Jump LinksActual Sale Prices Tend To Match The Fair Market RangeWhat Can Go Wrong In A Lexus IS?Routine Maintenance Should Keep Your 2017 Lexus IS On The Road For Another Hundred Thousand MilesA Lexus is not a prohibitively expensive purchase. A 2025 Lexus TX, for instance, starts at $57,890, which isn't bad for a three-row SUV from a premium brand. But, that's roughly $16,000 more than the Toyota Grand Highlander on which it's based, and that's $16k that some buyers can't justify spending. Fortunately, a used Lexus has a good chance of lasting longer than a brand-new car from many other automakers. They tend to depreciate at a slower rate, too, so you might be waiting around for a while to find one at a steal.And if you prefer a sedan to a crossover, you're in luck, because Lexus still produces a range of those. The price of Lexus sedans drop into the economy range after a while, and if you're lucky, you can get a fresh one that still has plenty of years left in it. That's where the 2017 Lexus IS is at right now, and here's why we think this might be the best used car on the market at the moment.The following, based on research into the used car market and information published by the manufacturer, is our view on why a Lexus IS is such a stellar used buy, specifically one of around the 2017 model year. What Makes The 2017 Lexus IS Such A Great Car? LexusThrow a dart at a list of Lexus IS model years, and you'll land on a good one, but we like the 2017 in particular because this was a facelift model that saw some styling changes, including a revised front grille design with some extra chrome detailing, plus an updated interior with more modern-feeling multimedia screens. More importantly, the car saw some revisions to its suspension setup and steering for its mid-gen refresh.Reviewing this version of the Lexus IS, we've remarked on its handling perhaps feeling a bit less sporty than you might want from a sports sedan, but the ride is luxurious and comfortable. You'll simply glide over bumps in the road. The base 200t model starts you off at 241 hp, and, if you want a little more oomph, the V6 300 bumps that number to 255 hp, while the 350 models deliver 306 hp. The 300 and 350 could both be upgraded from rear-wheel drive to all-wheel drive. The 2017 Lexus IS Can Be Had For Cheap LexusWhen we say that the 2017 Lexus IS is going for cheap, we mean less than half the original MSRP. Take a look at the Kelley Blue Book fair purchase prices for this car, based on national average sale prices: Actual Sale Prices Tend To Match The Fair Market Range Lexus"Fair purchase price" often reads like an "in theory" price. So, the Lexus 200t is worth eighteen grand, in theory, because you need to find one in good condition with low mileage, belonging to someone willing to sell. But, taking a look at the CarBuzz Marketplace seems to back these numbers up. We can find a 2017 200t with just 72,943 miles on the odometer for $22,943, for instance. 72k miles, on a Lexus, is like a thousand miles on most cars. Meanwhile, an RC350 model with just 48,000 miles on the odometer reached a high bid of $22,000 according to a Bring a Trailer listing in 2024.While we'd recommend starting with a budget of around $30,000 to ensure that you're not left coming up a few dollars shy of your dream car, and so that you have some money to fix whatever needs fixing, a good haggler could drive home in a used 2017 Lexus IS for under twenty grand. What Will It Cost To Maintain A 2017 Lexus IS? LexusEvery car is going to need routine maintenance and some basic fixes now and then, and a Lexus is no exception. So, what will it cost to keep this thing running? Sourcing annual maintenance costs from RepairPal and ten-year estimates from CarEdge gives us the following numbers: What Can Go Wrong In A Lexus IS? LexusCarComplaints only has a single issue listed for any version of the 2017 Lexus IS, the IS 350 in particular. There is one report of a driver needing three windshield replacements in just two and a half short years, with a typical repair cost of $250. There are no complaints, recalls, or investigations pertaining to this issue listed on the car's NHTSA page, so this looks like an instance of one very unlucky driver, as this does not seem to be a known issue with any version of the 2017 Lexus IS.Common repairs for the Lexus IS, listed from most to least expensive, and sourced from RepairPal, include the following: Oxygen sensor replacement (200t) $2,130 - $2,613 Exhaust manifold gasket replacement (200t) $1,947 - $2,453 Timing chain tensioner replacement (350) $1,665 - $1,981 Powertrain control module replacement (200t) $1,236 - $1,256 Based on these repair costs, it would seem that you're better off driving a 300 or a 350 for long-term reliability. The turbocharged 200t starts off at the lowest price, but spending another thousand dollars on a V6 model right now could save you a couple grand on repairs a year down the road. Besides, the 300 hits 60 mph in around six seconds, and the 350 gets there in five and a half, so you might as well enjoy a faster and more reliable version of the car. Routine Maintenance Should Keep Your 2017 Lexus IS On The Road For Another Hundred Thousand Miles The Kelley Blue Book prices we've listed above assume an average of around 14,500 miles per year. After eight years on the road, that should put a typical used model in the low 100k range. Anyone who's driven a used Lexus can tell you that this is basically nothing for an IS. As long as you keep up with oil changes, filters, tire rotations, and fluids, you should have no trouble joining the high-mileage club behind the wheel of a 2017 Lexus IS, no matter your trim.Sources: KBB, RepairPal, CarEdge, CarComplaints, Lexus