is4fsr

I was not impressed when I test drove the manual. I test drove the MT twice, diff days, diff cars, but it felt the same- spongy clutch. Did not care much about the shifter but the clutch just did not feel right to me. Sure the extra boost of driving a MT is there but I just didn't think I would be happy with it. I bought an IS w/ AT.

BucBaby

Oh my, Fearlessfx. We, too, are waiting for our IS 250 MT.

We, like you, have had an Integra MT. We've had it for 12 years. Our son turned 16, and we passed it on to him. We're not rich, but we like a nice car, so the search was on. My husband insists on a MT. Both my parents and my husband parents have a Lexus and love it. My husband loved his Acura, but I was not a fan. The Acura was a lot more money than we wanted to spend, and they wouldn't come down. All the other MT's we saw did not measure up to what the Lexus had or were a 2 seater, which we couldn't do right now with two teenagers in the house.

So we drove the Lexus MT. My husband liked it. He shifted smoothly and enjoyed it. I, on the other hand, had a terrible time with it. He said that I'd get it, and I'm hoping that it's so. I was never really that great with the Integra...OK...but not great, but was fine with our Toyota Celica before that. I'm hoping that it's more similiar to that setup and I get it.

Like you, I hope that Lexus has worked on the clutch and made it better in the 2008. Hopefully input from the past years, and having to replace some clutches made them decide to take care of it.

We MT owners will have to keep up the communication to see how it goes for each other.

Recluse

Fearlessfx-

Forgot one thing...if your dealership doesn't sell many MT models, be prepared to find that the service department isn't really familiar with your vehicle.

When I started having clutch issues, the service department at the dealership at which I bought it told me that this was the FIRST one they had ever seen. That meant a lot of extra time for research before they could begin to address my problem.

Oh, and I had to show all the lot porters how to put it in reverse. But your mileage may vary.

BucBaby-

I hope your IS works out for you. This is the third MT vehicle I have owned, and probably the second most challenging I have ever driven, out of about 50 different cars total (the 2007 G35S was the trickiest).

Fearlessfx

G35's are tough to drive, but a looooot of fun. They make a great sound when you clutch in.. like its dumping all the power out the exhaust. unfortunately a new one is out of my price range, and i dont wanna spend 30+ G's on a used one.

lol how do you put it in reverse? is it to the left of 1st gear or to the right of fifth gear?

Recluse

It's to the left of first, but you have to pull up on the ring on the shifter to get into it.

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

you need a little time to get used to the clutch.....

NO REGRETS for me getting my 6MT!

06LexIS

I enjoy my car even with my complaints to Lexus about the manual tranny. My car has logged 50K so far and she still shifts the same way as day one, just a tad smoother since I swapped to Mobil synthetic oil for the tranny @ the 15K maint.
The second gear still feels notchy but not as bad as before, I've gone used to it.
The clutch still good but it releases late IMO, could be better. My car is my daily commuter and so far, it's all good

iialcii

iTrader: (3)

I got my is250 mt about a month ago. so far i love the car. the clutch does suck long travel,and 2nd gear is notchy sometimes its really loud when i shift into 2nd. anyone else have this problem?
i picked the mt over manual cause of the power control factor. but its my opinion