Any experience with Lexus IS300s? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

iwrock · #1 10-20-2014, 11:34 AM

Looking to pick one up as a commuter car - it meets all my requirements (sub $5k, RWD, automatic, 20+ MPG mixed duty). Everyone I've talked to says they are bulletproof, with the exception of the guy who does my body work. He is saying they have engine issues, but he wasn't specific.

So what do you guys know about them? Good solid cars? Or junk?

The only real bad thing that I've heard from more than one person is that the throttle bodies get gummed up, and will stick, casing a check engine light, and rough idle. Other than that, haven't heard much of anything in the way of verifiable problems....

DieselPaul · #2 10-20-2014, 01:27 PM

2JZ - NA motors look a lot like M104s to me when they are sitting on the floor. My cousin has a GS300, and it was bulletproof until the rear main started leaking when he was out of town for 3 weeks and his fiance drove it to work with no oil. Even then it ran incredibly smooth and strong just was rod knocking on all cylinders haha. I replaced the motor for it, it was easy to work on. I did a rear main, timing belt, waterpump, etc while it was out and all of that was easy. The only slightly annoying thing is the spark plugs. On the n/a the intake manifold and throttle body sit above the valve cover, so you have to remove a decent amount of stuff to get them out. But at 150k his blown motor had the original iridium plugs in it and they looked fine. So put in OEM plugs in the replacement motor and he'll probably never have to deal with them in his ownership of the car again.

I work on his car periodically and the motor seems to be really good, as does the 5speed automatic trans.

2Js are notoriously thirsty though, I've had a lot of other friends opt to buy GS400/430s because of the extra power and the same, or in some cases slightly better fuel economy than the 300. That being said, thats not an option in the IS.

I say go for it, a buddy of mine is currently on the hunt for a manual IS300 as a commuter, but finding one that hasn't been hacked to ****, then sold to a teenager, mis-maintained, and then cut up again is proving to be quite hard. Luckily the autos don't garner as much attention from idiots.

David Wilson · #3 10-20-2014, 01:29 PM

When you do test drive one. Check for the transmission shifting properly. Some models of these early ought lexus' suffer from a poorly downshifting tranny. No problem when accelerating, but when you let off of throttle to coast or a quick stop sign, it doesn't know what gear to be in upon re-accelerating.
Information available on the web. No fix from manufacturer. Lots of unhappy owners.

TylerH860 · #4 10-20-2014, 03:02 PM

Just sold a 98 GS300 with 288,000 miles for $2200. Ran and drove like new. Sold several of them (old IS & GS) and never had come backs.

The only disappointment is fuel economy. A small car like that should do better than 25MPG highway, but it doesn't.

You'll like the seats in the IS.

iwrock · #5 10-21-2014, 11:56 PM

Found an 01 with 217k miles for $3500.

Timing belt was done 40k miles ago, with water pump. Suspension was also rebuilt in the last 20k miles. Car is clean inside and out, only thing that scares me is a rough idle.

I'm tempted to buy it - it's cheap and seems to be well taken care of.

engatwork · #6 10-22-2014, 08:31 AM

Quote:

the throttle bodies get gummed up, and will stick, casing a check engine light, and rough idle.

I think they all do that these days. I have never turned a wrench on a Lexus but if they are like BMWs and MBs then it is nothing to removing/cleaning the throttle body. Should be straight forward to deal with.

TylerH860 · #7 10-22-2014, 06:20 PM

Usually caused by sludge gumming up the oil control valve, could be the other usual suspects (MAF sensor, etc). Timing belt could be slightly off too.

I'm sure you know the price should come way down if there's problems to solve. I wouldn't give more than 2k for that one... can't buy one without assuming the worst case scenario and pricing accordingly. If it was easy to fix the seller should have fixed it.

I've bought these with a little more than 100,000 miles on them for $5500-6500.

Don't forget the old Toyota Cressida as well. Really neat car with lots of fun mod potential. Similar engine with RWD.

Zulfiqar · #8 10-23-2014, 11:43 AM

the rough idle on an NA 2JZ-GE engine along with sporadically the throttle going limp (mechanical mode) is vacuum leaks somewhere in the Y shaped pipe on the intake manifold - almost always manifested after a spark plug change.

If its the VVTi variant - replace the solenoid that controls the oil ports on the VVT - its almost always shot every 100K

bhatt · #9 10-23-2014, 02:58 PM

I heard something about the Lexus IS line that you'll want to look into before buying one.

This may only be for the larger engine model (IS350?) but check it out anyway.

I heard that the IS line is the SECOND WORST line of Lexus vehicles on gas.

Apparently only the SUV (RX models) are worse on gas. So that means the ES (Camry), GS (sport sedan, larger than the IS), and LS (huge luxury sedan) lines are actually better on gas than the IS!

Have a friend with an IS (not sure which one) and he says the gas mileage is nowhere near what was advertised.. it's a lot worse.

Again, look into this first. And let us know what you find out because this will be interesting if true

By the way, look at real world stats not Lexus published stats. The info I got was that the cars are highly rated on MPG but real world the IS is a total gas guzzler.

DieselPaul · #10 10-23-2014, 04:03 PM

In the body style the OP is looking at there is only 1 engine option. The 2JZ-GE which is notorious for crappy mpg.

My dads RX330 gets better highway mpg than an IS300 actually.

Zulfiqar · #11 10-23-2014, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Usually caused by sludge gumming up the oil control valve, could be the other usual suspects (MAF sensor, etc). Timing belt could be slightly off too.

I'm sure you know the price should come way down if there's problems to solve. I wouldn't give more than 2k for that one... can't buy one without assuming the worst case scenario and pricing accordingly. If it was easy to fix the seller should have fixed it.

I've bought these with a little more than 100,000 miles on them for $5500-6500.

Don't forget the old Toyota Cressida as well. Really neat car with lots of fun mod potential. Similar engine with RWD.

the cressida are really fantastic cars - dead on easy to work on and work forever, the GS300 after those are similar.

iwrock · #12 10-23-2014, 04:33 PM

I did consider a Cressida, but it's a big boat. Want something small and compact for my commute. My motorcycle is perfect for my commute, but with rain and cold weather starting to roll in, I can't ride everyday, anymore.

There's a local guy selling an 02 with 157k miles for $3500 that I'm going to look at today. Check Engine light is on for a vacuum leak, and he doesn't know when the timing belt and water pump was done. Says it drives perfect - and has plenty of power. If the timing belt looks half decent, and the check engine light does turn out to be a vacuum leak, I'm going to offer him $3k.

iwrock · #13 10-23-2014, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

In the body style the OP is looking at there is only 1 engine option. The 2JZ-GE which is notorious for crappy mpg.

My dads RX330 gets better highway mpg than an IS300 actually.

A friend has a similar commute to mine, and manages to get a solid 19MPG, which is fine with me.

iwrock · #14 10-27-2014, 12:14 PM

bought this clunker. rides and drives nice. paint needs a good buff, two front tires, and looks like its almost due for a timing belt. other than those little items, it's a nice ride.

Jim B. · #15 10-27-2014, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

bought this clunker. rides and drives nice. paint needs a good buff, two front tires, and looks like its almost due for a timing belt. other than those little items, it's a nice ride.

It looks nice from here. If it is one of those baby Lexuses ( Lexii)? then it might very well prove to be a decent and reliable daily driver I guess.