IS 300 - why so rare?

My wife wants something more fun to drive than the 4Runner- so pretty much anything. I'm trying to steer her to a Lexus IS 300 SportCross. Now, I know the SportCross is tough to find, but I figured I'd show her a couple of regular IS 300s to see if she liked them. Well, never noticed before I was looking for them, but there just aren't any around.

We're flying back from a trip to Northern California today. You see every car ever made here. But still, in five days, we saw maybe 7 IS 300s. We did see one SportCross, which is cool.

So, what's the deal? Were these cars just really unpopular? And if so, why? I always thought they were super-cool.

I was thinking about these cars this morning. They're not that old, but I haven't seen one in a long time. They really slipped under the radar when they were new. I'd like to own one.

Probably people didn't know a good thing and never bought any.

Possibly the rest is because they would all get bought up and turbo swaps done on them. 2JZ engine and all that.

I did get to drive an IS250 for a while, and if the IS300 is as nice, I'm sold.

Knurled wrote: Probably people didn't know a good thing and never bought any. Possibly the rest is because they would all get bought up and turbo swaps done on them. 2JZ engine and all that. I did get to drive an IS250 for a while, and if the IS300 is as nice, I'm sold.

I'd consider the IS300 nicer. It's more "car" than the IS250. IS250 felt like an appliance.

The IS300 is a real car.

I WILL have one.

My cousin has one, great car.

Although he had to drive all the way up to philly to get it.

http://lancaster.craigslist.org/search/cta?query=IS300&srchType=T&minAsk=&maxAsk=

I think only two are actually anywhere near me.

Ah yes, the original "Altezza" tails.

I definitely love them debadged and tracked out. They are dirt cheap around here too. An hombre at the local muffler shop bought one, clapped out, 100k miles, tiny (read: 17" instead of 20", these were dub-style) chrome wheels for like 4k, Not a single spot of rust.

Seems like they went from being way overpriced to the bottom falling out. I may own one someday. Who knows, in another 10 years it'll probably be the Japanese spiritual successor to the E30. Comparitively light, cheap, simple... Unloved by the latest-and-greatest crowd... and RWD.

some people don't want a RWD car. some people who want a RWD car don't think 220 horsepower, or whatever, is enough. i know they don't interest me any. maybe if it was cheap, which they never are around here on account of the OMGLEXUS tax.

Maybe it's just wasn't popular in your location? A quick Autotrader search pulls up 15 listings for IS300s within 100 miles of my location. That's not Camcord numbers, but not quite rare either IMHO.

A neighbor a block away has a neighbor with an IS300 sedan that's trashed. Stick, too, IIRC. Unfortunately, the idiots that own it are drug peddlers, so I wouldn't even attempt to buy the car. It's pretty much the only Toyota product of the last 20 years that even remotely interests me.

They get lousy mileage and very few are manuals. The also get confused with the Camry/Lexus ES300 for some dumb reason.

There's 3 in my work parking lot right now, plus mine. 1 is stock with no major visible flaws, 1 has a bit of body damage and the headlights are oxidized to hell, the other one has blue tint and yo boy chrome. I see at least 1 other one any given day (all different) if you travel a little towards LA and further south, you see tons.

I've seen Sportcrosses around here quite often locally too, which is a bit surprising. When they were new you'd rarely see them.

There's a clapped out one (paint? idk what else) on Clublexus or My.IS in New York for $3500. Not sure where you are, just pointing out that they're getting really cheap these days.

I've owned mine for a couple years now and still love it. I actually see nearly a dozen everyday during my commute. Definitely popular here in San Diego.

I see a lot of them on CL locally for dirt cheap. I'm assuming they are clapped out.

I think a lot of people expected the typical Lexus quiet and soft ride with the IS300, but it drives much differently than the typical Lexus. The IS 250/350 went back to the big overboosted steering, quiet, appliance feel that people expected.

In reply to belteshazzar:

I thought 220 was kinda low, but that car does haul supreme amounts of ass for the amount of power it does have.

It's fantastic once you point out where the traction control button is as well.

do the manual transmission examples ever drop below $5,000? that'd be a car.

I check occasionally. Everything around me is in the 8-10k range, high mileage and automatic. Many, many better options for that kind of money.

I thought the were cool when they first came out though.

They get bad gas mileage for a car of that size. Thats really the only bad thing I can say about them. That and 220 horse is weaksauce.

If the 220hp on tap doesn't float your boat, then just remember the IS300 shares its drivetrain with the N/A Supra. Of course, that's also why there are so many trashed examples out there.

I've always wanted one, designed by the same guy that worked on the ae86 if I'm not mistaken.

belteshazzar wrote: do the manual transmission examples ever drop below $5,000? that'd be a car.

Not as far as I've seen. The one stick I found after my cousin got his was only a couple grand cheaper than his at 8 something.

speedblind wrote: I check occasionally. Everything around me is in the 8-10k range, high mileage and automatic. Many, many better options for that kind of money. I thought the were cool when they first came out though.

That's the kind of money I've seen. Curious what you would get in that price range. My wife has a crappy commute in traffic, so I'm afraid an autotragic is in the cards.

I thought a SportCross would be a kinda cool car you don't see very often with all kinds of mod potential down the road. Figured it would be nearing the bottom of a price curve and may not depreciate much for several years.

They are definitely slower around an autocross course than an E36 325i. Less room for tires and too much front weight, despite the SLA suspension. Optional Torsen LSD instead of a clutch pack. They do seem to be cheaper than the N/A MK4 Supra which they share a lot in common.

I'd definitely want to replace those taillight covers.

She wants a BMW. I know BMW guys will give me crap for this, but we're real used to Toyota reliable, so I'm a little leery of BMW. We'll look at some, for sure.

I always wanted a 80s Cressida wagon- still do. So when I saw the SportCross it was love at first sight. Cool car. Get some Alteza badges and it would be really, really neat.

they are all over hickory/mooresville/charlotte nc.
usually 7k-15k though.

I found this one for sale in my area and I'm intrigued. Alas, it's way too much money.

fast_eddie_72 wrote: She wants a BMW. I know BMW guys will give me crap for this, but we're real used to Toyota reliable, so I'm a little leery of BMW. We'll look at some, for sure. I always wanted a 80s Cressida wagon- still do. So when I saw the SportCross it was love at first sight. Cool car. Get some Alteza badges and it would be really, really neat.

I'm a BMW technician. Exactly why I bought an IS300.

90% of a BMW for 30% of the maintenance