My thoughts on the IS350...
10-12-05, 08:57 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
My thoughts on the IS350...
My dealer called me up today and told me a 350 and a 250 came in. I asked if I could drive it and he said sure thing. After work, I immediately raced over to the Lexus dealership. He hands me the keys and says have fun! Hehe, I love my salesperson. Great guy! Anyways, the 1st thing I noticed about it was the body. You guys were right, I have no issues at all with the exterior. Looks fabulous! The one thing that I had thought was a given was the interior. All the pics I have seen of the interior looked great. I figured that the interior would be a bit smaller than my 330I and thought I could handle it. Well, I'm not so sure I can now. The interior just felt a little tight for me. I had no issues with the seating or driving position. It was merely the small cabin space that I had issues with. The car drove very fast and felt sort of un Lexus-like, that is I felt more connected to the road than the GS I test drove, and my wifes previous es300. I just couldn't get over the cabin space. Please feel free to discuss. Thanks.
Last edited by Maximus330; 10-12-05 at 09:10 PM.
I wonder if the interior would grow on me?
10-12-05, 09:30 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
When I say tight, I mean cramped. I have no issues at all with seating position or anything else. My friend was with me on the test drive and I felt that he could be on my lap! Maybe it will feel different being alone in the car. I am 5'11" and weigh 230.
Last edited by Maximus330; 10-12-05 at 10:08 PM.
10-12-05, 10:02 PM
#6
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I agree, I feel like the cabin is a little bit cramped, unlike the gs where you feel like you could spread your arms out and get your eagle on. Nevertheless I don't think this car is supposed to feel big in any way, IMO its in a the small sports sedan class, with an emphasis on agility and power.
At first I was kinda of upset since I drive a car the size of a living room, but I'm starting to relish the opportunity to drive such a nimble sports sedan.
At first I was kinda of upset since I drive a car the size of a living room, but I'm starting to relish the opportunity to drive such a nimble sports sedan.
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10-12-05, 10:10 PM
#8
Lexus Connoisseur
Originally Posted by NEEDanIS
I agree, I feel like the cabin is a little bit cramped, unlike the gs where you feel like you could spread your arms out and get your eagle on. Nevertheless I don't think this car is supposed to feel big in any way, IMO its in a the small sports sedan class, with an emphasis on agility and power.
At first I was kinda of upset since I drive a car the size of a living room, but I'm starting to relish the opportunity to drive such a nimble sports sedan.
At first I was kinda of upset since I drive a car the size of a living room, but I'm starting to relish the opportunity to drive such a nimble sports sedan.
10-13-05, 04:01 AM
#9
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another thing too is this car is far more driver oriented than any Lexus prior to that. I was told that the VSC in the GS is pretty much fool proof and you cant get the car to step WAY out of line. The IS VSC program is far less intrusive therefore the car can be tossed around and once c you reach the limits you are rewarded with more feedback aswell as control of what the car is doing. Most will see this when they do spirited driving.
10-13-05, 06:04 AM
#10
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Well that's very true as far as I can tell. When we were at the lexus autocross I was actually a little (pleasantly) surprised by how much I could get away with before the VDIM kicked in. I wasn't doing donuts or anything, but I was chirping the tires and just generally driving it pretty hard. From all the reports of crazy VDIM intrusiveness I expected robocop to spring from the dash and busy my butt or something.
10-13-05, 06:28 AM
#11
Lexus Connoisseur
Originally Posted by NeonDan
another thing too is this car is far more driver oriented than any Lexus prior to that. I was told that the VSC in the GS is pretty much fool proof and you cant get the car to step WAY out of line. The IS VSC program is far less intrusive therefore the car can be tossed around and once c you reach the limits you are rewarded with more feedback aswell as control of what the car is doing. Most will see this when they do spirited driving.
10-13-05, 08:55 AM
#13
Lexus Connoisseur
No it's larger.
10-13-05, 09:38 AM
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its larger physically but personally i "FEEL" the interior is a lil bigger. Ive owned several 2nd gen. Neons, currently own a 98 RT Coupe and spend my free time modifying SRT4s (daily driver is an 11 sec cvar ive been workin on for a friend )....the IS300 is smaller interior wise than a 2g Neon but the new IS is close or if not equal in interior space. That was one of my biggest hang ups about 1g IS....my $15-18k neons offered more interior space and trunk space than it but at the end of the day.....Neon > IS300
