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Keep It Or Switch To A 300?


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I know the 5 speed is a better box due to having higher OD gear and manual shift ability but is it much smoother too? still need to have a ride in a 300 to compare :whistling:

IMO yes. The engine is much better, you have more torque so it doesn't have to rev as much to get the same level of performance. The IS200 auto revs the engine quite a bit which, combined with a quite noisy engine, makes it very different experience to the 300. The gear shift is much smoother too.

wow thats amazing to think for me. i already thought it was fairly effortless in the way it drove, i know nothing! but thats coming from a 1.6 auto which quite frankly was to small a engine to be mated to a auto so im easily impressed. really want a IS300 now i know its even more smooth and effortless. wow

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My first Lexus was a is200 sport. I really tried hard to like it but found it lacked the smoothness and performance that I was expecting from a Lexus. Sold it and bought a 2004 is300 which drives like a completely different car. Engine is so smooth and quite and auto box like silk. yes the fuel consumption is worse around town but better on a motorway run. Car is happy to be driven with "flat cap and pipe and slippers" but is an animal when kicked, leaves reps in BM's for dust.

I looked long and hard for my one because it had to have every factory option fitted including full Areo kit and wheels, and be low mileage and be in excellent condition with full history, they are out there but be very picky and be prepared to travel a few hundred miles to view, you wont regret it!

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My first Lexus was a is200 sport. I really tried hard to like it but found it lacked the smoothness and performance that I was expecting from a Lexus.

How can you say the IS200 lacks smoothness!

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How can you say the IS200 lacks smoothness!

compare an IS200 to say a 320i BMW and you will notice how smooth it is but drive an IS300 and will realise the IS200 is not as smooth. the IS300's engine was originally designed to be in the GS models and its gearbox was designed for both LS430's and GS's at that time and later fitted to the IS300. and as Lexus22 confirmed it can be a "flat cap and pipe and slippers" when you want to cruise around and an animal which takes many Audi and BMW reps by surprise. decided to turn off my ECT-PWR button on my way back from work and was surprised as to how quiet and smooth the whole car feels and drives. test drive one..

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Is300 should really be compared to is200 auto for smoothness. And all options can be retrofitted btw so no need to wait for them

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Is300 should really be compared to is200 auto for smoothness.

I guess it depends on your point of reference. I personally never found the IS200 auto smooth or relaxing to drive, certainly not compared to the 300. I would advise you test drive one, you may not feel the same and prefer your 200.

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Is300 should really be compared to is200 auto for smoothness.

I guess it depends on your point of reference. I personally never found the IS200 auto smooth or relaxing to drive, certainly not compared to the 300. I would advise you test drive one, you may not feel the same and prefer your 200.

I dont prefer my 200. I was just saying in general. I would love to test drive and have no doubt its on another level and am open to the fact.

Ive said before, I came from a jerky, clonky under powered focus auto so im easily impressed lol.

Although everyone whos ever been in my car and driven it first thing they say is how smooth and quiet it is, so its gotta be better than average surely

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Saying that, when you described the IS300, my IS200 immediately came to mind to be honest. I find its a very quiet and relaxing car if you keep the revs below 3000rpm/2500rpm but when you push it, it comes to life with a nice engine note to boot. Minus the performance of course. Ive read you dont get this from any other Lexus such as GS, LS. Anyway i obviously dont know a thing lol but I think i really does boil down to what your used to. Im only 25 and this is my 3rd car, 1st being a very loud in all ways Rover 200 SDI which was my mums and then a Focus. Only gripe i have about IS200 is road noise and ride a bit harsh compared to Focus even being a SE which is why im thinking maybe a GS next

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Thanks for all the input. I've missed it as a bargain, as the price has gone up by £200, but I may still take a look and test drive, at least to see if all the fuss about it is true.

I've never not liked my 200. I know it's not a performance car, and never bought it as one. I'm also not looking for a performance car either; as I've said many times before, the extra bhp the 300 has is simply a byproduct to me - if I wanted a fast car I'd go buy a fast car. One thing I've learned from having the 200, is I'm much more about smoothness, quiet, relaxing drives; no drama, and comfort. What's nice about the IS is that you can cruise everywhere with no drama, but if you do feel a bit spritely on the way home through the country lanes, the suspension and handling feels just as much at home being chucked into bends at higher speeds than you should be doing, than most other cars I've owned (with the exception of S1 Escort Turbo's - those things were built to be abused though bends!)

And as much as I love the manual in my 200 Sport, I've come to realise I just want an auto. The 200 manual is a lovely, tight, precise feeling box, excellent gate and changer, and apart from the strange "thud" you get going from 1st to 2nd (still there in other gears, but most noticeably in 1st>2nd) it's by far one of, if not the nicest manuals I've had. However, I want to go ever lazier and get an auto, and I was never that impressed with the autobox in the 200's. So I might as well look at the 300.

Will have a gander at it and see whats what. End result, if the car - regardless of the engine or gear box in it - isn't as nice as the one I have; ie, condition, appearance, and most importantly, the handling, then it's not worth me changing mine for it. If it is as nice, or even better, then it's worth considering. I'm not going to buy a car I don't think is as nice as mine *just because* it's got a bigger engine or an autobox. It needs to be the whole package or not at all

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My first Lexus was a is200 sport. I really tried hard to like it but found it lacked the smoothness and performance that I was expecting from a Lexus.

How can you say the IS200 lacks smoothness!

Because i've owned one!

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How can you say the IS200 lacks smoothness!

compare an IS200 to say a 320i BMW and you will notice how smooth it is but drive an IS300 and will realise the IS200 is not as smooth.

He said it lacked smoothness. Wasn't comparing it to an IS300. Plus if you want to compare, then it should be auto to auto comparison

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My first Lexus was a is200 sport. I really tried hard to like it but found it lacked the smoothness and performance that I was expecting from a Lexus.

How can you say the IS200 lacks smoothness!

Because i've owned one!

Something was wrong with yours then

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My first Lexus was a is200 sport. I really tried hard to like it but found it lacked the smoothness and performance that I was expecting from a Lexus.

How can you say the IS200 lacks smoothness!

Because i've owned one!
Something was wrong with yours then

:lol: :lol: :lol: Brilliant...

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I think saying that Lexus is200 lack of smoothness are little bit harsh there!, all Lexus cars are well know for their smoothness. But I think what Is200 is lack on is low end torque, compare to 300, but again u can't really compare it cos it different two engine, but as a pervious owner both cars , I would pick 300 any day. :) only if u don't mind driving auto!

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Something was wrong with yours then

don't think there was anything wrong with his as I also test drove 3 IS200's 1 manual and 2 auto versions and all three lacked the smoothness I found in both GS300's and IS300's i drove. hence I said if its compared to say a similar 6 cylinder 2.2 litre 320i BMW it compares very smooth but jump in an IS300 drive it for about 30mins in town and open roads and jump back in an IS200 either auto or manual and the difference in drive and smoothness is clear. both myself, Colin Barber, Lexus22 and Panya who have driven both IS200's and 300's couldn't all be wrong..

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I didn't see Panya say the IS200 lacked smoothness, maybe you can't read.

Anyway the IS200 is smooth, and most people know this after being in one!

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I also read it as a statement on its own at first. but think Chris(lexus22) was comparing it to IS300. tbf the more torque a car has the smoother it will be, just that effortless stance makes all the difference. Ive no doubt the IS300 is smoother, but as the IS200 stands its very smooth imo and the auto box isnt as good as 300 but its still a damn good one compared to most even some bran new cars. Its also reliable

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I didn't see Panya say the IS200 lacked smoothness, maybe you can't read.

Anyway the IS200 is smooth, and most people know this after being in one!

Dinho, have you actually driven an is300 at any time in your life??

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Love how this turned into yet another 'the 300 is way better than the 200' thread!

I know, they seem to get mad when anyone says an IS200 is smooth as if it has no right to be! lol

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No one is getting mad here Dinho and no one says the IS200 is not or does not have the right to be a smooth operator its a Lexus. what Colin, Panya, Lexus22 and myself are saying is, the 300 is a step up from the 200. it did cost slightly more than the 200 when brand new so the extra smoothness and drive feel reflected in the higher cost price when new. as Lexus22 asked have you actually driven an IS300 before? if not drive one to get the feel both in D mode and M PWR modes feel free to play around with the gear shifts on the steering wheel and let us know your findings on how it drives in both modes and also after you got back into the IS200 and drove off.. try this for us Dinho..

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No one is getting mad here Dinho and no one says the IS200 is not or does not have the right to be a smooth operator its a Lexus. what Colin, Panya, Lexus22 and myself are saying is, the 300 is a step up from the 200. it did cost slightly more than the 200 when brand new so the extra smoothness and drive feel reflected in the higher cost price when new. as Lexus22 asked have you actually driven an IS300 before? if not drive one to get the feel both in D mode and M PWR modes feel free to play around with the gear shifts on the steering wheel and let us know your findings on how it drives in both modes and also after you got back into the IS200 and drove off.. try this for us Dinho..

Absolutely spot on John!

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No one is getting mad here Dinho and no one says the IS200 is not or does not have the right to be a smooth operator its a Lexus. what Colin, Panya, Lexus22 and myself are saying is, the 300 is a step up from the 200. it did cost slightly more than the 200 when brand new so the extra smoothness and drive feel reflected in the higher cost price when new. as Lexus22 asked have you actually driven an IS300 before? if not drive one to get the feel both in D mode and M PWR modes feel free to play around with the gear shifts on the steering wheel and let us know your findings on how it drives in both modes and also after you got back into the IS200 and drove off.. try this for us Dinho..

Come to Gaydon in August and ill drive yours :hehe:

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