This Lexus IS Model is a Total Hidden Gem with a Fully Committed Owner!
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- Опубліковано 28 лис 2024
- We take a look a the original and first generation Lexus IS with an owner that loves the car so much they're slowly restoring it to it's former glory.
The Lexus IS300 is truly a fun car that escapes the view of many. In this video we talk about what makes them special and some of their common issues to look out for.
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Ahmed is truly the master at what he does! This wouldnt of been possible at to do! Without my Man ahmed hes is the best ever you will get when it comes to toyota lexus and is far the best ever you will get from UA-cam channels! I am the owner Anthony, and i am truly greatful for Amd pasion towards repairing this is300 for my sons! I wanted to try my best to give everything i could to show my boyz that are both are in the automotive industry aspiring to work on and with cars! To Antman! ABE! DAD IS PROUD OF YOUS! keep working hard! You havent seen nothing yet! Also to my daughters Natalia and jahnesa dad loves yous all! And could never be so proud of yours guys accomplishments❤Again To the whole CarCareNut family you guys are amazing special thanks for meli,jose,diego and the rest of the guys who all worked together to assist is this major endeavor of mines! Please suport the channel you will never see anything better then TCCN 🙏 may the lord keep and bless! AMD! and family and staff! CarCareNut for life! Fans you have seen nothing yet! Stay tuned! Sincerely, biggest CarCareNut Fan!!!!!!!!!!!
Hands down he's the best! I've been going to his shop since he opened and I drive to his shop from Peoria. I always look forward to my next appointment which will be in June. Best of luck on your project and I'll be following it as he does more on your IS!
😁😁
Kuddos for keeping the sweet machine going!
@@charley95sheridan44 that is why i took my truck from a long distance (500 miles) to the car nut shop and i did not get it back in tiptop condition at all like it was NEVER fully and thoroughly inspected before it left the shop after 12 weeks there
12:51 ... rear subframe looks sweet !
Bro the Lexus is300 is not a hidden gem. The resale on a manual is insane. Every car enthusiast recognizes the is300 instantly
Living in a place where rust is not an issue. Even auto ones go for like 8k.
Even the autos. Found one in the DFW with 89k miles (don’t get me wrong it was in good shape, but still needed the timing belt and god knows what else). They were asking $13k.
These things are going the way of the 240. Expensive and the people who buy them completely ruin them.
fr lmao, is300 sportswagon is a popular manual conversion, too
@@rexkramer64 The guys that ruin cars like this - thing is - because of the industrial revolution - their weak gene pool was passed forward.. normally they would have been weeded out long ago... that's the "why" behind the madness - then toss in exogenous factors like bad breakfast cereal, big pharma, single mother raised, and social conformity topped with low levels of income due to lack of motivation = "cheap modz dude bro" (picture beard + flat billed hat + bad breath/teeth cleaning needed + acne).
I wish we went back to glass headlights. I know there's the whole pedestrian safety aspect, and lighter weight when using plastic, but nothing ages a car faster than yellowed headlights.
Easy fix though
I wish headlights went back to glass. I think it’s cheaper and easier to mold plastic than glass
Glass gets chipped and peppered over time. At least with polycarbonate lens you can sand and restore them
I agree. Glass headlights could be replaced with a simple few screws and a plug-and-play wiring harness. Plastic is cheaper, as others are saying. Plastic lenses are a pain to keep sanding and polishing every couple of years. Even if glass chips, you can replace the entire assembly after a decade or so, if so inclined.
Just replace them. Except now, modern LED headlights are very expensive. Up to $1000 each.
It's no bull on reliability. I have two, one with 314,000 miles and one with 240,000 miles. Each on the original engine and transmission. Change timing belts, replace seals, replace parts as needed, and they'll treat you right. The 98-2000 SC300 has the same 2JZ-GE VVti engine and it's a great car too. I have one with 330,000 miles on it and I daily it. Exclusivity on the cheap. All three of these cars are not lighting fast but they're zippy and can cruse long distances with ease. A mild turbo build will add 150 horses with ease. Big horsepower needs internals beefed up or you'll be throwing a rod.
Wow! That’s amazing.
@DanSmith186 def will blow at any real torque numbers. I personally have a OS GIKEN TR2CD twin plate clutch and flywheel, I’m going CD00A 6 speed .
@DanSmith186 CD00A is the final form version of the 350z/g35 cd001 6 speed manual. Comes out of a 05/06 vq35DE. Same gear ratios virtually as a Turbo Supra MK4 6 speed getrag transmission.
Not bad, 300k. Keep it going.
My dad still owns his yellow 2002 IS300 5spd MT. So smooth and fun to drive. This made me get a RWD manual sports car as my next car, instead of AWD.
I love my 2003 manual IS300. Owned it since 2006, 270k miles, all stock and still going strong. This is THE best car I have ever owned! I look forward to this series with great interest! Thanks AMD!!
@DanSmith186 i had the same problem with my dash. I removed and refinished it when I installed a new evaporator. Looks as good as new.
@DanSmith186 it was most certainly a ton of work 🤣. I did it all myself when my AC went out. Replaced compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, and heater core. Borrowed vacuum gauge set and charged it. Six years later, air still blows 40F and dash still look great. It was the most complex repair I’ve ever done to a car.
Stock is my favorite word when it comes to Lexus or Toyota.
My 2001 has 290 k right now
own a manual as well , 2nd owner since 2009. Swear I am never getting rid if it , such a timeless car and so reliable
1JZ swapped mine. You would not believe the new life breathed into the chassis because of it. Everywhere I go, I go full tilt. 😊
Hell yea that’s the goal haha I miss my manual 2002 super smooth car got totaled tho sadly.
I have IS200 2002' with 1GFE engine its a petrol 2.0 6 cylinder manual with all the equipment possible like navigation, sun roof, leather. I have it for 10 years now with zero problems.. Only thing I would like to have on it is cruise control
Thank you very much for featuring the first gen Lexus IS300 on your channel with a focus on long term maintenance and preservation for a 20 year old car. A truly refreshing video that shares important strengths and weaknesses of this particular well built IS300 and what it takes to preserve the car for the next generation. When all other IS300 videos on UA-cam are about unnecessary mods, this video is a breath of fresh air to us car enthusiasts who just want to maintain a factory bone stock car. AMD and Anthony are true legends for sharing the history on this legendary 2JZ masterpiece. Thank you again for THIS very special video.
Big facts. Got mine with 185k on it, previously abused sadly. Was cambered out so bad. Thankfully the idiot didn't try mod any engine stuff so my goal has been restoring it to factory
I'm driving a 2005 IS300 with 78K miles (original owner). Still loving the experience.
Got you beat. 2001 with 60k miles original owner.
04 is the last year
AMD, By coincidence, my favorite IS of this generation was also the wagon. Those wagons even have a fold-forward front passenger seat for maximum cargo flexibility.🤩🤩
I miss comfort tier wagons, the states need to have more of em
Too bad, it never came in 5-speed like the 2001s.
I miss my wagon sold it 2 months ago and still regret it.
I’ve owned my yellow IS200 since new.. I paid $60,000 and.. still worth $30,000 24 years later with 86,000kms.. still one of the best cars I’ve owned it joins 8 other cars in my stable
@dominiquevarnado1369 Australian dollars
These original IS300 cars were my dream cars when I was in high school. I currently own 2023 IS350 F Sport.
Man your current car is aguably better though. Ive been wanting one of those as well
Just had my '03 IS300 timing belt, valve cover gasket, cam seal, and spark plugs job done yesterday! Excited to see this video
AMD did the work?!
@@verynick no no I wish! Had it done at a local dealership.
that's nice, you're a rare owner who is still in a good mood after just paying 4 figures for auto service. How much all those goodies cost you?
@@robertmaybeth3434 haha well it feels much better than financing anything in the car market right now. With used prices and interest rates being astronomical, I'd rather drive the wheels off my IS. I got a new thermostat, water pump, and serpentine belt as well as the parts previously mentioned. So everything came out to around $2800 with a majority of the cost being labor. I don't have a garage or much mechanical experience so I bit the bullet instead of going DIY
@@sethharrison2284 Holy cow that's a hit to the wallet alright! I was a mechanic for a government fleet for 30 years and used to do such repairs to my own cars all the time - the labor costs are through the roof as you mention.
Unfortunately for me a slipped disk ended that for good so now I usually have to just take it to the shop now which irritates me to no end... especially when I check their work later and find so many stupid mistakes it's like the sent the mechanic home and just got a monkey to fix it instead: hoses installed wrong/not reinstalled at all. Electric connectors dangling loose. Untighted fasteners etc.
The worst I saw was when I needed the alternator replaced on my 1985 Nissan 200SX and made the mistake of taking to Pep boys for the fix. Got it "fixed", paid the bill, drove it home, and soon realized the alternator wasn't charging. I traced that to an alt belt that was too loose and couldn't be tightened. And THAT was caused by the moron who installed the new alternator, who never bothered to swap the pully from the old one. And the new alt had a pulley that was too small, such that you ran out of travel on the alt before it was tight.
The worst part was the bonehead just let the car go like that. It was almost impossible not to notice the batt wasn't charging, (unless you're a moron I guess, in which case it is very possible). Learned my lesson and haven't been back there since.
Bought a 2003 IS300 with under 200k miles a few months ago, absolutely loving it.
Just a heads up to the owner of the blue IS300, the sticker on the differential says M98, which is actually one of the limited slip diffs for auto, mine has the same one. The LSD was an option in the U.S models and actually was fairly common after 2001. One of the main reasons I bought mine.
My first Lexus ... was like 17 years ago ... this car never give up ... 😊
I rolled my 01 is300 off a hill and it landed up side down, I was standing on the sun roof when I called for help
Had 250k miles and I red lined it every day, I loved that ride
I have a gs400 now, but the is300 felt way more nimble and the heated seats in the is300 are way better
I have been watching these videos for a long time. Every time when I see a video, I’d say it’s the same thing. However, I’m amazed at AMD. Videos. It’s a truly learning experience each time I see a new one. God Bless you and give you the strength and health to take care of your family first and to keep educating us forevermore.
As an IS300 Sportcross owner I thank you for making this video. Mine is blue with black interior with LSD. RARE. I don't think I'd ever sell it since they are soo hard to find with black interior. What's crazy is my sportcross came from Peoria, IL and I'm glad they didn't drive it in the winter at all. No rust issues. 😁
You’ve got a truly special car, and I wish you many happy miles with it!
I own a 2002 IS300 that i total restored. I 've have had it for some years before i decided to restore it, the positive thing is that this vehicle has no rust anywhere. I live in Florida and this vehicle has lived in Florida all its life. The purpose of the restoration is because when my son becomes a certain age i want to gift it to him. The 1st vehicle i bought him is a 2009 Toyota Corolla he will have to drive this vehicle for a few more years before i give him the IS300.
My 2004 IS300 Auto now has 430,000 km. Still going strong. Aside from regular maintenance all I’ve done is change a headlight bulb once. Love this car.
Wait WHA no way you've gone 430 klicks/267189 miles w only changing a bub?
Yes. Brakes, oil changes, tires, and timing belt (2). Just the regular maintennace items. Apart from that I've only changed a headlight bulb. Owned since new.
@@robertmaybeth3434
you should do the ball joints by now :)
@@KotatkoVonDrapek Yup! Already done a couple of years ago. Part of regular maintenance when the car gets this old. The only unscheduled item I had to replace was a headlight bulb.
The IS300 Sportcross (wagon) was never offered with a manual transmission from the factory in the United States. They were however offered with an optional factory LSD in the USA (sedan & wagon). The only 4 options available in the USA were full leather seats, heated front seats, an in dash navigation system and a LSD.
I was going to say the same. Any manual wagons you see out there have been manual swapped.
Thank you @The Car Care Nut for doing a review on our much needed first gen IS300's! Bought my first 03 IS300 in the factory 5 speed manual w/ LSD back in 2012 at 112K miles before all the hotbois jumped onto the IS300 game. Kept it stock and maintained and still driving it up to this day. Currently at 235K miles w/ regular maintenance. West Coast car so no issues w/ rust. Keep all of your IS300's clean fellow owners. The hotbois who are destroying this chassis will only continue to hold the value of clean examples.
*Wisdom here. Drifting morons are accelerating the law of declining supply vs. increasing demand. Cheers!*
Hot Boiz were destroying these way back in the early 2000s.
I remember being 13 yrs old in 2001 . Chicago , on my bus route we would pass a dealership and they had a new black IS300 . Really impressive looking sedan in that era . So now I have a pair of 2004 IS300’s and a 23 IS500.
Another leak is the VVTi gear seal. Toyota doesn't want you opening them up but replacing that seal is easy. I've done three and it's not a big deal and the car runs better afterwards.
Love my IS300 with over 300k on it and she start up everyday and reliable. Take care of them and it'll take you places.
i have a 2001 IS300 and you are 100% accurate with the problems i have incurred in the past 10yrs of ownership
own my manual is300 since 2009 (2nd owner ) purchased off ebay from florida and its been the best car i ever had. Never getting rid of this car plan on restoring it as things go.
Thank you for finally showcasing the is300!
Thank God I live in SoCal and rust issues are non existing corcerning salt-caused rust.
Came across one dirt cheap for $2700 but I heard VVTi gears going out, ton of oil leaks, suspension was shot, if I was single I would have blown a ton of money to restore it myself regarding labor.
But can do it with a mortgage and family now.
Maybe one day I can find a decent shape one at a fair price.
Simple, fairly cheap, must-do list for IS300 manual.
-Upgrade to the 1/2" wider rear wheels from IS300 Sportcross
-Put 245/45/17 or 245/40/17 tires on the wider rear wheels (you'll need the traction)
-Upgrade from 215 section tires to 225 section tires on front wheels
-Install Eibach Prokit springs for better handling and 1" lower center of gravity
-Install ACT Street Clutch & 1 pc, lightweight Fidanza flywheel for NA Toyota Supra
-Replace differential (3.7 ratio) with an OEM Lexus IS300 E-shift LSD diff (3.9 ratio)
-Upgrade to PLP (or other good brand) short shifter
-Install Joe Z intake
-Replace the exhaust Y-pipe with an aftermarket race pipe (no cat)
-Replace muffler section with Lexus L-tuned exhaust (or HKS)
These mods will drop your 0 to 100 mph time from 19+ seconds to around 16.0 to 16.5
Huge difference and makes the car much more fun.
Holeshot hookup is way better than stock, no wheel hop or spinning tires.
My car & my pal's '97 M3 run even on the street, both handle great.
Slight edge to M3 for sublime steering feel.
These stories bring me joy, keep us posted on this car.
Was starting at a white IS just yesterday and thinking to myself, this car has aged very well
Most Toyotas and lexus have
Best car ever and it’s not even close.
1st gen is300 is my favorite lexus vehicle. Heard its a pain to change oil but has that beautiful sporty car look that softens the disappointment of the gte power missing.
Where you heard that? 🤣 I learned to change oil on my IS and I thought to myself why have I ever paid someone to do this it's so easy 😂 from there it was every other thing I could try i tried it, spark plugs, every suspension part, then I was like it's too tall, coilovers, then transmission fluid change, thinking maybe I should try to manual swap it myself, put in a new radiator, I've become a DIY guy thanks to my IS and how easy everything is 😂
You are right the oil filter is in a stupid spot. The 3.0 wasn't developed for the IS so they shoehorned it in. You can buy an oil filter relocation kit which may help for access. Other than that it's not too bad👍
@@2JDAILY must not have changed the oil filter lol
Yep that oil filter is a royal pain!
I'm a fellow Lexus IS300 Sportcross owner and have the same passion to restore mine, this video was extremely useful for me. Love the beautiful engineering and design of these underappreciated cars
I had a red Manual. Brand new in 2002. We only sold it because my daughter was born 4 years later, and the stroller didn't fit in the small trunk opening.
Wish we got the wagon. What a great car.
I even feel pity I did not buy IS200 manual back then, I bought IS250 which I also like and I am satisfied with but anyway that manual IS200 had that analog feeling which I like(ed) a lot!
I love my 2004! It only has 99,000KM Here in Canada. Such a fun car to drive.
I had these as company cars back in 1999 and didn’t really think much of them
Fast forward to 4 years ago and I reignited my Lexus life I’ve a U.K. IS 200 in pearl white with 59k miles it’s 24 years old and is still like new, I sold my IS 300 wagon which I now regret so much - fortunately I sold it to a good friend who has really looked after it.
I just love the way they’re built and drive.
I love my fully restored 01 IS300. Have owned it for 9 years now and plan on keeping it forever
When I had my W124 E-Class my dream was to drop the rear subframe, powder coat it and replace all the 10 links of the rear suspension. This guy is living my old dream with this IS300...love it!
The right side at the bottom of the rear door, near the rear wheel, is notorious for rust on Japanese vehicles. When it starts all you'll see is a light brown stain. Thats your first warning, because behind the plastic lower valence rust is starting to eat away at the frame. Always check the rear passenger side first.
@@rightlanehog3151Good for you lol ? I'm talking about used cars?
The problem with these is that the nice ones are selling for too much, and the ones in my price range are too beat up and mismatched colors lol
Lol you’re right. I sold mine salvage title 150k plus miles for 6k
I had a 2002 5-speed with nav and the upgraded leather seats. I loved that car. However, it has some faults. Gas mileage was terrible for the power level (215hp, ~22-24mpg hwy). Engine was SO smooth though. It desperately needed a 6th gear. IIRC it would spin at 3.5-4krpm at 75mph. The clutch wasn't very good. There was no clear engagement point. I think there was a damper that could be removed to help the feel, but I never did it. The big fault with the interior was the dash. The plastic degrades and gets super sticky, and the center stack plastic is super easy to scratch. One of my favorite things was the door closing sound. Sounded like quality. The oil was a PAIN to change due to the filter location.
You know profit wasn't the priority when the doors sound like that - not to mention that even the glove box closing sounds substantial lol. Love older Lexus'.
I bought my 2002 5 speed w/ LSD back in 2005 and have been daily driving it ever since. Also has the leather and navigation package. Was a gem when I found it(i'm the 2nd owner)
It's lived it's life in the desert SW so I have ZERO rust issue. The video made me feel grateful I don't live in the rust belt.
As the years have gone on I have learned I have quite the rare IS. Wish I had the time/money/know-how that Anthony does in this video. I'd restore mine, too.
The Sportcross "Wagon" wasn't available in manual, you'd have to swap it. 😅
Awesome that he is keeping it going. The car has a lot of character and he knows exactly what has been done to it. Good luck in bringing it back. Off to a good start.
Im amazed at how much rust on these Midwest vehicles. I live in Wyoming we have loooooong Winters , thank God they don't use salt on the roads; but use sand. Im a DIYer and only encounter some rust but not to this degree .
I've had 7 of them... Still have two. Never had rust issues.
That is a beautiful IS! You should definitely do a build/update series on the restoration of this beautiful car!
Thanks for covering the first generation IS300. I am the original owner of a 2005 sedan with Nav/LSD option package. It has127,000 miles with no oil leaks yet. I love the car. The engine and transmission are so smooth. There are times that I got out of the car and did not realize it was still running.The timing belt and water pump were replaced at 90,000. At what mileage does the cam seals, valve covers, and oil pan start to leak?
Best instrument cluster on any car ever !!
Plus Alfa Romeo's gauges and dashboard!
I’m so glad I don’t live in a state that uses salt on their roads because this car means the world to me. It’s an 03 with 166k miles
90s-mid 2000s are PEAK LEXUS
solid materials
solid build
Loving my 2003 IS300 im sitting at 220k miles
if that car had Rust Check done when it was new, it would have never rotted away...it has to be done every year but it works...I had a 05 Subaru that was spotless after 13 yrs when I sold it...every other Outback on the road not rust checked rotted at the rear quarters all the time..not mine, I had the Baja but same design
Love to know there's people still after these cars!
I'm the owner of an IS200 wagon 6 speed manual (EU 2.0L 1G-FE variant) that had a difficult life, but is fully loaded with sunroof, tilting navigation system, xenon, all the options available...
Engine wise, is going to recive a 3UZ keeping it manual transmission to mix the best Lexus had to offer in early 2000s
Finally! Thank you AMD, been waiting for you to make this video. As a owner of 2001 Lexus IS 300 Blue Mica and having same problem with rust, it hurts me to see other IS being eaten away in the land of rust :(
Intense blue was this color 💙
@@efil4kizum Sadly once the rust spreads it's very difficult to get rid off, on top of that the repair is extremely expensive. It's like cancer for cars...
@@anthonyboria5738aaa
I love my 2001 Lexus IS300. Fully restored my baby and drives and looks like a dream!!
Love Toyota/ Lexus my favorite car manufacturer that’s why i only own I m auto technician want something pretty damn reliable compared to other manufacturers out there
When these came out they were very desired by the car community. Also the GS300 from 90s was also the original four door Supra in the US.
Wow, THE original owner. It's definitely well kept and cared for, even despite living it's life in the rust belt. Here in the Canadian West Coast, these are getting MORE and MORE expensive, and many are abused. Extremely rare to find a well-maintained stock (or even OEM+) example. This man, much respect. I hope his son takes good care of this.
Had a 2001 IS for 12 years. It was a great daily driver.
Had the IS200, the IS300 baby brother. Best car ever owned. No problems just ordinary maintanence.
I got the is200 at the moment, using it. What a gem.
I also have a 1999 IS200. Happy to see that mine is in much better shape than this one in the video. Also decided to swap the suspension and exhaust to brand new OEM parts. The car feels like new!
In background I see Toyota Supra MK3 in white. Funny thing is that when I own Supra myself and I have IS200 too. IS200 i have for 9 years and supra for 12 years
With IS200 have done 250k km and never let me down on roadside
They went 91-95 Acura Legend COUPE* in the front and 92-95 Honda Prelude in the back. Front is beautiful. They should've gone 90-91 Prelude on the back though. NOT A HIDDEN GEM AT ALL. They were expensive to get. The pit for them was about 2012. 2012 was the best time to buy.
love mine, owned for 12 yrs and counting, oh LSD in Oz is standard but auto only
the rust u guys have to deal with does pain me alot, not an issue in my corner of the world kudos to the legends that keep the cars alive with rust repairs
04 is300 manual transmission owner here. Love the car
I've always loved these cars ever since they were first sold in the U.S. (Fall 2000 for the 2001 model year). Some of my favorite features on these cars are the gauge cluster (reminds me of a Citizen/Seiko/Timex wrist watch) and the steering wheel with the e-shift up/down buttons for the automatic transmission models. Ironically, I still haven't owned one example yet. 😂 Long story short, life happens. But I'm happy to see that there are people that are dedicated to these cars and preserving a piece of automotive history and passing it down their families.
Thank you for another entertaining and informative video!
👏👏
Picked up my sportcross 2 years ago before prices went through the roof. Black on black leather interior. 167k with timing done not too long ago. Seller wanted 7k and I drove away for 5k. My wife even says we should keep it forever.
14 & an 18 Lexus owner here from new that lives in the cancer belt, RX is driven 365 and the GS hibernates in the winter in a dry garage. Rust is a terrible thing. Best of luck to the owners!
Same here, I put my GS 430 up for the winter. This midwestern salt will do a number on it.
I had a 2003 IS 300 5-speed which I drove for almost 15 years until some texting bimbo pulled out and totaled it. I had 223,587 miles on the odometer when that klunt totaled my car out. I miss that car everyday. Super reliable and super fun to drive.
Finally, I've been waiting for a video about this model to show up!
Great cars. Love the manual version
Shame the rust gets to them so quickly
Especially the rockers
Never mind the IS’s… the FJ is just the business!! Love it
The IS was available as a manual in Europe
Man wish this video was recommended a month ago. Just picked up my sportcross wagon with all the symptoms that you described on this video. Had the valve cover, vvti and seals, waterpump, timing belt, spark plugs, wires etc all replaced. Dealership wanted $5k, took it to an Indy shop for half the price of stealerships. Had no idea these cars were sought out.
I dont know if you have ever considered doing driving impression videos but id love to hear your thoughts while driving some of these vehicles you work on as you have such an in depth knowledge of the internals and would have a lot of wise words in regards to how those internals translate to the driving experience.
No rust on mine yet . Getting it rust proofed next month. I have the LSD and the tiptronic gearbox with no wear on the seats either and no sticky dash. Getting the timing and oil seals done when I can afford it and I will eventually pass it over to my son who is itching to own her. All your advice is so accurate and I just wish you was my mechanic. The blue is also the iconic colour they used when they first announced the is300. With only 110k miles mine is probably one of the rarest sport models that you will find. I also recently discovered that there are only 49 of the sport left in the UK 😃👍 Love your channel bro your clearly a very dedicated and experienced mechanic which are getting harder to find these days when all they do now is plug it into a computer to diagnose. Happy motoring all you petrol heads, keep it alive
Currently own a very rare 2002 is300 with cloth interior, manual trans and no sunroof. Very few were ordered this way. The only thing about these cars is that their age is making the parts for them go higher and higher. But the car has been nothing but good to me.
Nice slick top base model. The dealer showed me one like that back in 02 when I picked mine up. I was upset whit the guy showing me the cheaper one I wanted fully loaded 😂. At the time I didn’t know they were only a few built that way 😩 anyway I still have my is300 and congrats on your car
@@Soltor1974 thanks man. It’s funny how things workout like that sometimes. The less fitted option cars become more valuable due to lower quantities. I have to say I haven’t seen another one like Mine at any car meets. Soon to get a fresh paint job on it and re do All my rearend bushings. I’ve always loved these cars. Currently have two, a red one with front end damage but otherwise in amazing condition. And the slick top manual. Debating whether or not to pull the front end out of the red one and get er back on the road or pull the engine for the slick top and part it out.
@@theprodistini2590 it’s always nice to have a back up
The IS300 Sportcross’s never came manual in the United States, unfortunately. People do manual swap them, but they don’t come manual from factory.
That's what I thought. If anyone can swap a transmission, it is AMD. 🤩
@@rightlanehog3151To find a w55 has its ups and downs prices are $1000+ for just the transmission sometimes.
When I was 18 I bought my first car and it was a green 01 is300 . Best car I ever owned, wasn’t fast but it was fun . Loved it so much I had to get an isf and I don’t think I’ll ever sell my f. These cars don’t get the love they deserve.
This channel is the Gem. 💎
I'm the proud owner of the 3.0 2003 Highlander and it has only 144,000 original miles. It is a gem in the rough, but it's showing its age.
I have a 2017 IS300 and outside of the fuel economy and being somewhat underpowered, it's a great, reliable, and fun to drive car.
I have the blue one sport model so top spec and mint with only 110k miles . Never selling it because it's such a great car to drive and still makes me smile.
Good for him! I wish him luck on, especially, the rust. I had a used 97 Camry, with 265,000 miles with rust. My fuel/brake lines, backing plates, replace rear cross member yrs ago, but decided to junk it. HAD I bought it new, I'd probably do as you're doing. I feel u 🖖👍
I had a 2003 IS300 SportCross (station wagon) and loved it. It was totally reliable, peppy and comfortable. But the primitive technology of the time will probably not excite many people today.
Own one now, you're right there, it's a simple car. The performance will also let down most people too, considering it has the same performance as a base Prius. Still love it though.
Watching your channel for a long time I can tell in your enthusiasm that you are a car geek first , mechanic second which is a great combo because its not just a job but someone that understands. I too love cars and certain models and years resonate more. I dont know the sentimental value that Anthony has but if I knew him I would say restore it for yourself. If you are passing it your son get him a GR86 or GR Corolla instead. This car needs so much work at this point I dont think its worth passing along.
The point is that this IS is a simple classic, and the GR86 and GR Corolla are just modern technological nightmares. This car will mean much more as an heirloom. Anthony thinks it is worth the money, because he enjoys the car, and wants his son to have his chance to do the same.
@@mcc7762 I understand the intention behind it and I dont know Anthony. Just thinking if it was one of my son's it seems more of a liability with all the rust that needs to be replaced or repaired. Not to mention all the gaskets that he pointed out in the beginning that leak. If thats what Anthony wants to do more power to him.
My favorite car. I’ve owned 2 now and I’ve restored my factory manual one with all OEM Altezza parts. Even with its stock GE engine it’s a blast to drive on the weekends through curvy roads ❤
Proud owner of a imperial jade mica 2002 lexus is300 with 201,000 miles i will keep this vehicle till the end.
Agree best sedan light wieght . I own a manual 04 for 3yrs now and really happy with it
Man everyone saying the is300 is a hidden gem, underated or whatever. But the gs300 no one like know about it. And the ones that do and have one are hella chill
GS300 is where it is at. Way more car for the money.
Oh yeah I got 99 GS300 Diamond pearl white with 326 body kit on lowered and has nice 19 inch wheels with two 12s on the back plush black interior it’s lovely 😊
These vehicles are beautiful but I find myself now because a truck/suv guy, also I find myself seeing what is a best advantage in life, regarding a vehicle capabilities, nothing compares to a 4x4 ability.
You can go FWD , RWD, AWD or 4WD but you never know when you’re going to need that 4x4
I have an '03 manual with 235k miles. Still runs like when I bought it in '08. He's right about the oil leaks 😅. I upgraded the suspension and added strut bars and upgraded away bars and it handles like a dream! I love driving this thing. I'm gonna be the sad the day I have to let it go or something happens to it 😢
My Mother purchased a IS300 new in 2001 now in 2024 she still has it. It's been a great car and she loves it. My Father meticulously maintained the car. Over the years though it has not been cheap to keep it on the road. My Dad now in his 70's doesn't want to really do certain maintenance things other than oil changes and such. The most recent failure was the VVTi system failed and put the car into limp mode while on the highway. She only could go 35 in a 65 zone with nowhere to pull over. That reapir along with replacing valve cover gaskets, plugs, leads and all cost a bit of change. Now the HVAC system isn't working properly and she has no heat. Being 23 yrs old and being semi rare being an automatic with a factory LSD as an option with the suede seats and all?? Pretty cool car still. Finding parts is getting difficult as well. Lexus/Toyota isn't making some parts and if they do have them they cost ALOT. We also have a 60 VW beetle convertible that is still going strong 64 yrs old 👍
*Two WAGs: If only no heat odds good is seized hot water control valve or failed blend door motor. For your sake hope I'm wrong, however 20+YO Toyota A/Cs are notorious for expansion valve failure. A major remove the seats, console and pull-the-dash b!ch to replace. Ahmed addressed both in earlier videos. Good luck...*
@@blackrifle6736 yeah that's why my Dad hasn't fixed it yet he already replace the blend door motors and those are a pain in the ass... Mind you he is 75😎 and does the work mostly himself if he can...it's going to need an expensive repair and these are things people don't realize when they want to buy one used even though my mom bought hers brand new in 2001 it has not been a cheap car to own and operate over the past 23 years. She likes the car though and where my Parents live it snows and she has no heat but the car has heated seats so that gets her by. It's funny too because my parents have a new RX350 sitting in the garage but my Mom likes to drive the 2001 IS300 and my dad drives his 1960 VW beetle 🤣👍
the bushings are serial nine lol super cool brand for is300 parts and drifting mods
My favorite Lexus model ever. I was looking for a IS 300, couldn’t find one in good shape for the right price. so I settled for a 2017 IS 350 AWD.
Yeah I’ve been looking for one of these for years. They’re all rusted out, in massive disrepair or 200k+ miles.
*Expand your search out of the Rust Belt. Bring A Trailer is a good place to begin.*
So this one is more like in northern US/Canadian car due to salt problem in winter? While the southern states had less of them, is that why the rear rusted so bad?
Really want to see how they restore the quarter panel (or the part that was rusted out)...
Great video. Speaking as an owner of an EU-spec (in Poland) 2001 IS300 SportCross (I've previously owned an IS200SC), might add a few points.
1. The IS300 SportCross never came with a manual, in any shape or form, if you see one, it's 100% swapped (usually from a BMW). Only IS200 SportCrosses had the Aisin j160 M/T. Good gearbox, short shifts, with a very mechanical feel to it, only the 6th gear is a bit short - 100kph/60mph with 3000rpm was tiring on long trips. As a quirk: in Japan it was sold as the Toyota Altezza Gita, which was also available as an AWD with a 4-speed A/T. It's EXTREMELY rare.
2. Hood likes to rust on the "collar", above the grille, had to swap hood in mine IS300 for a new one.
3. Aluminium tailgate in the SC likes to oxidise around the rear window and the plastic lip above the license plate
4. Ball joints on the front are relatively brittle, and if not changed regularly might snap, often without any prior signs of wear.
5. Rust again - might want to check the area on the roof above wind shield, likes to rust, especially on ISs without sunroofs, since only those with one had their roofs galvanised
6. Brakes are quite weak. They're okay on the IS200, but with the heavy slab of iron the 2JZ is, they don't do the job, and are quite maintenance heavy
7. Sticky dash on the IS300s and facelift IS200. Pre-facelift IS200s had a nice painted/lacquered surface, and after that they swapped it for the gross rubber gunk
8. Rubber bushings are integrated into suspension arms. Its annoying when you want to replace the rubber, but you have to throw out the whole good piece of metal. And polyurethane bushings rarely do the job.
9. Heating flaps and fan can go out with age, nothing too problematic, but keep an eye on that.
10. Radiator might start to leak on the area where the upper plastic moulding meets the aluminium core.
Most of those are the effect of the car being more than 20 years old, not due to exceptionally bad design, after such a long time every car needs a bit more maintenance and care.
All in all, great cars, very unique especially compared to the ubiquitous 3 series and A4s. It's a very rare instance of a car that a non-car person wont even notice (once someone asked me is this a Kia Rio estate, lol), but an enthusiast will appreciate it ("yo, man is that the 2JZ?!"). And it's great, not every unique car has to be an AMG or M 1000HP monster.
The SportsCross are a pretty rare sight in the UK. At their peak there were 787 IS200 licensed for road use and now 278. The 300 version had 714 running and now 315 (source how many left website)
I love teh IS. I'm 6'4" so can never fit in one, but beautiful cars. I feel bad for you people with snow/rust issues.