bngu1

i know you guys don't like to hear this but i need some comments. do you guys think it's possible for me to even trade my TSX with an 03 or 04 IS300? the TSX is a great car but all the little problems are starting to annoy me. also i have a baby on the way and i think it's better for me to drive an automatic instead of a stick. what you guys think?

gsrthomas

All I gotta say is the IS300 is a bulletproof car with a silky smooth I6 engine. Will easily hit 200k on the odometer. My friend has 120k miles and without any problems, just routine maintenance.

The only downgrade is all the gadgets that the IS300 is lacking and the interior is not at nice at the TSX.

Overall good car.

RWD

Howard911s

have any mileage or bluebook value and option to compare~? it would be cool to do it, trade in a 2.4 for a 3.0 , and lexus at that, the only thing, if any that would prevent me from doing it is tsx is still the most current model while IS there aer new 250 and 350.. i just like to drive the most current model out there, but hey, if you can find an even or near even one, why not

jlukja

plug the info for both cars into http://www.kbb.com/ and see if the numbers are close.

dom

Having a kid means you'll need back seat space which is practically non-existent in the IS. Souds to me like you should be looking at an Accord or Camry instead.

xizor

you sound conflicted with your reasoning. and how does having a baby matter whether you drive stick or automatic. I can see if you have a kid you might need a hand free to swipe at them, but a baby?

Howard911s

and thinking about it, i would rather get a new Accord V6 over IS 300, my co worker just bought an 06 accord sedan, Leather, Auto, sunroof, Leather, Alloy wheel all for under 25K out of door and you get a brand new car. I would take that over IS 300

fuckleberry

werd, IS300 = wrong car for family with kids
time for a Camry, the new model of which looks mighty sweet

billyho96

spoke like a man with no kids , jk

all that staring in the rearview to make sure they seated and that they haven't thrown the bear in the floor, or what ever.........next thing you know you 6000 rpm in second

dom

BTW, what little problems are you having with the TSX?

dom

I drive stick with my kid in the backseat all the time. You do what you always do, pay attention to the road.

xizor

next thing you know... you've rear-ended a truck. there's bigger problems on the road than revving your engine. a manual isn't going to save you if you aren't looking at the road. and i don't have kids, and i do plan to have a manual when I do have them

BulldogHockey

I don't think kids affect car choices, besides maybe back seat and trunk space. Kids are the about the only people who WILL fit in the back seat. But I guess the infant carrier will likely not. But if so, by all means get the IS if that's what you want. Should be a safe car as well.

And as far as manual or slush-box. I've got a 3 year old and the manual has no bearing on how difficult driving can be. It's all in their mood. Invest in either an MP3 player with all their music on it or get a DVD player that hangs on the back for those tough moments.

5o9

I think you can pull off that trade, maybe put money in your pocket too.

Nice car, but lexus dealer advised against it. Didn't sell any around here...

Nice thing about a lex is you get 100,000 miles transferable warantee and that adds a ton of value. Just see what happens when you hit 101,000

Reach

I bet you could even trade... hell, even look at this one: https://acurazine.com/forums/car-parts-sale-361/fs-02-is300-344087/

BlackAcTSX

I have a 2 year old and I drive stick. It doesn't affect driving whatsoever. I say keep the TSX.
I think you're looking for justification in getting a different car, which is fine.

bngu1

thank you all for the inputs. the reason i want an automatic is because i plan to keep the car for a while which means til my son is 4 or 5 years old and i think it's easier with an auto to pay more attention to my son. besides my wife doesn't drive stick and that way she can drive it too. for space, we also have a SUV so i think the IS300 is ok for back space. if we need to haul more stuff then we just have to take the SUV.

CarbonGray Earl

I went from driving stick to driving auto and I have a 3 1/2 y/o thats been with me with the stick and with my 5AT. Its flat-out easier with an Auto during the trying moments. Its just one less thing to worry about (2 if your count balancing a clutch). I won't say its better when the situation=nominal (its not), but when you've got your wife on the cell, your kid dropped his/her bottle on the floor, and your in medium density traffic with brake lights ahead, its alot easier to keep a portion of your mind on not rear-ending that truck in front of you. Those trying times don't happen all the time, but when they do (trust me, they do), I'd rather be driving 5at.

Its easier to have that hand and leg free and the mental bandwith free when driving with a child.

keg1997

I had to rule out a IS300 when I was looking '04 b/c the backseat in the IS is SMALL. There was little way to get a rear facing infant seat in there, save for shoving the front passenger seat all the way up. With the TSX, I was able to put the rear facing seat in the middle- the safest spot in the car.

CarbonGray Earl

Before considering the IS, you might want to consider insurance rates, and the safety or lack thereof of the IS. From what I remember, insurance is higher because the IS is not so safe a car, at least compared to the TSX. I think this might be more important that having an auto tranny in terms of your child's safety.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

So basically, the having a kid part was just a lame excuse and you really just wanted an IS300?

Could you do it, probably. Is it worth it, well, that's for you to decide, but my opinion on it is probably not.

bngu1

no that's not the case at all. i just think having a free hand and worry less about shifting will be better. the other thing is my wife don't drive stick and she sometimes complain about not being able to drive my car. she sometimes get sick of driving a big car all the time. she asked me to teach her to drive stick, but she is not that good of a driver so i never taught her.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

But why trade for an IS300? You could just trade for an 5AT TSX.

And I was just messing with you, hence the smiley.

hawaiiantsx

i would say get the new camry....i think it looks pretty sweet...and besides, it will give you way more backseat room for the baby then the tsx or the IS

S14 n Tsx

I was thinking the same. When you drive a automatic.... You have that few extra time to pay attention to the kids. Nothing wrong with having a MT but I would perfer automatic too. plus, its much easier for your wife too. I really think you should start looking into accords or new carmy!!

S14 n Tsx

yeah, but don't you want to try different cars?? I dont like the idea of trading a tsx or another tsx.

Mokos23

The IS300 looks like a ricer Civic (IMO)

S14 n Tsx

I dont know about ricer civic but not a family car.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

I can see trading in for another different car, but not the IS300, especially if is at least in part to be able to fit a kid.

bngu1

i don't like the new Accord that much, but i am considering the new Camry. but what i'm trying to do is find a car that will look good not an old man's car, sometime with a more power and not too big. something that i can even trade my car with so i do have to put in any money or very little money. that's why i was thinking of the IS300.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

More power but not too big? The IS300 has about the same power and is substantially smaller.

Have you thought about a Legacy GT? Slightly larger, more power, and a bit of a step down in terms of luxury, but maybe not as much of a family car image. Plus, given their resales, you should be able to get a lightly used one for about an even trade.

dom

I did the exact opposite. I too have a wife who can't drive stick and a kid yet I still traded in an AT TSX for an MT TSX.

S14 n Tsx

camry got lots of power. I like the new camry!

bngu1

yeah if you get the v6 that is. i doubt that they will even trade my car with one of those.

Newplay1

I luv IS300 but for some reason they have really bad insurance rate and resale value..

You can pickup 02 or 03 for around 18k-20k w/ 30k miles on it.

afici0nad0

when i was shopping for a car, the 05 tsx 6mt and 02 is300 5mt was on my short list.

insurance was more expensive with the is300. i was looking at maybe an additional $50/mth. i can't comment on the safety features on the is300, but, apparently, parts are much more expensive on the is300.

this was a reason given to me by my insurance agent, as to why the is300 would cost more. i'm sure there are other reasons too...

regardless, love the is300 5mt. only thing i would change would be the oem shift knob. to me, it looks tacky.

Killdozer77

I don't agree. My baby just turned one and I've had the 6MT since a few months before he was born. The MT has presented NO problems. He usually sleeps when he's in the car anyway. I have not found that the MT requires more driver attention than an AT. What requires driver attention is what's out there on the road, not the tranny. Our other vehicle is a MT also.

Before you consider the Camry, remember: if you make too many compromises you will not be happy and if you aren't happy your kids won't be happy either.

BusyShifter

Going a car from 2005 to 03/04 makes no sense to me. In addition, I too see the IS300 resembles a lot like a Civic.

juicygirljen

yea i say go for the camry too! its nice and roomy .. perfect for a family.. lol i see a lot on the road already.. its pretty attractive looking.. or the new es is good too!

goddsmack

Ehh... I don't know about attractive looking, that front end need some work , but I love all the interior looks and features available.

I just want to input that the IS300 is rated one of the most reliable used cars out there.