newbie75

Sorry Guys, I loved the TSX and was planning to buy one soon. But I have change of heart. As much as I like the TSX, I am going to go with the Lexus IS 250, fully loaded. I lost my heart to the Lexus ever since I saw it. I hope to test drive it when it is released in Oct. I have only posted a few strings here, but you guys were great and I like your community and I will always admire the TSX

dom

Can't blame you, looks like a winner.

NJtsx

i have a feeling alot will follow you

ianS

If IS350 has manual tranny, it will be my next car.

hcekc

I believe the IS350 comes only as an automatic with shift paddles.

amadeus303

iTrader: (2)

Current plans are for only an auto at this time, isn't it? I don't understand how that makes any sense since they've always marketed the car as their 3-series "beater." Both the IS350 and 3-series look like they've really "matured" in their appearance. On the one hand, I like it... but at the same time, I feel like they're moving away from what attracted me to the cars in the first place...

Ah well --- who can blame you for going with the IS over the TSX? Good looks, more power, rear wheel drive, Toyota quality... good luck with it man!

TypeRS

i wanted to wait for the IS250 but i ended up sticking with the TSX...i got impatient heh.

dom

I seriously doubt a IS250 will be any quicker in acceleration tests or in day to day driving considering it weighs a few hundred more pounds. If it is quicker, it won't be by much.

Pete C

Any idea what the price difference will be, though? I think to get options which are standard on the TSX, i.e. moonroof, leather, etc., it may jack up the price of an IS250 quite a bit from the price of a TSX. I'm also weighing the two and can't wait for pricing information to be released and to be able to test drive both 2006 models.

ianS

I know only IS250 have manual but not IS350. That's why I said "IF" they have IS350 in manual. And I am not going to get IS over TSX. I am going to dump the BMW and get the IS. I am sick of those German soul.

LannyM

I like the looks of the IS, and the RWD platform, but......

It's gonna be in a whole different pricing category. The TSX is still a major bargain for quality, equipment, and performance.

To quote an attendee at an early IS showing:


And as far as performance, don't expect anything beyond what the TSX can do....

haroman311

i saw some link online of the 350 running a 13.9 or .8 second qt mile. no lie, and after reading, i dont think they will ever release a manual in the 350, because its obvious most people are gonna purchase the 250, and tehy are gonna market it the most. so unless the 350 somehow sells beyond 250, i think they are gonna keep the paddle shifters/auto.

dom

I'd expect mag times between 7.3-7.6 and 15.4-16 for the 250. Which puts it right with 04/05 TSX's.

But much like the TSX if your buying the IS 250 for acceleration, your buying the wrong car.

dom

13.7 was the quickest we've seen so far.

No fair you edited

vwong

I've already put a deposit on an IS250 6MT.

I'm going for the Performance Luxury Plus package which includes heated & ventilated front seats, leather interior, HID, sport suspension, 18" wheels, and some other things. I'm also going for the navigation, Mark Levinson audio, and sunroof. I'm hoping that the price will be around $35k with all the options I want.

dom

Nice.

jlukja

I hope for your sake it does. What will you do with the TSX?

dom

I'm pretty sure Lexus isn't crazy enough to go over 35K.

vwong

TSX will still be here. As posted in the OT forums,

TSX = wife's daily driver
IS250 = my daily driver
Prelude = future Honda Challenge H1 race car

Pete C

Do you have a basis for the $35k figure? Everything I've read has made me think with all those options, it would probably be more. For your sake (and mine), I hope you're right, because I'll probably be right behind you if I can get those options for that price.

GIBSON6594

Considering rumors that the msrp for the 350 are 40K (based on everything i've read), how much higher can it be? Be stupid to charge someone 38K when they can get the 350 for a couple thousand more

Pete C

That MSRP for the 350 is without some of those options. Plus, I'm not sure it would be stupid to be within $2,000 of the 350 without some options, because then it gets the consumer thinking of spending an extra $2k, and maybe more if they add the options back. Generally, it's a good idea when loading up a lower model to push the price close to the unloaded upper model, because it entices a jump up to the more expensive upper model. Like I said, I hope the $35k estimate is accurate, but I fear it may not be. From what I understand, Lexus's option packages are pretty steep and I've seen the base prices of the 250 rumored as high as $35k.

vwong

Well, from the October 2005 issue of Road and Track, they tested the IS350 and listed the estimated prices for the options. From the official specifications posted in the Lexus forum, the Performance Luxury Plus package is the same for both IS250 and IS350. So I used the prices from the R&T test review for the options. Then many sources estimated that the base price for the IS250 will be $30k. So this is what I came up with:

- IS250 base price: $30k
- Performance Luxury Plus package: $1500
- Navigation: $2000
- Mark Levinson audio: $1000
- sunroof: $500

Total: $35k

I know sometime you can't trust everything the magazines said, but there is nowhere else that I could find the info.

Pete C

Thanks for those option prices, vwong. That's helpful. I hope the $30k base price is correct. I've seen rumors from $28k to $35k. I think you're probably right, but I'd like to know for sure! I can't wait until official numbers are released. Do you know whether there's a difference in price between the MT and AT?

RTSX-ASpec

the IS250 recently entered my to-look-at list for the car i'm getting next year. So now its either IS250 or TSX. I won't even consider the IS if the price is much higher than TSX.

Howard911s

dont do IS 250 . u gonna regret when 350 comes out. and end up spending more money to upgrade. suck it up and get 350!

Savio

Lexus knows how to tack on every little cent...

vwong

I don't know if there is a price difference between the MT and the AT.

As for the base price, I really don't think it'll be as high as $35k. What I've read so far pretty much estimated the IS250 at $30k and IS350 at $36k. Also, I think Lexus will be doing the wrong thing if they do set the base price at $35k for the IS250. Afterall, they make the new IS to be the BMW 3-series fighter. The base 325i starts at $31,595. The IS250 has gotta be equal to (better yet lower than) the 325i in order for Lexus to achieve their goal.

LeMasseHammer

No disrespect to my TSX, but I had a crush on the Lexus IS until I read there wasn't gonna be a 6MT for the IS350. That, coupled with one review I read (MSN Autos) describing the IS250's 6MT...

"While the automatic transmission in the IS 350 is as good as any we have experienced, the manual transmission in the IS 250 seems a bit vague during gear changes. The shifter feels more like a Camry than a top-level sport sedan."

http://autos.msn.com/advice/article....src=Newsletter

I'm happy 'cause now I can go back to my 28-month TSX love affair knowing there still isn't anything out there under $30,000 that I'd rather be driving.

jlukja

14 speaker, 300W sound system. Where the heck do you put 14 speakers?

HoRRo

Maybe tweeter in the front, 2-ways in all doors and 2-ways in the back, I think that's 14 "speakers" ?

Howard911s

nobody said they gotta be big speakers..

vwong

feliz

The IS250 looks great. I just ordered a 06 TSX though mainly because I will never, having had some bad experiences, buy a first year car again.

Now in three years.............

newbie75

Well, with gas prices up and up, thought i would be just as happy with the 250, I also ski a lot and all wheel drive will come in handy which is only offered in the 250 and not 350:

Thanks Guys

gsrthomas

I heard that the Mark Levinson Audio System only comes with the Navigation option.

Is this true??

If I were to build my IS250. All I would want is:

Performance Package
Mark Levinson
Xenon Headlights
6 speed

Newplay1

I would wait another yr or 2 before forking over another 30k..

TSX keeper!

zircon

C&D dissed the 350 performance in its comparo vs lots of competition. It still placed second to the new 330i, but they didn't like the electronic nannies and the back seat is almost invisible. IMO, Lexus made the car too tight and, of course, the 350 should have a manual option. Diesel is also missing here. Market manipulation. Not enough in this car (250 rwd) to get me out of the tsx.

savageTL

From what I have read ML only comes with Nav and strangly enough I have also read that ML cars will have to be special ordered.

As far as price apparently Lexus US is still negotiating pricing with Japan but the best guess seems to be about 30,500 for the 250. This would probably put the above spec car (plus Navi) at close to $36k. So a loaded auto 250 with premium or performance luxury plus, ML/Navi, moonroof, PCS, park assist and headlight washers will probably top $39k. That is pretty steep ground for a Japanese compact car, you would really have to think you have the 3er (and every one else) beat across the board to price like that and meet their 40k per year goal. Bottom line even Lexus doesn't know what the pricing will be, but more and more I think it is going to be more than many expect.

I am still looking for a "travel car" but my old beater just keeps running, so I constantly add new potential cars to the list but the TSX keeps hanging around the top of the list, the 06 changes sure helped. The newest additions are the IS 250 and the Avalon. The former seems that it may price itself out of the range I am willing to spend but the Avalon is a strong runner with low 6 sec 0-60 AND 31 MPG with tons of luxury bits and by next fall will be selling at or below invoice. Although my wife loves cars as well she is getting tired of the constant processing!

static808

I also looked at the IS250, IS 350 but in the end what are you getting? The IS250 is $35K and with a rear seat that nobody can sit in. I mean the rear legroom is like 30.5". For the money, I would rather get a G35 coupe or better yet a fully loaded 06 TL w/ Navi. The loaded TL is even $2k less ($33.6K), faster, useable back seats and looks damn nice.

In the end, you just can't compare the price point of the IS250 to the TSX. People who buy the IS250 want a Lexus. The IS250 is just like the BMW 525i. Nice car but I don't see the reason to spend the extra $$. Maybe that's why I buy Acura's....who knows.