BucBaby

Looked at a 2002 IS 300 today with 157,000. Drove nicely. Looked pretty good. Dings on doors and headlights were cloudy. Seats were the suede kind in beige. Little dirty buy in great condition. Asking 7,500. One owner, and I checked, it's been serviced regularly.

Here's my worry. You may remember me on the IS250 forum awhile back. Had a heck of a problem getting an IS250 ordered with a manual. Ended up waiting 8 months and due to some shaddy stuff at the dealership, the manager was fired. He didn't order it and many other cars. Well, I got divorced since, and didn't want the high payments on the IS250 or to have anything to do with my ex's midlife crisis car (that I did all the work to help him get) so I let him have it. On his 2008, the clutch had to be replaced in 2009. I was going again so he ended up trading it in.

How are the IS300's manual clutches???? Do they last??? This one was replaced at 40,000 miles and he said he hasn't had a problem since.

My parents had an ES300 that ran for years. Babied and low miles after 10 years of 100,000. They now have an ES350.

I am driving an 2002 SC430 that I bought two years ago with 50,000. Garage kept. Up to 78,000 now with no problems.

This car is for my son at college. He wants something fun to drive. I want that for him, but I also don't want to have to help him with repairs all of the time. Do you think it will at least be managable for his last two years of college? After that...he pays. LOL!

Not Daniel

Mine has 136,000 miles on it, and it's going strong. Clutch actually just started slipping -- I don't think it's ever been replaced. Sure, clutches go bad from time to time, but in mechanically ideal conditions, it's going to last just as good as the driver allows it to. If you're getting on it every chance you get, downshifting hard, popping the clutch; whatever...

...It's going to cause premature wear on the vehicle and drive train regardless.

As a person who has a high-mileage Lexus, it'll last you as long as you take care of it. If anything ever goes on this car, engine, tranny -- I'll replace it because I absolutely love the car; if it's been well maintained and drives well, I think that's a good deal.

What you want to check is where the spare tire is, water tends to collect in the side if you've got leakage problems, which can cause rust. It's got a few other minor quirks over all, but I think it's a good buy. It was for me. I can't tell you what maintenance your particular IS300 is going to need (if you get it), but I'd start with all the wear and tear stuff, then fluids.

Good luck, let us know what you do.

BucBaby

Thanks, Daniel, for replying. It's good to hear that you love your car. The guy that I'm probably buying this from loves his too, but their family is growing, so they're getting a bigger Lexus!

I will check the trunk more carefully. Thanks for the heads up about that. ie...our Acura's sunroof would leak, and it was a problem with drains clogging in the roof. It looked OK under there.

I just don't want to have one thing after another to go wrong. I understand that things will happen, but I don't want a avalanche of problems.

It's good to hear how well yours is running! Thanks, again.

BucBaby

Oh no! Have another choice. This is a 2003, 115,000, and not much more. It's 3 hours away though.

210IS300

Sounds like a better deal... less miles a yr younger... comes down to which u want more... n which owner took more care of there car.

BucBaby

OK...dealer fees, much more money overall. Went to see it with my boyfriend, and I wasn't stupid, I picked a good car. I wanted him to drive the manual too. Actually, I had it down better. Impressed the owner. He didn't know many girls that drove stick. Hee hee. I decided that it had been taken care of and was best for us!!!!

dsouthmia0

iTrader: (3)

At that mileage the clutch depends on who ever owned it. Mine is stock at 132000 and still like new. Mine was black on black 2003 mint with 130k, I paid $7300 cash

Avarec

i have 2002 with 169k miles, one solid car, just keep up with reg maintenance and its fine, clutch is good and tight, lots of aftermarket ones available as well, i have light flywheel and aftermarket clutch, it feels great, shifts crisp and tight,

BucBaby

Thanks guys. I did a lot of research, and everyone seems to love this car. Well my son came down to pick it up yesterday. Trusted mom to pick it out for him. I was worried, but he loved it! He trusts my taste, and even trusted my opinion of the manual transmission and how it felt. He like to "feel" the road, and really liked this car.

This may make me a hero or some may thing I'm awful, but I wanted my son to not only have a car that was safe and reliable, I wanted one that was fun to drive and would help him get laid. I think I'm a wonderful mom to consider that! His dad wanted him to keep the 2000 gold Pontiac Grand AM. Might as well wear glasses with tape and a pocket protector (that's my other son...lol) BTW, he's 20 and in college!

210IS300

Cool mom hope he wraps it up.. or else his gonna be needing a bigger car this time next yr lmao...

dsouthmia0

iTrader: (3)

Mom are you willing to adopt a 23 year old??? Your awesome.... but seriously I dont each much

RXSF

10 yr old ISs with that much mileage are going for that kind of money?

Justin727

Mine is an 01 with 124k and still books close to 10k. For that mileage that is a tad bit high though

dsouthmia0

iTrader: (3)

Justin has a point but its only worth what the New Owner is willing to pay

BucBaby

I felt like this was my chance for my son to get a good car. The last owner obviously babied it, and it had only one owner. Everything was stock on it, no changes other than a new clutch after 40,000. Clutch was tight and felt good. If I had gone with the other car, they wanted 8,100 plus 600 in dealer's fees, plus tax, and I had to drive 3 hrs to see it. I jumped on this one instead. I figured that it would last at least until he got a good job, and even if it needed work, someone would still buy it then.

I have a 2002 SC430, and it turns heads all the time. My guy doesn't stray far!!

LOL guys! I just know how important a good ride is for a young man...both kinds!!!!