Lexus IS 200 2.0 24v

...to be silver. The Lexus IS200 is a very pretty car, with teardrop headlamps blending into a swooping bonnet with a bulging centre pretending to hide a supercharger under its cover. It doesn't matter what angle you look at the IS200 from, it is pretty, from those delicate headlamps to the large rear light clusters. But its those large rear light clusters that dictate the colour you must go for: they are bristling with brightness and encased in a chrome ...
...to lose their temper. Lexus eventually brought out the three-litre IS300 in an attempt to stave off the hacks demands and I've even heard tell of a Toyota Altezza derivative in Japan that boasts a 4.3 litre BMW M3 beating engine, though I've not had chance to sample it myself.

Inside the IS200 the cabin is big enough to hold four large adults comfortably, though it isn't the most roomy of environments. The suspension is firm and sporty ... more

I'd always promised myself a BMW Three-series by the time I was 21. Sadly, the big 2-1 came round and no BMW was in sight, not even remotely. I'd had an Austin Metro and a Ford Capri and at that time was driving around in a clapped out 1984 Honda Accord, desperately trying to make ends meet, and despite the plethora of Taylors Estate Agents driving around in the most sought after German saloon there was little chance of me owning one.

Being realistic I decided to reset my goal and was determined to own a BMW Three-series by the time I was thirty.

Six years later my fortunes had changed and the chance to own my dream car was upon me. Own is probably the wrong adjective to use: this was going to be a company car purchase, but nonetheless it was me choosing it, me setting the level of equipment, and me who was going to be responsible for it for the next three years. I couldn't wait.

I wanted rear wheel drive. I wanted that sweet-sounding straight six-cylinder engine. I wanted climate control and cruise control, toys galore. I wanted a BMW 320SE.

Sadly, a trip to the BMW dealership revealed my worst fears: a 320 of any description was outside of my budget, especially as I was looking for an automatic gearbox as well. Even a 318 was pushing my luck. It was time to reset my goals once again (after all, I was only 27, three more years to go til I was 30).

Lexus, on the other hand, had just released their new executive saloon challenger: the IS200. Available in three flavours, S, SE and Sport, the IS200 offered rear wheel drive, a sweet-sounding straight six-cylinder engine and by an amazing fluke of Japanese ingenuity even the entry level S model provided a six-disc CD player and climate control, plus cruise control if you took the automatic option, which I wanted.

I didn't need to test drive the car, I just wanted it. The S specification model with automatic gearbox came in £2000 cheaper than its equivalent BMW and just scraped in to the company car budget. I wasted no time in placing my order.

Of the three models, very little in the way of on-board specification is different. Standard spec across the range includes the already mentioned chassis and engine, speed-sensitive power steering, climate control, six-disc CD changer (built into the dashboard for convenience) electric windows all round, electric folding mirrors, automatic boot release, fly-by-wire electronic throttle, traction control (with extra Snow button), front fog lights and remote central locking. All come as standard with a superb six-speed gearbox or a four-speed automatic option is available on the S and SE models; you do get cruise control as standard if you go for the automatic. Satellite Navigation is optional across the range, though you do lose the cup-holders if you have this fitted to make way for the system's remote control. What a shame. Not a problem to us, but the Americans will hate losing their precious cup-holders.

At the entry level S spec model, all this comes packaged with sixteen inch alloy wheels and a cloth interior and airbags are provided for the driver, passenger and at the sides. Move up to the SE model and the wheels become the seventeen inch variety, half-leather/suede interior replaces the cloth and a sunroof is fitted; the SE also benefits from extra speakers and a slightly different stereo system, just in case the six quality speakers in the S haven't already managed to rupture your eardrums; additionally, heated and electric seats are standard at this level. Glutonous speed freaks can opt for the Sport model which features lowered and stiffened suspension, a neat rear spoiler, aluminium drilled pedals and a limited slip differential for improved handling, though you don't get the automatic option at this level.

I was happy to go with the S option as it fit all my needs. I had just one stipulation: it had to be silver. The Lexus IS200 is a very pretty car, with teardrop headlamps blending into a swooping bonnet with a bulging centre pretending to hide a supercharger under its cover. It doesn't matter what angle you look at the IS200 from, it is pretty, from those delicate headlamps to the large rear light clusters. But its those large rear light clusters that dictate the colour you must go for: they are bristling with brightness and encased in a chrome panel which against the silver paintwork (or the grey at a push) look absolutely fabulous, but against anything darker (black, for instance) they stand out like bulging alien eyes. The designers didn't quite account for this when they put the car together and as exterior image goes, a dark colour does not do the car justice from the rear.

Climbing into the IS200 is a treat in itself. Even in the S level car you are close to the ground and the sporty three-spoke leather-clad steering wheel gives you a feeling of excitement and speed. The dashboard is laid out in a functional yet exciting way, with the heating controls all large dials that feel nice to the touch and turn with a light click that is satisfying. The stereo is littered with buttons that are all fun to press and it sounds magnificent when turned up. Further down are the controls for the heated seats (if fitted) and the traction control. In front of you is the dashboard itself, and what a sight to behold this is.

The dials are laid out in a unique chronograph fashion. Think Breitling or Tag Heuer watch and you've got the speedometer with the econometer, temperature and volt meter inset. The dark dials are peppered with white numerics and large orange needles allow you to read the displays quickly and easily. When you first drive this car you find yourself staring at that extraordinary layout a bit too much and I would advise anybody enamoured with it to stop the car and stare at it for a while until you've got used to it. Three years after taking delivery I would still stare in wonder at the way the needles were depicted.

Close the door and start the car and you hear the engine burble into life. At low revs the engine is quiet, almost inaudible within the cabin and while driving there is an acceptable level of engine noise within the car itself; throttle down hard, however, and that straight-six lets out a howl of delight all the way to the rev limiter and should you find yourself in a spot of bother you can be sure that the huge disc brakes will bring you to a controlled halt, the anti-lock braking system minimising loss of control all the way to zero. Acceleration and braking are very well balanced in the IS200 and the driver is left feeling very much in control. Hit the bends and the chassis responds equally as well, thrilling you with its rear-wheel drive handling but reigning you in through the traction control when things get a little hairy.

It's oft been said that the IS200 is under-powered, but I never found that. Against its immediate rivals I always found it a more than worthy competitor, but I think the chassis is so good that it always felt it could take a little bit more than the engine could give and that may be where the journalists started to lose their temper. Lexus eventually brought out the three-litre IS300 in an attempt to stave off the hacks demands and I've even heard tell of a Toyota Altezza derivative in Japan that boasts a 4.3 litre BMW M3 beating engine, though I've not had chance to sample it myself.

Inside the IS200 the cabin is big enough to hold four large adults comfortably, though it isn't the most roomy of environments. The suspension is firm and sporty but you don't get out of the car at the end of a long drive feeling weary, though it won't leave you feeling completely relaxed, either.

The biggest downside to this car is its boot space. The rear seats don't fold down, so you are restricted to a rather cramped load space, made even more restrictive by the fact that the bootlid hinges intrude into the load space; on the competitive BMW the hinges are hydraulic struts that lower into the rear wings, meaning no load space is lost, but on the Lexus they swoop down into the boot itself meaning large hard objects will not fit at all and you have to plan your packing to make sure only soft, maleable items are on the top that the hinges won't damage.

Over three years I had just one minor issue with the car, which was fixed by the dealer without any problems, and on one occasion just a couple of months before handing it back a plastic panel protecting the underside came loose, prompting a call to the RAC. Besides these two tiny issues, nothing else went wrong with the car (it's Japanese, see? The word Japanese might as well be adopted into the English language as Reliable) and the dealer's service was exceptional, as was their pricing for servicing such an executive model.

Today, the S model kicks off at around £18'995 without options such as sat nav or automatic, but when I brought the car it was £21'995. Prices in Britain are steadily coming down, but this entry level Japanese saloon carries as much spec as a well-equipped Golf GTi for a slightly cheaper price and while the Golf is undoubtedly a fun car, the Lexus' rear-wheel drive chassis is just that little bit more fun.

If I were to be given the chance to own one again I would in a flash, but let's not forget that Steve Coogan's colourful character, Alan Partridge, did nothing for the car's image and his ill-fated meeting with the "sex people", where he referred to a group of Lexus as Lexi has left the IS200 suffering a little in the image department.

Still, after the IS200 I reached the tender age of thirty and, following a brief stint in a rather stupid Subaru, I got my BMW Three-series. I would have swapped it for my older IS200 any day. 

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