Do I Or Don't I Buy The New Car.....help

[kerrso05]

I have a superb Lexus 250 SE (2007) with a Mark levinison multi media pack. the car itself has about 36000 miles on the clock. I'm thinking of purchasing from my local Lexus Dealer a 2012 Lexus IS 250 Advance 2.5 Automatic. Can anyone tell me the main differences between the specs. between these two cars? Of these two models.....of course I know the colour is different and the new one is 5 yrs younger. What I'm worried about is am I loosing significant gadgets/improvements to the new car.

I'm thinking of retiring from work for good very soon and I don't know whether to go for the newer car with less miles on it or keep the existing car ( which I love) for another few yrs.......decisions,decionns....what do I do? Please help?

Thanks

Harry

[wicked677]

Hold off for a while until the launch of the new IS in a couple of months, might find that dealers are wanting to clear old stock

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

As above wait till June/July after the new IS launch. Bet the prices of 2nd gen drop then...

[kerrso05]

Guys thanks for your thoughts. Sorry I didn't come back sooner but I got hooked once I saw the car. It turned out that the car had only 3500 miles on the clock even though it had been advertised as 8500 miles. One owner who had bought in November 2012 and traded it up for a GS in March 2013 but had now got rid of it in April (because it was too big or some other strange reason) and now had ordered the new IS model. Seemingly he changes his car about three times a year.....likes new cars (great to have the money to do that..............I'm not complaining)

I probably or might get a slightly cheaper deal once the new model of the IS comes into the dealers but would I get a car that fresh with only 3500 miles? Probably not.

Guys nobody has still answered my initial question which is "the main differences between the specs. between these two cars?" my Lexus 250 SE (2007) and the new 2012 Lexus IS 250 Advance 2.5 Automatic

The dealer didn't seem to have a list of differences other than the Mark Levinison sound system in my 2007 Lexus.....surely there must be somebody out there that knows the differences?

Anyway I have done the deal......and am looking forward to picking up the car very soon and enjoying my gift to myself on my retirement. What do the rest of you think, do you think I did the right thing changing now?

My existing 2007 Lexus

[noby76]

silly question kerrso but if you don't know the difference or advantage the Advance model has over your existing model then why do you want to change?? is it to get a 2012 registered vehicle or more for the lower mileage? 36000 miles is barely broken in on your existing 2007..whats your main reason for making the change??

managed to find a comparison on parkers website not sure how accurate it is but scroll down and you will see a comparison between the two models.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/lexus/is/saloon-2005/equipment/

only difference I can see between the two models is Advance comes with central locking, telephone and service indicator as standard were as its optional on the SE-L models.

[Exdee]

Guys thanks for your thoughts. Sorry I didn't come back sooner but I got hooked once I saw the car. It turned out that the car had only 3500 miles on the clock even though it had been advertised as 8500 miles. One owner who had bought in November 2012 and traded it up for a GS in March 2013 but had now got rid of it in April (because it was too big or some other strange reason) and now had ordered the new IS model. Seemingly he changes his car about three times a year.....likes new cars (great to have the money to do that..............I'm not complaining)

I probably or might get a slightly cheaper deal once the new model of the IS comes into the dealers but would I get a car that fresh with only 3500 miles? Probably not.

Guys nobody has still answered my initial question which is "the main differences between the specs. between these two cars?" my Lexus 250 SE (2007) and the new 2012 Lexus IS 250 Advance 2.5 Automatic

The dealer didn't seem to have a list of differences other than the Mark Levinison sound system in my 2007 Lexus.....surely there must be somebody out there that knows the differences?

Anyway I have done the deal......and am looking forward to picking up the car very soon and enjoying my gift to myself on my retirement. What do the rest of you think, do you think I did the right thing changing now?

My existing 2007 Lexus

Main Differences Exterior (Things you've gained):

- Xenon headlamps

- LED Daytime Running Lights

- Indicators on side mirrors.

- LED tail lamps

- 18' wheels

- Aggressive looking front bumper

- Distinctive body color

I can't comment on the interior because I don't know what spec you had inside the 2007 SE. Just remember there is other things like rattles or engine components design which will have improved too. The late models are usually the best ones to buy because by that time the cars are usually bug-free.

The car looks very nice. Congratulations and happy motoring!!

[kerrso05]

Noby76 and Exdee thanks for your answers.....that's great, that's more than the Dealer could tell me. I think the only things I am loosing out on in the change is the Padel shifts on the steering wheel (for manually going up and down the gears.......which I never really used....probably only used them when I was on a motorway and I was bored and was looking for something different to do....LOL) The thing I will miss the most is the Mark Levinison Sound system......which is simply superb. In the past I driven Volkswagen and Audi's and I have never heard a sound system like it. Again another gadget my old car is a DVD player......which again I never ever used.

Which brings me onto Noby76 question "why do you want to change?? is it to get a 2012 registered vehicle or
more for the lower mileage? 36000 miles is barely broken in on your existing 2007..whats your main reason for making the change"??

The reason to change is like most people who want to change, I'm now retired and want a younger car which is under warranty and has very low mileage 3600. As I say previously I driven cars in the VAG group but coming to Lexus has been a totally different experience. The Lexus IS in my opinion is just luxury and a beautiful car to drive. Don't get me wrong I have had problems with Lexus with rusting Alloy Wheels.....I had two sets of wheel replacements and still they rusted and finally Lexus refused to replace them saying it wasn't their processes that were at fault....which I totally refute because I got a specialist company to sandblast them and recoat them and they have never rusted...not even when I slightly caught one of them on a kerb did it rust or discolour.

Otherwise, I have had trouble free motoring in the 6 yrs I have owned the car. Noby76, you are right the mileage on my existing car has hardly run the car in at 36000 but that was reflected on trade in value of my car....which was about £300 short of the value given by "What Car"......so I am reasonably pleased at that....obviously everybody wants more for their car but you have to recognise when you feel the price is right for you.

Thanks again for all your help it is much appreciated.

PS is the Mark Levinison Sound system a standard on any model or did my Lexus SE come with it as an extra or was it on 2007 models and then removed on the SE models in latter years?

[noby76]

ahh a younger car with less mileage and under warranty aswel? why not :) .. haven't listened to music off Mark Levinson before but from the experience I have had with my standard 8 speaker in the IS300, I know the ML system will be quality.. if you not soo bothered to have the ML system then as Exdee confirmed, Lexus would have ironed out all bugs and issues in the last models. so Go for it.. nice choice of colour by the way...

PS my guess will be only SE-L models came with the Levinson sound system so if its in any other model it would have been fitted in there as an option.

[Exdee]

PS is the Mark Levinison Sound system a standard on any model or did my Lexus SE come with it as an extra or was it on 2007 models and then removed on the SE models in latter years?

Mark Levinson came as standard on SE-L's. It was discontinued in 2010 I think. I had a loaner for a few days which had the stock 13 speaker sound system. It wasn't until then that I really appreciated the phenomenal sound of the Mark Levinson upgrade.

[kerrso05]

Guys, thanks again for that. From what you are saying I guess my 2007 Lexus IS 250 must have been a SE-L.....just shows you what I know about my car........LOL.

I bought it from Lexus Edinburgh and as far as I remember they told me it was driven by one of their Directors and it had about 4000 miles on it. I just assumed that all Lexus IS 250 SE came with Mark Levinison Sound systems..........honestly the sound system is fantastic...it's not just a very good Car Stereo.....there is something different about it, I can't put words to describe it, it's just like you are sitting in your front room with a very top end Hi-Fi system on. That's why I have had so much trouble doing this deal and thinking what other gadgets/luxuries am I loosing, in doing this deal but thanks to you guys telling me the extras I am going to gain it has made my mind up for me that it is the right decision. I totally agree with the comments that "Lexus would have ironed out all bugs and issues in the last models" My wife bought a VW Polo a number of years ago when it was a new model and that car gave us nothing but trouble and when we sold it back to the dealer we bought it from one of the sales men told us that we should never buy a brand new model of any car before the teething problems are sorted out............that advice (although truthful) was a bit late in the day

Honestly, loosing the Mark Levinison Sound system could have been a deal breaker. I think the sound system on the model I am getting is a Pioneer.......I have heard it and it sounds like a very good system but the M.L. is just something else, on a different, higher level

Does anyone know if the new Lexus IS 250 comes with the M.L. sound system as standard? or is it an addon on all the new models?