Basic information about my car
2007 Lexus IS250 SE - L. RM145,000.00 (recond bought in 2013)
Reasons why I bought this car
I bought this car to replace my 2015 y.o. Lexus IS200. I use the car mainly for travelling as I have another small car for my daily use. Reason why I choose this car is because of the reliability, looks and power, and long term maintenance is within my affordability.
Car Selection Process
- I had a budget of RM 150, 000
- Model(s) that I have considered include: Only this car, as I previously owned 1999 Lexus IS200 SE
I bought this car because of its reliability, power, ease of maintenance, rarity and design.
User Experience
- I have already done 95,000 km
My overall impression of this car is really reliable. Only the water pump has been changed once so far as other parts are still good even after almost 13 years. Reliability is the main strength for this car. Still driving is as good as and sometimes better than other newer models. The stock suspension is too soft for me, so I changed to customised adjustable supension to suit my preference. Overall power is not too bad for a 2.5 V6 but again this is not a performance car. So don't expect you can beat other performance car on the street or highway. Design is still considered relevant to this day. As for SE-L, I can say that the spec is considered good.
Pros & Cons
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Pros
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Reliability
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Design
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Ease of maintenance
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Fuel economy is good for highway
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Tonnes of safety features
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Powerful but smooth engine
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Comfort
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Premium interior
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Quite cabin
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Premium sound system (ML)
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Smooth engine.
Cons
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Suspension too soft for my liking
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Brakes are not good enough
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Expensive parts
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Town f/c is quite high
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Small leg room for rear passengers
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Direct injection can easily cause carbon build up as this engine comes with 1 injector only / cylinder, therefore regular maintenance is required for this.
Rating
Total Score: 4
Performance: 4
Quality & Features: 5
Space: 3
Ride Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 4
Price & Cost: 2
Summary
This is a very good car overall. But the price is too expensive when compared to other cars of the same segment even convertible. Reliability is very good. Driving experience is very good especially on highway. Very comfortable and soundproofing is premium. But the stock suspension is too soft and the brakes are not strong enough. After all the necessary upgrades are made, and I must say I'm really happy with the car. Having been used for 7 years but it has never broken down except for once when the radiator hose leaked and the temperature went high, so I needed to stop and fix it before driving again. Cruising at 160-180km/s is really comfortable, quite and effortless, thanks to the 2.5 V6 engine with 6-speed AT. F/c is very good especially on the highway if you maintain at 120-140km/h. The smart A.I.shift 6AT gearbox is very aggressive if you really know how to utilise it.