hey guys...im new to the forum and am a soon to be IS300 owner. can someone please tell me of any differences between the 2001 and 2002 models? i am looking at a 2001 with 27,000 miles for $22,000 and a 2002 with 25,000 miles for $23,500. the 2002 does not have the rims that i am looking for so i am leaning towards the 2001. any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

 

Assume you're looking at an auto (don't think 5 speed was out in 2001).

One neat feature of the Lexus website is their model library. it shows you (mostly relevant, but they do miss stuff sometimes) the differences in model year from the prior year

http://www.lexus.com/cpo/model_detai...hift_2002.html

From that, it says:

Changes Made To The 2002 IS 300 E-Shift

Standard Features

- Front side-curtain airbag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)[1]

Optional Features

- Vehicle Skid Control (VSC)[5]
- DVD navigation system[7]


Since I don't own one or know as much about them as others, I'll let them correct/supplement my reply

Oh, and welcome to ClubLexus!

 

thanks for the reply. does that vsc feature make that much of a difference? thanks again.

 

Get the 02. Alot of the bugs that were prominent in 01 were corrected for 02...especially the front armrest. The 01 does not have this feature.

 

02 gets my vote too. Not that the 01 is bad but if you can, always get the newer car. Welcome to Clublexus.

 

hey thanks for the reply. can you elaborate on some of these bugs? whats wrong with the front armrest in the 02?

 

another vote for 02. 01 had a lot of stuff missing, there weren't even an armrest on 01. no autodim mirror as well. little stuff like that makes the 02 much more worth it

 

No the 01 did not have an armrest. THe 02s+ do. No serious bugs but I've heard of CDs being eaten and other minor items. Nothing serious.
it's a Lexus.

 

I like the 04's the best. The bugs from the previous years are worked out, memory seats was introduced, mist spray windshield washer nozzles, black chrome headlights/fogs & tails, and the list goes on and on.

 

Perhaps the biggest change of all for 2002, in addition to what was already mentioned, was the addition of the hatchback SportCross model.....but they will not be easy to find. Not many were produced or sold.

Dave, you are correct. The 5-speed for the IS300 was delayed until 2002, which was the subject of MANY complaints in the auto press and for potential owners. Infiniti made the same mistake when they introduced the G35.

 

is it possible to add the auto dimming mirror??

 

i am not sure, coz' you need a power connector at the top...

btw, reduce your sig, it's too big

 

dont know how to reduce it sorry...

 

I was looking at the lexus website you mentioned that compares the differences between the 01 and the 02. I know its very minimal but the 01 says its .2 seconds faster and the gas mileage for the highway is a bit less. Is that just and error? Cause that is pretty random.

 

Actually it's not random, there were alot of complaints that the IS got horrible mileage. Because the car was new at the time, most owners would push it instead of drive it normally. And with the gear ratios, the car was quick but at the expense of mileage. Lexus corrected the fuel economy by revising ECU settings. It was done purposely. 0.2 seconds is not noticeable for any average driver. You aren't losing anything really.