What to buy IS350 or GS350?
04-06-10, 11:29 AM
#32
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04-06-10, 01:01 PM
#36
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The dial in my 07 seemed kind of goofy until I got used to it (a week or so later).
Most of the time I just use the express feature. Push it to open the sunroof, push it to close the sunroof. When used that way, it becomes the most simple sunroof button ever put in a modern car.
Most of the time I just use the express feature. Push it to open the sunroof, push it to close the sunroof. When used that way, it becomes the most simple sunroof button ever put in a modern car.
04-06-10, 03:47 PM
#37
Lexus Fanatic
hah. see what i mean. It's a biased crapshoot.
the IS crowd is a larger crowd. they will be more vocal.
so now it comes down to "eeny meeny miny moe" and you'll have to test drive the IS anyway.
they're both comparable in terms of reliability and defects. So now it's down to your own preferences.
the IS crowd is a larger crowd. they will be more vocal.
so now it comes down to "eeny meeny miny moe" and you'll have to test drive the IS anyway.
they're both comparable in terms of reliability and defects. So now it's down to your own preferences.
04-06-10, 05:44 PM
#40
On the '09 and later they replaced the dial with 2 buttons. They also redid all the window & doorlock switches. They all feel much lower quality to me, but some people seem to like them.
Personally I like the dial b/c I can just give it a twist and not have to hold down a button to set it where I want... and it's still one-touch to fully open.
Personally I like the dial b/c I can just give it a twist and not have to hold down a button to set it where I want... and it's still one-touch to fully open.
04-06-10, 09:35 PM
#43
Lexus Fanatic
Thanks for everyone help... I drive to work about 80 miles a day, so trying to find something good on gas but yet fun to drive... I really don't need space bc I don't have kids. Only reason I would get the GS350 is for the VIP factor.. I am thinking leaning towards the IS350 for sporty and practical daily driven car..
So the interior in the IS350 is better then GS350?
So the interior in the IS350 is better then GS350?
I like the IS350 much more then the 3rd gen GS but I would get one used, IS350s cost way too much new which is why I believe I never see them on the road where I only see IS250's. I looked at a few IS350's when gas prices were high and I wanted something a little sportier that got a little better fuel economy. I thought it drove pretty well but the steering still lacked feedback. The interior quality was decent but not as impressive as I thought it would be although I did like the soft pliable top dash material. The gauges were very nice and it was pretty quick. The rear seat was a joke and more like 2+2 sized. The ones I test drove interiors did not seem to hold up so well with alot of noticeable wear and things peeling off on a car only a 2 years old so I would look into that if you are buying used. It is still a great looking sedan in my opinion.
I am just not very impressed with the 3rd Gen GS. It does not feel as solid or as well built as the 2nd Gen and some of the materials are noticeably flimsier. The exterior looks kind of frumpy and the rear just does not look good, nowhere near as good looking and classy as the 2nd gen. They also have a bunch of issues with rattles and squeaks and it was put on the not recommended list in consumer reports. Every one I test drove had noticeable rattles and squeaks. Interior design is okay but looks plain and uninspired to me. Front headroom is pretty bad also. The way it drives is just wrong, it rides rougher then the 2nd Gen giving the "impression" of being sportier but it still lacks feedback or involvement of something sporty and is not fun to drive, the drive felt very artificial. I would rather just have the 2nd Gens softer ride over the 3rd Gen trying to feel sportier while not really being very involving or fun.
I would also check out a 3rd Gen Acura TL type S if you are looking for something that is sporty and gets decent gas mileage or a Infiniti G37 if your looking for something sporty but the gas mileage of the G37 won't be much if any better then your GS430.
If you don't have kids and will hardly ever be having someone in the rear seat I would go with a well maintained used IS350 over a GS350. It is so much better looking then the 3rd Gen GS and is more nimble with a more involving sportier ride plus the IS does not seem to have as many issues as the 3rd Gen GS.
04-06-10, 10:37 PM
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If you are going to have people riding in the back with any kind of regularity then I would definitely not get a IS, the rear seat is extremely cramped even for a car that size.
I like the IS350 much more then the 3rd gen GS but I would get one used, IS350s cost way too much new which is why I believe I never see them on the road where I only see IS250's. I looked at a few IS350's when gas prices were high and I wanted something a little sportier that got a little better fuel economy. I thought it drove pretty well but the steering still lacked feedback. The interior quality was decent but not as impressive as I thought it would be although I did like the soft pliable top dash material. The gauges were very nice and it was pretty quick. The rear seat was a joke and more like 2+2 sized. The ones I test drove interiors did not seem to hold up so well with alot of noticeable wear and things peeling off on a car only a 2 years old so I would look into that if you are buying used. It is still a great looking sedan in my opinion.
I am just not very impressed with the 3rd Gen GS. It does not feel as solid or as well built as the 2nd Gen and some of the materials are noticeably flimsier. The exterior looks kind of frumpy and the rear just does not look good, nowhere near as good looking and classy as the 2nd gen. They also have a bunch of issues with rattles and squeaks and it was put on the not recommended list in consumer reports. Every one I test drove had noticeable rattles and squeaks. Interior design is okay but looks plain and uninspired to me. Front headroom is pretty bad also. The way it drives is just wrong, it rides rougher then the 2nd Gen giving the "impression" of being sportier but it still lacks feedback or involvement of something sporty and is not fun to drive, the drive felt very artificial. I would rather just have the 2nd Gens softer ride over the 3rd Gen trying to feel sportier while not really being very involving or fun.
I would also check out a 3rd Gen Acura TL type S if you are looking for something that is sporty and gets decent gas mileage or a Infiniti G37 if your looking for something sporty but the gas mileage of the G37 won't be much if any better then your GS430.
If you don't have kids and will hardly ever be having someone in the rear seat I would go with a well maintained used IS350 over a GS350. It is so much better looking then the 3rd Gen GS and is more nimble with a more involving sportier ride plus the IS does not seem to have as many issues as the 3rd Gen GS.
I like the IS350 much more then the 3rd gen GS but I would get one used, IS350s cost way too much new which is why I believe I never see them on the road where I only see IS250's. I looked at a few IS350's when gas prices were high and I wanted something a little sportier that got a little better fuel economy. I thought it drove pretty well but the steering still lacked feedback. The interior quality was decent but not as impressive as I thought it would be although I did like the soft pliable top dash material. The gauges were very nice and it was pretty quick. The rear seat was a joke and more like 2+2 sized. The ones I test drove interiors did not seem to hold up so well with alot of noticeable wear and things peeling off on a car only a 2 years old so I would look into that if you are buying used. It is still a great looking sedan in my opinion.
I am just not very impressed with the 3rd Gen GS. It does not feel as solid or as well built as the 2nd Gen and some of the materials are noticeably flimsier. The exterior looks kind of frumpy and the rear just does not look good, nowhere near as good looking and classy as the 2nd gen. They also have a bunch of issues with rattles and squeaks and it was put on the not recommended list in consumer reports. Every one I test drove had noticeable rattles and squeaks. Interior design is okay but looks plain and uninspired to me. Front headroom is pretty bad also. The way it drives is just wrong, it rides rougher then the 2nd Gen giving the "impression" of being sportier but it still lacks feedback or involvement of something sporty and is not fun to drive, the drive felt very artificial. I would rather just have the 2nd Gens softer ride over the 3rd Gen trying to feel sportier while not really being very involving or fun.
I would also check out a 3rd Gen Acura TL type S if you are looking for something that is sporty and gets decent gas mileage or a Infiniti G37 if your looking for something sporty but the gas mileage of the G37 won't be much if any better then your GS430.
If you don't have kids and will hardly ever be having someone in the rear seat I would go with a well maintained used IS350 over a GS350. It is so much better looking then the 3rd Gen GS and is more nimble with a more involving sportier ride plus the IS does not seem to have as many issues as the 3rd Gen GS.
The GS350 is a pretty decent car. I would stay away from the 460 or the hybrid as the prices just get too high.
Keep in mind that buying either the IS or GS you are buying a vehicle at the tail end of the design cycle.
For what its worth, the IS250 AWD is probably the best value out of them all, it makes a nice little cheap Lexus.