Anyone own a Lexus?

[locutus49]

We are thinking of buying a pre-owned 2013 Lexus IS 250 C (retractable hardtop) and it has 39K miles on it. Lexus no longer makes retractable hardtops.

Any thoughts on reliability and problems would be welcome. It is certified by Lexus with a two year warranty.

We live in La Jolla and want a convertible with back seats.

[s14roller]

I haven't kept up with Lexus in a long time as I think they have targeted an older buyer for a while, and recently is trying something else with their more polarizing designs. If they were anything like how they were before, they should still be reliable, but my fear with a IS250c is that it would be very slow...

In Cali with no snow, I'd be looking at a M3 convertible.

[Danny83]

Its a good car

[Rockrolex]

I've got a 2002 SC430 that runs perfectly. I recently had to put two new tires on it and replace one of the belts. Otherwise, I typically spend less than $1K/year on it and I've always had it serviced by the dealer. BTW, it has less than 80K mi on it (I used to drive it about 4 mi./day to and from Grosvenor Metro station. Now that I'm retired and we moved to 1 block from White Flint station, I hardly drive at all.)

Oh, and my wife drives a 2014 LS460.

We love Lexus. We've had them since about 1991.

[123Blueface]

My dad has been a Lexus owner for over 20 years.
His most recent is a 2015.
Swears by them and would never consider another brand.
That I am aware of, has never had any major breakdowns with them.
Just the usual tires, brakes and oil changes.

[powerfunk]

I miss my '02 SC430 badly. It had about 150k on it when I reluctantly traded it for something more family-capable. Almost half of those miles were pure Boston city abuse and the top never had a single hiccup.

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[Headshrinker]

My father loved them. The only problem he had did not involve anything mechanical, but the cars did poorly on bridges because the bottom of the car was built for aerodynamics causing the car to sometimes drift.

[swils8610]

Great car. No problems at all with the retractable hard top.

[anothernewphone]

They're fairly underpowered, but they're good looking cars.

[Tools]

Don't know about that model..

We had an LS330 a decade ago, then an LS430 for a few years; no issues. One of our daughters is still driving the 330 and has only needed to change oil, brakes, and tires.

[locutus49]

Thanks to all for your responses. It is very useful. So Lexus is reliable. That is good. We are retired, live right in town, and won't be driving a lot. Just along the coast and to the mall, etc.

Originally Posted by s14roller

I haven't kept up with Lexus in a long time as I think they have targeted an older buyer for a while, and recently is trying something else with their more polarizing designs. If they were anything like how they were before, they should still be reliable, but my fear with a IS250c is that it would be very slow...

In Cali with no snow, I'd be looking at a M3 convertible.

Originally Posted by Danny83

Its a good car

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

I've got a 2002 SC430 that runs perfectly. I recently had to put two new tires on it and replace one of the belts. Otherwise, I typically spend less than $1K/year on it and I've always had it serviced by the dealer. BTW, it has less than 80K mi on it (I used to drive it about 4 mi./day to and from Grosvenor Metro station. Now that I'm retired and we moved to 1 block from White Flint station, I hardly drive at all.)

Oh, and my wife drives a 2014 LS460.

We love Lexus. We've had them since about 1991.

Originally Posted by 123Blueface

My dad has been a Lexus owner for over 20 years.
His most recent is a 2015.
Swears by them and would never consider another brand.
That I am aware of, has never had any major breakdowns with them.
Just the usual tires, brakes and oil changes.

Originally Posted by powerfunk

I miss my '02 SC430 badly. It had about 150k on it when I reluctantly traded it for something more family-capable. Almost half of those miles were pure Boston city abuse and the top never had a single hiccup.

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Originally Posted by Headshrinker

My father loved them. The only problem he had did not involve anything mechanical, but the cars did poorly on bridges because the bottom of the car was built for aerodynamics causing the car to sometimes drift.

Originally Posted by swils8610

Great car. No problems at all with the retractable hard top.

Originally Posted by anothernewphone

They're fairly underpowered, but they're good looking cars.

Originally Posted by Tools

Don't know about that model..

We had an LS330 a decade ago, then an LS430 for a few years; no issues. One of our daughters is still driving the 330 and has only needed to change oil, brakes, and tires.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by locutus49

We are thinking of buying a pre-owned 2013 Lexus IS 250 C (retractable hardtop) and it has 39K miles on it. Lexus no longer makes retractable hardtops.

Any thoughts on reliability and problems would be welcome. It is certified by Lexus with a two year warranty.

We live in La Jolla and want a convertible with back seats.

john, its a solid car with no known major issues. my extended family have had several lexus models the last 20 years (all champaign on beige!) and while not meant for spirited driving, they made everyone else up their game on reliability.

[MichaelFlash]

Solid is the word. Very reliable and great dealer service.

[texex91]

Of course Lexus is reliable.

Now is the car you're buying in great shape or proper, that is the bigger question and why you need to have a mechanic check it out, rather than ask a broad question of if Lexus (which is it of course) is reliable.

The exact car you are looking at could have a lot of problems--we don't know.

[bdex75]

We have had 2 ES350's, two GX460's a LX570 and an LS460.

They are great cars. Do not recall one service issue other than the LX that Lexus bought back (assisted to trade us out of) for brake problems. Was a known issue that was cheaper to deal with one on one rather than do a kid cycle engineering fix.

The 250 is slightly underpowered for my liking but is a fun car to drive. Had several as loaners during routine maintenance appts. The 350 is a rocket ship.

My wife is driving an Acura MDX right now and wants to go back to a GX.
Will probably wait until My lease is up and lease a new GS-F and buy her a GX all at the same time.


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[Knappo 1307]

John we have a Rx 350 and GS 450h, could not be happier. I know these aren't the model you are looking at, but overall just a reliable brand...

[locutus49]

Thanks for the additional comments. The car is Lexus Certified so I don't anticipate problems. We are retired so prefer luxury over spirited driving.

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

john, its a solid car with no known major issues. my extended family have had several lexus models the last 20 years (all champaign on beige!) and while not meant for spirited driving, they made everyone else up their game on reliability.

Originally Posted by MichaelFlash

Solid is the word. Very reliable and great dealer service.

Originally Posted by texex91

Of course Lexus is reliable.

Now is the car you're buying in great shape or proper, that is the bigger question and why you need to have a mechanic check it out, rather than ask a broad question of if Lexus (which is it of course) is reliable.

The exact car you are looking at could have a lot of problems--we don't know.

Originally Posted by bdex75

We have had 2 ES350's, two GX460's a LX570 and an LS460.

They are great cars. Do not recall one service issue other than the LX that Lexus bought back (assisted to trade us out of) for brake problems. Was a known issue that was cheaper to deal with one on one rather than do a kid cycle engineering fix.

The 250 is slightly underpowered for my liking but is a fun car to drive. Had several as loaners during routine maintenance appts. The 350 is a rocket ship.

My wife is driving an Acura MDX right now and wants to go back to a GX.
Will probably wait until My lease is up and lease a new GS-F and buy her a GX all at the same time.


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Originally Posted by Knappo 1307

John we have a Rx 350 and GS 450h, could not be happier. I know these aren't the model you are looking at, but overall just a reliable brand...

[imperio]

Which model did you end up getting?


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[locutus49]

Originally Posted by imperio

Which model did you end up getting?


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It will be a 2013 IS 250 C, assuming we pull the trigger. We will sell our 2016 Mazda at carmax to fund it.

[imperio]

Originally Posted by locutus49

It will be a 2013 IS 250 C, assuming we pull the trigger. We will sell our 2016 Mazda at carmax to fund it.

Nice! I know there's a IS350 in the sedan version - is this also the case for the C?


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[WristAccount]

I come from a car background and a retractable hardtop needs to be maintained basically from day one, especially if the car was sleeping outside. I personally wouldn't own one if you were worried about the cost of the repair someday, which on that car could be a couple of thousand. Just my 2 cents.

[locutus49]

It is a 2 door sedan,

Originally Posted by imperio

nice! I know there's a is350 in the sedan version - is this also the case for the c?


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[swils8610]

They do make the 2 door c with an optional 3.5 liter motor. What's there to maintain the retractable top? I've been running dealerships for years and never have seen maintainance

[swils8610]

Done on the top. I've seen a few fail on German cars but never a Lexus.

[locutus49]

Thanks. The retractable top is reliable. But the wife wants us to keep looking for maybe a newer, less mileage model.

Originally Posted by swils8610

Done on the top. I've seen a few fail on German cars but never a Lexus.

[madmax21]

Cars are all the same they all break from time to time.... I've owned Lexus Acura GM Ford Mercedes BMWs. They were all great in many ways but they were all in the shop from time to time

[swils8610]

Good luck with the search.

[locutus49]

THANKS.

Originally Posted by swils8610

Good luck with the search.

[goin camping]

Originally Posted by locutus49

Thanks. The retractable top is reliable. But the wife wants us to keep looking for maybe a newer, less mileage model.

On a Lexus 39K is nothing.

Good luck with your search.

[imperio]

Originally Posted by madmax21

Cars are all the same they all break from time to time.... I've owned Lexus Acura GM Ford Mercedes BMWs. They were all great in many ways but they were all in the shop from time to time

I agree. I think some people tend to remember their European cars being in the shop more than when their Japanese cars were because cost of parts and service is higher on European cars than Japanese.


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