I'm in the market for a new car and have decided on either a Lexus IS 250 or an 06 TL. Does anyone have experience with both cars.

 

There's a pretty significant power diffence. There are also many bits in the Is that felt cheap. Sun visor, sunglass holder, and various other plastic pieces. when my wife and I test drove both cars, we felt the TL was quieter.
IS250 isn't cheap though, atleast not after you option it out. The TL I feel is a better value.

But we are holding out on the '06 because there are some changes that I hope to see in the '07 MMC.

Now if the IS350 can be had with a 6 speed manual, I can overlook the cheap plastic pieces in the IS.

 

I test drove the IS250 and decided on an '04 TL. I was initially comparing the IS250 to the TSX, and I liked the IS250 better. However, an '04 TL came in off a lease so I drove that as well. I chose the TL because it was much more powerful and the driving position suited me much better. I found the IS250 a little cramped. So far (1 month and 600 miles) I am very satisfied with the '04 TL and don't regret the decision.

 

if you do a search you will find that this has been talked about over and over and over and over and......................................

I will keep this thread open in the hopes that everybody will be able to discuss this without any serious quarrelling.

 

Thats pretty much what I did but and decided with an '04 TL (better value). Found a low mileage one in white with the Apec kit and navi. It was a private sale where one rich woman drove the car back and forth from work and was flawless, inside and out. She had just bought a CLK cash (as she had the bought the TL the same way in 04 and was just desperate to get the car off her drive way. I picked it up for 27K USD on the road taxes in! Loving it ever since.

 

Get the TL....the IS250 is not worth it until you get to the IS350 level. AWD is nice....but if it were in the IS350 it would be better.

 

I am not a fan of the new IS after sitting in one. They look great on paper buy I did not feel it translated into the car.

As already stated the IS250 is way underpowered though nice with AWD, and I like the interior but I am partial to the Acura's.

 

IS250<TL = Best bang for the buck. If prestige and service are your main priorities then the IS is your car. The Front and Side look better on the IS. The TL rear end is gorgeous and the front from certain angles looks very aggressive. The IS rear is a love/hate thing. The Lexus interior is top notch, everything is buttery smooth. The TL is more chiseled -- the blue accents and gauges tend to get a bit tiresome and appear to blur at night. The IS Optitron is cool; however, the green is sort of blah. I could go on for days, so I will end here by saying: The right choice is the one you make .

 

I agree with what trance said.

I just bought the IS350 and I had a 05' TL for about 6 months before it was totaled. Difference between the two comes down to size and power. The IS250 lacks the power that the TL will give you. The interior is nice in both cars, they both look excellent. Looks, of course, are subjective.

The TL will give you an amazing nav system, the best in the industry. You will also get more power out of it. The IS250 with certain packages will give you ventilated seats and a backup camera. TL has XM standard, IS does not. The IS with certain packages comes with front and rear parking sensors.

The TL you can get a decent discount on - get with nav under 33k. IS250 is selling at sticker, and rarely you will find a deal much below sticker. It is harder to find in a color combo with the package you want - and will cost close to 40k. With the IS, of course, you can have AWD.

The IS will get you Lexus service - the TL will get you Acura service. Depending on your Acura dealer, it won't matter because they may be excellent. My Acura dealer, however, is crap.

Both cars are excellent. If you want the power and are only looking at the IS250 and the TL - get the TL. If you want the full luxury experience with service get the IS. If you need more room get the TL. Either way, you won't be dissapointed. Both cars are solid. You are going to search around here and find tons of complaints with the TL. If you give the IS a few months, I am certain you will find the same number of complaints about the IS. These things like butt prints, faded dash, etc. are all complaints, yes, but keep in mind, you are not paying $100k for a car, you are paying $35k for a car. You can't expect perfection - although both cars come damn close to perfection.

 

I forgot to mention, I know for a fact from personal experience that the TL is top notch in safety. The car kept me alive and in pretty damn good condition after being t-boned at 50-60mph.

 

Tsx > Is250

 

If price is the concern, yes, absolutely. If you are looking for the luxury appointments, then no. e.g. the IS will have soft leather and the materials are better than the TSX. OTOH, I have owned the TSX also - 04' for about a year, and it was one hell of a fun car. With XM and bluetooth standard now, it is VERY hard to beat for price and the fun to drive factor. If you are more interested in the luxury features, go with the IS over the TSX - but be prepared to pay a lot more. The TSX is one hell of a car, I love my TSX>