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Buyer Guide · Jul 24, 2026

2002 · LexusIS 300

Asking price$0
Public guide
Asking$4,900
Mileage207,000 mi
Engine3.0L 6-Cylinder
TransmissionManual 5-spd
DrivetrainRWD
BodySedan

What the data shows

This 2002 Lexus IS 300 with the 2JZ-GE is at the mileage where wear items and age-related fixes matter more than the basic engine design, and this one already has a big chunk of the front-end cooling and timing-service work done. The remaining near-term items are mainly brakes, trunk access, and cosmetic aging, not a fresh engine-drivetrain crisis.

Budget a few hundred to finish the brake work, then use the trunk problem and clear coat as leverage points. Ask for the repair receipts on the timing belt, water pump, seals, radiator, and hoses. At $4,900, the asking price sits in line with the market for a manual high-mileage IS 300.

Red flags

  • Brake Job Needed

    the car still needs brake work before it is fully road-ready

  • Aging Exterior Finish

    failing clear coat means cosmetic repair or repaint decisions are ahead

  • Key-Only Trunk Access

    the trunk not opening normally points to a lock or latch issue to sort out

Green flags

  • Recent Major Service

    timing belt, water pump, seals, radiator, and hoses were already done

  • Manual Transmission

    the five-speed manual is the enthusiast-preferred setup on this car

What’s costing this car points

Fixing these, or marking them done, raises the score.

  • Brake Service
    Usually shows up around 100k mi · $350 to $900 to fix
    −0.8
  • Clear Coat
    Usually shows up around 150k mi · $300 to $3,500 to fix
    −0.2
  • Trunk Latch
    Usually shows up around 150k mi · $100 to $350 to fix
    −0.1
Fixing the top three$750 to $4,750

When this car gets expensive

The chance of a major repair as the miles add up. This one is at 207k, right where the climb starts.

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You’re here · 207k
39k
77k
116k
154k
193k
231k
270k
308k
6.1/10
ReliabilityFair
Deal0.0
4 open issues7 resolved
Major
01
✓ 7 resolved
Caution
03
4 Findings4 items to check

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2002 Lexus IS 300: 6.1/10 | Squeezed