darkdream

Just a little heads up, you might want to see check with your auto insurance company to see how much it will cost you insure you with the IS350. I am 19 and my insurance is ridiculous ($4,800 a year I think).

holYcOO

lol. I was thinking his dad was Korean.
Also with th remarks of "*My Dad will most likely be AGAINST buying a used car."

but yeah get a used car with that has the remaining factory warranty and buy the platinum extended warranty ($1.5k-$2k). or Get a CPO from the dealership.

pli

iTrader: (1)

you may want to think about insurance. my insurance is 1300/6months, full coverage, if my name is under the IS350. luckily i got my S2000 for that, to put my name under, so i pay less. im also 19 and i own the S for myself, but the IS350, its split with my mom for times when my S comes impractical. you may want to go with the IS250, since insurance companies view it as a slower car and insurance is probably less.

lex

if he doesn't want to buy you a used IS then you can tell him that he can buy you a new one.

kargahi

my first car was a civic SI...
but u know what!! if you want to buy a used lexus, i recommend it... to be honest, as long as its Japanese or even american (even thou im not so sure about american cars anymore) u should technically be fine but please do not go toward used European cars definitely AUDI... there is nothing good coming out but issues.... i swear i spent more than enough on my audi... i could have bought a way nicer car if i would have listened to my parents or someone else with experience toward buyin used cars.. there is a lot to know about a used car than u think!!!!!

projectdna

iTrader: (56)

$24k max for a 2006 is350?...

i'm no expert on the used car market, but my guess is that $24k you won't get much in the form of options/packages. it'll be a lexus, and it'll be an is350 (assuming you do find one), but aside from that you won't have the upgrade packages and/or options that you might think a lexus at that price might have.

also, considering that the 2is model run is only three years old, any is350 you might find in that price range might have higher-than-desired/-average mileage. obviously, the higher the mileage, the more wear and tear it'll have. original factory warranty tops out @ 50k, so you'll have to make sure that any warranty repairs will be taken care of BEFORE the factory warranty expires.

imho, you should consider the is250 instead. a 2006 is250 will be closer to your price range and be more available. aside from mechanical differences (engine, brakes, suspension), the is250 is the same car as the is350. as a matter of fact, you can probably have a fully-loaded is250 for the same price as a plain-jane is350.

hope this helps, and keep us updated.

Fizzboy7

I'd also recommend the 250. The 350 is A LOT of car for your age. I know you've heard it all before, but I can't tell you how many times I've seen teens wreck. Multiply that number with more horsepower. You are a smart guy (you like Lexus) so we want you around for the longhaul. Think it over and best wishes bro.

Sodeti

If you buy a used remember to have all the appropriate TSIB performed before your warranty is up. So I would suggest you buy one with low kms. I bought an 06 350 and had all the repairs done without a problem, mind you my car has 20k on it.

ps. I am not sure whether TSIB are covered after the warranty period or only 'special campaigns' are?? someone please correct. This is important because things that are not covered are to be considered in your decision, especially since they are so expensive to do on your own..

Also, I am not sure if the IS250 was impacted by the same list of recalls that affected the 350.

Overall, I really enjoy my car. The power is great and the car feels well built.

All the best with your decision.

tqlla3k

iTrader: (1)

Whats that Civic made of.... Gold?

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

TSIBs are covered during factory warranty, which is 4 yrs/50k miles.

-almost- any 2IS will still be in factory warranty today. You can buy the platinum extended warranty that covers the car until 7 yrs/100k miles for around 1200-1500 bucks, as long as it's still under factory warranty (though probably not from your local dealer who wants to mark it way up).


If you will have 10k saved up already, and he's willing to spend 24k on a civic, you can likely just get a brand new IS350 in this economy.

juice14

Lexus = #1 in reliability (thats your main point)
find yourself some good deals on the internet: autotrader, ebay, cars.com etc. and make sure its a certified car with warranty left. try to get an 2007, 2006 might be harder to convince him

juice14

I jus say one in autotrader for 14K with only 17,000 miles. he claims it has clean tittle. and its a private seller.
other IS350's are form dealerships at around 20-24K with about 35,000 miles. if you hold back you will get a discount of a grand or two for sure.
the economy is bad and the IS350 2009 already is out and they wanna get rid of the 2006-2008.

Katyfan

In June I bought a certified 2006 IS 350, with nav and ML, for 29k. You get the 3 yr from purchase, or 100k total mile warranty. I've owned a honda civic, and dodge ram before this. The IS is the most dependable of the 3, and any work that is needed is done well and for free. Can't go wrong with the Lexus.

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

buy a new IS. problem solved.

llamaboiz

At 19 a mustang or the new camero would be much more funner but convincing the rents to buy you one might be a kinda tough sell . Thing is a is350 is one hell of wolf in sheeps clothes, it may not be the fastest car but it'll be faster than 85% of the cars around you at any given time...

AND...

Its a toyota, just keep changing that oil and it'll be good for a gabazillon miles