Bichon

With a 12:1 compression ratio, are you sure that the engine in the IS is a reasonable candidate for forced induction?

LexFather

Please talk to him

Audball

For mild boost applications, leaving the stock internals is probably fine. The direct injection might be a new area of research/testing for forced induction applications, and is the major reason I'm undecided as to whether to be an early adopter/guinea pig. (For comparison's sake, the Honda S2000's 2.0L FC20 engine has an 11:1 compression ration or thereabouts, and a 5.5PSI Paxton Novi 1000 setup gains you 100HP at the crank -- this is a complete bolt-on situation).

I'd personally be fine with a 60-80HP gain over stock IS250 performance, and my guess is that goal is completely attainable with stock internals. However, if that turns out not to be the case, I'll get some lower compression pistons made. (Not a fan of using a thicker headgasket to lower compression). If I end up having to open up the engine, I might as well beef more stuff up, and go for higher gains (350-400HP appears to be a safe/reliable goal, given my Googling for currently existing Toyota/Lexus forced induction solutions).

Terminator

Why would you spend the money to supercharge your 250, when you can save $ and get a 350 anyways, not being a smarta$$, just trying to be realistic. Now if you had a 350 and wanted to supercharge it, now were talking, but wouldn't go with a turbo on the 350, def a spercharger!

Audball

You obviously didn't read my first post in its entirety. I explicitly chose NOT to get the IS350 because it doesn't come in manual transmission, and it's automatic transmission behavior is poor. Money is not the issue, and the cost difference between in IS250 and an IS350 is on par with an aftermarket boost application (aftermarket will run slightly higher, depending on parts and labor).

If Lexus comes out with an MT IS350, I'll trade in/up. If not, I'll boost. And no, a supercharger isn't necessarily the best way to go. It's probably more reliable and maintainable, but a turbo setup has better torque characteristics. Given that the IS250 only has 187ft/lb or so, plus the fact that I'm only looking for a mild boost setup (on par with IS350 output), a small, quick-spooling turbo is probably a good bet.

RA010324

definitely rather have the manual....what's the use of having AWD if you still have to deal with that terrible slushbox.

gs400998

AWD. I will buy a non-Lexus vehicle if I really want to drive a manual.

RA010324

sport sedan = manual

If Lexus ever wants to make a true sport sedan to compete with BMW or Audi, they gotta put the stick in it. If you want a luxo-cruiser, buy a TL with FWD

Jimmer350

Sequential manual with AWD would make me switch in a heart-beat.

RA010324

they're already out there.....it's called an A3......yeah, I'd love one too

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

manual please, TX has little need for AWD =P

They should do something similar to what acura did for their manual, they kept it as the same price as the automatic but gave you an LSD and better brakes with the 6 speed to even out the price

IS350spBLK

daveortega

That has more to do with the standard sport package and larger wheels, where they are optional for the 6AT cars.

lig

Manual, please. I was on a waitlist for an IS350 6MT (my dealer told me I could get a 350 6MT)

When it became clear that no manual was coming out for a while I bought an S4 6MT.

The torque rules. The S4 gas mileage is horrible though - 10-14 city and 20 hwy. I would have preferred RWD to AWD but all S4s are Quattro. I didn't get an M3 because I wanted a sedan for business (and I have an S2000 for high revving fun )

I'm hoping that there will be an IS Coupe as I am still a big fan of Lexus and the wifey is due for a new car in the next year or two.

Lexwang07

I voted for Manual IS350! That's means fast as E46 M3, EVO 8, and STi! Upgrades some cold air intake, header, cat back exhuast, and supercharger! That's makes IS350 beast! Raw power! I guess, everybody saw new Infiniti G concept car, right! Infiniti makes G37 horsepower leap to around 330! I saw Car And Driver Speed Magazine, G35 Coupe owner had twin turbo makes around 550. Car and Driver test G35 Coupe 0-60 times: 5 flat! What a crap *** car! Huge turbo lag!