I love necro posting !!!!!
Is220d fuel econemy is great compared similar rivals diesel equivalents....
It is however faster than them quieter, bwtter equipped easier to fix and hits the twisties just as good as any in its league but for getting good mpg it does it the job as well, i don't see this as a failure really, ever drive the the 320 and a4 2.0tdi it's up against ? there boring and gutless the lexus does the job better the m sport and sline models are a bit prettier to look at perhaps.
You can't tell it's a diesel from I side when the engine running and if you ditch the egr dpf and mapped it above 200bhp it because a fantastic car and your not improves it also becomes alot more reliable...
Never understood the hate....
And why are people surprised you can get good mpg from the 250 it's a 200bhp v6 that's very little power from a v6 so its not a very thirsty car and it's reliable as well as its under very little strain it's also far too underpowered for its weight...
However a lovely reliable v6 that's not thirsty and an rival crushing diesel I reckon lexus nailed it with there is range of the period look at the original is200 everyone slaughtered it for being too heavy and underpowered blah blah but in the end they must of sold a good few because I see then everywhere and i drive a few and apart from being underpowered it's a bloody good car just like the 2nd generation whatever one you chose,
Diesel makes more sense to me but i use it for shopping and ferrying my kids about in comfort and safety which it does perfectly much more so than the st220 I used as my family car before...
I have my track n off roading toys and a megane rs for me time,
The is220d is a cracking car and i think lexus found a nice niche in the market for it, if it wasn't for hybrids I think you'll find lexus would of made another diesel..
I never looked at an is350 before I think I might do that right now