My Lexus Lemon

Recent articles on Toyota (Buyers steer clear of Toyota - study) confirm my decision to get rid of the Lexus lemon described below!

I was, until recently, the owner of a 2000 IS 200 Lexus, which at the time of disposal had 94k on the clock, until things started to turn to custard (or should I say lemon shaped).

The vehicle has had three shock absorbers replaced, And before you comment on my driving, the main mileage is at a sedate pace on sealed city roads. My previous occupation involved travelling 80k annually over rough country roads with no suspension problems ever.

All the alloy wheels were badly corroded, including the spare.

The front top windscreen surround has started to show corrosion (quoted $NZ800 to repair - three quotes) with bubbles showing.

The flimsy bonnet strut support has broken off.

Following a service where I received new brake liners, I was refused a WOF, as the approved local dealer Rutherford & Bond, Wellington left a twisted brake line.

The suede leather front seats are showing signs of shredding of the fabric.

At the last independent WOF check I was informed there was a broken bracket holding the undersurface on the underside. The next approved Rutherford & Bond, Wellington dealer service, failed to identify this issue.

The genuine six stacker CD player refused to function or release a CD. The cost estimate for repair was $NZ 40 to remove and approximately $170 to repair. In summary the inside of the player had come loose inside and collapsed. The repair was $NZ670 plus installation. One retrieved CD had pieces chopped out by the collapse and the remainining five were unusable - an additional estimated replacement cost for CDs of $NZ180.




The final straw was the black pen comment on the chopped CD, by the agent, which said "FOR OBVIOUS REASONS PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS IN THE CD PLAYER" (see the image of the CD above). That remark was not appreciated at all. That was the determining factor not to own another Lexus lemon. Expensive car - expensive faults - expensive repairs and service.

One day after this last event, I was so incensed, I decided to become the owner of a Honda Accord Euro L (Japan Car of the Year) and got shot of the Lexus.

The Honda is far better optioned than the Lexus, and in a recent review, regarded as a far better value for money than the Lexus IS250 - see here - price, options, gas consumption and performance wise. I think so as well!

There are stacks of comments on the Internet that reflect these same Lexus IS200 problems. Links to the problems e.g. see this list, will be added as time allows. Don't hold your breathe - the list is very long!
Just Google Lexus CD problem meanwhile. Hope you have time to go through the list.