Hey all.

I am looking to buy an IS250 2.5 V-6 as my first Lexus and to be a car I plan to drive WELL into 200k miles as I travel for business in North Florida. My wife would like me to buy certified with a remaining warranty. I am seeing some very good deals on 2-4 year old cars coming from the private original owner.

My question, is it worth the extra money and peace of mind to buy a certified as opposed to private owner?

Thanks

 

It just depends on how well cared for the care was by the previous owner. These cars are practically bullet proof, but neglect can ruin a motor no matter how well it was engineered. Look for one that has been serviced at all recommended intervals and you should be good without the warranty. However, I also live by the adage 'happy wife, happy life' so if she plans to stab you in your sleep the first time something breaks and you DIDN'T get the warranty, that's money well spent!

Oh and btw, the 250 is a snail, but great gas mileage. If you want a better 6cyl, upgrade to a 350, or if you want what the guys in this forum drive, get the F [not F-Sport] (8 cyl and 5L of awesome)

 

I bought my LS460 and ISf non certified and they have been great !! No issues and I was the second owner on both as well. I bought them both at non Lexus dealerships.

 

Thanks all for the comments. I'm going to re-run this post in the proper IS forum. Did not know about the F having an 8 cyl engine. Has to be too much fun! These IS cars are very diversified.

 

I bought mine what I "thought" was certified until I got through most of the paperwork at the dealership. Promptly a manager came over and corrected it and stated that the ISF is exempt from the certified program due to the nature of the vehicle. Having done my research on how much of a tank the car is, it didn't bother me other than feeling lured into an extra perk I wasn't getting.

 

Are you talking L-certified or some other program. There are a ton of L-certified ISFs on the market right now.

 

I have seen multiple guys on the LS forum who bought certified and still found out there was a wreck

 

I bought used (non certified) from a Lexus dealer - no issues. It had all the dealer service records and a clean carfax. What makes it "Certified" anyway?

 

Bought my CPO. Stuck on the idea of doing so with any modern performance car.

 

My guess is a combination of service history, inspection, and how quickly they want to move the car. Mine for example had a "18x point inspection" (whatever that really means...) and a great service history. Scored a 98 on Experian Autocheck as well.