shaolin

Blasphemy I know...

I love my 8 I really do. But, I work in a field where I need a car that clients will be able to get in and out of a little easier.

the IS is the same size inside the cabin, but entry and exit is easier, as does it "appear" more spacious than an 8.

It's also more upscale with voice activated nav, bluetooth, and a back up camera. I havent' test driven it yet, but I like how it looks on paper.

Originally I was going to keep the 8 and get an RX hybrid, but after looking at the IS, I think I can save money by just trading in, and get a little sportiness and a good business vehicle as well.

I just love my 8 so much I don't know if I can fathom getting rid of it. Plus I am a die hard rotary fan. I just don't know...

I'm going to see if I can get a test drive today...

BlueEyes

I sat in one the other day. The backseats are really small. I'm 6'1 and I wouldn't sit back there.

DreRX8

Its faster than an 8--but its brakes and handling will leave you wishing for an RX8 in those hairy situations. Its a very very nice car--in fact its the first Lexus I've liked since 1998.

playdoh43

go for it, its a nice ride and sure to depreciate real slow. good luck getting a good price though, get ready to see some markups for the first couple of months.

Sephiroth

Who the hell needs a backup camera? Whatever happened to the good ole days when you reach behind the passenger seat and lift up to look behind?

Sorry if im coming off harsh but bluetooth and backup camera are completely unnecessary features, and the RX8 already has Nav.

BlueEyes

The 8 comes with a lot of completely uneccesary features. Of which I will detail some.
18" wheels
keyless entry
leather
Nav
Traction control
DSC
air conditioning
power windows
power seats
sound deadening
etc etc etc

shaolin

I know, but it's a nice "wow" factor to impress the people I do business with...

In a profession where image is everything, saying you drive a Lexus vs saying you drive a Mazda can mean whether or not you get the client.

I personally would rather keep the 8, but sometimes in light of business, you have to make sacrifices...

We'll just have to see if I can bring myself to do it.

Sephiroth

shaolin, i feel for you. Good luck with whatever you go with. Nice sig btw.

blueeyes, you are making my point. The 8 already has a good list of features (the first 6 atleast) that are considerably luxurious/upscale IMO. Then again, i tend not to care for features i don't use extensively (coming from an FC)

hedgecore

One of my best friends just got a loaded IS350...i'm waiting for an '06 rx-8.

Personally, the first thing i thought after driving it was "Wow, maybe i should wait for the IS 350 coupe!"

I was really impressed.

However:

The back seats suck...not much room there at all...and the ergonomics seem a bit "off" to me...i'm 6'0"...getting in and out is a bit easier than the 8, but once inside, i think the 8 is a bit more ergonomic.

The car is fast...really fast...but yes, it isn't all that great breaking or turning.

It's feel is good, but the driving expierience it offers isn't on par with a 3-series(It's probably quicker though...as noted above).

Interrior looks cool, plush and luxurious. Not as much edge as the 8, but each car's interior suits it.

All in all it's a great car...not quite as sharp as a bmw, but more tek and more plush.


I'm still looking forward to the 8...but the 350 is pretty sweet. WAAAAY different from the 8 though...it's all about what you want out of your car...you sound like you could use a different car...the IS350 is a really awesome different car.

BlueEyes

I'm not mistaking it. What do you think people were saying when keyless entry was starting to show up. Probably something like:

Who the hell needs keyless entry? Whatever happened to the good ole days when you sticl your key in the door an turn.

15 years from now, backup cameras will probably be on every car. Any people will be bitching about the good old days when tires touched the ground. Progress my freind.

hedgecore

Agreed, progress is good...most people who find features useless are either:

A) Haven't tried them with an honest and open mind.

B) Lack the intellect to understand how to integrate the new behaviors required by these features into their existing behavior pattern.


Bluetooth phone integration KICKS A$$...esp when you set up a custom profile for your phone to behave with while in the car.

Back up cams add a lot of visual information while backing up...more information is good.

mikeb

the 350 is a very nice car
good luck and keep us posted if you do it man
but you will pay some out of pocket

NomisR

I've driven the IS350 and IS250 this past weekend at the Lexus event and although the car is very fast (IS350) on the straights, it's handling does not inspire any confidence at all. The steering is way too light, too lexus like, too much body roll and the suspension feels extremely floaty, boat like for the size of the car, not close to being sporty as they claim. It's a huge change from the Rx8.. not what I want in a car.

Interiorwise though, it feels really well put together with a lot of nice options and accessories, feels luxurious. However, I don't see anything bad about the Rx8 either. It looks a lot more expensive than it is. I've picked up clients in my freshly Zainoed, Luxol 8 and they really liked it. Depends on what option you have too I suppose. Shinka edition would look a lot better than a Base model I guess.

hedgecore

Nomi...you seem to be knocking on the handling...i'm not saying it's as good as the 8, but i classified it below the bmw 3, yet above most all other sedans in it's class...what do you think?

therm8

I say, there's no reason to let a car hold back your career development. After all, more clients = more money = IS +an 8 eventually

Ike

I saw a white one for the firt time other day, they look awesome, and if you want something more luxurious yet not totally boring to drive they're a good choice.

spork

I've heard the handling is very decent. A friend of mine went to the Taste of Lexus last weekend and said it cornered quite well. As far as I'm concerned, I would get the IS over the RX-8 except for the fact that you're giving up manual transmission (or 36 horsepower) and you pay a significant amount more.

I'm also tempted to get an IS after my lease is over. But not because of business reasons. A lot of it concerns gas mileage (My commute now is about 3.5 miles each way which means like I'm getting like 14mpg when I do that) and the fact that Lexus service (from what I hear) is 5x better than the service I got in Orange County and 20x better than the service I got in LA.

Just last night I was talking to someone who just had an accident in his 350Z and he was saying that he was thinking of getting a hybrid if the car was declared a loss to offset the cost of fuel. I asked him what he was getting and he said he was getting 24 city, 29 freeway. And I'm sitting there thinking how I've never even gotten over 20mpg myself. Oh well. I'm still considering buying my car after the lease. I'll just have to see how good the other Mazda dealerships are in my area.

NomisR

Well I got to drive the BMW 330i in the same event, driven the G35 sedan, TL which are all arguably in the same class. I definately prefer the BMW over the IS as I could drive through the same corners at higher speeds without getting the same plowing understeer as I was with the IS. Overall, the BMW felt like a lot bettr driver's vehicle than the IS as it isolates you from the feel of the road with all the electronic gadgetry although it has a slower acceration. I would rank both the G35 and TL higher than the IS in road feel as well as well as the steering feel, again, the IS has inherited too much Toyota feel to the car. However handling wise, I think the TL didn't handle as well with the slight torque steer due to the FWD configuration . G35 is still better although felt heavier than the IS, but it also feels like it has a stiffer suspension as well.

Basically, if you want to ride in a car and control it from behind the wheels, this is the car for you. However, if you want to drive the car, I wouldn't even consider it. Too electronic feel and need LSD....

NomisR

Actually, I take that back, just drove my coworker's TL again and it actually felt more comfortable pushing the car around the corner at high speeds than with the IS, again it's the Toyotaness to the car. So the handling of the TL feels better, but again, torque steer is a turn off. So over all I'd rank it 330i, G35, TL, IS350 out of the cars I've driven in this car for handling.

Sephiroth

Just so happens that im one of those people as well. Both my cars don't have any of these features, but somehow im still doing just fine :shrug:

My point is not to bitch, but to get people to think about what they are buying. Paying top dolla in the name of "progress" may not be the smartest move for some (like me). I sure as hell woudn't want to pay for features that "sound" cool to me and others but have no real use for me or are not worth the money. In shaolin's case i can understand, but i see this happen with a lot of other people so i thought id chime in.

Thats all im trying to say

/hijack

playdoh43

for me its 330i, G35, IS350, TL. TL has more understeer and bodyroll than the IS, torque steer is not really a problem with the TL for me, but i might be wrong since i havnt driven it for a while. Its also downgraded to 258hp from 270 under the new SAE ratings. G35 coupe is another story though compared to the sedan, its got true 50/50 weight distribution during cornering and 19 inch Y rated Potenzas that grips better than anything in the class, these are used on ferraris and 911s, not even the M3 has grip like that. 330i still have the best steering response though, thats soemthing ive always liked about bmws.

Japan8

As I haven't driven the car I can't say personally, but according to all magazine reviews... both USDM and JDM AND people who've test driven the new IS... it's not all that.

Looks improved. Perfomance and such improved over the previous model... C&D (I think) said it's the most sporty Lexus yet. However... backseats suck. Handling is so so. Steering feels "Lexus-like" floaty/disconnected. The 3 Series, while too expensive, was deemed the better car. The G35 almost beat it... and it's old! It offers more backseat room, better performance and better handling. It's major drawback is that the design is getting old. With all things the same and an updated body on the G35... I am willing to bet that it would have beat out the IS350.

Japan8

BTW... you can't turn off traction control/vehicle stability in the IS. Another negative noted by magazines.

DARKMAZ8

what about a used lexus es330?

or the new avalon?

lots more room in the back.

mpt_yellowRX8

i am really impressed with the IS 350. good performance and a sporty look, and not as many on the road as the 3 series.

i am currently looking into getting one for the wife early next year. i usually drive us everywhere so i'd get a lot of seat time too. they are a great car. maybe not as much leg room in the rear for some, but i'm short and my wife is average height for women so you taller people could probably fit nicely behind us. they are very sporty and will offer enough of a different ride from the 8 to make both drives seem different. only problem is that we'd have to go to Jax to buy because it has the closest Lexus dealer to us in Florida. don't want to have to fill out all that paperwork and pay those extra taxes if i go into Alabama.