George

How about these Mercedes style side mirrors with turning lights from NETZ in JP

IS with superlight racing hood with air vents Oh its a TOMS 280T by the way...something some of you may be drooling for!! [Edited on 17-4-2002 by George]

IS with real HID:s. Looks sharp eh...

Here is a bad-***** red (new red) IS.

I would discourage anyone using public roads to test their cars max performance. Be responsible and rent a race track instead.

A V6 in the next gen Lexus IS, instead of the inline-6... let's try and not swear in church !!!

My personal belief is that a replacement filter won't do much at all. Just to the sound. It will sound more throaty. But it's not worth 50 - 100 EUROS. On the other hand I'm split as to if an intake like this, http://www.rodmillenstore.com/is_300/intake.htm would give some more power. Rodmillen has this one for the IS300 and they say it will give 225 bhp (+ 10bhp). It does on the one hand look more serious. On the other hand it could be a sales stunt. The IS300 should have the same adaptive ECU as the IS200 where more air will be de-compensated as weltmeister says. If you are paying that much it should work for certain. A simple replacement won't work but this one I don't know? [Edited on 11-4-2002 by George]

I was born in 1973. So that makes me 29. (close to the average age here). My girlfriend is 22 though and she makes me feel young !!

Whats going on ? You UK guys seem to be getting the short end of the stick again. First no HID as standard on the 2002 IS200 Sport and SE, as we get in Sweden. And we also get the auto-dimming rear view mirror as standard in all 2002 IS200. Like I noted at the showroom i Stockholm. Whats the deal with that guys ??

For anyone who wants one here is a link: About 240 USD with compass and inside digital temperature display ! http://www.rpminnovations.com/rearview_mirrors.htm

I saw that the 2002 IS200 now has auto dimming rear view mirror as standard. Instead of the wide angle one I 've got. Do you know if the outside mirrors are auto-dimming also? Do you think an upgrade is possible ?

I asked the Lexus dealer in Sweden about what the front center armrest would cost for for an IS 200 that doesn't have it. They want 900 EURO !!! for parts and installation or 750 EURO for just the parts !!! I was almost insulted at hearing the price. It's really not motivated. They said it's because it's not sold as an accessory. So 325 USD sound better...but still.

LavaIS: Du får en Ferrari F360 för de pengarna. Ni skulle ha haft billigare bilar än oss om era oljepengar kommit er till godo och inte sparats av er regering. Synd... och världens bästa vägar borde ni också ha. Hälsningar: George från Stockholm [Edited on 26-3-2002 by George]

LavaIS: Hej LavaIS ! Hur är läget i Norge ? 78,000 EURO for an IS300 in Norway, thats the rip of the century. That would get me a BMW M3 and an IS200 in Sweden.

lexuscol: Just how would the build quality be differnet betwwen the IS200 and IS300 ? I'm not buying that at all ! They use exacly the same parts and factory lines in the same factory at the Kanto autoworks in Japan. The only differnece is the engines and the price of course. That difference you feel isn't real. It may be something one would tell oneself to convice oneself that one had made a good deal buying the IS300. Nothing personal.

I was at Lexus Showroom in Stockholm to leave my IS200 for service. I had a very interesting talk with one of the mechanics there, mano a mano, eye to eye. I asked about the IS300 sales, knowing that it's relatively new to Europe. And my suscpicions came true. He confirmed that the IS300 is selling very poorly in all of Europe. Almost to the point of being a total fiasco. So I asked why and he said that the price of 37000 EURO was too high it seems and the price gap was too big between the IS200 and IS300 (with not enough difference). And too close to the GS300. Which is an altogether full grown car for 39000 EURO. And thats not all, apparently Lexus in Italy has altogether refused to sell the IS300 because they believe too few could be sold due to the high price set by Tokyo. And whats more they will now slash prices in Sweden on the IS300 by 2500 EURO to 34000 EURO to try and get sales going. I always felt that the price was too steap for the IS300 in Europe and don't really see how Toyota expected us to pay 6000 EURO more than the Yanks for the same car which retails for 32000 USD in the US. I also sat in an IS300 and an IS300 SportCross wagon at the showroom. And frankly I was disappointed. The full leather and Navi felt more luxurious but there was a new type of cloth on the door sides (mine is perforated alcantara) which felt slack and like a used towel. And the new speaker fronts in the side doors with the chrome around them didn't look more exclusive. The IS300 SportCroos boot is the same size as the IS200, it just plays tricks on your eyes with it's differnt rear. I admit that I used to be a little ****** that I couldn't have the IS300 but not anymore. The IS200 is on the other hand worth every penny. If you really want an IS300 buy it 2:nd hand and expect prices to fall steap because the price was too high to start. The first owner will pay his share instead. Lexus Europe..."You played yourself..." Comments... [Edited on 25-3-2002 by George]

So that settles it then: Approx 10 liters left when light comes on which gives an approximate range of 100 km before it's time again to fill the pockets of a zillionare Saudi Arabian oil shiek...

I always take the water hose and wash inside the rear wheel arches. You will note that there is a shelf or lip inside as the arch is shaped. This is a weak spot. So one can feel it with ones hand. Dirt really piles up here from the rear wheel spray. Dirt = corrosion in the longrun.

What / where is the " mod u2u superchargedis200 " you mentioned ?? Sorry for my ignorance...:-))

Interesting facts: In Sweden corrosion protection of cars is a sales argument. Because the climate is so wet and varied i Sweden it puts high demand on corrosion protection. This is what the renowned Vi Bilägare (We Car Owners) association in Sweden wrote after experts tested the corrosion protection on the IS200. I ventured a translation since none of you speak Swedish... Lexus (IS200) has a car body which to a large extent is galavanized (all except the roof, which is the least exposed to dirt and water from below). Toyota has previously not impressed us with its corrosion treatments, but Lexus IS200 seems unusually well protected, as noted by Vi Bilägares corrosion expert Thomas Wildström at Rostskyddsmetoder AB. There is extra wax in both the boot lid and hood as in doors. The front wheel arches are protected by proper inner plastic guards. The worse protected areas are within the beams under the car and in the rear wheel arches. The fual tank is made of steel and not plastic (BMW) and is at risk for rusting in time (10 years at least). A large part of the under carriage is however covered with plastic shields for improving the aero-dynamics of the car. These serve also to protect against dirt and rocks. Toyota offers a 12 year corrosion warrenty. The IS200 will probably stay in good shape during it's lifetime. So thats a good verdict. It got 4 out of a possible 5. Shame about the tank and the rear wheel arches. http://www.vibilagare.se/Rostregistret/lexus_is200.htm

I have once reached a fuel station just a few km after the light went on and I managed to fill up 58 liters (to the rim). So that must make 12 liters left after the light comes on...? 5 liters sounds like stretching it a little.

Is HID standard for IS300 or optional ? There is a Finsih guy who is a member here he has a 2002 Sport IS200 with HID I believe...is it not so ? So is HID also standard for IS200 from 2002 or optional or not available for some version. Does anyone know the deal ?

Has there been a change to different clear turning light housing in the headlights for Lexus IS200 model 2002 vs 1999-2001. I have a model 2000 and in my headlights the plastic is colored orange. In the new headlights the bulb is orange and the plastic clear. Is this so ? Is this only for the HID headlights or do all IS200 get this from 2002 ? Can someone also clarify on which IS200 models from 2002 is HID standard and which optional and which not available...or is it now standard on all (sport, exec, basic..). Can one upgrade headlight housing and get the more modern looking (my opinion) orange bulb version ? Which looks best...opinions ?

Does anyone know how many liters of fuel there is left in the tank when the low fuel light comes on ? The tank is 70 liters. So my guess would be that 15 liters are left. There has to be a margine to make it to the next station. Has anyone tested or know?

Yeah, good review ! Hope to see more of those personal impressions of Lexus test drives. They feel more genuine than the journalistic kind. I wouldn't either expect the IS300 to be lightyears faster than the IS200. The IS200 will do 0-62 mph in 9.2 sec and the IS300 0-62 mph in 8.2 sec. So it's not a big difference. The IS200 has the advantage of the close-geared 6-speed manual and the IS300 the disadvantage of the bhp and torque stealing automatic. But with the 5 speed manual for the IS300 in the US (if it ever comes to Europe?) its 0-62 in 7.1 sec and the the IS200 will be at a greater loss. Of course the IS200 has to be thrashed to keep up with the IS300 whose bigger engine can perform more relaxed, even at higher speed. But the difference is too small and does not motivate a price gap of 10000 EURO (or 9000 pounds). I would rather buy the compressor. The IS300 also makes the car heavier over the front and less perfectly balanced.