rockinx

Need Some Help Looking into buying a used or a new car. My parents are looking into buying a car for my sister. They dont want to spend alot of money , but gets most bang outta their buck. Like everybody else out there. The primary driver will be 17? even though is lines starts around 30,000. Is it worth it buying a used is? or if we buy a new one , do they hold good resale values? 350 nesccary to buy or will the 250 do? rear wheel drive or the all wheel drive. We are lexus family currently have 2007 gx and 2006 rx400h. Looking forward to add another one to the family. Please help us out IS OWNERS!!!!!!!!!!! you have the most experience

thanks

Maxximus

brand new car for a new driver is asking for trouble imo, especially living in NJ

I'd say 250 AWD if you're set on an IS, could probably get a CPO 09 for a good price

KillaIS250

iTrader: (1)

Being a sunny California resident, i'm not sure if you need AWD in NJ, but if you get snow and everything and harsh winters, then get the AWD IS250 USED.

Buying a brand new Lexus for a new driver probably isn't the best choice. One reason being that insurance will be more expensive, the other reason being that new cars lose value right off the lot...Toyota/Lexus or not. If you get a used IS250, you'll save the worry about losing the depreciation all cars lose immediately off the lot.

Since Lexus cars carry the Toyota reliability, get a used IS250 thats been taken care of (Services done on time) and it will be pretty much as reliable as a new one. Get a CPO like MAXX said above and get that 3 year/100,000 mile warranty and she'll be good to go!

I would skip over the IS350, no 17 year old needs the power, and i'm sure the better gas mileage of the 250 would help too for a 17 year old. And those insurance rates are lower on a car with less power I love my IS250, i added my 19 year old brother on its insurance and its not too bad actually. He will probably get the car in the future too =P

chi123

iTrader: (12)

A used IS250 AWD would be the best choice. I'm 18 and got a used 350 RWD as my first car about 7 months ago. I'm guessing NJ gets snow and having RWD, you'll get stuck some times and you'll need winter/or almost new all-season tires. Especially for inexperienced drivers, AWD is better to drive in snow than RWD. The IS250 is fast enough anyways for teens rather than a 350, they'll end up racing and speeding like me. Insurance was pretty much the same for a 250 or 350 when I got my quotes. Gas mileage isn't too different either, I get 18 MPG mixed on my '07 350 and a friend of mine, also 18 gets 20 MPG mixed on his '07 250 AWD.

So the 250 AWD gets my vote. A used one is good and these cars hold their value pretty well. So far having my car for 7 months, no problems at all on the car itself except for the fuel gasket recall but I got a free tank of gas ($64 value) so I'm not complaining.