I own a 2001 s2000 and I need a bigger car. Can anyone help me with my decision. Thanks in advance

 

If a usable back seat is part of the equation, forget the IS.

 

My wife and I are expecting our first child in june so I definitely need back seats

 

Congratulations! Yeah, just go take a peak at the back seat of the IS (new ones aren't any better) and you'll see what I mean. The back of the front seats is about 3 inches from the front of the back seats. It might be alright for just a baby seat but there's not much room to move and if your wife ever wanted to sit with baby or something, she'd have to move the passenger seat all the way forward for it to even be possible. Go check one out and you'll see what I mean.

 

luke is right. If u have any concern about the space, got with TSX. My neighbor always parks her IS300 next to my TSX and that thing seems to be as small as a Civic next to my car. Congrats on your title of daddy

 

tsx gets a lot better mileage too, plus its styling isn't as dated. however the straight six in the is extremely smooth and torquey. drive both and you should be able to make a pretty easy choice i think.

 

I have both a 1st gen TSX and an IS300. Like others have mentioned, there is very little space in the back seat. In addition to the back seat barely fitting a car seat, the trunk opening is so small that it will be difficult to put an average sized stroller + other baby items in it. So, this would be a bad option for anyone planning to use this for baby hauling! The TSX has much more space in the back seat and trunk to fit the car seat + other items needed for babies.

 

IS300 drives better from a turning/steering perspective but I'd rather own the TSX. The TSX is going to be cheaper to maintain, get MUCH better mileage, has a better transmission and a more fun to rev motor.

 

I have had two IS300's (2002 & 2003), and currently drive a 2006 TSX. The IS300 is smoother and rides more comfortably. However, the car is dated, and uses an old motor which isn't as efficient as those on newer cars, and the IS lacks in what-is-now-standard technology (i.e. bluetooth, ipod/aux, etc.). Both are great cars, but the TSX is probably the more practical & functional of the two.

Good luck!

 

Get an Accord.
Id think both TSX & IS are too small in the rear for children, my

 

can't say much about the IS since i've never driven or sat in one.

but the TSX should definitely be sufficient for 1 child. my son is over 1 year old now, and we've done the whole infant car seat/anchor combo, and he's moved onto the convertible seat. there's enough room to get in and out when putting your baby/toddler in, although it can be a tighter squeeze, but it's manageable.

trunk space will get eaten up if you have a bigger stroller. we have the bugaboo frog and it takes up a lot of space, so you kind of have to get creative with where to store things if you go shopping for food and baby supplies. but once they're big enough for an umbrella stroller and you get one of those high chair/shopping cart covers, you'll get a lot of the trunk space back.

 

I have 2 children, but we avoided taking them in my TSX when my youngest had a rear facing seat. Now that both are forward facing, they can fit back there with a front seat passenger.

 

Thanks for all the help guys

 

my coworker has the is300. we were at a client one day, bunch of us. we were driving to a place for lunch and she says "we can't use my car". we all asked "why?". response: "cause it only fits 2 people in it comfortably."

now - i knew the back seat was small, but i was amazed. she was right. no adult can sit back there. i bet it'd be a pain in the arse as your kids get older, and considering the price difference, no brainer - TSX.

but you'll find opinions on here will be skewed to the TSX of course!

 

come to think of it, I'm not sure I'd recommend the TSX. i don't know how much an improvement in size the new TSX is compared to my 2006, but I've had my 2006 since Dec 2005. We're starting to consider having a baby soon. If we did soon, we'd be looking at having the TSX for 4 years by the time the baby arrives. I want to keep this car for 6-8 years, so I'd probably be upgrading to something like a TL. I like having a slightly smaller car though, so I might try to stretch it.

I have a Thule roof rack, so I might also get a cargo box when the babies start arriving and maybe that'll help me stretch the life of this car longer.

 

I cross shopped the IS300 with the TSX back in late 03. The big IS300 turnoffs for me were the lack of back seat room, lesser fuel economy, and the style of the gauges (particularly the speedo and tach).

 

TSX all the way!!

 

for an Accord. Get 2003+ Accord EX, you will be fine.

 

Yes, I also agree on the Accord. My 18 month daughter seems cramped in the rear of the TSX. And if you put a car seat in the middle of the back seat, you'll be getting a lot of complains about being cramped from the passengers. Sure the infant car seats are fine, but the toddler seats makes it cramp. Although the TSX's trunk have been big enough for me to fit anything for my baby. Strollers, walkers, train set, anything. The space of the new Accord is perfect and I should have looked into it when I was buying a new car.

 

I vote for TSX. My 6 & 4 year olds love the TSX and fit fine; btw they are both ~90th percentile in height for thier age. I've seen the back seats in the new IS cars and they are as pointless as back seats in say a Camaro.

 

^^guess the do make em big in Texas.

 

How about a CR-V, or a RAV4?

 

 

haha omg tsx blows outdated less mpg IS-300 out of the water. i know the is300 was the *it* entry-tuner-lux-sedan car of it's time. tsx i believe has taken over that title, at least i feel.. IMO tsx ftw

 

You have a TL-S in your avatar, I take it that it's not yours?

Knowing that you are coming from a S2K, you want something a little on the sporty side... TSX sounds good, but I think it would be a bit too small if you had more than 1 child. I have put my nephew's car seat in my car before and it got EXTREMELY old bending over to get him out. If you like the size of the TSX, but need taller vehicle height maybe a RDX? Or you could look for a Certified Pre-Owned 04+ MDX.

TSX- 1 small child

RDX- 2 small children

MDX- For when they no longer require car-seats.

My .02

 

^ he doesnt have to keep the same car forever. He can buy Lexus LS460 to transport his children later

 

There, fixed it for ya

 

Ive owned 2 IS300's (01-02) the TSX has a bigger backseat and a few more tech features. The IS300 is a really fun to drive car and has a few Luxuries the TSX doesnt have Auto lights and RDS radio plus the lights are self leveling. Also the IS is a Lexus which means a little more curb appeal. Go for the TSX though mileage is better and insurance is alot cheaper.

 

I traded my TL-S for the S2K about a year ago. I drove an 05 TL and I think thats the car I want. SUV's just aren't my thing.