IS300KK

Looking at buying this car, does anyone have any info about it?

Hi Does anyone know of a good quality bodyshop in this area? I need some rust issues sorted.

Anyone have one of these?

It's a gorgeous car. We hired the 5L V8 version on Turo out of Los Angeles, for ten days. Luggage space was pretty small for a GT car, but I fell in love with it the second I saw it, it was stunning (better in the metal than in photos), and made a truly fabulous roaring and spitting V8 sound. It was a joy to drive, very planted, good weight distribution and very confidence-inspiring in high-speed bends. It is now the only car I aspire to buying. Enjoy every mile in your lovely LC 😀

I have a 2002 IS300 which I rarely use. One of the reasons is that I have no sense of direction, so rely on satnav, which my car doesn't have. Plug-in units just look messy, so I'd like to have it built in, preferably with phone connectivity. Is this feasible or will it likely cost more than the car is worth at this point?

I've been lusting after an LC500, but realised that buying this would delay retirement, so now planning to get the IS sorted and just drive that.

I thoroughly recommend Oksana Newport, independent Lexus / Toyota specialist. They were prepared to put in the hours to solve the problem with minimal expense to me. The workshop is in an area that might be described as 'sketchy', but I honestly can't recommend them highly enough, it was a pleasure to deal with them.

It runs, very smoothly and quietly. I have a battery disconnector on it, because it largely sits on the drive. Prob needs new tyres by now.

I've seen a car I like, LC500, but the exterior colour is not my first choice. Thinking about getting it wrapped, has anyone done this, or is it a stupid idea?

I have owned my 2002 IS300 since 2004. I'm just not using it, and it is sitting on the drive, deteriorating. I am very attached to it, and haven't sold it because I don't want to to go to some 19yo to rag it, or to be cut up for spares. The engine and gearbox are still fantastically smooth. There is a very small amount of body corrosion. It's probably worth about £500, but if I sold it, I would want it to go to someone who had the time to sort the body work issues (I have been quoted £800), and drive it gently. What would you do?

Now that I'm actually driving my IS again, I have noticed that the tyre noise is quite loud on the Potenzas, although I quite like their handling characteristics. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good compromise between handling and road noise? All the best Amanda

The IS300 box is very different to the IS200 manual. My 18yo Is300 drives incredibly smoothly. There is a slight delay on using manual gear changes, but hey, it's an 18yo car. You will not regret getting an IS300. The difference in fuel consumption is negligible, just go for it!

My Is300 spins its wheels on white lines when puling out of junctions, or on slightly rough surfaces, or on slight inclines, or on slightly damp roads. You get used to it, and drive accordingly. It's fun to drive, partly because it's so prone to sliding.

Snow mode is absolutely useless in snow. The tyres still spin, and you go sideways, just slower than you would normally. The last time I used snow mode, I had to leave my car parked up for two days until the snow thawed and I could move it again. This is not a car to drive in the snow.

I've never felt that the brakes on mine were that great. Would like to upgrade, don't want anything too incongruous, just a bit more confidence when coming round a bend to find a tractor doing 10mph.

I agree, the auto box is incredibly smooth. The combination of engine and gearbox in the IS300 is just exceptional.

Picked it up today, after a service and various bits and pieces. It felt great to drive, and the heater was working properly at last! Very impressed with Osaka Toyota / Lexus specialists in Newport, I will definitely be going back there for any further work, and would wholeheartedly recommend them.

Have never tried the Turanza. The Potenzas are good when new, but wear quite quickly - usually toe-in wear on the front (despite geometry), and general wear on the back. on 'older' Potenzas, the car tends to spin the driven wheels in damp / wet conditions, eg pulling out of junctions, but I've always thought this to be a characteristic of the car. Would be interested in trying the Turanzas; as much as it is fun to go sideways, it's nice if it happens in a predictable way. I suspect I will need new tyres very soon, so will be interested to see what you think of the Turanzas.

Thank you! They did say it's possible it will clog again, but fingers crossed. I'm just really pleased they took me seriously after other places were adamant it was working.

The heater is fixed!!!!! The heater matrix had a blockage, which the good folks at Osaka Independent Lexus specialists in Newport spent quite a while clearing, I'm so pleased! It's now going to have a service and timing belt change, all at very reasonable cost, using Lexus original parts. Apparently Lexus no longer manufacture the heater matrix, but it is available as a non-original copy. Thanks to the suggestions on this forum, I had a starting point to work from.

My (rather neglected) IS300 is currently in with an independent Lexus specialist. i was considering getting a Dodge Challenger (love the noise, but LHD only) or a GS-F, (like the BHP) but realised that I actually had a very nice car that just needed doing up a bit. It may end up costing me a few thousand, but that is less than the 50K that I would d have spent otherwise. Whereas I love the excitement of a new car and all the toys, I still love my IS300.

i think you can adjust the sensitivity of the sensors. Sometimes small flies in the car can set off the sensors if set too sensitive - flies can often wake up at night. Alternatively, mice can do the same if you live in a rural area. When the battery on my car was on the way out, the car would make very quiet, rhythmic, chirping noises, which you would only notice if standing next to it. Ignoring this meant a flat battery.

I had a top-of the range Hybrid Corolla as a courtesy car recently, genuinely impressed, it was a lovely car. Very comfortable, lots of toys, just a nice place to be. Felt a bit nostalgic as I previously had a 1.3L Corolla, which I really loved.

On my IS300, I have largely stuck to Potenzas, with occasional P zeros, but probably prefer the Potenzas. For winter tyres, we have used Kumho Izen on four different vehicles now - two different Landcruisers, an Auris and an Audi A6 Allroad, all with good results on-road and in mud/snow; they're probably not as good as Michelin CrossClimate+, but come in a wider range of sizes, and are a good compromise to use all year round if you're lazy. "Just been looking at Hankook and Nexen which both get good reviews. Any recommendations?" There were brand-new Nexen on my Landcruiser when I bought it (used car); they seemed perfectly serviceable, and hadn't really worn at all by the time I put winter tyres on it four months later, I guess the tyre dealer did well on re-selling them as 'part-worn'! (The Kumho Izen that I put on it are going strong nearly four years and 40K miles later). Have used Hankook in the past on other cars, again, seemed perfectly serviceable. My mum has Hankook on her Yaris, they seem very reasonably-priced and stable, especially as she drives every where at warp speed. (She complains about the price, but then the Yaris costs about £2.50 per year to run!)

I had thought that I was just being a bit fussy about the heater, and could just stick to using the car only in summer, but today realised that the windscreen doesn't clear without a bit of heat, so pretty essential really! Will pass on anything they find, they have experience of dealing with these cars and seem motivated. I'm looking forward to possibly finding out, at last, what the problem is, and giving my car a new lease of life.