Swap my IS200 for an IS250...yes or no?
Swap my IS200 for an IS250...yes or no?
I'm finding myself more and more tempted to swap the IS200 for an IS250, I used to hate the look of the IS250, mostly just because it looks like they rushed the design of the rear end on a Friday evening and just went 'that'll do' after making the front look quite nice.
So I want to know the pros and cons of such a swap? Anything drastically different between the two cars that I'd miss? Or anything the IS250 has that would be a welcome addition?
With the prices of IS250's being quite competitive now, it's a much more feasible swap than when I last looked at them a couple of years ago.
Discuss....
IS250 isn't as easy to chuck around, so if you like country lane driving I'd say no. Other than that, go for it. I am starting to like the F-sport pack looking ones, though I'd be tempted to import an IS350 instead.
Bear in mind an IS250 will still depreciate, whereas your IS200 probably isn't any more.
Edit: The IS250 is a friggin comfortable car by the way. One of the guys where I used to work had one, it's definitely more lexus than rebadged toyota, so you will be pleased with the interior.
I'm in no hurry to ditch the IS200 as I love the car and I've put a lot of time into making it 'mine', but I've always had the thought in the back of my mind not to mod it in anyway that can't easily be changed back, which is why all my mods like the bumper, skirts, exhaust etc. are things which can easily be taken off.
I'm not really into the whole Sunday driver country lane racing thing, but I don't mind the odd 'spirited drive' through some of the more twisty parts round my way. So the extra 50hp certainly won't go amiss. And keeping 6 cylinders would be a bonus too.
As far as equipment goes, how does the 250 compare? I assume that it will out do the 200 in the ICE stakes as it will have more modern tech inside it. But does it have stuff like switch-able TRC? Electronically adjustable heated seats, heated mirrors etc?
not sure, he just had the SE sort of model with a big screen in it. Definitely has traction control and dual zone climate gubbinz.
Check this out:
http://www.lexus.com/models/IS/features/pricing.html
I'd quite like one like this... http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/a...?logcode=p
It doesn't say anything about being an F-Sport, but it seems to have some sort of bodykit fitted, lip spoilers, front corner spats etc. which do make it look rather nice!
EDIT: Just realised that it's an SR model, which is essentially just an exterior styling pack. I want one!
Here's a link to a silver one, it's easier to see the differences in the bodywork with the less shiny paint...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/a...?logcode=p
You can't get a silver one. They look cheap in silver! It's all about black or whatever they replaced granite sky with.
Edit: 10k and you don't even get leather interior? Ouch! You'd have to lower it a bit though, they sit so high. I wonder if Meister R have an IS250 range
Ooh yes I agree, black all the way. But in the crappy AutoTrader pictures it's hard to see the lines of the corner spats etc. Silver one was purely to show the bodywork.
Personally I'm not a fan of leather, I deliberately chose my IS200 because it didn't have the full leather interior. And they do indeed have an IS250 range...I checked
EDIT: Just checked insurance too, give or take £10 it would be identical to an unmodified IS200.
el_bandido to be honest, I'd be tempted by a gs430 for that price.
el_bandido to be honest, I'd be tempted by a gs430 for that price.
GS430 with an aristo vertex kit on, 280bhp, all the comfort you could want and it's only a fraction bigger than an IS200.
Fair enough though. Go and test drive a few IS250's and see what you think. I reckon it's going to be a lot more sterile than the is200, but I've only been in one as a passenger.