I was heading out of Costco today and they had an IS 250 AWD sitting near the exit.

What a great looking car. The exterior styling really "grabbed" me. The car was locked, so I didn't get to sit in it, etc, but damn...

Sticker was over $35K, which seems like a lot. For that kind of money, I rather get in a 325/328 BMW.


Maybe some day.

 

Costo sells Lexus' ??

 

^^^^^

They have an auto buying club...

 

I was looking at the new IS, but compared to the new infiniti it can't compare... so I bought the G and haven't looked back. I agree I like the styling of the new IS, but the interior feels a bit small, even for the size car it is.

 

The new G is nice too... When it comes to put the TSX out to pasture, I'll certainly be looking at the G.

I miss my coupe dearly.

 

I test drove the 250 AWD and the 350 at the local Taste Of Lexus event, and I think that given the choice between an 06 TSX and an 06 IS 250 AWD, I'd still decide on the TSX. Mostly because of value. The 250 on the road course they set up didn't feel as nimble and sporty as the TSX, and the room in the back is cramped!

The 350 was another story. I really liked it, but with the sport package, the 350 is over 40k which is waaaay too much. The one they had on display at the event had a sticker of $48k - What the hell?!

 

Interesting... I will say the TSX can be tossed around and feels quite confident on the road. And I enjoy the benefit of 24mpg in the city.

I just wonder as I ultimately move towards a new car in a few years if I'll be able to bring myself to spend $30K+ on a car. Ah well... Got a few years still.

 

TSX>IS250

IS looks sexier than it drives.

And yes, the back seat is a tight fit.

 

The IS rocks, but it's not a great bang for the buck...

If you must have RWD (or awd), the infinitis or bimmers are probably the way to go.... The IS does look sexy, just not that sexy for the price... Might as well go with a BMW in that price range or for a little cheaper with a G35.

 

I feel very meh about the IS. Something just doesn't do it for me - the styling and overall feel of the car are not too impressive.

I prefer the new G35 far over the IS personally.

 

I've heard this on several occasions. My roommate test drove one and hated it but to each his own...

 

I think the IS is by far, the best looking Lexus in their line-up. And the upcoming IS500 will be an absolute beast.

Lexus still hasn't mastered how to build a great feeling 6MT, just like Acura hasn't mastered great brake feel.

I'm a value guy though, and even though I could easily afford to drive a vehicle 2x more expensive, I'm still thrilled to get in my TSX after almost 3 years.

 

The 250 is so underpowered though...love the 350 though

 

ya...and i mean, who wouldn't want all that plastic on the interior of the G?






...looks like GM made the inside...

 

I was just about to buy a TSX, when my wife and I realized that her Saturn Vue had to go.

Then, when it was my turn again to look for a car, I still wanted a TSX but my brother-in-law got one... so I got an IS.





Yes, the back seats are ridiculously small.

 

I had a TSX, and after it was in a bad accident, I bought an IS250 AWD.

Build quality of the IS just feels stronger than that of the TSX. The body feels stronger and the first thing I noticed was the smoothness of the tranny.

The TSX was sportier for sure, but the Lexus is that much smoother and more comfortable if that is what you are in to. For me, it had all the features that I liked and wanted.

Prior to the TSX, I used to have a 330ci. That definitely satisfied my need for a fun to drive, sportier car. At this point in my life, the Lexus was the best all around car for me and the price is accurately priced IMO for the other cars in its classes for the features that Lexus puts inside.

Also, backup camera ftw

 

You've got to look at an 07 G35 its a significant improvement across the board over the old G, I never liked the old G due to the interior, but I liked its performance. I like the whole package of the 07 more then any car under 40k

 

I been in Ryans car and even driven it. Its not sporty to what i would want but its very PLUSH unlike his tsx or 330 was. Its very comfortable and the tranny is very smooth like he mentioned.

You get what you pay for and lexus shows it.

 

I wouldn't exactly call the IS's interior plush. It's nice with the wood trim, although pretty downmarket looking with the plastic metal trim.

 

^^That's the old interior.

^^That is the new one.

 

^ New interior 100X better, hell the steering wheel alone is 100X better

 

ya, that new interior does look better. i just hate that plastic aluminum trim. it's so tacky. and those huge, vertical air vents remind me of a pickup truck. big definite UGLY. but other than those things, the new G's interior is a big improvement over the old one. if they kept the sportiness of the car and added the luxury of the lexus then that would be a perfect combination.

 

So, in other words, a 3-series?

 

The new G35 uses real aluminum, no longer the plastic aluminum trim. Actually, the last refresh of the G35 (05 or 06, I forget) replaced the plastic for real aluminum as well.

 

hah, yes. but not the current ones, the older gens. aside from the 335i coupe (which i only respect b/c it's an absolute MONSTER) the new 3 series are ugly inside and out. they use cheaper materials than the previous ones and charge more for them? BMW has really downgraded the materials and finish inside and outside of their new sedans.

 

alright, let me rephrase then. i hate the real aluminum trim. it's so tacky.

maybe if there wasn't so much of it all over the car it wouldn't be so bad.

 

I like the IS. Drove the 250 and the 350 at the lexus drive event. Given that it is no 3 series, lexus is improving the sportiness of their cars a good bit.

Does anyone know if the woodgrain in the IS is real? It almost looks fake in the pic on page 1.

 

i agree with most of your. the IS is a sexy car, but it's expensive for what it is.

the back is cramped, but that's not really a problem for me since usually, it's just me or one other person in the car.

if i had to buy again, i'd take the tsx over the is250 still...mostly because of value. i'd probably take the new g35 over the is350 for the same reason too. it's just too expensive.

 

The IS interior and new G interior have identical interior construction components, with the Lexus offering more wood. How do you call it downmarket looking?

 

i hate the analog clock that Infinit has always used it kills me

 

ah, i like the analog clock. it's not all that special to me, but it's something different. it won't make or break a decision though. it's unique.

as for the IS interior, i actually like the layout better than the tsx. i've always preferred the sporty/aluminum look to the woodgrain, but there is a lot of plastic on the IS's.

 

Infiniti uses real alum trim unlike Lexus in there painted plastics. Also Acura builds / uses better materials than the IS.

 

No they don't. The IS, as I said, has the fake metal trim, which is more at home in a Civic than in an IS. The new G uses real aluminum - there is a difference when you see the two in the flesh. The IS's interior, overall, is quite good. I just have issue with the plastic aluminum, which, as I said, looks downmarket on such an expensive car.

 

dude, that G is 03-04!! go check out the new 07!

 

It's actually a 05-06 G35.

Here is my 05 G35 I had.. I like the black interior better.



It was a high quality interior compared to 03-04.





Real Alum trim.

 

yeah yeah!!

 

That I totally disagree with. I had a TSX. Comparing the two interiors of the TSX and the IS is like apples and oranges. My TSX had more plastic inside than the Lexus does any day.

 

Umm sorry but pictures prove that I am right. The IS has way too much plastic. No real alum trim but painted plastic trim everywhere. Poor quality materials. It is a known issue on the lexus forums. That is why I posted pictures. It's as bad as the 03-04 G35's. The TSX/TL own the IS in this catagory. The older IS300 was better quality.

 

The trunk looks tiny.

 

Agreed. I think both vehicles execute the interiors very well.

As far as comparing plastic VS aluminum... I guess it's just my engineering mentality but, why use aluminium for trim when plastic can replicate (to some extent) its visual purpose? I'm guess it really comes down to feel, durability, personal preference, etc. But at that point both plastic & aluminum have their advantages and disadvangates. It's kind of like wheelbarrows. . . Why get one that's made of 3mm thick stainless steel when 1mm will do just fine? (Actually, I just bought a new wheelbarrow and I'm kind of pissed that it feels thin/flimsy. No where near as thick as my parent's.). I guess in the end, it's case-by-case.

P.S. I have the wood accent in my IS. The only "superb quality" interior accent pieces I have encountered have been in Audi or BMW.