USED Lexus IS Saloon (05 - )

My car

First impressions were what an amazing finish to the car. With all the costly "extras" that other manufacturers charge for; fitted as standard.

The test drive was a disappointment, the gear leaver was notchy compared to the two Alfa 156s that I've had over the past 7 years! Mine main gripe was the pointless sixth gear. On my Alfa, I can use 6th at 55mph and even driving hard can return 53mpg. Not so sure about the Lexus doing that at all.

I also wondeg about how the bells and whistles of the memory adjustment of steering wheel etc will stand up to every day use, true we have warranties but hmmm.... Not so sure now that this is the one for me.

My car

After two months ownership and just short of 5000 miles,this really is a well screwed together car with not a single rattle.The engine is slightly noisier than one or two of its competitors, but inside there is no appreciable intrusion at almost any speed.

The performance of the Sport model is way ahead of the other deisel versions so far averaging 38.1 mpg.....just about spot on the returns stated by Lexus.The gear ratios really suit this car unlike the SE and SE-L versions.

The multimedia system is an absolute joy. Sitting in traffic jams on the M25 is like being in a concert hall. I feel the leg room in the rear is on the cramped side but as I have moved from a BMW 325ci M Sport Coupe, there is no real difference in the space. For me the Lexus is basically a four door coupe.

Overall I'm beginning to really like this car and looking forward to the car living up to its early promise and my long term exspectations.

My car

Lexus is indeed a quiet car which its german rivals should look into.In other respects,it scores badly in terms of rear legroom and shoulder room.

My car

I have been seeking a new car and have been debating between the 220d and the BMW 318d. On the basis of looks, finish and image I really really wanted the Lexus to win the debate!. To make the final decision, I took the 220d out overnight and was bitterly disappointed with the car. The gearbox seemed impossible to guage and I found myself continually changing gear even on a motorway. The ride was nothing short of horrendous. Driving the car over a distance of 50 miles was like hard work - leaving me physically shattered. I really really wanted to like driving the car. I even tried to convince myself that I would get used to its faults. In the end, due to the amount of driving I need to do, I had to accept that I could not justify buying the 220d. Reading reviews on the net, I find that I am not alone in the disappointment. I am still hopeful that Lexus will fix the gearing and ride problems (and maybe give a smaller engine option). Without these problems, it would have been an outright winner.