Lexus IS300. Yea or nay?

[TheRobSJ]

On a somewhat unrelated note...

I just went and checked out the new 2014 Chevy Impala LTZ. And.....dayum. What a nice, nice car that is. Pictures online don't do it justice or give you an idea how roomy it is inside. I know GM wanted to get it more upscale and move it away from the "rental car" that it has been. They have done well. If you're looking for a full sizer, this should easily be the best in the class short of dropping three times as much for a Euro luxury barge.

 

[byke]

Well now that's a bummer. My buddy bought an E39 M5 and the thing was ridiculously awesome. I would love to have one someday, but not if they haven't made big improvements in reliability.

That Impala does look nice from the side.

 

[Kornholio]

I realize one person doesn't make any difference in this, but no European car I've ever owned has had any serious issues outside of wear and tear. And only two of them had warranties when I bought them. YMMV

 

[stan23]

I've had good luck with my Euros; 330ci/M3/M5/B5 A4/E420. But I will admit, the quality (while using nicer materials) doesn't seem as well put together as say your typical Honda.

We bought a new M X1 a few months back, and last week, I took it to one of those touchless drive through car washes (basically a high pressure spray on the whole car) and the painted fuel door came off. Seems they are held on by friction, and when the door fell off, it got all scratched up. Now we have to repaint it.

 

[Dr. Evil]

I'll raise you one:

I know that everyone likes the car they like, which is fine, but...

No.

I realize one person doesn't make any difference in this, but no European car I've ever owned has had any serious issues outside of wear and tear. And only two of them had warranties when I bought them. YMMV

This. If they're well cared-for in their early life, there's no reason a european car has to be a money pit. Trouble is, most of them are abused, even if it doesn't look like it.

 

[fawndog]

I see one at the Alameda autoX being driven as it should, so some molesting isn't so bad.

 

[auntiebling]

I was just about to say that.

Actually, the 'Altezza' lights are already factory on the US IS.

Finding a clean unmolested one would be the challenge. But they sold enough here that it shouldn't be a problem.

I am still on the hunt for a clean unmolested Type-R.

Oh and one of my favorite bumper stickers; "Altezza, buy the car, not the lights"

they did come with them, but that didn't preventing a lot of them from getting "upgraded"

i haven't seen one so adorned in quite a while, i presume most of the cosmetically assaulted ones have been crashed out by now or they're in east san jose where i don't frequently wander

 

[Nucking Futs]

I had an IS350 and hated it. It wasn't fun to drive. It was an automatic with paddle shifting, which was BS.

Traded that in for an E92 M3. More money but the BMW makes the Lexus look and feel like Geo Metro.

 

[Var]

I had an IS350 and hated it. It wasn't fun to drive. It was an automatic with paddle shifting, which was BS.

Traded that in for an E92 M3. More money but the BMW makes the Lexus look and feel like Geo Metro.

Here's the problem with these cars. Are they 'good' cars? Yes. Absolutely.

But they have the exact combination of isolation and lack of power that makes the very mundane.
They handle well, but not enough to excuse the lack of power.
They are somewhat quick, but not enough to excuse the lack of virility .

Lexus is the perfect combination of boring, but there is technically nothing wrong with the car.

 

[Kornholio]

The 250/350 isn't the same car as the 300. Honestly I always thought the 300's were better looking and probably drive better too.

 

[MC BumSlap]

I'll raise you one:

LOL...no.

 

[yelow748]

 

[KooLaid]

nay.

 

[Kornholio]

That was always my favorite color for the IS300.

 

[Var]

The 250/350 isn't the same car as the 300. Honestly I always thought the 300's were better looking and probably drive better too.

The old ones do drive 'better' in a way. The new cars are more isolated and disconnected in feel but they are faster and can corner faster.

 

[AllenRepsol]

I had an IS350 and hated it. It wasn't fun to drive. It was an automatic with paddle shifting, which was BS.

Traded that in for an E92 M3. More money but the BMW makes the Lexus look and feel like Geo Metro.

That would be the same as me comparing a 328 to my ISF. More money, but the Lexus makes the BMW look and feel like a Geo Metro

 

[wilit]

Thanks for the info everyone. Just talked to my neighbor who used to have one and it sounds like it's probably not going to happen. I need to fit a kid in the backseat and he said that's the reason he sold it, very small backseat.

Oh well... Continuing the search for a new family cruiser.

 

[MC BumSlap]

look for a GS?