Originally Posted by LeX2K

What issues?

Originally Posted by sm1ke

Engine issues mostly. He was just outside of his warranty when the engine started consuming a lot of oil. Toyota refused to help, so when the engine started leaking oil as well (about a year later), he decided to have the engine replaced at his cost. Since then he's had some electrical issues, mostly minor things. Right now he's trying to figure out why his brand new battery won't hold a charge. I suspect its the alternator but he hasn't really done anything with the car since he's now retired and doesn't really go anywhere due to the pandemic. The car also developed an exhaust leak last winter, but I wouldn't blame Toyota for that as we get a lot of salt on the roads here.

Originally Posted by Hameed

Looking for a cheap/reliable/used small SUV. The car is not for me but for my son. He currently has a 2009 Lexus IS250 AWD and may have to replace it as he's been having quite a few issues with it in the last year. The latest straw to break the camels back is the AC that has imploded - cost to fix it (the whole friggin system has to be replaced as something exploded in the condenser and shot shrapnel into other parts of the AC) is about $3.5K CAD. The car is probably worth $5K (with the AC working), so he may be forced to get rid of the car as is rather than spending $3.5K.

I did some quick research and the 2016/17 Mazda CX5 and similar years RAV4 seem to come well recommended, however I think both are more than what my son wants to spend on a car at the present time. The car is simply an appliance to him - mainly to take him and his bike(s) to different locations where he spends the majority of his leisure time - cycling. He has a tow hitch mounted 2-bike rack on his IS250 currently.