Overview & Reviews

Once a goal is set, Lexus is not a company to dillydally. Witness the 2002 IS 300. After just one year on the fiercely contested entry-level luxury sport sedan battlefield, Lexus has quickly moved to address the IS 300's short list of faults. A five-speed manual transmission is available, and it comes packaged with a sportier suspension than what is offered on the "regular" IS 300. The luxury side of the equation has also been upped. A navigation system and an all-leather interior are optional this year, and the rearview and driver-side mirrors are auto-dimming. Safety is also enhanced with the addition of head-protecting side curtain airbags (in addition to the regular side airbags), a BrakeAssist function and a stability control system. And for all of those golden retrievers out there tired of riding around in numbing RX 300s, take notice that Lexus has expanded the IS 300's lineup with a wagon version.

• Outstanding driving dynamics, slick interior decor, competitive pricing.

• Small rear seat and trunk, not much storage space, styling more suited to baggy-panted masses.

User Reviews:

Showing 51 through 60 of 165.00

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  Awsome - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By nos2006 - November 30 - 2:00 am

  hey. my dad has an is300 that is fully loaded and bright yellow. i love it because no matter where you go when you stop at a stop light people stare at it. awsome car, great interior and exterior design, great interior features, perfect sedan (for lexus and most other companys). best stereo i have ever heard! p.s. i heard that lexus is bringing out a new is called the is370 i believe. it is supposed to be basically the same with about 345 hp.

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  Exactly Fits The Bill - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Darrenstl - July 31 - 10:00 am

  The car is a blast to drive, I love the 5 speed and the power to get around just about anything I want to. The styling is edgy enough to keep the Buick buyers away, and sedated enough to be take seriously. The back seat is perfect for carting around friends in luxury while I enjoy the trip.

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  Sportcross Hunting Brake - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Terralunatic - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I like the overall appearance, the scale of the car and the tail gate within which to throw all your stuff. The Sportcross is quite rare and still gets a lot of looks, especially with the summer 17s on. The E-Shift is ridiculous and I just ignore it now, however I would have loved to get a 5 speed manual but Toyota/Lexus doesnt offer it in the Sportcross. One irritation though is all the squeeks. I have eliminated most with shimming or lubrication, but the belt anchor still squeeks. Not quite Toyota quality.

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  Worth every penny. - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Lemnkr8 - May 26 - 11:43 am

  IS 300 has great looks and great performance and with the five-speed transmission is is every reason I needed to never purchase the low quality , poorly conceived product offered by the "Big 3" automakers. Every detail has been addressed by Lexus engineers to make a high quality product that is fun to drive and easy to maintain. This car is worth every dollar you pay for it.

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  Wow!! - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By L3X - May 7 - 10:00 am

  Superb Handling, good acceleration, Very comfortable even with 17" rims. test drove the BMW 330Ci, glad i bought the IS300.

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  is 300 l-tuned - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By richie - April 29 - 10:33 am

  i fell in love with my silver is300 the moment i saw it.the l-tuned package to me makes all the difference in the appearance of the car.great fun to drive,ample power,excellent build quality.

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  A Great Little Car - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Ace is300 - April 22 - 8:43 pm

  Ive had my IS for over 15 months and I cant even believe how drama-free and worry-free its been. Its a sweet heart of a car. I love this car. Its got great handling, good acceleration (Ive got the rare 5 spd/man.), awesome color (Solar Yellow), and adequate luxury (Nav.syster,heated seats, full leather, 6 disc cd). But its the fun factor that keeps me smiling.

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  Unstoppable - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By RJ - February 28 - 3:16 pm

  In 7 years Ive driven 160K+ fun, yet trouble-free miles. Replaced clutch & timing belt @ 100K. Other than that, just tires, brakes & fluids. Still looks & drives like new. I get 24 mpg on the highway @ 80mph. This car handles crisply and has a nice, broad powerband. I read Edmunds reviews on the 02 BMW 3-series & I cant believe it has a similar review score to the IS when every other review complains about excessive repairs & costs. I put more faith in the reviews of people whove owned the car for a while than those who post a review right after purchase. Reliability is the 2nd most important factor in my buying decision. Fun to drive is #1. IS doesnt disappoint in either category!

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  Its been over a year - no regrets - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By joeyzasa - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my 2002 IS300 for over a year now. I still love it. Sure, its not the fastest of the bunch (still pretty quick) and has clear taillights (like every souped up civic out there). However, it makes up for it in so many ways. The car fits me like a glove. Its also nice to be one of only a few IS owners in my area vs the hoards of BMW owners. Overall, I have no regrets with my purchase. The only thing I might change would be to get a 5spd. But the e-shift provides a good compromise between performance and sitting in traffic.

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  owner for almost a year - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Kunal Kirpekar - February 15 - 2:00 am

  The car is everything what I expected but, too many recalls and there is a noise coming from the front suspension that is very annoying will mention the in my 15k service!