Lexus Maintenance Per Year?

Myriam Hetjonk: Hi John, I used to work for a lexus dealer. Basic maintenance for this car is not bad. This car has no timing chain so that is a big expense that you do not have to worry about. The basics still apply: oil and filter every three months or three thousand miles, air filter every thirty or before, brake fluid every two years, transmission fluid every thirty thousand. They are nice cars but I have to tell you the downsides..2006 was the first year for this generation of the Lexus IS. Most of them have automatic transmissions. If what you are looking for is a manual be sure to take it for a very good test drive. The manual transmission for this car is right out of the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and you would feel that right away. Plus the clutches on these cars don't last very long, less than under "normal" driving conditions and are costly to replace because it is AWD. This model has several factory recalls that it may fall under so be sure they have been done! . I have seen these cars have problems when they accumulate high mileage. For some reason they have a problem with carbon buildup on the valves, causing a check engine light and a running problem. I have also seen a fair share of 2006 models come in with a fuel smell. The problem is a leaking fuel line. It is a costly repair because there is much labor involved for the repair not to mention the danger. I didn't know of any vehicles that caught on fire but the potential is there with fuel and heat from an engine. Lastly, these cars are hard on tires and the price of tires has gone up considerably in the last few years. Even with proper rotation they are only good for thirty thousand miles or so. I hope you have found my input useful. The money you would spend for this car could be put to a better, more reliable vehicle. Lexus parts are expensive and just aren't worth it. your wallet and bank account will thank you. All the best....Show more