im in the process of deciding whether to get an 02 type s or an 02 is300.....ive read numerous posts regarding the benifits of both but i stil had a question regarding handling....

for the owners who have comptech springs, sways and upper strut bar, hows the handling in comparison to a factory is300?

a big part of me is leaning towards the tl-s for a lotta reasons, but the handling on the is300 and w it being a rear wheel drive makes me want the is....if i can get the tl-s handling close to the is, then im pretty sure i can settle for the fwd....

 

i drove the is300 the handling is very good. my tl-s i would have to say is just as good after a few mods.
1. springs
2. sway bars
3. upper tie bar
4. BETTER tires 235 width with low profiles.

 

Well, the reason I bought my car is because it is FWD, I live in upstate NY where it SNOWS ALL THE TIME!!!!!! So anyway, I would say that if you lived in a climate that allowed RWD go for a BMW 330i/Ci, not an IS. It'll handle better, have more features, be faster, and in my opinion better. It does cost a little more, but not all that much. Just my $.02.

 

Well, to be honest the TL will NEVER handle like an IS300...

the reason being that it's a lot bigger then the IS300 and although heavier but the chasis is not as strong as the IS300.

You can compensate that by wider and grippier tires, sway, brace/tower bar, and spring/coilovers. But the overall feeling of the car is different...

If you are getting the manual IS300, then it doesn't have the yaw control. It is an option with the automatics. So, you might want to take that into consideration as well...

The IS and the TL are very different cars... If I have the chance to start all over again, I might actually go with the IS... If you want RWD and yaw control, get the Bimmer...

 

If you were deciding between the ES300, I35/Max SE and the TL I'd say take the TL or Max SE for handling or overall performance.

But since you've included the IS300 in your decision, you'd be better served by checking the handling on the new A4 3.0 Quattro with the 6 sp or the new CVT transmission. I test drove it just yesterday, nothing handles like that car. Though styling is a personal thing, I feel it's the better looking of the cars as well. The body style just came out, meaning you won't see one on very block, nor will it change anytime soon.... I'm deciding on trading my TL on the A4 1.8t Quattro, 5 sp and going through one of the Audi tuners (ABT) to Mod it up...food for thought.