Had an R53 JCW. Knew newer Mini owners, some had Countrymen, still lots of issues. Electrical, as always.

It is 227hp with the VVTi, and 230tq. Problem is the Camrys power will be pesky with no torque, where the IS rides its wave of torque from down low. Also, I get north of 20mpg no matter what I do in the car. Not much better than that but no worse.

I agree it is no powerhouse or super efficient. But it is smooth, has power everywhere in the rev range, and reliable, and sounds fantastic with an opened up exhaust. Better power than a 4cyl, but better FE than a V8...so it's a 6 cyl right?

Tat is why I bought mine. Epic reliability with a smooth I6 2JZ and manual transmission. I think I will drive mine till it rusts out under me.

Your make some valid points, and yes this IS300 wagon is too much, but that doesnt mean all IS300s are to be ignored. My IS300 manual gets 20-25mpg all day. Not bad for a bulletproof and smooth engine. And it has 190k on it. Maintenance on these cars is really easy. I would say the IS is a great choice, and to get the…

Who cares. It is a Toyota, you wont be going to the dealer other than to do an oil change anyways.

The IS300 Sportcross is rare as hell and reliable as hell with an epic engine. Yes, used values are strong. I love mine.

AAgReed, excellent suggestion.

This. Buy the most Lexus you can within budget. Then profit over the next 200,000 miles.

Wt parts do you need? These things just need maintenance. Nothing else breaks. Mine has 190k with just basic maintenance. Excellent car.

MINI is the opposite of reliable. The exact opposite.

Lexus all day every day. End of discussion. I bought my 04 IS300 manual for many of the reasons Chris is looking to replace his Corolla. An excellent RWD sport sedan with a smooth 2JZ engine and a manual. What else do you want? The wagon makes it even more desirable. Thankfully one of the Jalop editors had the sense…

Yes? It is an excellent sport sedan according to many, and just happens to be a reliable daily too.

Yes, I really really do have an Alfa.

Haha! Look at my avatar. I drive an Alfa Romeo 155 and a Lexus IS300. Could not be farthest from a Beemer boy lol. Just because someone argues a certain point of view does not necessarily mean they are a devotee of that cult or a “fanboy.”

So you are saying Mazda should put an LS in their new Mazda6? Base engine perhaps? All I was saying was a straight 6 is an excellent sports sedan engine, and some of the best sports sedans of recent years made FROM FACTORY have straight 6s.

THAT argument would would make sense if it...made sense. Do you mean the Judd V8 from the DTM cars? Perhaps, never driven one. Do you mean the V8 in the E92? Then I would have to disagree. The M3 got heavier in the nose, the power became peaky, and the car was pushed even more away from the recipe that made the E30 so…

A straight6 RWD sport sedan? If it is offered in a manual, I might finally look for a replacement for my IS300. Nothing else over the years has even come close.

Tell that to the E36/E46/IS300. Arguably some of the best sport sedans ever made, and they are all RWD with an inline6.

I had better, it is the only vehicle of theirs anyone buys or even considers. Nissan is on life support in terms of public perception.