthusiasts are likely to converge at. "I like sporty cars, but also need something that's comfortable and has four doors, because I have children." They're cheap, but lose value, and some parts are difficult to get. The Lexus IS (Japanese: レクサス・IS, Rekusasu IS) is a compact executive car sold by Lexus since 1999. The key to Lexus's success is its marketing - … Driving a Lexus IS200 is an interesting experience. Both cars were meant to take on the then unrivaled compact sports-sedan segment king, the BMW 3-Series. Check inside the engine bay, around the left-front corner of the engine. The 'baby' Lexus may not boast the most powerful engine range - in fact, the only one is 2.0-litre petrol unit - but the motor is deliciously smooth and eager to spin to its rev limiter. Copyright © Dennis Publishing Limited 2020. * dirt on the spark plugs can cause problems with starting in hot weather. After all, the 1G-FE pro- duces ‘only’ 160 horses at 6,200rpm and 200 Newton-meters of torque at 4,400rpm. (Ferman Lao). with 7 days auto trader warranty great car without any issues and with full lexus service history (stamped by main dealer). used-car-review-lexus-is200-200005-20090424-14t51, ['19845988','21510246','19871735','21510249','15307590','19846003','19845988','13442577','19858933','19838724','21900467']. Legibility suffered for this piece of art and these days it looks like it's trying too hard. Minor edits have been made by the TopGear.com.ph editors. The final check sounds pretty basic but make sure a car that looks like an IS200 is, in fact, an IS200. "The Mercedes C-Class was too boring, the Jaguar X-Type a bit pricey and I wasn't very sure about the image of the BMW 3-Series," he told us. The nice thing here is that even if the unit had been sourced from the gray market, the presence of an of cial Lexus dealer ensures you won’t feel like an orphaned owner. The available body types of the Lexus IS200 include the four-door sedan, which the manufacturer describes as a compact executive car. Sadly, for people who drove on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, the aforementioned six-cylinder was the only game in town. That said, it has aged well and still doesn't look dated, so the basics must be right. The alternative was a four-speed automatic that was lacking at least one or two ratios and also made for protracted going. A finely balanced rear-wheel-drive chassis and slick six-speed gearbox, plus the smooth six-cylinder 2.0-litre engine, tempted many potential BMW buyers, while Toyota's legendary reliability is also displayed by the IS. The latter's triumph has been nothing short of phenomenal - the IS has become the fastest-selling Lexus ever, and dealers still have waiting lists now. As mentioned earlier, the heart of the locally available Lexus IS200 is the 1G-FE in-line, six- cylinder engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Replacing the coolant bypass hose will usually fix the problem. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on Topgear.com.ph. We try out the new M550i xDrive to find out…. Leather abounds in the IS200's cabin, with insets and accents of Alcantara on the seats and the door sidings. The brakes would still work but if the fault occurred the pedal would seem very heavy, need a bigger-than-usual push and stopping distances could be increased. Inside was less conservative and much more trinkety. Just be religious about the car’s upkeep. PHOTO: Top Gear PH. Having invented the concept of a compact luxury car in the 1970s with the original 3-Series, BMW has gone on to define the market segment and keep the game moving along with every new generation. While you're at it, it makes good sense to change the tensioners and water pump. There is also a five-door hatchback or station wagon, which was released in the model year 2000. These are responsible for the Banawe taillight revolution. Any pink staining on the pipes in this area is a sign there's a coolant leak. "It has everything I want," he continued. Even the oldest three-year-old ones are worth more than 60 per cent of their new value - you won't find many for under £12,000, or £14,000 for a Sport, and they get snapped up quickly...My Lexus IS200... The model that launched a Banawe taillight revolution. And despite a decline in the compact executive sector over the past year, the Lexus still holds its value well. The latter was firm enough to convince you it was a sporty sedan but it never fell into the trap of being too stiff for comfort. The lines of the car flow upward and back to meet the widely imitated taillamps, known as the “Altezza lights,” which were then quickly picked up by the aftermarket industry and applied to all manner of vehicles such that people eventually tired of them.

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