Just because that JD Power survey is for cars newer than the OP has, doesn't mean it's not relevant. Lexus cars don't just fall off a cliff after 3 years, and become trouble prone. And Minis don't suddenly become trouble free after 3 years. Consumer Reports does much more extensive, longer term research, and the annual auto issue should be out next week, so we can see what that says for cars older than 3 years.

I've had my IS250 for 7 years, and other than warranty and TSB issues, I've had nothing but routine maintenance. But you can't take one person's experience and translate it to an entire auto make. On average, if you buy a Lexus product, the probabilities are that you will have a reliable, trouble-free vehicle--not just by this one JD Power study, but by years and years of hard proof from JD Power, CR, and many other sources. But there is no guaranty that your car won't have any problems whatsoever.

 

I am glad you are having no trouble with your IS250 and i have NO doubt Lexus has less problems than other brands! No one claimed that we should not have any problems ever, we are just giving our opinions ( in some cases, facts of what we are actually experinced). Esecially my experiences with Lexus since their early days. Theses are really feedbacks; hopefully Lexus pay attention and working on improvement going forward.

 

What year is the IS350? The water pump is covered under powertrain warranty - 6yr/70k.

If you've had your IS for 6+ years and the only thing you've had to pay out of pocket is to replace a water pump, I'd think you should be OK with that. The only thing "inflated" here is your expectations.

 

Well the hard cold facts = no one would guarantee anything after the warranty expires.....

 

For me it was cheaper. Example, oil change in my old SC300 and RX330 was like $25. Oil change for the E39 and E60 $50. Another thing is that I can take my Lexus to an independent shop for a lower rate. With the Beemers it would almost have to be done at the dealer because other shops have no idea what they are doing.

 

Lots of missing information, we don't know how the cars were maintained (even with low mileage, harsh usage can be detrimental to a vehicle).

Lexus Customer Service is more willing to help share costs if you've been a loyal dealer service customer (aka you've paid your share of service profits back into the business.)

 

ding ding ding !!!! He nailed it !!!! I have agree. I will admit I had unrealistic expectations of Lexus reliability when I came aboard the Lexus family three Lexus vehicles ago.

The bottom line is that Lexus vehicles are BY FAR the lesser of the evils in the industry

 

Lexus premium prices? Lexus are cheaper then all it's MB/BMW/Audi/Jaguar's competitors and Lexus are still more reliable then all of them, but the gap is indeed much smaller now.

What are you going to buy other then Lexus? I guess Hyundai and Kia make premium models now, but guess what? They usually are less reliable then a Lexus.

 

A 34k mile IS was out of powertrain warranty which covers the water pump. Drove 5k miles a year or what

 

Of course it's relevant. If OP is getting out of his Lexus's there's an excellent chance he's buying much newer..

Hi, I'm Earth. Have we met?

 

Why is there a need to convince people to stay with a car they don't like?
It's like a marriage. If you're not willing to make it work and it's too much hassle, then leave

To the OP, just sell or trade in your lexus for another competitor brand out there and enjoy your new car.

Life's too short to not enjoy what you don't like. Can't get any easier than that.
I've had german and I ain't going back

 

^I don't think anyone is telling the OP what to buy or not to buy.

We are just stating our experiences with Lexus and that of other brands (Germans).

 

Those are some excellent prices. $25 dollars is pretty cheap.
I have never gotten a oil change at any dealer for less than $40.00 including Acura. My IS250 reliability has been ok with it's share of problems. It's alot independent shops in my area that can service my Lexus and MB but I rarely used them. Most of the time I take my car to the dealer bc I need a loaner...

On another note what is up with the 5k oil changes? 1990's

 

5k miles a year is very common, not rare at all, especially if someone have more then one car. My parent's car is 5k a year, and they drive it everyday, just not very far.

500 miles a year would be rare.

 

This was a few years ago. Toyota dealer near my house had oil changes for that price.

$50 oil change for the BMWs wasn't even at the dealer. I took it to an independent shop for oil changes. But that was about it. Anything else (especially electrical work) had to be done at the BMW dealer.)

I was told modern day cars can do oil changes every 5,000 miles.