My good friend has a 2003 lexus IS300. It is a beautiful looking car. I am not too sure what he has done to the car. I know for sure he has exhaust, chip,and intake. I love the kid to death, but at the same time, he thinks his car is the sh*&. And it is, however, I would love to be able to beat him with my TL, that I do not have yet.

He knows its coming, and I know he loves the TL. I would just love to know if I will be able to take him in a race. I have driven his lexus and it dues haul some butt. Also love the RWD.

Regretfully, I have not yet had the opportunity to experience the 6MT TL as I only could test drive the demo, which was a 5AT.

Just to let you know, I ordered the ABP 6MT, Navi, HP tires -- AND I CANT WAIT UNTIL MY BUILD DATE OF AUGUST 23RD!!

 

You should be able to take him. The Lexus website says 7.3 for 0-60. Research I did on the web said 6.0 seconds for the 6-speed TL. The TL has about 52 more HP too. Depending on what your friend did, you might be evenly matched.

Joe

 

Yes.

 

I traded in a 2002 IS300 to get my 04 TL. My IS300 was completely stock and since I have driven both, it may be closer than you think. The TL is bigger and heavier than the IS300, so that gap may not be as wide as you think. So I wouldn't talk too much trash, wait for the race. Keep us updated....

 

I did not talk one word of trash, acctually stated that the car is "the shit"

 

LOL, yea this one kid at my school drives an IS300 thats pretty modded. He hasnt dynoed it (Nowhere to dyno it here out in the boonies) but I saw him race my friend's mustang cobra and it was pretty even so im guessing 400HPish?

 

Is that possible to get the HP in a IS 300 up to 400, hard to believe considering it comes stock in the low 2's

 

Didn't mean it like that, I was talking more of friendly trash talking between you and your friend on which car is faster.

 

A chipped IS300 could be in the neighborhood of 300hp and similar torque...and much lighter than the TL. If the guy knows how to drive...and I hate to say this...it might not be much of a race. His IS might be faster, but your TL's a better all-around package.

 

Wow, so I better not race him, haha.

That is dissappointing, but oh well. TL is still a nice car.

P.S. The kid can drive

 

it really depends what he's done to the car. it's rpetty hard to make a car a whole second faster on the 0-60, which is what a stock IS needs to do in order to be close to your TL.

 

I don't think this should be a problem, as long as he has not put in a turbo.

I don't think a "chip" will increase the cars power that significantly, and bolt on mods add a bit, but the gain is all based on what is present to start with. More specifically a chip would add like 10% with improved air + fuel mixtures.

I would stay away from it if he has turbo'd it..... I hear that car is wicked fast once boosted!!

 

An 04 Auto or manual TL wil SMOKE any stock IS 300.
Hell a Type S TL would do the same.
There is no "chip" for the IS 300.
You can get about 240-245hp doing headers, exhaust, full cat-back.
If you want about 300hp in the IS 300, they make S/C kits for it for 5k
Another 1k gets you 330hp
You want to cut the bullshit it, you go single turbo. Then you have a 4-door Supra.
400hp walk in the park, 600hp with some dough about 15k. Limits depends on your wallet.
Auto IS 300 is a low 7 second car.
Manual IS is a high 6 second low 7 second car.
The lowest time I've ever seen for an IS is 0-60 in 6.4 for the L-tuned, which is nuts given the L-tuned IS 300 only added 8 hp due to the exhaust (Motor Trend times worry me sometimes ).

Bottom line, 04 TL smokes stock IS 300 10 outta 10 times.

 

I'm hoping whoever said "chipped" meant after the car has an aftermarket turbo.

 

what is the weight differences between 04TL and IS300?

 

I've driven both with automatics, back to back. 2004 TL easily out-accelerates the IS300. From a standing start you (or VSA) might have to modulate a little on the TL to avoid wheelspin. With RWD, the Lexus won't have that problem.

Once they're underway it's no contest.

Curb wt, A/T: IS300:3285 TL:3557

 

Of course it can be done in the little Lexus - look at what the Supra TT's can do - 700+ street horsepower. If the Lexus has half the bottom end ballz of the Supra's 3.0, then hell yes, high power is achievable, for a price.

Eggrollexpress+: Which year Cobra are we talking about? If it was a 2003-2004, then we are talking serious mods to the IS300, or the Cobra started in 4th gear.

If the IS300 is stock, youw ill walk him in either an auto or a manual. My Type-S used to mud puddle those little guys all the time.

P.S. Is anyone else sick of the "cleared" taillights look - now that every clapped out Mustang or Civic has them, the ones on the lexus look absolutely laughsable to me now. If I woned that car, I would find a solid lens solution somewhere.

 

Bottom line is that you'll win if you both go straight. Soon as it becomes curvy, he should have the advantage. The IS300 is an extremely good handler. The IS300 engine = supra engine so they are pretty receptive to FI.

 

Sadly, the IS300 had those lights first -- when it was marketed overseas as the Altezza. All the Civic lookalikes are actually called "Altezza lights." You're right though -- all the knock-offs have definitely cheapened the IS300's unique appearance.

 

I agree. Enough already.

 

After reading this thread, I'm starting to feel pretty confident (even though I haven't even bought my TL yet).

I plan on buying a TL in a few weeks though, and my bro. currently owns a mostly-stock 2002 IS300. My current vehicle's a '98 V6 Firebird. It's never compared to my bro's. previous cars, which included two '96 Mystic Cobras, one of which was S/C'd, and dyno'd at 500HP at the rear wheels.

It'll be pretty nice to finally have a chance at beating him for a change. Though now this is yet another reason why I can't wait to get my TL.

 

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