I love my is250 .. it was so ahead of its time and I'm so glad you mentioned the seats..they really are the most comfortable. When I sit in other peoples cars I always notice the difference.
For your viewers, I have owned my CL9 Euro since 2009 and have been driving an IS250 for the last 3.5 years as a work vehicle around some of this countries best driving roads and also Targa Tasmania Stages here in Tasmania, Australia. Basically I agree with this review. However, there are some points that were not discovered or covered during this test. Transmission: If traveling at speed, moving the gearstick from the Auto gate to Manual gate will cause the transmission to select 4th, even if you wanted to stay in 6th. The transmission will not allow you to apply full throttle in a manually selected gear if it has the opportunity to drop back a gear. Example, traveling at 60kph with third manually selected through a corner, apply medium to full throttle and the transmission will go back to second. So you cannot use an engines torque and you have to feather your throttle until the revs clear around 3,500-4000rpm before you have any hope of giving it full throttle and holding the selected gear. There are two gear selector displays. One will show the highest possible gear and the other will show the actual current gear. The gear shown in the display when in manual mode is the highest gear that the transmission will shift up to. So if 4th is showing, the trans will use any of those 4 gears as it sees fit. So you might be in forth at 80kph and as you apply more throttle it will go back to 3rd - so it is not a real manual mode like in a Honda Accord Euro. The transmission has no grade logic so in auto mode it will constantly try to move into a higher gear, even when going uphill or through a corner. Then it will hunt up and down until you crack the shits and go to manual mode. When using the cruise it hunts even more. Great ratio spread in the 6-speed auto and I would love that gear spacing in my Euro. Electronic Brake Assist: When trail braking into a corner, as you turn the steering a few degrees, there is an electronic beep from down under the dash and the ABS unit will apply extra braking, more than you wanted and will also hold that brake pressure even though you have moved your foot off the brakes and applied the throttle. This really disturbs your flow through corners and passengers think you cannot use the brakes smoothly. Brake performance is fine. Stability Control: Designed for the lowest common denominator drivers (Americans maybe!), very intrusive and over acting and not smooth when it intervenes - as was seen on the video. Stability cannot be switched off and traction will re-apply at 50kph. The rear suspension suffers from roll over-steer during steady state hard cornering on part throttle and this makes the rear suspension sensitive to the types of tyres fitted. On a damp, greasy or slippery surface, you have to brake and slow the vehicle more than needed, staying off the throttle and then wait until the road straightens before applying the throttle again. This really disturbs your flow through corners and passengers think you were going too fast if the back steps out, even though you weren't. When the stability control cuts in, it is savage and you cannot use throttle to control a slide from the rear - it just shuts everything down and beeps at you. Very untidy and not as smooth or non-intrusive as the Euro. If you come across some ice and you get some gentle controllable under-steer, the stability control system will try to straighten the car up by apply different wheel brakes which then tends to pull you off the road because you were going through a corner at the time. When this happened to me, I was lucky that there was enough of a cleared area on the outside of that corner so I just waited until the car stopped trying to kill me and I then drove back onto the road. Bloody dangerous software really. The car is worse on dirt roads and is very nervous as the brakes keep pulling at different wheels for no real reason - when driving on loose gravel anyway. As said in the review, this is not a sports car to equal a BMW 3 Series for example but it is a comfortable car for cruising the highway. Sorry for the long winded post but over the years, I had never seen these issues mentioned by car magazine reviewers. Must be why car mag's are going the way of the Tasmanian Tiger. Too much time spent talking about things we can see and read about from a brochure instead of how the vehicle actually behaves when driven. Keep up the great work. Cheers.
Although the manual is nice, the way the throttle body responds makes it harder to enjoy. You have to fax your heel and toe for it to work and changing gears smoothly all the time isn't that easy.
The 2GRFSE bolts right into the IS250 6MT and to the RA62 using the stock engine mounts and wiring and everything making an IS350 6MT. There have been 6 made in the world so far. You can also take the 3GRFSE and it bolts up too making a 2nd Gen IS300 6MT. I’ve been collecting my parts for my IS350 6MT for four years. I’ll drive this platform until I’m dead. Love it.
Your reviews always make me wanna go for a drive. I like the details you mention especially interiors and the general build quality which is something you can't tell from a spec sheet...
The Is250 is nice, but it would be better to have the IS350. The 350 has the 2GR-FE engine which is known as a excellent reliable and powerful V6. The 250 also has DI problems where as the 350 is port and Direct injection
This is true, is250 had not so good reliability and some are gas guzzlers so you might as well go for the 350 since they cost the same to run, plus the extra 100hp 😉
@@leviwright134 also another thing to add is avoid the early 2005-2006 models. They had peeling dashes which were replaced under recall from toyota but I do not know if they will do it anymore.
Always been a fan of the I300, performance upgrades are endless vs the IS250 you're limited unless you slap on a supercharger but at that point you might as well get a IS350 lol
I seriously just discovered this channel like 10 mins ago and im considering buying a IS250 and this video popped up... I believe my decision has been made :) you have earned my subscription
A shame you showed them the auto and 1gfe powered is200 (altezza) that's the worst varient by far. Need to review a manual 2L beams. That car my brother had for 6 years and it chopped almost every car!
You should definitely review a manual altezza rs200, mate of mine has one, he also has a ae86, maybe you could review them if he is interested. We are both in Lower Hutt.
Always been a fan of the is200. Its a shame they never done the is300 with manual in the UK. And as for the is250, its hard knowing the states has the is350
So an is250 is better than an accord euro? Stock for stock? I have owned 3x manual is200 and one auto. I supercharged one, was still slow and drove a friends t28 turbo one, was also still slow). Great cars but just so damn slow!
im lucky i have have a 99 is200 the dash is in absolutely perfect , lexus started using a different coating on the dashs after 2000 i believe are all the ones that started melting
Was that the Paekakariki Hill Road that leads to the lookout over Kapiti Island? If so, that’s a very nice road that reveals a lot about a car’s capability, as long as you’re not too crazy along the windy bits of road.
That generation of IS250 is one of the only Lexus models that isn't compatible with E10 fuel which has become the new standard in the UK. Beware of the longevity of them and of the possible internal damage being done to them right now by unaware drivers.
Great point. I am looking to buy a 2007 one and however all I can find out that fails is rubber gasket by the fuel pump for £6. They used a different gasket after 2007 so no issue after 2007.
Lexus is better equipped and more comfortable, but accord has more modification potential, is faster, better handling, better steering feel. It's much more of a driver's car, especially when modded
@@ArunaVidu As a Euro owner and IS250 driver (work car) they are different. IS250 has more power at lower revs and a better spread of gears plus an extra one compared to an auto Euro. Honda has stiffer suspension with less travel. Lexus sits flatter but has more vertical movement and is more comfortable. Brakes have similar performance but the Euro has the heavier and more responsive pedal. Honda steering is heavier and more responsive. At high revs in a gear getting balanced on the throttle through a corner, the Euro's non-linear throttle make it jerky and less smooth than the Lexus. Auto transmission hunting on hills plus manual mode issues is not in the same league as the Honda and the same goes for the stability control programing. Honda were at their best when they designed the Euro whereas Lexus were still pandering to fat lazy Americans driving down straight freeways. Just my opinion after driving both cars for many years on the same roads and in the same conditions. Cheers
@@lukemothug3744 At the time the ISF had no problems with infotainment system like the GSF did and it’s a V8 in a smaller car and also at the time it had one of the quickest shifting paddle shifters in the business so that’s why I think the ISF is better both are very good tho
Very good review! Just took my girlfriend's stock clean is200 on a 1000km road trip through the forests and it handled it so well, temps stayed great even when flooring it (as you need to sometimes to keep speed), fuel economy was wonderful 7-8L/100kms, didn't skip a beat! I definitely agree with your points, I've driven 3 generations of IS andthe second gen 250 is a very fun and luxurious ride. Keen to see your thoughts on third gen is350, and my personal ride as well - second gen GS300!! I find second gen GS and first gen IS to be great enthusiast cars, as they are historically full of culture and have a heap of aftermarket support. I'm doing up all my suspension in the GS300 and it's starting to feel very sporty, a lot less boaty than stock. Now just time to build another 2JZ and show the chassis some boost!! Good work, subscribed
The soft touch material really lets the interior of the first gen down. He should remove some of the panels, scrub it off and give it a lick of paint. And judging from the panelgaps at 2:16, that corner's been in an accident :P
@@The_Noticer. the car in the video is actually my partners (how Liam got to review it) and yes I agree it has had a bit of a ding on that corner and when installing the new taillights I found some clips that had been painted over 😂. Still for $7000nzd and only 151,000km when we got it can’t complain. Only has 3 tiny dents around the body and a small bump in the rear bumper that made the paint crack at the top. Can’t expect a 17 year old car to be perfect but it’s very close to it and we love it
@3:30 I love the drive train and the 0 to 100 comparison. Just to make a bit better....when you say the max power etc, could you please state at the rpms the max outputs arrive at. I've driven a few Six cylinder cars from the 90s and 00s. I've owned Nissan RBs and Ford Barra and I currently have a Toyota 3.5L V6... My first time owning V6. There's one thing I've always noticed...the V6 always seems to be more responsive than the I6. And the I6 is seems to be more about torque, esp the bigger the engine.
The way you pronounce your words starting with letters V....W......F is cute 😁. I've noticed you over pronounce other letters such as words starting with the letter S. Yes I'm Kiwi and yes I have myself have a letter speech impairment. I love your videos because it's Kiwi car culture and I'm of a similar age so it's cars I'm very much into and can relate to myself.
(4gr bro ) (gazoo racing) love my is 250 remove plastic cover engine bro plastic cover not good just -sound engine (👉 + engine more air cold plastic cover +heat engine good engine car potentiel upgrade
I had 3 is200s in my life and all 3 where relible and great cars, first one I had was a 2002 is200 clean car automatic so I decided to trade it in for another is200 but this was sport with manual trans and LSD kept that for few months but car needed some work and had alot of rust as they are known for rusting so I sold that for small profit though I lost money over the first one due to px-ing it then I came across an nice 2005 is200 auto as well with full leather seats and satnav, was clean and well maintained unfortunately I had accident and front was damaged so I tried to fix it but never got time and also needed few parts too so I sold it for a alot less then what I got it for to a guy who wanted to fix it as he had his workshop as well so I was happy to sell it to him, now I have a yaris sr 1.8 for stop gap, at same time I got a 2008 auris SR 1.6 too but im thinking to sell both of these cars end of this month and maybe either go back to the IS200 if I can find a good clean one again or go for the IS250 but I just want one of these lexuses.
I am currently deciding whether I should get a lexus is250 or a skyline 250gt. Ive been looking more at the skyline, but would like to hear your opinion as you have reviewed them both?
I think the correct answer here is the RS200 Altezza with the BEAMS motor, preferably in the manual, you can get the nice ones which have had the Lexus interior stuff transplanted.
Having owned both a ‘00 IS200 6 speed manual and an ‘06 IS250 automatic, I have to say the 250 was the better car in pretty much every way possible. Although I absolutely love the looks of the original IS and it had pretty decent handling, it was mainly let down by the engine. It made the power of a 4 cylinder combined with the fuel economy of a V8. The worst of both worlds. It’s also relatively cramped inside. The 250 feels more spacious, has a much better engine, the autobox is miles ahead of the crappy 4 speed in the 200, although the manual in the 200 has a nice feel and it’s much more comfortable (manual 200’s never had cruise control in Europe for example).
Thanks for your awesome videos. I'm actually trying to decide between an IS250 (09) and an Accord Euro (07). My heart wants the IS but I have 2 kids and need to put car seats in the back. Do you think I could make it work or too cramped? Is the Accord much bigger? Thanks!
@@KiwiCarLife Thanks for the quick reply! I love the IS but I feel like the back seat is just a bit too small. I'm test driving the Accord tomorrow. Will keep you posted!
@@KiwiCarLife I just bought the 07 Accord Euro Luxury edition. 2.4L auto! I'm very happy with it. I appreciate all your videos and will be reviewing them all as I start to add modifications. The car is 100% an underrated gem!
IS250 looks decent. It's always super amusing to see kids try to go and Touge in an IS200. They are slow as shit and a little bit boaty for twisty roads. Like slower than NA MX5, Slower than Honda Fit with that auto box. Good cruiser but pretty much anything up on the hill is faster. I have seen maybe one person drive one actually quite fast and that was a 6speed RS200
Got an Accord mk7 as my first car almost a year ago. 2.2 CTDI, 6sp manual. Looking at getting an IS200 SportCross as my next car. Your channel's a goldmine mate
@@KiwiCarLife true, I just wish they did an estate version of the IS250! That would be perfect imo. The estate body is just so much more practical than a saloon
I drive a factory manual 1gfe altezza gita. Its a lot of fun to drive with the 6 speed but I know the lexus variant never got that transmission and I imagine because of that and the extra weight, the engine would feel pretty gutless. Id suggest aiming for an is300 sportx
@@KiwiCarLife Found this video again. I still have the is200, but now also a 250... a red one which I got super cheap. Thinking of selling it for a big profit and buy a 2006 is350 since I saw your review video on it :) It's black, has all options, Mark Levinson, sun roof and even that useless rear shade. Will post a video if I buy it ;)
Yeah so in NZ we get most cars as NZ New models, but we also get a lot of Japanese, Australian, Singapore and UK imports. There are a few nz new ISF's but not many. Way more jdm imports like mine which is why they're so cheap
@@KiwiCarLife thanks. Makes sense why I saw some JDM Type S CL9 whilst I was there. I guess they're eligible for import once they're no longer sold new?
@@bentleyv8t any jdm car can be imported into Nz even if it’s brand new! Same goes for any other country. So if Nz doesn’t offer a certain car and uk does for example the 2022 rs3 sedan, we can import them new
Hell no! IS200 looks better, more fun to drive (meaning more direct, mire driver-focused csr), it is a classic now. IS250 is heavier, uglier and definitely won’t be a classic car!
@@KiwiCarLife same, ik I'm talking about the 3.5s now, but even with them, when I drove a 2UR, the power is 28x more linear, the VQ just felt like it had flat power delivery, pretty boring at high rpm
My daily is200 was thrashed for 9 years slammed on its guts and mistreated and those 1gfes are nuggets but bullet proof. Got a 250 now and it’s okay but the electrics are a nightmare adding a sound system is a headache, the front end is uglier. 200/300 are still king makes me want to sell 250 and get one again.
Oh these don't even compare to the 370z. That 7at is world's better than the 6at in this. The is250 and 350 don't even have a proper manual mode it's just a gear limiter. 370z gearbox is more in line with the ISF
