Launched in 1999, when most of its competitors had switched to front-wheel-drive for cars of the IS200's size, the little Lexus broke with tradition and used a rear-drive layout. That move was not ...

The IS200 t F-Sport is an A-lister looks-wise, all angles and crisp lines, compact without appearing dinky and worth the $38,600 they're asking for it, especially if you already like the brand.

It was called the IS200 and, just like nearly every Lexus before it, it was bang on target from the word go. Well, in most regards but there were a few areas in which it seemed a fraction underdone.

Like the 3-Series, the Lexus is a compact rear-wheel-drive sedan with power provided by a family of in-line six-cylinder engines, a 2.0-litre in the case of the IS200 and a 3.0-litre for the IS300.