2003 Lexus IS 300 5-Speed Manual - POV Ownership Review
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- Опубликовано: 22 окт 2021
- 2JZ-GE 3.0-liter DOHC 24-valve straight-six
5-Speed Manual Transmission
Torsen Limited Slip Differential
Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires: www.bridgestonetire.com/tire/...
Curb weight: 3,255 lbs
Horsepower: 215 hp
MPG: Up to 18 city / 25 highway
Dimensions: 177″ L x 68″ W x 56″ H
Cargo volume: 10.1 ft³
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I absolutely love this car.
I had a 2004 IS300 SportDesign MT.
I bought it new and owned it for... wait for it... 15 years and 264,xxx miles.
I cried, at age 37, when I sold it.
I miss it.
I am now waiting for IS500. I am sure I am going to miss the manual, but the V8 should be nice 🤞🏼.
Keep it for as long as you can.
What a great great car.
Manual transmission makes the car. I sold my is300 for the IS-F. The F is a great car, but I sold it to get another manual is300.
@@crazihippo92 great 🤦♂️
Now you got me thinking about G80 M3 again, but I am afraid of their reliability, or lack thereof.
@@crazihippo92 you sold your is-f to buy another is300?
@@crazihippo92 can't relate but good for you. hopefully your old F went on to someone who likes it better lol
@@crazihippo92 I'd pay for a manual swap on the F before doing that
That whine of the W55 is iconic for sure. Definitely gives a lot of character to the car, never selling mine
Edit: I take that back, moved on to a 6MT 340i 🤐 both good cars
I feel that! When I did my swap I ripped up the rubber boot for the shifter. It sounds like a sequential
Never selling my '88 535is either. I have had several E28 BMW and would like to get one of these too. See my comment above, peace.
@@LJGaldo post a vid of that noise without the boot!
how is the transmisson on these cars
@@great4ever845 fine for what it was and enjoyed a lot. The W55 was already 20 years old by the time the IS300 came out so not the most engaging transmission but better to have than the automatic imo. You can push it to around 300hp before it blows up
Just copped a 5 speed 03. Am already in love
How much and mileage?
This generation of IS still looks pretty good on the roads. It doesn't look dinosaur yet. I see them every now and then. I have an '07 ES350. Best car I've ever owned. The Lexus vehicles actually built in Japan are solid!
Talk about timeless styling, unlike the trend that started a few years ago that over styles everything…
I too MUCH prefer clean lines, which is why I have an NA Miata, rather than an ND.
@@yankee2yankee216 The NA Miata has practically NO lines! Lol
I was at the dealership when these launched some 20 years ago, I wanted one REALLY badly...but in the first year they did not come in manual unfortunately so I didn't buy it. My roommate went back about a week later and bought the auto because he didn't care haha. He called me on the phone to say he was coming to my old store (managed a few Domino's pizzas back then) and he has a surprise. Of course when the headlights pulled up I was incredibly jealous lol.
I still want one, and I still would only have the manual. I LOVE that yours is basically stock instead of being slammed or super stanced. There are pretty much no good clean examples left.
Treasure it, it's a wonderful car.
Meh, BMW 3 series was better in basically every term at the time. Even reliablity was surprisingly good, especially by todays standards of german car makers.
@@MGalaxy that doesn't make this car bad haha. The Porsche 911 is a better car than the Aston Vantage, but the Aston is still very good. Know what I mean lol (that was peak 3 series time to me though, they are wholly uninteresting to me now sadly)
Do you know you can swap the transmission?
@@yaniggasteve2497 this was 20 years ago when they first came out haha, there were no manual gearboxes at all back then. These days I wouldn't bother because of the state of the majority of the used cars I have seen out there.
Great cars, but I made my peace with it long ago 👍
I just bought an 04 Is300 1-owner 100% stock 114k miles clean title Cali car to compliment my 2010 Lexus ISF. Is300 is auto however it is a perfect daily despite the horrible mpg(15-17mpg).
I've said it before on this channel when he showcases this, but I learned to drive on this car, and I will always love it.
Absolutely love how pristine of an is300 this is! Most is300 owners nowadays have clapped out interiors and questionable exterior mods. It’s refreshing to see one so well taken care of and mostly stock! Hope you keep it that way 😁😁😁
Always love seeing this car on the channel. She’s a keeper for sure.
Great Video! I myself have a really clean yellow 2002 IS300 5mt with a factory Torsen, zero rust (definitely recommend getting it sprayed, makes a massive difference), completely stock (minus sway bars and intake) and 200,000 kms. Absolutely love the way it drives, tons of fun to toss around and a really nice, notchy transmission.
My dad bought the car back in '04 when I was real young, and he used to drive me everywhere in it! I ended up inheriting the car after he passed and I absolutely will never get rid of it, too many memories drifting around on snow-covered side streets together during the snowy winters up here in Ontario. Keep the car as long as you can!
I have this exact car but mine is 05 manual. I installed an LSD because 05 don’t have it. I installed JDM altezza front and rear bumpers which are shorter. Altezza side skirts. I also replaced the trunk with a jdm altezza trunk with an oem wing (proud of that wing, hard to find), Supra 5-speed shift knob, Supra single flywheel, Trd sway bars, trd muffler, and I installed leather door panels and back seats because I don’t like alcantera. Also I installed 2015 Lexus is250 driver and passenger seats and made a harness to make the power seats work. I installed a Sony double din stereo and can watch dvds in there if I wanted to. Also installed jdm enkei altezza gauge cluster, only fits in manual cars and mine is manual, looks really cool. And I think that’s about it, really nice car so far😀
U got clean taste bro! Sweet mod list
Make a video man I’d love to see it
Thank you for showcasing this manual IS300 yet again. It's refreshing to see such enthusiasm from a young owner (Topher included) for a 20 year old car. It's a keeper. The manuals while rare, was not super rare. It accounted for 14.61% of sales including the Sportcross over its 5 year production run. For the 2005 model year alone, the manuals accounted for 43.90% of sales! Surviving manuals today - most likely under 5%.
Problem is people raped these cars to rip out the 2jz from them for their stupidass swap projects. This is the main reason why so few of these remain on the market.
Loved this video, hearing about personal connections with cars and true ownership experiences is always great.
Honestly, would love more videos about all your other cars and the stories you've had with them!
Great to see an update to the IS300! I personally really want one of these!
You're also a natural at reviewing. :D
Love the dashboard, looks like a chronograph.
I love my is300! Also a 5 speed with the LSD! I actually watched The Topher’s video to made the decision to buy mine! This car really rewards the driver. After learning throttle control, trail braking, heel toe, and mid corner balancing, this car really improves your driving! To many more miles of care free driving 🤙🏽
Hunted for months for an manual that wasn’t overpriced or beat to shit and gave up and ended up with 03 Auto amazing DD though, my goal is to swap it out for W55/58 or AR5 off Sky/Solstice.
Thanks for all the videos man!
These are still a great looking car. I’ve always liked the gauge cluster too. A friend had an altezza rs200 with the greddy turbo kit and it went really well, but I think a vvti 1jz is the ideal swap for these.
These were overlooked back when they were selling them, but today the IS300 is a legend. Few cars are like that.
Nice ride and nice video, thanks subTopher!
For a car this age it looks so good.... and clean!
A neighbor in my parking garage has a 2005 IS300 and he absolutely loves it. Bought it brand new and has no intention of selling or owning another car. In the 16 years we've lived in this building, I've gone through 2 ES' and on my second IS. ('06 350 to a '16 350 FSport) This is the first time I've actually heard the IS300 from the inside and I'm really digging it! It's clear you're extremely familiar with this car, the shifts looked and sounded effortless, which is how I judge someone's skill level with a manual. HINT: You're better than most reviewers I've seen on YT. Thanks for sharing!
I'm happy to see I'm not the only one driving an older model of a car, everyone around is driving the latest models
Relatable👏🏼
Ive always been a huge fan of this Lexus IS generation. beautiful design thats timeless.
I remember when this model came out from Lexus. It was a real outlier than contrasted greatly with the other Lexus models that were do quiet and sedate the way they behaved in contrast. Always loved the IS300 as being the maverick child from Lexus.
They were aiming it straight at BMW. I considered it in between a 3 and a 5. I think it is the same size as my 535is. My car is longer but most of that is US Bumpers
Ay I think I might have seen you once in traffic, I was in my G35 at the time and I rolled my window down to tell you I liked the car! Cool to see more of it!
It’s cool to see your 1st gen IS300. I have a 3rd gen IS300 awd that I love.
nice video!
I absolutely love the Lexus IS300/Altezza. What a perfect car; it's a real shame they no longer make something quite like it anymore with a manual trans. It's a real compact sport sedan with a very premium feel and excellent build quality. And the fact that it's a Toyota product pretty much guarantees a reliability and durability that a german car could only dream of. It's one of my all-time favorite cars; never owned one though.
There aren't many cars out there that can become your best friend... but this one right here! This is it!
I love mine! just finished my w58 swap with a 1jz-gte. I cant wait to drive it in the spring
Just put a turbo on my IS300! I can't believe how much better the car feels and drives. I am only running 8psi on the stock ecu and my butt-dyno tells me the car has around 300hp to the wheels, the car is amazing and turns heads everywhere I go.
I had a 2003 is300 manual with factory LSD with a sport design: my spec had dark chromed tail lights and factory cloth interior, with no sunroof or GPS.
I enjoyed this car for many years. The transmission was a bit clunky, but it was a sensory experience to drive. It would be a bit of a handful when you'd lose the back end.
To my knowledge my exact spec was very rare, the fact that it was a stripper model with manual trans and oem LSD with all cloth interior made it a rare item.
no sunroof thats rare and lightweight jesus
Love this car❤️. I just fitted up a set of the new potenza sport tires on my FRS and I agree, they’re terrific street tires; very comparable to PS4’s. Good stuff👍
Constantly searching for this car!
Same
Not if I can get it first
Mmmh idk about this car but I want something where I'm quite cozy in but not too small too
There plenty out there then swap it for an AR5/W58
@@alphaares6027 aristo/gs300 (aristo version has a 2jz gte[basically the exact engine the turbo supra has])
Love how clean and simple the designs used to be. No unnecessary bulges, creases, chamfers, 'character lines' or 'aggressive' styling.
Of course everyone wants to buy it, it's the dream Altezza with a 2J.
The glass 2j, but nevertheless still a 2j
@@gavinmersman4209 No 2J is glass, the ge is insanely reliable
@@ethanmacroberts2609 lmao tell that to a turbo
@@ethanmacroberts2609 unless you have to do a valve cover gasket lol.
@@v8_sami I did my valve cover not as easy as a honda but not that bad
The smoothness of that 2jz is everything.
Hella fax, u rev it and the car ain’t even move
I've got the IS200 with the 6-speed. They're such amazing cars, never want to get rid of mine!
same here IS200 with 6-Speed. but in Germany it is really common
The Altezza was actually sold in Japan with the 2JZ-GE. It was called the Altezza AS300. They even sold it with AWD and the 2JZ.
Such a cool interior. Looks so masculine. And the gauges look like a luxury watch.
The cleanest example of a Lexus IS300~~ For the time, this was definitely a very sporty vehicle~~ Timeless~~
Love the engine whine on acceleration.
Sick Video. Thanks a lot
Love the manual videos 👍
100%! Watching someone drive manual and the sound of gear changes are amazing!
have a 04 manual, owned it since 2009.. I swear I will never get rid of this car. It's not a fast car but definitely a fun car to drive
It’s good to see another Lexus factory with the w55. I got my is300 bone stock last year for $1800 in Texas with the factory w55. I’ll be upgrading the transmission soon tho because I motor swapped mine to the 1jz vvti, and it’s already starting to grind 4th gear. besides the trans being the weak link on the whole car they are a blast to drive
Just bought an 08 is250 recently, 6 spd MT. Amazing car, nobody does it like lexus.
Man that was my favorite car from early 2000s. Never got one but around the same time Mercedes C class superseded and got that
I have a gs300 and always loved these cars
I love the IS man. Beautiful car
Truly a gem
I love this video and I love how it made me realize how much I drive my daily driver. 13,000 miles in a little less than a year lmaoo
Takes me back to my 2002 Yellow Manual
Loved my 02!
Beautiful car. I've always been a fan of those.
This video reminds me of my 2003 is300 manual fun fact I bought it August 2016 when I was 18 years old i owned it for almost 4 years it was a fun car this video was such a throw back for me.
Pros
1-Very fun car to drive
2-Perfect drift car
3-There are tons of upgrades for the 2jz-GE engine you can make this thing +500 hp on budget..
Cons
1-Sticky dash the interior quality isn’t the best considering the fact that it’s a luxury sport sedan by Lexus/Toyota
2- W55 5 speed transmission whining noises, Toyota put this transmission for all lexus IS300s for USA and Canada, the W series transmission is old transmission used in light toyota trucks back in the 80’s so basically Toyota used an outdated manual transmission for a modern car, that’s why it whines and it kinda sounds like a supercharger but most people just deal with it since it doesn't affect driveability and it would be expensive to rebuild the transmission…
I honestly feel his emotional attachment to his car I would feel the same way if I ever sold my first car
I have a 2003 G35 sedan 6MT, your car reminds me of mine. Perhaps yours is a bit more solid and reliable as a Lexus, but mine has been good - 201k miles. Very similar tire size as well, 215 55r17.
I too have become attached
Enjoy it man Lexus are great cars I have 2011 IS 350 with 160K these things are built to last
I had a 2002 5 speed that I really miss. I only got rid of it because of rust. Now I have a 2011 is350 awd and even though it blows the doors off the old 300, it lacks the character.
Holy cow your driving the roads I drive every day to work and is about 10min from my house that's awesome. Love the vids!
That gauge looks like a Rolex Daytona sideways
There are 2 mods to have more direct feel. One is the clutch dampener bypass and the other is remove the spring on the back of the gas pedal.
My friends and I got a thing for these a few years back and I got to drive 5 of these bad boys in different color/trim variations 4 autos one which I still own and one Manual that my friend sadly sold for for a bargain. Nevertheless that manual was still the most fun and unforgettable to drive.
best car to buy rn 100%
that is one big ass bandaid you have there my friend !
I’ve been searching for one of these in stock form for a daily for years. All I wanna do is just get the TRD/L-tuned front bumper and that’s it
I always love these. In Europe we had only automatic IS300.
Topher wanted to buy a car? Aren’t you the Topher. I’m lost a bit.
He’s friends with the Topher and better known as the substitute Topher. He owns the car.
Can't be the only commenter loving this car due to its lack of screens, distractions and beeps.
I have a manual is200, 6 speed manual. Bone stock and in great condition. Love it so much. Now I want to find myself a manual is300. I'm afraid I'm gonna become an is collector 😂.
Great video overall
I would love one of these but I’m happy with my little is250
Amazing vehicle with a 2JZ
i love how low you sit in this car even tho you’d be on stock suspensions
Best cluster ever!!!
Have you ever experienced “squeaky” brake noise with this IS300? I have a GS F sport and my brake makes an embarrassing squeak when I’m going on freeways, especially down steep roads. Initially I thought it was my pads but I was told by my mechanic that my pads are still well and that the sound is bound to happen since it’s a performance car. Any advice on how to fixed the issue?
Would've loved it if they decided to follow through on the IS430 and a manual. Missed opportunity
my dad is a german car only type but his e39 is almost dead, if i find one of these ill be sure to get him one
Love the 2jz
same BBS wheels as my gf's 3rd gen Lexus IS. Great vehicle and video.
Owner of an IS300 Sportcross. Keeping it all stock. Trying to keep all parts Toyota. One of these cars that will take care of you as long as you take care of it. Nothing I would change on that car. It is just everything I need from a car. Actually one thing I would change if I could is how thirsty it is. But I guess that is the price for reliability. (;
I'm Japanese and envy you getting 2JZ natural aspirated engine. As you mentioned, we can get only 2 liter 4 and 6 cylinder...(sounds good with 6 cylinder but less power and worse sound than 2JZ)
If I ever get out of my Country, one of the cars I want to own is an 03 IS300 much like the car in this video.
Beautiful interior
I have such a soft spot for these
even the hand gestures remind me of thetopher lol
my dream car fr
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S are the best! I got them on my IS300 last year and opted for the 225 width for more handling and they ride like a dream! Not a huge fan of Bridgestone other than the factory ones that the IS300 came with which are the most expensive tire I’ve seen and can get you a lot of miles out of them.
That’s true Bridgestone’s blow… also needs a stock shifter. Fake sport design badges. Drifting you’re ruining one of the last manuals but hey it’s already a swapper so not worth much anyways.
I’ve always wanted one of these! In yellow! Or silver !
In Japan they had Altezza Gita with 2jz-ge but auto box. Its like is300 Sportcross
These are underrated
It sounds like the Porsche Taycan electric sound when ur take off at low revs
thats the transmission
crazy how the is300 came with 5spd manual meanwhile most is200s for sale here have 6spd manuals
You need to keep this car and treat it like a child. These are amazing cars and hard to find unmolested. These are so bulletproof as well. 2JZ historic power plant, it all Adds up to an amazing machine that will be a legend. Great job btw. 👍🏻
I have no idea how people mix this up so much. Altezza had ALL the engine options - AS300 had the 2JZ-GE, AS200 had the 1G-FE, and RS200 had the Beams 3S-GE engine.
Loving the Rolex Daytona dash, why has nobody else thought of that?
I love the engine harmonics, reminds me of my Saab c900. I'm looking to trade in my ct for a bone-stock one of these, as I no longer have a commute, and want every drive to just be fun (yet somewhat reliable). I think it's going to be a long search.
Why don't you restore those headlights?
i truly love this car, i seen it on the side of the road of my grandmas street when i was 12 when i was 16 i bought my first car and it was the is300 i unfortunately crashed it… i had plans for it im on my grind for another one im 18 now
You should buy a beater and practice on driving first.
Dude. You gotta have Scotty Kilmer film a video of your car about how great this screamer is! I know you're not gonna regret it dude!