Rocky

LS5 - I have spent months pouring over the spec and equipment differences between the various Model variants and years, with particular focus on the price differences for different ages and models. If you are buying it on Carsales, be aware that many sellers have no clue what the vehicle is worth and simply base their asking price on other sellers who have no clue what their vehicle is worth. The well priced ones go fast and the incorrectly priced ones hang around and confuse the issue. The age of the vehicle matters in terms of its ongoing 'value' for resale and the inevitable deterioration of the plastic/rubber/other elements of build materials over time. You need to compare the differences in equipment/features between the 2006 & 2010 and decide what is important to you - wheels/tyres is an obvious one. I have a problem with paying a lot of money for a 10yo car, so a 2006 vehicle would need to be really well priced for me to consider it. A lot of stuff wears out over 10 years. Good Luck

Thanks Guys. What a shame that such a good vehicle was afflicted with such a bad manual gearbox. In all other respects, the is250 is pretty much my ideal medium sedan. Good looks, beautifully put together, great little motor - a real quality product. I have been doing a bit of research on the net and it is clear that there are several issues, not just the feel of the gearshift. Oh well, the only plus is that I didn't find out after I'd bought one.

I am still agonising about whether an is250 would suit me. Unrealistic prices on Carsales aside, it comes down to whether the manual gearshift is acceptable. I am not even considering Automatics - I like Manuals. On another thread a couple of Members of this Forum provided helpful comments on the 'quality' of the Manual gearshift. I would like to get a few more opinions if possible as there is little likelihood of my being able to try a Manual where I live (in the sticks). The best gearshift I have ever experienced was on a new 1976 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe I owned for several years. My Mazda MX5 (2001) is good but nothing on the Fiat. My idea of a 'bad' gearshift is an old Toyota Corolla. Clunky, no 'feel' of a gearbox attached. The is250, being front engine/rear wheel drive, SHOULD have a reasonable gearshift but that is NOT what I'm hearing. If you have any experience of a Manual is250, please tell me about it in detail. Compare it to something else you have driven. Thanks.

Mekon, I agree with what you say. I have always liked the Accord Euro - particularly the earlier shape which was quite elegant. The current model looks a bit 'bloated' by comparison. I would prefer a rear-wheel drive vehicle but our preference for a Manual makes it all to hard. If I was prepared to consider an Automatic then a late model is250 would be an easy choice, but I reckon I have one more manual left in me before old-age and indifference pushes me into an Automatic. I hate the look of the current is250 so will never buy one of those.

Thanks, I'm starting to build up a better picture of the is250. This is the problem of living up in the sticks. No opportunity to source a vehicle to test-drive. I had focused on it purely because it was one of the only two front engine-rear wheel drive cars left (apart from the Holdens & Fords) The BMW 3 Series has a lousy build/reliability record and so that only left the Lexus, which I thought was a 'sports-sedan'. A Mazda 3 is beginning to look like a better prospect and forget the rear-wheel drive thing altogether.

Danny - "feels like a dud" - so is it slow shifting, sticky, clunky, long-throw, imprecise/vague, what? Is the clutch heavy? The is250 was always marketed as a BMW 3 Series competitor - i.e. 'sports sedan' - so I thought it must have had a nice slick change like the Beemer.

Mekon - my thoughts exactly. I like most of the OE Alloys fitted to the is250 but the earlier 16" wheels always look too small for the car. I think it's hard to make a case for a larger wheel than a 17" on a modestly powered 4 door sedan. The 18's look fine but quality tyres are very expensive when you get into 18X255X45/40. If going to aftermarket wheels/tyres I think 17X7.5 & 225X50s are about ideal. Very low profile tyres look good but are totally unsuited to the pot-holed country roads where I live. A mate with a 3 Series BMW wrecked two run-flats at $500. a piece and one of his $2500. alloys in a 6 month period.

Thanks Rian - I appreciate any insights. Last thing I would want is to be blindsided by something as obvious as a lousy gearshift. Front wheel drive cars often have poor gearshifts but you tend to expect a good one in a RWD. Anyone else have any experience of Manuals?

Thanks for the replies. Lexmania services noted for future reference. Agreed that Klms are not everything, but as a general rule, you would prefer (everything else being equal) a 50Klms car over a 100Klms vehicle. I just feel that a car with 100,000klms has all it's best mileage behind it. Rian - I was a bit shocked to hear that the gearshift is crap. I have never driven one - no Manuals in this neck of the woods that I know of - and I just assumed that a conventional motor/gearbox layout would produce a pretty good gearshift. What do others think? A lousy gearshift action is a dealbreaker for me. All my cars are Manuals and I love swapping cogs.

The reason I ask is that if I was to buy an is250 with wheels I didn't like, I would prefer to fit a set of uniform size aftermarket wheels rather than try to source a set of different size fronts & rears & have the problem of not being to rotate them/get a full-size spare. I can't see why a car like the is250 with the limited power it has needs a set of huge wheels/tyres anyhow.

This seems like a question that must have been asked before, so sorry if repetitious. I don't think I have ever seen another similar vehicle that comes standard with different size rims/tyres front to rear. Clearly Lexus think this provides some sort of advantage however it has the disadvantage that it prevents rotation of tyres. I would normally buy a matching OEM wheel/tyre to use as a full-size spare and it causes a problem here as well. Anyone know what the reason is for the different sizes? I imagine there must be lots of 250s around with the same size aftermarket wheels/tyres all round.

Yeah, it's nice isn't it. Unfortunately the wife worked in a Dealership and can't be fooled. She insists on a "matching numbers" original.

Those who noticed my first thread will know that I am looking for a good is250 manual (not in any hurry) and therefore spending a bit of time checking Carsales. Most so far have been too old and high mileage (and overpriced as is usual on Carsales) There is one on there currently that is all of the above but appears to be in really nice condition (looks like it's owned by an obsessive like myself) Only problem is that it has massive 19inch wheels and has been lowered very substantially. So - yeah - owned by a 'petrol-head' - but I'm an old one of those. The wheels I could maybe live with (if originals not retained by owner) but if I bought something like this it would have to be restored to normal ride height, as the current height is simply impractical and looks silly. I am wondering what the costs would be like to return it to it's original height (springs & dampers?) The cost of springs, (assuming originals were not retained) and how much labour is involved in a job like that. Comments Anyone ?

Hi Barry, We are on the same page. I have spoken with the owner of that one you linked. It is a '09 build MY10 but the mileage has increased since the Ad. and is now 93K. We spoke about $23500 but on further consideration I feel that was about $1K too much given the need for a major service ($1100. up here) and the fact that I would have to outlay another $100. for a pre-purchase inspection - quite apart from any replacements that might be found at inspection/service (I'm thinking rotors, pads, radiator cores, etc) It has the beautiful 18 in wheels but they are different widths front to rear which I see as a disadvantage as it prevents tyre rotation and use of a single full size spare (which I carry in all my cars) The navy-blue Sydney '07 on Carsales looks a better proposition but he wants too much for it. I value it closer to $19000. I'd love your 350 but the wife would freak at the mention of a 'custom'. She worked in a Dealers so is hard to fool. Cheers.

Barry, my max would be $25K. and I'd prefer sub 80Klms. Carsales have an '09 build (described as 2010) Prestige with 93K listed for $25K (way too expensive IMHO for that mileage and last 2 services not done) and an '07 build Prestige with 80K listed for $23K. (again too expensive for an 8 yo Prestige with that mileage) There is an '06 in S.A. with 35K for $22K but I wouldn't pay more than about $17K for a car that old regardless of mileage, and anyhow S.A. is too far away. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on those prices. Cheers, Rocky.