2003 Lexus IS300 Review // The Best of the 2000's.
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
- #Lexus #IS300 #LexusIS #Review
The 2003 Lexus IS300 was arguably one of the best sports cars to come out of Lexus, especially during the 2000's. The IS300 packs Toyota's famous 2JZ, which is a beauty of a motor. The IS300's chassis is also one of the greatest I've experienced. The car is balanced well and planted through corners. Enjoy my comprehensive review of the 2003 Lexus IS300!
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This car is completely undervalued and under appreciated. Throw some bilstein shocks and Eibach sway bars on it will handle like a dream with a firm but not harsh ride. Love these things. I recommend buying 2. One to drive now and one to drive in the future when you can't find a replacement in the marketplace.
Or to possibly put an EV conversion kit in one if gasoline is either too expensive or antiquated lol. I have an '01 IS300 but I want another one, either to modify or to keep as another daily in the future as you stated. I have a feeling the value for these cars will go up in the future, I hope that doesn't ruin the market though like it did with the Supra and GTR.
Most Japanese cars are undervalued, but the time will come for them and people will see the mistakes that they made and they over worship the German cars
I had a 2004 model. Mine was a manual. I had it for 15 years and put 264k miles on it.
It was an awesome cat. I shed a tier when I sold it.
I had a 2001... back in 2001... when I was your age lol. That was the best car I had. Got it brand new, and finally let it go when it was at about 180000 miles 10 years later. No accidents or mods. This car for me was the epitome of engine reliability and smooth and fun to drive. If curious about the issues from an owner...
1 - bad in dash cd changer. The discs would jam but under warranty the unit would get replaced. But the unit in general was defective and bad. Not an issue today with few CDs being used but a pain back then. Replace that if you get one.
2 - dash leak (after about 7 years). Pretty minor but water would leak to the front passenger side from one of the cooling units I think. Not super expensive to fix.
3 - Dodgy hood latch.
4 - Poor control in the winter (it is a 4 door sedan but RWD) which is what likely pushed later models to all wheel drive. I strongly advise winter tires if in cooler climates.
And thats it. There was a big recall on the differential (5k) that the dealer covered, and another recall on the tires. The dealer REPLACED all 4 tires! Also... It has a full size spare with a matching rim. It did! But the consequence was less depth in the trunk. That was the value of Lexus service, let alone higher model loaners.. I never had to change the belts, timing belt, the transmission or anything else beyond standard maintenance (brakes, tires, bulbs, wipers etc.) The sunroof never leaked. The car was just that good.
One more fun fact. They also had a wagon for a couple of years. Good luck finding one though.
This car is one of the best designed cars of the 2000s and has stood the test of time better than some of it's more widely known rivals. Slap a turbo on it, @8 psi and you have a little weekend warrior(with plenty of potential). Imo the is300 is one of the best modification platforms out there.
Yup. I added aftermarket intake, a chip and cat deleted and it sounds amazing not to mention is faster than stock!
@@coesforever1735 nice man , u still got it ?
Neat little video. I'm buying a red one from my dads friend for 3500. It's a manual so im pretty excited.
Wow that sounds like a sick deal
That’s a good deal for a manual.
A steal for a manual, have fun, I miss mine.
damn bro where did you get a deal like that 👌🏿
Israel Clarkson from his dads friend lol
This is a gorgeous sport design edition, quite rare. That one is thundercloud metallic (sport design only color) and that has the sport design 2 tone interior; obviously the sport design wheels, grille, and lights too.
Milenium silver metallic is the other color on sport design. I own a 2004 silver sport design and I replaced the 11 spoke wheels for the 5 spoke which look way better!
I have a 2001 Lexus IS300! 20 year old car with only 136k on the ticker. Love it!
I have a 2002 automatic with 240k miles on it and it still feels much better than many other cars that are much newer and with less miles. These are really well built cars
This car is built to last forever. The quality and craftsmanship of this beauty is amazing! Mine has 315 000 and still running amazing!
@@coesforever1735 i'm about to buy one today with only 120k on it so these comments make me feel very happy 😂
@@pronto7362 . What year is it? Avoid 01 and 02
@@coesforever1735 it's a 2001. why what's wrong with those ?
@@pronto7362 . 01 is very simple,also I does not come with curtain air bags. Also , be aware that this beauty has issues with front suspension.
I had a blue one ..it was automatic.. I spent so much on that car.. and one day I realised coolant leaking but my mechanic couldn't find it.. so I sold it... since that day I miss my old friend..... the best car I ever had... one day i will buy one again hopefully .....
Don't be ashamed by it being auto. If you like it , that's all that matters.
IS300s are prone to coolant leak when mechanics cheap out on the RADIATOR CAP, the solution is to buy an OEM TOYOTA radiator cap. i have one in mines
Did you spend so much money on mods or repairs? Having issues with this beauty is very rare unless you let it sit for a while it will get clogged but is very easy to start it back again
Mine is 04 silver sport design and I added aftermarket intake,chip and cat deleted and it sounds amazing and runs faster!
It's nice to see one these that's not beat to hell. Clean Lexus IS cars are going to be hard to find for sure
I bought a 2004 sportcross and replaced it with a 530 Msport thinking it would be better. Boy was I was wrong. The is300 was relatively fast, spacious and great in town bar the MPG. Bought another one 74k sportcross with TTE wheels. Love it. Thanks for the vid, keep it up. 👍
Beat an e46 m3 at 135 mph yesterday on the highway. Lexus IS number one!
I picked up one for $500 here in Phoenix Arizona this past Friday from its original owner. It’s a 2003. He said that it had an issue with the fuel pump but after getting it home there was definitely poor maintenance but it was well taken care of for most of its life. Since it had 238,000 miles I did to put in a newer JDM motor with 48,000 miles. I couldn’t be happier with the purchase.
I just picked up an '07 350 these cars are insanely good. I'm in love with the vehicle.
Subscribed because your production quality is so good, some of the best I've seen in the car community tbh!
Oh wow, I'm getting this passed down to me for my first car,, I hope this is a good first car to start with-
you are really lucky! take good care of it and it will last you long!
It’s an excellent one that you should try to hang on to for a while! They’re incredible out of the box! If you modify it, do so tastefully and it’ll be one hell of a car for a long time to come!
it most definitely is. i picked up my is about 3 years ago now and i have loved every second of it. welcome to the is fam
You're very fortunate, my first car was an '87 Accord and it constantly stalled and broke down on me. I sold it after about 9 months and bought a '97 ES300 (which I consider my real first car more or less because it was so dependable and I loved it), after that car was totaled at the fault of another driver (sadly) I bought an '04 Camry, and afterwards an '01 IS300 with only 133K miles (it has been amazing).
Got my first car, which is a 05 is300 in my sophomore year of college back in 2017 and I'm still in love with it. Nice video
I got my 04 since 2011 and I still loving this beauty! 315 000 miles and still running strong!
@@coesforever1735 my goal is to put a million miles on it haha
@@JoeyMeowMeow . Me too! I have spent around 350 bucks on repairs since I bought it!
@@coesforever1735 nice. I just did my 100k timing belt and its running great
@@JoeyMeowMeow . Did you know that the timing belt can last for several hundred thousand miles?
I own a 2001 orange is300 fun car mine has 236k and drives like a champ
Mine drives so damn smooth
Nice and simply clean👍🏻 mine is 04 5-speed 2JZGE🇯🇵
I have an 02 manual with only 136k. It looks brand new inside and out. Got it from my neighbor who bought it new.
Wow, this one is a clone of my car! Much cleaner though. Great video!
I just picked up a 2002 IS300 with 80,000 miles for $7,500. I love it
Sounds like a good deal! I still think about this car often. It was one of the best I've driven to date!
Looking at one slightly modified for $6,500 pretty excited
I have a 2003 Lexus is300 with 42k original miles! One owner.
I own an 03 5 speed fucking love it
134k miles, lightly modded
Mine is turbocharged. Love every bit of it.
Man id love to find a nice, clean, stock Sport Design. Just needs the darker SD wheels 👍
This is like watching Thor review cars 👍😂
i have the exact model/color/wheel/sport-design badge, except the transmission....
I kinda want one because they look COOL but they seem to be quite expensive for what they are. They still fetch $4000 for beat up ones with 200k+. Also kinda getting old
I have a 2002 is300 and its awesome but your right that these cars are getting old and will need some good maintenance to keep up with them, such as timing belt, motor mounts and bushings all over the car. If you can work on the car yourself it can be a great value but if you need a shop for repairs this car can potentially be a money pit.
Mines got 330k on it and is solid as a rock and runs immaculate even after all these years
My thought exactly. This combined with a thirsty V6 and lacklustre performance...but I still want one, especially the Sportcross
Timing belt? That little beast original timing belt can run for hundreds of thousands miles before needing replacement! 🤣
you can barely find any for under $5K that aren't beaten to hell!!!
I have a 2001 with 36k miles. Yes, 36k miles. And it handles like its on rails.
I copped one for $2k it died on the way home. only the battery was bad lol
2k?! how many miles? well maintained?
Corrupted Omega 213k and naw lowkey had to work on a lot of stuff
I got one 01 Lexus IS 300 and Auto 190k for $3500.00 i’m not sure it’s a good deal or not
I’m thinking of getting one next week, just got one question. Where is the traction control button located?
I need help so which year is the best fr this car like the best
Welcome to the club mine has 255 2001 98 GS300 has 287 high mileage only see in a Mercedes or a Volvo feel like it has a truck motor suspensions overbuilt easy to learn how to be a mechanic everything is easy to replace Toyota builds great vehicles this one's a lot of fun I say drive it like a 4-cylinder kind of driving around in high RPM use the shifter on the steering wheel but do that in a closed Street course very quiet I like stealth and speed people with loud exhaust get known seen and heard remember to change the cabin air filter behind behind the glove box that can turn into like a bird's nest any previous smoker would have made the filter of brown how Mike that's how my car came it's cleaning up I'll tell you when I pull the filter out it it was sticking up garbage was built up Public Service Announcement change a cabin air filter early line of defense against odor
2:47 This car is NOT jdm, it is not available in Japan, however, it’s twin(not identical) Toyota Altezza is JDM and slightly sportier with 50/50 weight distribution.
I have 2003 215 000 millas AND is very good
Does IS 300 engine tolerate high mileage
Buying one for 1200$. Just needs some work. So excited to get started on her😍
Congrats!
I’m getting a pristine 03 for $5800 this week. Just needs a drop and some wheels
Nice submariner
Like a mileage of 280k