csh8428

My 2006 scion tC decided it needed a new engine and it's not worth the $4kish repair. So, I'm currently shopping in the Atlanta area for an IS250. In a perfect world I would love to have a 350 F Sport, but that's just more $ than I'm willing to spend at the moment. There are quite a few 2014 and 2015 250s around 50k miles and 250 Fsports with under 70k miles for around $19k. I've seen everyone on the threads say "get the 350"; but that's already a couple grand more than I wanted to spend, so getting a 350 just isn't possible.

Other than reviewing the carfax and taking the car to a reputable mechanic, what should I look out for?
Is there anything to definitely avoid?
What should I Iook for that says "this is well kept car and a really good deal"?
Should I look for any specific maintenance/repairs to have been done up to that point?
I've read through the threads and the battery drain issue seems to be the only thing I could find.
Is there any discernible difference between 2014s and 2015s of the same trim level?

Thanks,

Cs

JDR76

Either a '14 or '15 would be fine, but the '15 did receive a few worthwhile improvements.

It has a better finish on the center console that is more resistant to scratches, the navigation response time seems to be improved, and the F Sports gained ventilated seats, which weren't available on the '14 F Sports.

arentz07

Also, the dreaded battery drain issues seem to be most common on 2014 models. I don't think it'd be a deal-breaker though.

If the 350 is out of your budget, also consider looking at 2016 IS 200t or 300 AWD models. They might ring in a little cheaper than a comparable 350, but will also likely have fewer miles than those 250s you're looking at. However, they will be significantly more powerful than the 250. Just fyi.