First-time buyer seeks entry-level Lexus
Two days ago, All Lexus received an email from a young reader asking for advice.
Dear All Lexus,
I am a 27 year old junior professional currently looking to upgrade my car. I just got a small raise and am willing to pay about RM90,000 for my next set of wheels. I know I can get a new VW Polo or Honda Jazz but I've always liked Lexus because I've heard they are easy to maintain and I'm thinking of trying out a Lexus for the first time. For this budget is it:
(a) Possible to get started on a Lexus (considering it will be a second-hand model at this price)? - If so, which model would you recommend?
(b) Will repair bills be high?
(c) How good/bad is the fuel consumption?
Thanks,
Lexus Newbie
Dear Lexus Newbie,
Firstly, congratulations on getting a small raise. You've made the right choice to consider a second-hand Lexus over a brand new Japanese car or a mass-produced German car. Admittedly, this is a restrictive budget but you'll be surprised how much you can get at this price bracket. To answer your questions:
(a) At about the price of RM90,000 you can consider a 2007 Lexus IS 250 with an asking price of RM93,888 which I'm sure - if you are tactful enough and polite - can be brought down to a level closer to your budget. This particular car comes pretty much with all the bells and whistles you can expect from a Lexus. Mark Levinson stereo, electrically-operated leather seats, push-start button, reverse camera, 17" alloys, 8 airbags - the lot! Another interesting option is a 2011 Lexus CT200h. This is a newer car and is a hybrid so it'll be kind to your wallet. But it doesn't skimp on luxury: Here, you'll still find leather seats, push-start button, daytime running lights and plenty airbags to keep you safe.
My personal choice between the two is the Lexus IS 250 because there are more toys that come with it plus it has a bigger boot. But you can't deny the appeal of a newer model which should be less problematic in the long run as it is fresher from the factory. The final choice is yours really, depending on whether you need such a big boot and whether you have great parking skills! :-D
(b) Lexus is celebrated by many owners for their reliability so repair bills are, in the long run, not that high compared to their German counterparts. Remember, regardless of the model, all Lexus is manufactured to very high standards as we have covered in an earlier post here.
But fair enough, you also want to know what sort of things can go wrong with a Lexus. From the two options above, let's consider it one at a time:
Potential problems with the Lexus IS 250:
1. Front tires may wear out faster
2. Sticking rear brake calipers
3. Exhaust corrosion
4. Faulty headlight ballast
5. Air-conditioning leaking
Potential problems with the Lexus CT 200h:
1. Intake manifold issues
2. Longevity of hybrid battery pack
3. Underpowered drivetrain
4. Leather seats potentially wear thin
5. Moon roof motor can get stuck
The question is, is it expensive to repair? Bearing in mind these issues won't come up all at the same time, you may be looking at, on average, one problem per year. It might set you back RM1,200 on average to repair each of the items listed above, but that already includes labour and parts. Considering other cars are more problematic, with two to three (sometimes four) problems surfacing every year, that gives you an idea why the majority of Lexus owners love their cars so much - it is generally problem-free motoring.
Do remember, every car manufacturer suffers from one type of problem or another and Lexus, as J.D. Power surveys will tell you, consistently rank as among the most problem-free cars on the road, something you already know. The issues listed above, to be honest, are quite rare and the other thing you need to bear in mind about Lexus is that these problems are so far and few between that, once repaired, they're good as new.
And always factor in the cost of road tax when you're thinking of buying these cars. For the Lexus IS 250, it is RM879 while for the Lexus CT 200h, it is RM378.
(c) The last question is whether these cars are fuel-economical. Around town, the Lexus IS 250 averages about 400km on a fuel tank easily; a figure which goes up to 580km on a fuel tank on highway roads if you drive long distance. As for the Lexus CT 200h, expect the consumption to be half of this as it is a hybrid. Either way, both cars return great mileage on a full tank of fuel.
Thanks for your email, Lexus Newbie. Hope the information helps and we hope you make the cross-over to Lexus. If you do, please share the picture of your new set of wheels with All Lexus.
Cheers,
All Lexus
No comments:
Post a Comment