Teen purchase of an IS300
Teen purchase of an IS300
I went to my sister's house several weekends ago for my nephew's birthday celebration; he turned 16. And being 16, the first thing he did was schedule a drive test and pass with flying colors.
We went stopped by three dealerships last night and he didn't take serious interest in anything. That is, until he laid his eyes on a black 2001 IS300. After I dropped him off at his house and went home, my sister called me and told me her concern; he wants the Lexus. After some research I discovered IS300's around 4-6 years old cost below $15,000 (the price max for his car) and hold strong reliability and quality.
Me and my family's main concern is whether or not the IS300 is a suitable first car. It has an adequate amount of power, lots of luxury appointments teens will appreciate, and very reliable even though it's 6 years old. We also have no clue about the insurance rates. Your input is greatly appreciated!
We went stopped by three dealerships last night and he didn't take serious interest in anything. That is, until he laid his eyes on a black 2001 IS300. After I dropped him off at his house and went home, my sister called me and told me her concern; he wants the Lexus. After some research I discovered IS300's around 4-6 years old cost below $15,000 (the price max for his car) and hold strong reliability and quality.
Me and my family's main concern is whether or not the IS300 is a suitable first car. It has an adequate amount of power, lots of luxury appointments teens will appreciate, and very reliable even though it's 6 years old. We also have no clue about the insurance rates. Your input is greatly appreciated!
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,468
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From: Vancouver, BC
good car, scratch that, great car. very reliable, good quality, resonably efficient. insurrance = not so cheap, but i'm in canada so i'll leave that so other ppl in cali to answer that one.
suitable 1st car? sure thing; safe, reliable, good handling, probably wont bankrupt the kids bank acct, not super fast (unless you start in on the mods, there there are many possibilities)
now, i know many people say its a bad idea to buy a kid a well performing car because it encourages them to blah blah what ever ... if the kid is going to behave badly w. a car it wont matter what the car is
suitable 1st car? sure thing; safe, reliable, good handling, probably wont bankrupt the kids bank acct, not super fast (unless you start in on the mods, there there are many possibilities)
now, i know many people say its a bad idea to buy a kid a well performing car because it encourages them to blah blah what ever ... if the kid is going to behave badly w. a car it wont matter what the car is
Ummmm, I've heard some nasty stories about IS's and problems.....personally what i heard, might not ring true for all of them.
As for a first car, get something a tad cheaper, but by no means unsafer. He can get an older car which will cost ALOT less and be just as safe, but that will be less painful incase he damages it, which MOST kids do at that young age. I got lucky and didn't destroy either of my cars.
My opinion, first car = cheapo get around car. After he gets a few years of experience on the road, then by all means go for an IS.
*Tip, go with a nice FWD car as a first one. If he doesn't have alot of driving in the rain experience then that would help DRAMATICALLY. GL.
15,000 is WAY to much to spend on a kids first car.....usually 3000-7000 is average range.
As for a first car, get something a tad cheaper, but by no means unsafer. He can get an older car which will cost ALOT less and be just as safe, but that will be less painful incase he damages it, which MOST kids do at that young age. I got lucky and didn't destroy either of my cars.
My opinion, first car = cheapo get around car. After he gets a few years of experience on the road, then by all means go for an IS.
*Tip, go with a nice FWD car as a first one. If he doesn't have alot of driving in the rain experience then that would help DRAMATICALLY. GL.
15,000 is WAY to much to spend on a kids first car.....usually 3000-7000 is average range.
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There's worse choices for a first car and that's certainly not a slow car. But I'd actually rather see a young person in a car that handles reasonably well, and the IS certainly does.
I'd get the young man into a defensive driving course too!
I'd get the young man into a defensive driving course too!
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That's for all of the feedback guys...it's helping a lot. How about the first generation SC and GS models? Are they safe, reliable, etc.? Or any other recommendations would be great; he prefers a Asian luxury models however (RSX, G35, etc.). Kids these days...
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Posts: n/a
The first gen SC and GS models are reliable and safe, but they downside is that they're old so lots of things will need to be checked.
IS300 or not, you can stick a 16 year old in a geo metro and he'll still do some damage.
But unlike a geo, the IS300 is safer. Like others have said, insurance is quite a lot. Definitely not the kind of money you'll want to spend on a 16 year old, especially if its his first car.
IS300 or not, you can stick a 16 year old in a geo metro and he'll still do some damage.
But unlike a geo, the IS300 is safer. Like others have said, insurance is quite a lot. Definitely not the kind of money you'll want to spend on a 16 year old, especially if its his first car.
get him a GS400 so he has nearly no potential for motor mods 
(yes, parts are available, no, they are in no way affordable
)
at least then all hel be able to do on his budget are rims tint audio and susp. ?
(yes, parts are available, no, they are in no way affordable
)at least then all hel be able to do on his budget are rims tint audio and susp. ?
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,819
Likes: 1
From: CA
He WILL probably RACE in it.
I know 4 people with is300's and with 3 C230's in my school, and they have ALL raced.....
But then again.. I really like the is300 (but i like the 350 better
) I wish i could have gotten that as a first car.
Insurance will be very high.
I pay $1200 for insurance/year with a good student discount.
My friend with the is300 pays $1900/year
Are you considering an 00-01 es300.
I know 4 people with is300's and with 3 C230's in my school, and they have ALL raced.....
But then again.. I really like the is300 (but i like the 350 better
) I wish i could have gotten that as a first car.Insurance will be very high.
I pay $1200 for insurance/year with a good student discount.
My friend with the is300 pays $1900/year
Are you considering an 00-01 es300.
I addressed the insurance issue with him. He's willing to find a job and work for it! $2000 divided by 12 months comes out around $170 a month which hopefully is enough by working weekends only (school is a big priority). If he works for the insurance I doubt he'll have enough money to modify the car, which is another good thing.
As for consideration of the ES, I offered my 2004 to him and he refused; he "prefers a attention getter instead of a grocery getter", even though he drove it twice to school. He asked if he could drive the RX (it's less than 2 weeks old) and I told him no, because it's another grocery getter car.
Keep the feedback coming guys, it's helping! Thanks.
