The 2008 Lexus IS has everything going for it except the price. It’s low-maintenance, sporty, comfortable, and stylish. But it sells for around $10,000, which is hard to justify for a car that’s almost old enough to vote.
Is the 2008 Lexus IS a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 9/10 – This really is one of the best luxury cars on the road today. The only reason it doesn’t get a strong recommendation is the price.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – The back seat could be wider and the trunk a little roomier. Otherwise, this is one of the most comfortable cars in its class.
- Reliability 9/10 – It’s just a fancy Toyota, so don’t be surprised to see the odometer hit 250,000 miles with no major repairs to show for it.
- Safety 9/10 – The IS boasts generous standard safety features and excellent crash test scores.
- Gas Mileage 8/10 – The 250 model averages 18/26 miles to the gallon, city/highway, which isn’t bad for a 2008 model.
- Value 6/10 – At two, three thousand dollars cheaper, this car would be a steal. At ten thousand bucks you might as well save up a little extra for a new compact.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2008 Lexus IS?
Consumer Reports liked the first-class cabin and the relaxed driving feel, but found that the Lexus IS was lacking in the sportiness department, and that it could have used a few more inches of hip room. They did praise the quick acceleration and solid fuel economy.
Kelley Blue Book found the Lexus IS plenty sporty, they liked the car’s “engaging personality,” and theywere impressed by how much luxury Lexus packed into such a small package. Tight back seats earned some criticism, and they felt the handling could have been tighter.
Edmunds liked the solid handling and the “impeccably finished” interior. They note the long list of standard safety features as a plus, and the same goes for good fuel economy and the available all wheel drive. Tight back rows and expensive optional packages earned a few red marks.
What Common Problems Does the 2008 Lexus IS Have?
The 2008 Lexus IS has generated just 108 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Around one third of these are for the airbags, with drivers reporting airbag lights going off despite three airbag recalls between 2016 and 2019.
A handful of engine complaints point to knocking and rattling noises under the hood when the car starts. This reportedly has to do with a faulty camshaft assembly in many cases.
Drivers in warmer areas are reporting “melting dashboards.” This is not actually an instance of the surface literally melting, rather, the adhesive used to assemble the dashboard materials will bubble up through the surface with exposure to the sun.
The 2008 Lexus IS has been recalled 8 times, which sounds like a lot, but, given the low number of complaints, this would seem to indicate a proactive approach to addressing mechanical issues with the car.
How Long Will the 2008 Lexus IS Last?
A Lexus is just a fancy Toyota, so you can expect to last anywhere from 250,000 to 300,000 with excellent care. Bet on the lower end just to be safe, but a quarter million miles before the first major repair is basically standard for a Lexus IS.
Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $389 for an IS250, or $502 for an IS350. Expensive common repairs include new window regulator motors at $631, and timing chain tensioners at $2,039.
Yes its reliable/dependable, and yes it need to have some work done it needs the o2 sensors changed and has a hole in the exhaust and I wish the maps was updated,
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology in the 2008 Lexus IS is strictly first-class. Base equipment includes a CD player with 13 speakers, and that can upgraded to include a voice activated DVD player with 14 speakers and Bluetooth connectivity.
Safety technology is comparably generous. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, and electronic brake force distribution all come standard. The car is available with a rearview camera, which is pretty rare for 2008, even for a luxury car.
Is the 2008 Lexus IS a Good Value?
A 2008 Lexus IS is priced fairly for what you’re getting, but it’s pretty expensive for a 2008 sedan. A 250 typically lists for around $10,136, and a 350 goes for around $10,693. At those prices you could just about buy a brand new compact.
As far as luxury cars go, a Lexus is cheaper to maintain and cheaper to refuel than most, and the standard features list is generous. But it’s hard to argue that any car this old, outside of an honest-to-goodness classic, is worth ten grand, especially when there are comparable luxury cars selling for thousands of dollars less.
What are the Different Models of the 2008 Lexus IS?
The 2008 Lexus IS is offered in two models, being the 250 and the 350, named for their engines, in rear or all wheel drive. Whatever your engine or configuration, they all come with the same standard features:
- 10-way power adjust driver seat
- Leather seating
- Steering wheel mounted cruise and audio controls
- Anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control
- CD player with 6-disc changer, 13 speakers, and auxiliary input
- Keyless start
What Engines Come In the 2008 Lexus IS?
- The 250 model IS packs a 2.5L V6 engine delivering 204 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 6-speed manual transmission in rear or all wheel drive, and it averages 18/26 miles to the gallon, city/highway. The 250 does zero to sixty in around 7 seconds.
- In a 350 model you’ll find a 3.5L V6 delivering 306 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 6-speed automatic in rear or all wheel drive. The 3.5L averages 18/24 miles to the gallon, and it can hit 6mph in just 5.4 seconds.
What Colors Does the 2008 Lexus IS Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2008 Lexus IS?
The 2008 Lexus IS cabin is first class all the way. While some drivers have noted that the back seat could be a bit wider, at 54 inches across, the interior is quiet, trim materials are high-end from top to bottom, the suspension rides beautifully, and even the acoustics make music sound better.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2008 Lexus IS Have?
The 2008 Lexus IS packs about 13 cubic feet of cargo in the trunk. This is fair for the size class, if not especially impressive. It’ll carry four or five medium suitcases no problem, but the IS isn’t really a road-trip vehicle.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
2008 was the third model year for the 2nd Generation Lexus IS, which ran from 2006 to 2013.
2006: Lexus built the IS a little bigger in every dimension for 2006. It stands 3.5 inches longer, 3 inches wider, and 2.4 inches longer at the wheelbase.
2007: No big changes for 2007.
2008: Steering was recalibrated in 2008.
2009: New grilles, bumpers, and taillights were the biggest changes in 2009.
2010: The addition of a limited slip differential and HDD navigation with voice control were the big changes for 2010.
How Does the 2008 Lexus IS Compare to the Competition?
The 2008 Acura TL is just as good as a Lexus IS in more ways than not, but it sells for around two, three thousand dollars less. The Lexus will likely outlast the Acura by a good 25,000 miles or so, but is that worth three grand?
If you’re attracted to the Lexus IS for its long life expectancy, a Toyota Corolla is the more practical option. Is it as high-end, as powerful, or as fun to drive as a Lexus IS? No. But it sells for as low as half the cost of a Lexus, and it’s kinda the same car in many ways.
The thing about the 2008 Lexus IS is that, if any 2008 car is worth ten grand, it’s the Lexus IS… But no 2008 car is worth ten grand. It may be more dependable than a BMW and more comfortable than a Toyota, but it just doesn’t make sense to spend five figures on a car that’s old enough to get its own license.
Do Owners Recommend the 2008 Lexus IS?
For the most part it has some issues from a past owner that I need to get fixed and I wish it was better on gas but pretty good dependable car