vp911

1. Are the cooled seats in the IS350 the same that are in the ES330? I have read that there are different types of cooled seats. I ask because we had an ES330 loaner a while ago and the seats got cold QUICK.

2. I know there is another thread for those who live in the cold areas related to the tires. The 18" wheels - do they come with all seasons or summer tires? I ask because today I test drove the IS350 and on a SMALL patch of snow the car skid. Scared me that it would skid so easily, although I guess the VDIM did a damn good job getting me into a straight line again.

3. How many of you have used the nav system in the IS and the Acura nav systems, thoughts? I know in the past people have said that the acura nav system has always been better than lexus, but I don't know about the new 5th gen nav.

4. Sat. Radio - I have heard two stories, YES it can be installed once the dealers get the kit (for those who bought the car already) and then that NO it won't be integrated into the nav.

5. With the bluetooth, is it, or is it not possible to speak to the car and basically say "dial xxx-xxx-xxxx" It was my understanding that with the RX330 you cannot so I assuemd that is the case with the IS also.

6. With the ML, I assume the car can play DVD-a discs correct? If so, is it possible to play dvd video music also whiel driving? I know it won't show the video, but in the M35/M45 it will play the music but not the video. In the 05-06 Acura RL (my current vehicle) it will not play dvd video at all.

7. What is this that I hear about being able to set the top speed of teh car, and it will warn you if you exceed it... true? False?

8. Anybody have laser shifter installed? I have the escort zr3 installed in my RL and had it in the my TL when I had it - can't live without it.

9. In a previous thread I had asked about how quiet the IS is. For some reason it seemed a LOT louder than any other lexus I have been in (including our RX300). The RL seems a lot quieter, although it could be because of the active noise cancelling in there. Not sure Could it be the tires?

10. Do ANY dealers offer any maintanence agreements? (e.g. the standard bmw coverage and audi coverage for 50k miles - oil changes, etc all covered?) My dealer said they do not.

11. Maybe I am just stupid, but I make the assumption that there is homelink in the IS, correct? I forgot to look during my test drive earlier today.

Overall test drive thoughts: Coming from the RL of course it felt small, but I am OK with that. I wanted to go to something smaller, more fun. Snow patch + skidding made me worry a lot, especially because with the RL I can plow right through the snow. Interior for some reason seemed somewhat cheap for lexus. The seats were not lexus soft - for a $45k car, I would expect them to be softer. It is a rocket though, the thing MOVES very fast. I guess to some extent I am dissapointed that lexuslink won't be offered in the IS yet, but not really a big deal to me. Other than that, I was concerned about crash test ratings (totaled TL makes me worry about these things) - but my gut tells me Lexus did a good amount of engineering with the car and planned for accidents in advance.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

1) They're ventilated seats, not air-conditioned. Like the ES.

2) 18" stocks come with summer low profile tires.

3) IS trumps Acura nav system IMO.

4) You can install Sat radio, and it should be integrated into Nav. However, I don't know if they will have traffic integrated into nav...

5) Haven't tried. I think you can program a number into a single voice command, such as people's names or places.

6) DVD use while driving can be programmed but you need to switch a couple of wires. Check out threads in the past for instructions.

7) Top speed electronically controlled to 142 mph. The speedometer will warn you if you exceed your preset speed limit, and will show red if you pass 100 mph.

8) Not me.

9) Very quiet for me (and for most people out there). Drive another and check it again.

10) Dealer agreements regarding maintenance are made by the dealers and not Lexus in general (beyond warranty info and the such). Ask your dealer if s/he is willing to provide such a deal.

11) Homelink is standard, I believe.

Good luck!

vp911

Thanks for your help! As far as the warning for a speed that you preset, is this something you can program yourself or does it have to be done with the personalized service that I have heard of? Is there a different setting for each driver?

Also, I know there are three presets for drivers, are the seat/mirror settings specific to the keyfob used to open the door? With the RL, I know if you open the door with keyfob 2, the seat and mirros move to preset #2.

Thanks

Payam

He pretty much summed it up, but on question #5 Yes, you can press the talk button and say the phone number(xxx-xxx-xxxx).

Payam

You can adjust your speed warning light yourself using the on/off button on the left side of the dash.

jlin101

1. yes it's the same ventilated seat as ES (only LS has COOLED seats)--I can't vouch for how well they work, given the current season.
2. 18" wheels come with summer tires standard, although some people have gotten their dealers to swap them out with all-seasons.
3. voice commands work for the phone.
4. you can play dvd-a and dvd-video (without picture) while driving on ML.
5. there's a user-settable speed and RPM warning (glowing orange arc inside the speedo and tach) when the car exceeds the limit (e.g. 75mph or 5000RPM); it's similar to the upshift indicator light you find in some cars. It's gimmicky, but handy (it doesn't take much to speed in this car).
6. what's laser shifter?
7. this car IS very quiet (at least more so than my RX330)--if absolute quietness is that much of a concern, get an ES or LS. Summer tires can get noisy when the temp is low.
8. there's Homelink.
9. the seats are very soft , supportive and comfy, compared to G35 or 330i. Not as cushy as RX330 or ES, but I wouldn't want them that way, either. Lexus would probably draw a lot more criticisms if it made the seats any softer. It is a sports sedan after all. Have you tried the seats in a MDX--park bench!
10. I am not sure why you think the interior quality is not up to Lexus standard (not enough wood?). To my eyes and hands, it is as good as GS and better than my RX330. Did you try one with Luxury package?

It seems to me you are not sure what kind of vehicle you are looking for: a luxo boat or a sport sedan.

jlin101

you can easily link the seat/mirror memory to each fob.

kensteele

many good answers already posted, here's what i can contribute:

1.despite the season, i have tried the seat cooling function. it quickly cooled down, very refreshing, i'm sure it's not going to be so efficient in the summer but nevertheless, this will be a nice feature in the Kansas heat.

2.i'll keep my summer tires in storage while i have my winter tires installed until mid-March or so. Makes a world of difference.

3.Had the Acura Nav in my CL for 5 years. IS Nav is much better in nearly every aspect except the voice/tone directions on the IS are a bit excessive. Acura Nav is last year's technology.

4.don't know.

5.it is possible to dial by 10-digit number using your voice.

6.if you are watching a movie, you see the video and you hear the sound. when you release the parking brake and start to drive, the ONLY thing that occurs is the video goes away.

7.i set my speedo to 40mph, the speedo is one colour until i hit 40, then it turns red.

8.can't live without my v1. same difference.

9.winter tires on my current car contribute to road noise. still pretty quiet.

10.i purchased a maintenance agreement from my dealership. for $1,109 today (reg price $1,945.35), I get every 5k mile service all the way up to and including the 45k mile service. It's called the One-Pay Maintenance Discount Program. It only makes sense to get this if you know you are going to visit the dealership every time. I believe if you move away, the refund is pro-rated.

11.i use the button on the rear-view mirror to open my garage door everyday.

Also I have never ever seen leather seats softer. Any more softer and you have to wonder if you're in a car or in a bed at the W hotel. From what I remember, even my CL could move faster than any RL.

encore888

I think LexusLink, the version of OnStar, was removed from the '04 LS and since...there is G-Book in Japan for Lexus', maybe they will come to the US soon.

...of course HomeLink, the garage door opener, should be standard...

vp911

Thanks for all the responses guys. I put a deposit down on the RX330 as well as the IS350. They have the RX330 there in stock right now and the IS350 he could only get the red with grey interior. He said they have a blue onyx and a tungsten pearl (both with black interior) on a ship on its way there (mid jan. shoudl be there). He was going to verify tomorrow that both of them had nav/lux package/mark levinson. He will let me know tomorrow if they are. 2k off sticker for the IS350 and $39,500 for the RX330 loaded withour rear entertainment.

vp911

I did not drive the lux package, they didn't have one, only the base is350. Are the seats any different in the lux package? Actually, the second time I drove the IS today the seats did feel much better and the ride was not as rough and was quieter. I don't really know why.

Maximus350

I have a IS350 and my wife has a 05 MDX. I love the Acura navi. To be honest, I havent used my nav a whole lot so I dont have a lot of experience with it. However, I dont see how a nav can be better than the one in the MDX. It is just perfect. Another bonus is that I can actually program it while driving. Yes, I know you can do that to the IS350 as well, but you have to go through a series of lame steps each time you start it. Forget that.

jlin101

Lux package has the perforated/heated/ventilated seats, although the leather and design are the same. These seats really are as soft as sport sedans go (some people are already complaining that the leather FEELS too thin--any thicker they'd probably say it's too hard)--I wouldn't want the seats to be LZBoy-like. The wood in the luxury package is beautiful--although it's not as extensive/expansive as GS given that this is not a luxury sedan. Lexus has made a good spectrum of cars based on their luxuriousness/sportiness, from ES/LS to GS/SC and IS. The driving experience between IS and RX are totally different--one is snug like a boxing glove or running shoe, and the other is more like a warm/loose-fitting cashmere overcoat. Both are winners.

Nauticalx

Sup Vik:

As for the seats, if you mean hard as in when you sit down, IS woudl be expected to be harder than the GS since its more of a sports model which typically use harder seats than more luxury models such as a GS or LS. If you mean the leather is hard, then take a look at a model with luxury package (if possible) and see if you notice a difference.
I would be worried about the skid too so I suggest you have the tires swapped at delivery unless the road down to the tire shop is newly salted (would hate to hear your new ride got clipped on the ride to the tire shop).
The noise was probably the engine roar, try a 250 and see if that isnt more quieter. Doesnt the IS ML has active noise cancelling like the RL?
Again, I have to warn you, RWD with so much power and torque going to it is never going to be as good on ice/snow as AWD no matter how good VDIM is, it wont be able to correct certain skids. The IS makes me wonder if it isnt light on its rear wheels like mustangs which have power but poor traction because of little grip ont he rear drive wheels. If I lived in Michigan, I would opt for AWD which sadly means downgrading to the 250. Or upgrading to the GS!
Good luck

vp911

The second test drive made a world of a difference. It was much better than the first one. I paid more attention to details, the noise wasn't there - the first IS I drove had squeeling brakes and other noises. This one I could hear the engine roar and thats about it. The leather was actually nice and soft, comfortable. I don't know what I was thinking the first time.
Whenever I take delivery, if it has snowed, I will just push delivery back. I already asked the dealer to find out about the cost of snow tires for me, but my local tire place has already told me they will order them for me.
I don't think the IS has ANC, does it? I don't see it in the brochure.

The GS was too big and slow for me (300). I am getting out of the RL because I wanted something faster and smaller.