[carchrism5]

So i was just wondering if anybody actually likes them, I read the forums for fun and i found the customer base to be hillarious with ppl talking about putting 22's on their IS and "blinging it out" IMO it should be illegal to put chrome rims on "sports sedans" (if u can call the IS that) and it makes me dislike the car even more, and you can actually get chrome grilles, wheels and gold emblems from the dealer, very very tacky IMO,
I drove the is250 and found it to be a torqueless wonder and the is350 to be a fast straight shooter
but i still view them as RWD Corollas

Obviously i am biased but what else do you guys think?

[sflgator]

The older folks here love their IS250's...they're everywhere. The younger guys that drive the IS350's...well, they're ok, but like you said, they don't handle well and they have little TQ; not to mention that the backseat is too small.

I love Lexus (drove 3 of them in the past), but they still emphasize luxury first and performance second; maybe the ISF will change that (although for >$70k)???? Although, imho, I think Lexus should've changed the look of the ISF, instead of making it an IS350 on steroids.

[phantom330]

I don't mind it but I certainly wouldn't pick one over a BMW. If there was no BMW I might consider one, but overall I'm not a fan. Auto tranny is the deal breaker for me.

[HyperM3]

I liked the 350 much better than the original 300 when I drove it. I thought the amenities were really nice and I liked the dash. Downsides were no stick available and no folding rear seats. I think the new design is great but now they are all over the place. I still think the e90 looks much better. But thats German curve design over Japanese angles.

I dont think its a bad car at all, just an easy to drive faster car for those that dont want to be as involved.

[nmulax]

Yeah, the lack of a manual in the 350 was dealbreaker when I started looking at cars. Also didn't help that the Lexus dealer was the rudest one I visited; much worse then BMW, Audi, Saab, or MB.

[stooken]

never drove it but the it took a while for the body style to grow on me.

[richeerich03]

My brother-in-law has the awd is250.
I like it...

[Year's_End]

I personally don't care much for Japanese designs in general. If anything, the only designs that are somewhat intriguing to me are those of Infiniti's, but they still lack details that grab my interest. Toyota/Lexus's designs are far too bland. As a whole, their styling element seems to consist of blobs and malignant growths attached to a generic car profile. The IS is too blobby in design for me...especially the taillights. It's just too Japanese looking.

I don't mind the car, but I definitely wouldn't consider owning one after having ridden in one. Interior is not up to par in any way with the rest of the luxo-Lexus cabins. Just not my style.

I'd give it a 7 or 8 out of 10. Not bad, just not a driver's car.

[just4kickz]

haha well for me it was either g35C, 330i, C350, or is350... was really considering an is350.

[Slke46]

Its a nice car... especially those IS350! Much better than the old IS300 which was a also big hit here. But the lack of manual was a big thumbsdown!

[lyndon_h]

I drove one and was pretty impressed wiht the power delivery (this is when it was positioned against the 330). However, the lack of stick really turned me off.

no

[mmm def]

If the 350 had a manual it would have been a tough choice, I really like that car.

[ZuerstBMW]

Dont like Lexus styling at all.

[AH]

I actually like GS and LS, but IS, hm... No, thanks.

[wj4]

I love the styling of the IS. Along with the new GS and ES and LS. Sure it's not fast, but drop it on nice wheels..you have a really nice looking cruiser.

[ToothDoc]

Originally Posted by carchrism5

=
but i still view them as RWD Corollas

Obviously i am biased but what else do you guys think?

Geez, that's pretty harsh... I got mine in Oct 2005. Back then it was the G35Coupe, IS350 (first came out), 330i, TL, and C class.

I needed automatic - I don't like wasting my times shifting gears - my right hand needs to stuff donuts and McDonald's on my way to work. I needed to stuff golf clubs in the trunk (delete G35C), I didn't want FWD because it accelerates too slow from a dig (delete the TL), and I wanted fast in a straight line to put those Scion TC and Civic Si in their place (remove the 330i). I don't care for carving fast, I don't care about road feel - heck, I'll take my IS350 with a LS suspension softness with less roll if I had my choice. Also, I wanted cheap. 38K for auto, leather, 18" rims, 6cd, heated seats, ventilated seats, homelink, keyless entry, etc. Cheaper than 325i similarly optioned. Plus, I bought a new car so I could avoid warrantee problems (I know, cheap shot - LOL) but my kid sis has a 328i and she had too many problems. I also had a 2002 C class - too many problems and got rid of that so no C class. So, for the criteria back then, I really only had once choice. Oh, I don't really need a big back seat - my son is only 3 anyways. We also have other car/cars so this is only my to and from work car so I'm in it alone 99.9% of the time.

People have different needs and different opinions I guess.

NOW, I wish my IS350 had awd and about 400 more HP. I might have to get that G35x with the twin turbo (I heard it's good for about 700HP). G35x with 700 HP is cheaper and more practical than GT-R.

[Neil]

Yes and the RWD Corollas comment is baseless.

[mach330]

i just can't stand those big ears!!!

[karliejai]

i like it.

[uhaulball]

Originally Posted by ToothDoc

Geez, that's pretty harsh... I got mine in Oct 2005. Back then it was the G35Coupe, IS350 (first came out), 330i, TL, and C class.

I needed automatic - I don't like wasting my times shifting gears - my right hand needs to stuff donuts and McDonald's on my way to work. I needed to stuff golf clubs in the trunk (delete G35C), I didn't want FWD because it accelerates too slow from a dig (delete the TL), and I wanted fast in a straight line to put those Scion TC and Civic Si in their place (remove the 330i). I don't care for carving fast, I don't care about road feel - heck, I'll take my IS350 with a LS suspension softness with less roll if I had my choice. Also, I wanted cheap. 38K for auto, leather, 18" rims, 6cd, heated seats, ventilated seats, homelink, keyless entry, etc. Cheaper than 325i similarly optioned. Plus, I bought a new car so I could avoid warrantee problems (I know, cheap shot - LOL) but my kid sis has a 328i and she had too many problems. I also had a 2002 C class - too many problems and got rid of that so no C class. So, for the criteria back then, I really only had once choice. Oh, I don't really need a big back seat - my son is only 3 anyways. We also have other car/cars so this is only my to and from work car so I'm in it alone 99.9% of the time.

People have different needs and different opinions I guess.

NOW, I wish my IS350 had awd and about 400 more HP. I might have to get that G35x with the twin turbo (I heard it's good for about 700HP). G35x with 700 HP is cheaper and more practical than GT-R.

g35x has 700hp? wtf?

[Neema]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

I personally don't care much for Japanese designs in general. If anything, the only designs that are somewhat intriguing to me are those of Infiniti's, but they still lack details that grab my interest. Toyota/Lexus's designs are far too bland. As a whole, their styling element seems to consist of blobs and malignant growths attached to a generic car profile. The IS is too blobby in design for me...especially the taillights. It's just too Japanese looking.

+1