INTRO
My last ever company car before I went 'solo' (i.e self employed) was a Silver Lexus IS200, The SE (Special Equipment Version). I very much doubt you'll have any idea just how badly (prior to getting one of these, that is) I wanted to have one of these - even if you do regard the car as being desireable, I still feel that my (albeit highly subjective) sentiments for 'top-tier' Japanese cars - might make me seem to some people as perhaps even a bit weird! You see ... I have always put what I have held to be the flagships of Japanese automotive engineering, on a pedestal, head and shoulders above the rest ... and that includes the likes of BMW for that matter. If any doubt about the veracity of my statement in the last sentence then I have only three words to say in response "Nissan - Skyline - GTR" - if anyone thought that only the Germans could make a car with decent handling then ... well ... I always find it highly amusing to consider that from what I understand ...for a goodly amount of time ... there was NOTHING Germany could throw at it that could hope to topple the Nissan Skyline GTR Version R32 (a.k.a. 'Godzilla', affectionately) from its throne - being the car that held onto the lap record for the Nurburgring as well as it holds the road - and that's just one example (there are of course others such as Mitsubishi GTO, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6, Subaru Impreza WRX etc. etc. etc.)

Air Conditioning with Climate Control,
Heated Leather Seats, Totally Electrically Adjustable
6 Speaker Sound System with 6-Disc Autochanger Built-in,
Elec Windows,
Elec Folding and heated Wing Mirrors,
2-Litre 6 Cylinder 153BHP Variable Valve Timing 24-Valve All Alloy Engine
6 Speed Manual Close Ratio Gearbox
17" 5-Spoke Alloys
Electronically Managed Traction Control, Stability Control and ABS
4 Airbags (Front Driver and Passenger + Side Driver and Passenger)
Front Windscreen De-Icer (as well as rear of course)
Electric Sunroof
Rear Boot/Trunk That opens remotely (i.e without you having to physically touch it)
State of the art Alarm/Immobiliser

SO WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT?
Well, I could NEVER fault the equipment, the build quality, or the reliability. But .... the Engine ......... ARRRRRGGGHHHHH !!!!!!! It just had such feeble power delivery below 4,000 rpm. Ok, fair enough, if you like thrashing a car's engine hard day-in-day-out to get anywhere then .... well ... fine .... enjoy! As for me I like to arrive at work or what ever my destination, relaxed, settled and at peace - not feeling like I have just had to race Vin Diesel or Paul Walker for the title in an illegal street race. Quite simply, there was either not enough pull away onto a round-about if I kept the revs low (and people would beep me) or else I would have to change up at at least around 4,000 to 4,500 RPM to get anywhere without cutting someone up. I think the engine was only 'happy' and delivering the goods in excess of 4,500RPM ... and true ... when I was in the mood for going on a nice long weekend A-Road Drive the car did not disappoint. But in normal run of the mill daily life I have found that both the 2-Litre and 1.8 Litre Toyota Avensis (neither of which 'profess' to be sports saloons) that I have also driven were much more responsive and useful (and far less dramatic) in daily commuting traffic! I guess V.V.T. (Variable Valve Timing) engines are powerful and impressive but can prove very sluggish at low revs, particularly if they are having to move a solid and well built bodyshell.

A BIG SHAME
There was/is nothing else that riles me about the car. Some people dont find the 'Sports Chronometer' style Speedo and Rev Counter Display to be particularly attractive. I however had no such problem with it ... in fact I found it quite appealing. The controls are all light and the steering wheel is perfectly weighted with just the right amount of 'feel' for a power assisted steer (if a little under-geared). The car holds the road well - although it's wise to keep the Anti-WheelSpin/Traction Control applied at all times in snowy weather (my one switched this function off every time you have finished driving, so had to be re-switched on/engaged every time a new journey was embarked upon), I remember one embarrasing time when I had only had the car a week or so and the ground was full of snow and I was driving up a slight incline in Mill Hill and the car simply went nowhere and it was only later that I realised the Anti-WheelSpin had reset itself to off!!