Yep, sold the premium fuel gobbling rapidly depreciating big fat turd.... just got out of an 02 SportCross, and into a low mileage fully optioned AE86......
yep... AE86 gets 25 city /30 highway burning regular gas... the IS300 was lucky to get 16 city and 25highway, and required premium.
That's good you found something you like that fits your lifestyle. My understanding is the same guy who designed the AE86 also designed the IS300.
As perpetual as the AE86 is I don't think it'll fit the bill for what I need.
i LOVE my 5-spd IS300. I have an 05 premium model and it is a FANTASTIC car.
Crappy mileage but not that crappy, I had been driving a 2011 Camry 4-cyl last week and I got 480 kms top 55 litres, my IS gets 460 to 55 litres. the IS takes premium, but I don't mind paying the extra little bit.
I bought mine used from a friend and don't regret it for a second, it's by far the nicest car I've ever owned.
I want one of these VERY badly. Gas mileage be damned, there's just something that feels so "right" about them.
^^^ I've always like the concept of the IS300... but I just can't bring myself to buy a damn sedan. 2 doors great, 3 doors awesome, 5 doors fantastic (as long as it's a wagon and not a hatch)... but 4 doors? GTFO. And the IS SportCross wagonesque thing only comes in automatic.
I typically get 22 mpg driving 70 percent Daytona/city and 30 percent highway, with an auto journalist's properly leaden foot. The first year I had the car I was a bit of an idiot for the hooning (first RWD car with an LSD I ever owned), I've calmed down some since. Best I've seen was 27mpg in the Florida keys. The car would benefit from a sixth gear to lower the revs, it has plenty of torque down low and it wouldn't bog.
Another bonus: they come with a full-size alloy spare, so if one of the four fitted wheels is nicked or scratched you might be able to swap it for a brandy-new trunk find.
Seats are awesomely comfortable, too.
I really, really like my IS 300.
I'll let you guys know how it turns out. The last one I drove was a Sportcross 8 years ago at 4300 ft elevation.
I have a 2002 is300 with the LSD and manual. Mine has 146k and I've had it since 14k.
Milage is around 22 mixed. I run premium in the summer, but as soon as it cools off you can get by with regular. I have run Mobil1 the whole time.
So far the car has needed a timing belt, water pump, one O2 sensor, tires, one set of brake pads, wiper blades, and a drivers door lock actuator. The CEL is on now with a P0100 code--MAF sensor.
The serp belt and timing belt have to come off to do the water pump. You also have to pull the rad and fans.
Bottom line is that this car has been fun to drive, cheap to operate, and has never given me much in the way of problems. I haven't ever replaced a headlight bulb. How do they even manage to do that?
One warning: this car is simply undriveable in the snow on summer tires. It just won't go, stop, or steer. I have a set of mounted snows that make it OK, but not great.
I would buy another one in a heartbeat--but ONLY if I could be assured that gas prices were going to be stable. At four bucks a gallon, this car gets depressing.
So more info. The car in question has a salvaged title but I can get it for less than $4k. Still working on finding out if it's a flood car, theft, or collision total. From what I've read a salvaged car needs to be priced between 50% of normal and 75% of normal pricing depending on why it has been branded. I know about the other issues with finance/insurance etc. But they're not a factor in my case.
Would you be driving it into the ground or trying to flip it?
The salvage title and need for some maintenance will kill the resale value but if you can get some years out of it for cheap it might be a good buy.
I agree with everyone else they are generally over priced, get poor mpg, and look fun to drive.
This is very anecdotal but having raced an auto IS300 and an auto 4.2L trailblazer from behind the wheel of the same car, in the same place even..
They accelerate about the same.
Im guessing, though, that for 18mpg you get a lot more utility from the Trailblazer.
Whats that about you ending up with suvs?
Yeah I like the utility of my ZJ but I've always thought it was ridiculous of people to drive vehicles with utility they don't use. In Orange County we don't get snow and off roading is pretty much illegal. I took my driver's test in it when it was brand new and it was free after my dad put 190K on it. So that's why I have an SUV but don't like them.
The story on the car is that it was wrecked about 100K ago. From the look of the car the hood, front bumper, front fenders, and driver's side were damaged. It doesn't look like there was structural damage as I couldn't see any repairs to the actual unibody (OEM seam sealer was all in place, no strange welds, etc.). The hood was repaired and the driver's side quarter was repaired. Everything else appears to have been replaced. The hood and quarter have some bondo work that is now cracking.
The wheels all need a serious cleaning but the tires are good.
Mechanically the car is in great shape (it has 128k not 100K like I thought). All of the services have been done including preventative stuff like doing the water pump with the timing belt and replacing the radiator. Everything works on the inside. In fact the interior is basically flawless.
The only mechanical issue I found is loose lower ball joints. The car wanders a bit and has a clunking noise from the front left. The total in parts to replace the ball joints, strut mounts, and tie rods would be under $200.
Rather than deal with the hood paint I would just buy a hood from a car that is the same color. The same goes for the front bumper because it's chipped up. The wheels would be easy to refinish. So that's probably another $500 on cosmetics.
So what do you guys think if I can get this thing for $3k? It wouldn't ever be a good flip unless I dropped money on the cosmetics but then there would be no profit. Cars with clean titles and similar miles go between $5-8K.
It was somewhat entertaining to drive. I can see why people want to add more power as it feels slower than my old chipped 1.8T Passat. It needs another 100hp to be really entertaining.
Sounds like it is a good deal, but not necessarily what you are looking for. Wait until the right deal comes your way on something you really want and then pull the trigger.
I gave some thought to buying an IS300 for a 4 door. Guy locally runs against me in ST class with it. Heavy car compared to my Civic :)
Thanks Nitro, yeah if it was a manual trans car or $500 cheaper I think it would be a done deal.
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