I tested both. I bought the TSX as:


1. it had front wheel drive - a big plus for my wife. Rear wheel drive made her nervous about winter driving.

2. it was significantly cheaper - the IS250 with leather seats cost $4,000CDN more and still didn't have the automatic seat memory and with FWD we didn't need winter tires.

If the prices had been the same I probably would have gone for the Lexus as I liked its looks better, the handling, mileage etc. seemed pretty equivalent and I am sure Icould have convinced my wife the IS 250 with winter tires would be almost as good as the TSX in the snow.

However, haqving lived with the TSX for a couple of weeks, I amvery happy we got it. It has everything you would want except a lot of torque!

 

...dealerships aren't even moving off of MSRP on these. The price points alone are already significantly different. They are selling well without discounts (typical Lexus).

I'd get the TSX too....

...cause I don't have Lexus cash!

Diggs

 

I'm actually working with Lexus corporate....pushing the build-up of a promo car for the aftermarket industry. I have a call with them tomorrow. My goal is pricing under $30k with the help of Lexus. We'll see.....

 

Sounds like your priorities are more geared toward practicality. Biased since I've been a happy 5AT owner for almost two years -- TSX offers better gas mileage, more creature comforts for the money, and significantly more rear head and leg room then IS250.

 

If I had $38,000 to spend on a car, the IS lineup would be the last vehicles I'd look at. A fully loaded, SP-equipped, ED-acquired 330i on the other hand...

 

OK....today's the day.....

I'm either going with an '06 non-nav or a Certified '05 non-nav. If I can save a couple grand, I'll go for the pre-owned. Here’s what I plan for the first round of mods .... Advan Kruezer 5's in 19, JP Vizage kit, Mugen grill and wing, headers, exhaust, Tein's, and some Eclipse stuff from my other car. Told you it was a disease.... I’ve done some searches, but any recommendations on mods would be great !

 

the TSX is coupe's room in the back or the IS is? I've had my parents in the back seat twice already, and although it's not spacious, the TSX offers plenty of room. Can't say the same for the 250.

 

sounds like it's gonna be sweet. what color you getting?

I'd love to start looking into some mods for my 06, but i'm going on vacation soon so they will take the back seat. i'd do mostly performance mods when they are available...

 

Unless the price difference is too good to pass up, I'd go with the 06. You'll take a much bigger hit on depreciation with the 05 and the 06 comes with additional creature comforts and more power ( If you can get past those rims ).

 

hahahaha, i love the 06 rim haters, as if the 04/05 is better or worse. i'd say get the 06 because it's better value unless you get a sick deal on an 05.

 

LOL, Somebody has to fan the flames.

 

It all depends on the length of your commute and how much you want to spend. The IS250 is going to feel more buttoned down and softer riding, but the TSX is more fun and will dice through traffic easier. My commute is 25 miles and I prfer the tsx Over my A4. Long trips however the A$ wins and I think that would say the same for the Lexus.

 

IMO the '05 is the best option of all the model years. It has a few options the '04 does not (illuminated steering wheel controls, power passenger seat, XM radio and heated side mirrors) and it does not have the goofy looking wheels and fog light set up (front facia) that the '06 has.

Go ahead...I can already hear the gasps.

 

i respect you point of view since your preference is that. but the OEM foglights on the 06 look much much better than the option fog lights on the 04/05. and i happen to like them

as far as wheels, on either model, if you really care much, the wheels aren't great and you'd have to buy nice wheels. to me, the 06 look just as good as the 05.

 

So you like the cheap looking plastic black inserts to the far side of either fog on the '06? Those cheesy inserts are just the reason I got the OEM fogs on my '04. As for the wheels, point taken but I can live with the wheels on the '04-'05. I would not test drive an '06 with those hideous wheels!
To each his own!

 

Styling is subjective. The 06 front end to me looks far better than the 04/05. As for the wheels, they can be changed easily enough.

 

the OEM fog lights on the 04/05 look snapped on. they don't even look like they belong there.

the "cheap plastic" at least looks like it belongs there.

it'd be nice if it wasn't black plastic, but it doesn't look bad.

http://www.top100musclecarsites.com/Acura-TSX.html

the top pic is not an 06, but scroll down and it is. the fog lights on the 06 actually make the car have more color, and less cheap plastic.

 

I understand your point on adding more color by having the fogs enclosed with "body matched" material. What I don't understand is why Acura did not place the fogs on the very outside of the front facia like the placement on the 04-05. They then would have totally eliminated the cheap plastic inserts like is possible by adding fogs on the 04-05. At any rate, I am happy with the look of my '04. I am just hoping those type of changes for '08 are a lot better than from 04/05 to '06.

 

can you show me what you mean with the 04/05 fogs? cause the ones i've seen, look like the fog lights were just popped onto the front. they don't even look like they belong.

 

Every new year the car gets better. the 07 is going to have more than the 06, the 08 more than the 07, and so on and on.
The advantage of buying a car later is you can chose which year/options is more important to you and get it.

off topic...
How horrible was that transporter movie!

 

Hell yeah...i mean dismounting the bomb from the car was rediculous..

 

Finally went with an IS250 AWD. Thanks for all the input....wasn't an easy decision.

 

Congrats on the Lexus. They are beautiful automobiles. Enjoy you new car!

Did you go with the MT?

 

AWD only comes with auto.

 

^^Bummer.

 

How does a car feel more buttoned down and softer at the same time? The TSX is the buttoned down one, hence its sharp handling.

 

We just got a 06 TSX 5AT for my wife in January. It is my turn now
I have started a new car search a few weeks ago to replace a Passat. IS250 MT is currently the leading candidate. I am waiting for the new G35 (G37), but I may just wait till the end of this year/start of next year to see all 07 lineups. The new car will definitely be a MT.

I found this thread to be very insightful, more objective than a discussion at my.is TSX comparison where the Lexus brand loyalty is just too strong (IS is better because it is a Lexus, TSX is just an accord).

There is no chance getting another TSX, but I may consider a new TL.

 

V6 & RWD > I4 & FWD

 

i think i'd go for IS250....

 

Thank you for that in depth analysis.

 

Not in this case. Try driving the cars before you come here with your unqualified comments.

 

The Lexus had a more refined interior and overall feel. I did like the features you get for the money with the TSX, but to be honest, I stumbled on a bunch of full sponsorships with the Lexus which played big in the decision. Yes, I will use it as "daily driver", but with Team Lexus and Lexus corporate behind me to make this a demo car, the choice was clear.

 

Factor in the near 50/50 weight distrubtion on the IS also.

 

And even with all that, it's still not as good a drive as the TSX.

You can sit there and armchair jockey all you want, but until you actually go out and test drive both cars back to back, you have absolutely zero credibility.

 

I did....I still like how the IS drove and the fit and finish. TSX has more value for the dollar, but it falls a little short in the luxury department.

 

Fit and finish, I felt the two were pretty close, with the IS slightly higher. But the IS just did not appeal to me as a driver. The steering feedback was very poor when compared to the TSX and couldn't hold a candle to the BMW. Too disengaged for my tastes.

 

Try taking a high speed turn in both cars. When the tsx feels as if it is going to skip off the road then you will see what I am talking about. The TSX is very "nimble", It is easy to dart in and out of quick transitions. The Audi being a softer sprung car can not do this as easily. However once leaned into a turn it stays planted much better and will adhere to the road even over bumpy surfaces. I have had the TSX slide around some turns that the Audi you can accelerate all the way through. I think the better engineered suspension and all wheel drive really help.

 

Also keep in mind that better handling usually means firmer suspension. If you drive on glass smooth raods fine, but over a majority of roads in the U.S. you will be getting bounced around. The TSX has also been criticized on its short wheel travel. This also hurts its ride quality. But that is the difference between fun to drive and highway cruiser. Being better buttoned down makes the highway rides better.

 

Those are contradictory remarks --- IMO, the fact that your Audi adheres better to the road after leaning into a turn has much more to do with the tires. After all, the stock all-season, touring Michelins are about as bad as it gets... they can't handle the compression of the capable stock suspension nearly as well as higher performance tires would.

As for the bloke that picked up the IS, congrats. I love the way the new IS looks, and there aren't many car manufacturers that do creature comforts any better. From a driver's point of view, I've always felt that Lexus vehicles eliminate the "fun" by isolating the driver from the outside. For luxury, that's exactly what you want --- I personally prefer much more feedback from the road for a sporty ride.

 

Have you actually driven either car? There's more to cars than paper numbers.

I'm not suggesting the TSX is better than the IS. Hell, I've never even driven an IS and if I was buying today I'd probly take the IS since I prefer its styling inside and out. Buy to spew out numbers as the basis for an argument is plain ignorant.

mrmark, congrats on the new IS, I'm sure you'll love it.