Should I Sell My Is200?

javaboss · May 23, 2004

Hi Everyone,

My father-in-law has just been over to visit us and he says he wants to buy my IS200 in October. Do you think I should sell it to him?

My car is an IS200 SE auto with 8k miles on the clock in Strathcaron Blue with Oakham interior. It was registered on 8th March 2003 and will be 18 months old in September and is one loved car. I was not thinking of changing it until it was 3 years old and the new IS had come out.

My wife has just got a new Honda CR-V so we don't need the IS practicality so much. It's only done 300 miles in the last 2 months!

Anyway... I was wondering what you guys think it might be worth at 18 months old with say 10k miles on the clock? What should I sell it to him for? I suppose I should come up with some price between trade-in and private sale price to give him a good deal. He's not pressuring me, but I know he'd snap it up as I really look after my cars.

Then the next question is... how long before the new IS arrives? The only other car I like is the Nissan 350Z. However, the car may be good, but you can bet the nissan dealer will be crap! I'd want another Lexus really.

As far as money is concerned it really isn't too much of a problem. However, I'd never spend more than 30k on a car - however much money I had.

Any suggestions?

ColinBarber · May 23, 2004

You won't get a new IS until 2006 at the earliest.

Carlos_SC · May 23, 2004

You don't need the practicality?!

Buy a Soarer!

http://www.jkwebdesign.co.uk/lexusclub/forsale.htm

Look at the sliver '97 one and drool! Thats one hell of a car for the money! I am slightly biased though :)

NigeSt · May 24, 2004

Having had to sell my IS to move out to the US, I've just been through the 'what to buy?' round.

We have a <bland mobile> for family outings so thought seriously about getting somthing more interesting for my daily commute.

I came *very* close to buying a 2004 spec Honda S2000 until the dealer told me the car being sold to me 'as new' had had its seats nicked while on the forecourt. This put me right off. Apparently theft is an issue as the parts fit the entire Honda range :(

My second runner up was a Mini Cooper S Works, just for the hoot, but the rattles wound me up, and that was just on the test drive!

I also thought about Audi TT (too expensive for what they are), Audi A3 S4 (too expensive for what they are), BMW Z4 (too expensive for what they are), a Porsche Boxster (just too expensive ), Nissan Z350 (wrong badge ).

In the end I came back to the IS: great car, great value, great dealers, plenty of poke in 300 guise and practical and luxurious with it :)

My advice, stick with your IS. You'd only want it back if you sell.

Nige

javaboss · May 24, 2004

Yeah, my wife and I talked it over last night. We are going to wait until the new IS comes out in 2006. If the father-in-law wants to wait that long then that's fine. If not, I'll just trade it in or sell it privately. Methinks it'll be a 3 litre one next time!

Mind you - I don't know anything about the engine specs for the new IS! Hopefully, they won't do a 'hyundai' and make it pig ugly! If it's anything like the new GS then I'll have one - no questions asked. :)

djanderso · May 24, 2004

Don't let the Nissan badge put you off a 350Z - I was seriously thinking about the S2000 to replace mine, but I drove it yesterday and the overall experience didn't come anywhere close to the Nissan's. So much so, I've arranged another test drive for Thursday night and I'll be taking my cheque book this time!

Nissan build quality is every bit as good as Lexus and in fact the interior of the 350Z is more solid than the IS. But like the S2000, it's the engine that sells this car. I'd recommend everyone take a test drive in it!