Used 2006 Lexus IS 250 Consumer Reviews
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IS250 AWD
butterfly16, 10/04/2011
2006 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
35 of 36 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car, used in 2009. There was one previous owner. The car drives pretty well. It is not full of power though as one might expect with this car. However, there are a few quirks about the car that always drove me crazy! For no reason, at 36K up until 75K (I got rid of it), the car would idle at a stop and almost stall. I knew something was wrong. The dealership could never identify the problem. Aside from the many recalls, there was another incident when the engine light appeared. I read that others had the same problem, so I assume that it is just super senstive if you "top" off gas. Who knows? The backseat is not even worthy of mention. It is so tight and crammed.
Awesome Car
Gregg, 11/22/2006
2006 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
I shopped the BMW 3 series, Infiniti G35 sedan and let me tell you the IS 250 blew them away. You get a real hot car with a lot more toys.This is coming from a guy who is very very picky when it comes to cars. I was willing to pay up to $40,000 for my new car but as you see I did not have to. This car had everything I wanted period.
I Love This Car
Dave, 07/19/2016
updated 02/05/2019
2006 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
I previously owned a 1995 Lexus ES300 which I bought from a friend when he bought the 2006 IS250 AWD. I put over 100,000 miles on the ES after I bought it and thoroughly enjoyed that car. But, I have been telling him since he bought the IS that i wanted it when he was ready for his next new Lexus. This past Saturday he bought a new RX 350 and I bought the IS with 95000 miles on it for a little less than the trade-in value. It is comfortable to drive, has enough pep for this old fart, looks amazing (the previous owner took meticulous care of it), and is everything I wanted. Two years later, I still love this car 8/1/17 - we are now a year later, and I still love this car. Because I live so close to work, I have only put 6200 miles on it. It has been everything I hoped for 2/1/18 - Another 6 months, and I still love it. No problems. No issues. Routine maintenance. What a fun car!! 8/1/18 - still lovin’ The car. It is awesome!
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To IS250 or not IS250? That is the question!
CarGuy2015, 03/24/2016
updated 10/03/2018
2006 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6M)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
First and foremost yes to IS250! That is the answer! I've been a long time BMW fan and enjoyed driving the crap out of them. I've owned at least ten of them in my lifetime. But one too many expensive repair trips left me wanting something sporty yet reliable. My first experience was with the Lexus GS300, loaded to the gills with Navigation, Mark Levinson sound, DVD, park distance control, etc. I recently sold my daughter's Honda Accord with 192,000 miles. A great car for the money and reliable as well but with none of the Lexus care. I told my daughter not to worry that her mode of transportation would not be gone for too long. Enter the Lexus IS250. Taught lines and and a sporty appearance with 18" sport rims are a winner! Included are navigation and back up camera, heated and cooled seats, etc. I bought it for my daughter, used and slightly abused because the previous owner had a dog and lived in San Francisco. Yet all of the Lexus dealer service records indicated that at least the drive train was in perfect running order. Basically, purchased it for the KBB dealer trade-in price which was about $3000 more than I sold the Honda Accord for and daughter definitely approved of the appearance overall and tremendously discounted price due to scratched bumper. Lexus has always had a reputation for reliability and they have really taken care of this car. Lexus has made several recalls on this car and a major engine recall where the piston rings were faulty. So, 127,000 miles on the odometer, I basically have a just like new Lexus certified rebuilt engine! BOO-YAH! WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER! My wife drives it and loves it so much, she has to battle my daughter for the use of the car. They're both petite, so, it fits them both perfectly and I don't worry because of the safety features and good gas mileage. My only gripe is that it is tight in the back seat and owning a GS300 for myself leaves me to believe that in comparison of quality the GS300 is much higher. Get what you pay for. Edit 3/23/2018: Driver's seat is now ripped due to the fact that it is vinyl. Sad. Edit 9/29/2018: Dashboard looks like its beginning to melt. Sadder still.
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Should have test driven the car more...
Linh, 06/19/2006
2006 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Initial presentation/design excellent. Ride/handling tradeoff poor compared to best in class; ride is too busy/abrupt for actual handling precision and ability. Electric steering numb. The relationship between dash/windowsill height and seat height makes visibility poor in the name of style and pedestrian safety standards. The transmission, while smooth, is easily confused and is generally delayed when a downshift is required. Engine is smooth and adequate but transmission makes it feel flat-footed. Various technology is advanced and easy to use.
Juuuust Right
keeper, 09/06/2009
2006 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
This car is perfect for my needs. I hear a lot of complaints about wanting larger back seats, but I don't tote 4 people all that often. If you want a bigger back seat, BUY A LEXUS GS or LS! If you want more power, GET A IS350 or IS-F!! This is a great car for a single person or couple and can haul 4 people when needed, but not all the time.
Buy a Warranty!
bchristianmdd, 03/21/2013
2006 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This car is the "dog" of the fleet, not quick. Not for a person over 6' or fat. The best performance upgrade for this car is an IS350. I recommend an AWD model so you don't have issues with the staggered tires and rotating them. The driver's side foot well bump by the gas pedal is annoying. My car has had floor mats, steering column, sensor failures, exhaust pipe hole, most recently the CSP for the engine issues. $10,000 worth of issues were covered under warranty or recall. In 4 years of ownership I have only paid for typical scheduled maintenance including tires, spark plugs, and oil changes all done myself. I have paid for no out of pocket repairs in 4 years of ownership.
Fun car but driver seat is crippling
Alexa, 09/29/2008
2006 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for 2 1/2 years. It is a beautiful car and mine did not have any quality problems. It is fun to drive though the acceleration and cornering could be better. I usually have 1 or 2 people in the car so the tiny back seat is not an issue. Few things to be aware of: The wheel well on the driver's side is narrow and has a protuberance that forces me to sit at an uncomfortable angle. I have a hip/SI joint problem that I think the car contributed to. Second thing: Warning lights are extremely annoying -- even for something trivial like a low tire. And the low tire warning goes off a lot for silly reasons like temperature changes -- and only the dealer can turn it off
Move over Audi A4 2.0 Quatro BMW 325xi
Nathan Terrill, 10/26/2005
2006 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This car is GREAT! I traded in the 2003 Benz in hopes for a better performing car in the winter months (rain, snow on the pass) here in Seattle. I've always been a die-hard loyal consumer of German autos, but alas, the Lexus encompassed everything for which I was looking. Compared it to the others, the Lexus provides a tight package with liquid-smooth operation and great style. Considering the Lexus weighs more, I figured performance would suffer. I was dead wrong!
18,000 mile review
CBP, 12/02/2006
2006 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
My IS 250 now has 18,000 miles on the odometer. I previously reviewed the car at 11,000 miles. I have not had any further problems with the car and have taken it in for routine oil changes and maintenance only. I am pleased to report that at 18,000 miles the brake pads are still good and the original tires have plenty of tread left. I am getting an overall average of 27 mpg according to the onboard computer. On the highway the average gas mileage is 33 to 34.
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