Lexus IS200 SE - Winner

Advantages: Looks, Engine, Specs
Disadvantages: Fuel Consumption, Tyre Wear

...I bought my Lexus IS200 SE in January 2006 and it's safe to say it is the best car I've ever had. The build quality is rock solid, it handles brilliantly and as for the cabin, it is an extremely pleasant place to be. The car is aimed squarely at the BMW 3-series, and just like it's main rival, it is a beautifully balanced, rear-wheel drive sports saloon. The engine is a 6-pot peach and this is it's main advantage over the BMW, which in it's 2 litre variant, only comes with 4 cylinders. The engine is smooth, refined and has VVT-i so at 4500 rpm, you get a kick in the back and the car surges forward even faster. With 153bhp, the engine is quite good for a 2 litre and has a little more power then the BMW rival. Obviously it's not a pocket rocket like a Civic VTR or Toyota Celica but the engine is more relaxed and a lot less fizzy then...

barnardo64 08.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Lexus IS 200 2.0 24v

Wouldnt swap IS200 for anything else in class

Advantages: Excellent Service, Smooth ride, luxurious interior
Disadvantages: Alloy Wheels and CD Changer

...I worked for a Japanese firm some years ago and saw a Lexus for the first time being chaffeur driven and my first impressions were of the brand being a Japanese Volvo both in styling and performance with little extras. I was therefore a little hesitant when purchasing my Is200 from a friend last year but the price was too tempting and I felt I should give the brand a chance. I am glad that I did. Having owned a number of "Top Name, Performance" cars in my time I was somewhat surprised by the performance given by the Is200 overall. The drive is smooth and the steering incredibly responsive. I love the driving position and feel very comfortable and secure. There are other sedan's on the market which feel like driving rollerskates at high speed but the Is200 feels robust. I had an accident last summer on the M1 at about 80 miles an hour...

scottle77 21.07.2004 · Read review
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Review of Lexus IS 200 2.0 24v

Lexus IS200 better than a BMW 323

Advantages: Lexus is good looking, jam packed with extras as standard, quite exclusive
Disadvantages: Not as fast as a BMW323, doesn't have quite the Snob Factor

...Whilst looking for a new Company car it resulted in a 'two horse race' - a Lexus IS200 Sport or a BMW 323SE... I Test Drove both cars for a weekend, this is my opinion of the two cars: BMW 323SE - Very nice looking car. - Well constructed and feels solid. - It has more standard extras than you would normally expect for a BMW (though this might be the SE badge that is wears). - It has a good engine (v6 2.5) and a fair level of power/speed. - You still need to buy additional optional extras in order to bring it up to specification of a standard Ford/Vauxhall/VW. - It is quiet expensive when you see what you get for your money (GBP24,000). - It is very common car. - It doesn't stand out from the crowd! Lexus IS200 Sport - a very attractive looking car. - It is well built. - Very well priced - the Sport is GBP23...

lud 15.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Lexus IS 200 2.0 24v

Is 200hz all it's cracked up to be?

Advantages: 200hz feature, great black levels, vivid colours
Disadvantages: 200hz feature might not appeal to everyone

...Intro - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I recently upgraded to this Television from a 32" Toshiba. This television is one of Sony's flagship models, it's most notable feature being it's 200hz refresh rate. It's priced towards the higher end of the market with the larger 47" version costing around £300 more. I opted for the 40" model, which seemed big enough when compared to my previous 32" Design - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The first thing you will notice when seeing this television for the first time, is it's clean, modern design. The LCD panel itself is surrounded by a glossy black frame, and if you look closely enough, is speckled with shiny bit's of blue. The blue speckles seemed a little unnecessary in my opinion as they are only viewable when strong sunlight hits the set, or you look very closely, I'm glad Sony did this...

sdemb 29.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sony KDL40Z4500U

Alan Partridge Eat Your Heart Out

Advantages: Good level of equipment, comfortable, sporty
Disadvantages: Slightly sluggish with auto, cramped interior, poor boot space

...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...

markd_uk 27.09.2004 · Read review
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Review of Lexus IS 200 2.0 24v

Having owned one for a year what do I think?

Advantages: Customer Service, Build Quality, Value for Money
Disadvantages: Alloy Wheel Salt Erosion Pitting

...I purchased my Lexus IS 200 SE Auto in October 2003. Having owned and Audi, a Mercedes and a BMW I was immediately struck by the professionalism and keenness of the staff at the dealership. A sort of eagerness to please I had not seen in many years. That feeling is something I still get now whenever I deal with them. The IS 200 is not an uncommon car. You see lots of them around, rather like the ubiquitous 3 series BMW. However, the point is that they are that bit different both in looks and in substance. On my first drive two things struck me, apart from the instrument cluster which in spite of its unusual design (copying a sports watch in design) is surprisingly easy to get used to and read. First was the total lack of rattles, creaks or squeaks. Second was the smoothness of the drivetrain and mechanics. The engine is...

FantasticMrFox 12.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Lexus IS 200 2.0 24v

Pleasure seekers apply here.

Advantages: Stylish, bullet proof build, tons of equipment and not a BMW.
Disadvantages: Poor fuel consumption and performance for it's class and not a BMW.

...to impress European snob values. Years later it is regarded as a fine car, but people still can?t get past the fact that it isn?t a German limo. In 1999, Lexus launched the IS200 ? aimed at the executive sports saloon market. King of the sports saloons was, and still is, the BMW 3 series. Fine engines, great driving experience, bags of driveway kudos and built so solidly that you would think it was carved out of granite. Nobody in Europe has been able to shift the 3 series from the top of every thrusting exec?s wish list (who said yuppies were a thing of the past) but Lexus were undaunted and decided to clone this winning formula. Just like the 3 series, the IS200 got a straight six 2.0 litre engine, rear wheel drive, sporty, and aggressive styling. Everything, in fact, to make it look like a strong contender ? on paper...

eduardob 29.01.2004 · Read review
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Review of Lexus IS 200 2.0 24v

Beautiful Car ... but with very irritating flaw.

Advantages: Features, Build Quality, Safety, Looks, Reliable
Disadvantages: Painfully Under-Powered at Low Revs

...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...

Whinger 05.08.2004 (25.08.2004) · Read review
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Review of Lexus IS 200 2.0 24v

Be different & turn heads

Advantages: Lexus quality
Disadvantages: none

...Placed my order 18 months before delivery. If it has the Lexus name on it, you can be sure that it is of the highest quality. Lexus, "The relentless pusuit of excellence". 100% correct. This car out performs all in its class. What Car? wont even test it against the average 3 series BMW, C class Merc, Audi A4 or Alfa 155 in a latest test. They know the IS200 beats them all. Superb engine performance, power when you need it, even in 6th gear. Handles like a 4 wheel drive and as confortable as your favorite arm chair and a stereo system that is better than at home. Test drive one and I dare you not to place an order. 40000 miles, not one problem. Can't wait till they bring out the Mark two version!...

InspectorGadget 02.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Lexus IS 200 2.0 24v

Going somewhere

Advantages: Good looks and sporty appearance
Disadvantages: Lack of performance / power

...Never have I been as disappointed with a car as I was when I tested the IS200. the model I drove was the “Sport” with around 20k miles on the clock. My overall first impressions were good. The car has good lines and when you see them there’s a certain “in your face” characteristic about the car. It is as you would expect built to a high quality by Toyota. As you open the door to get in side you can feel the weight of the doors. Again when you close them there is the solid clunk that you associate with quality. The overall picture the designers have tried to create is one of sport. Coming with 17” alloys and ultra low profile tyres – 215/45Z17 – this is carried over into the cabin. The Speedo dominates the dash board and to be honest the three auxiliary clocks – fuel economy...

Slideways 31.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Lexus IS 200 2.0 24v