Is the 2001 to 2005 Lexus a good choice for a teenager?

“I’m 17 years old and I’m wondering if the 2001-2005 Lexus IS is a good choice. »- Maxime

Answer

Information. Go through Lexus making an entry into the world of luxury cars is a good idea. If we consider that the desired car is about twenty years old, it would be foolish to look at the Germans like BMW, Audi or even Mercedes-Benz.

The Lexus IS it arrived in Canada in 2001, and this generation continued until 2005. At that time, only one version was available, the 300. De facto, the engine is a 3-liter V6 (2JZ-GE) that develops 215 horsepower and produces 218 foot-pounds of torque. By today’s standards, that’s not much, but at the time, it was common. Two gearbox options were available: automatic and manual, both 5-speed.

At the time, the Lexus IS was only available with rear-wheel drive, meaning it was driven by the rear wheels. Although it is more pleasant in the summer, during the winter, this type of setup requires some skill and attention. However, to help, IS offered an optional skid control system. Quebec’s climate being what it is, it would be appropriate to find an equipped model.

For others, there are no real reliability problems with this generation of IS. Obviously, considering the possible age of the car and the possibility of high mileage, it is important to do a thorough inspection of the car. Above all, monitor the overall condition of the body and chassis to make sure there is no rust or excessive rust. Overall, this is a great car. Maintenance costs are cheaper compared to German products, but will be higher than for a car from a generic brand like Toyota. In addition, you must be careful about the shortage of parts.

Technically, the price of this generation IS will be between $6,000 and $10,000 depending on condition and mileage. There are versions that have been modified, however, it is highly recommended to avoid them. If you ever wanted something more exotic, the IS was also offered in a SportCross wagon version, but we’re talking about rarities here.

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