Trade in IS250 AWD for IS350?
10-22-07, 12:14 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
I haven't actually done this, but I am a former IS owner.
IMO, given NJ's cool and wet climate (It's been warm and dry lately, but winter is coming), you would be better off with the IS250 AWD. The 350 is RWD, too high-powered, too nose heavy, and simply unfit for wet and slick roads....even with winter tires, it would be marginal. My RWD IS300, even with ABS, traction control, transmission snow-mode, and all-season tires was still a handful in the winter.
Yes, I know the 250 AWD (I've reviewed it) is sluggish compared to the 350.....the AWD adds drag and weight, and the engine itself is smaller. But if I were you, I would either keep it or have a winter beater (like an old Subaru) that you can drive to keep the 350 out of the bad weather.
IMO, given NJ's cool and wet climate (It's been warm and dry lately, but winter is coming), you would be better off with the IS250 AWD. The 350 is RWD, too high-powered, too nose heavy, and simply unfit for wet and slick roads....even with winter tires, it would be marginal. My RWD IS300, even with ABS, traction control, transmission snow-mode, and all-season tires was still a handful in the winter.
Yes, I know the 250 AWD (I've reviewed it) is sluggish compared to the 350.....the AWD adds drag and weight, and the engine itself is smaller. But if I were you, I would either keep it or have a winter beater (like an old Subaru) that you can drive to keep the 350 out of the bad weather.
Last edited by mmarshall; 10-22-07 at 12:17 PM.
10-22-07, 12:34 PM
#3
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yea i actually traded my is250awd in for the is350..couldnt be happier.
just get a set of winter tires. smart driving and winter tires will keep you on the road for sure.
in terms of trade in..i got a ridiculously good deal. again...couldnt be happier!
just get a set of winter tires. smart driving and winter tires will keep you on the road for sure.
in terms of trade in..i got a ridiculously good deal. again...couldnt be happier!
10-22-07, 04:41 PM
#4
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Traded an 06 250 awd for an 07 350.
The transaction was the last week of December 06. The dealership where I purchased the car wouldn't meet the price offered by the dealer that got the deal. There was a difference of over $2,200 as I recall.
I paid about $10,800 plus the IS250 AWD with no navigation for a loaded IS350 with navigation, Luxury Package, Intuitive Parking Assist and the Preferred Accessory Package.
List price was $43,982.00 plus taxes and Lojac.
I'm glad I did it.
The transaction was the last week of December 06. The dealership where I purchased the car wouldn't meet the price offered by the dealer that got the deal. There was a difference of over $2,200 as I recall.
I paid about $10,800 plus the IS250 AWD with no navigation for a loaded IS350 with navigation, Luxury Package, Intuitive Parking Assist and the Preferred Accessory Package.
List price was $43,982.00 plus taxes and Lojac.
I'm glad I did it.
04-29-08, 01:32 AM
#6
god I hate to say this, but I had the chance to drive a co-workers 07 Is350..
wow, what a difference! I refused to test drive one before i bought my 250 becuase I knew i would love it and couldnt afford it..
But after reading some of the deals people were/are getting on these 350's it makes me want to drop an extra $7-8k and buy a new one!
Is there anyone recently that has traded up? any regrets? Gas mileage? anything???
Please help!! thx!
wow, what a difference! I refused to test drive one before i bought my 250 becuase I knew i would love it and couldnt afford it..
But after reading some of the deals people were/are getting on these 350's it makes me want to drop an extra $7-8k and buy a new one!
Is there anyone recently that has traded up? any regrets? Gas mileage? anything???
Please help!! thx!
04-29-08, 03:40 AM
#7
I'm tempted at times to make the same move.Even looked into a new IS 350 a couple of weeks ago.
I only have 21K miles on my '06 and I'll probably wait till the new generation IS comes out in two years or so.
It's not worth a $8-10K difference used and $20K difference new to me at this point as I only drive the car maybe 4-5K miles a year now.
I only have 21K miles on my '06 and I'll probably wait till the new generation IS comes out in two years or so.
It's not worth a $8-10K difference used and $20K difference new to me at this point as I only drive the car maybe 4-5K miles a year now.
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04-29-08, 05:00 AM
#9
+1 
. I am in IL and made it thru 2 winters now. First season was on the 18" summer tires...this past year I had Blizzaks and didnt have any troubles. AWD is for sure going to be better but for the few snow storms that we had it doesnt pay in my opinion.
. I am in IL and made it thru 2 winters now. First season was on the 18" summer tires...this past year I had Blizzaks and didnt have any troubles. AWD is for sure going to be better but for the few snow storms that we had it doesnt pay in my opinion.
04-29-08, 05:07 AM
#10
Super Moderator
IMO, given NJ's cool and wet climate (It's been warm and dry lately, but winter is coming), you would be better off with the IS250 AWD. The 350 is RWD, too high-powered, too nose heavy, and simply unfit for wet and slick roads....even with winter tires, it would be marginal. My RWD IS300, even with ABS, traction control, transmission snow-mode, and all-season tires was still a handful in the winter.
I won't argue that for driving in snow, the AWD IS250 would be a better vehicle. If an AWD IS350 had been available, I would have bought it. As a former owner of both an AWD Audi S4 and an AWD Eagle Talon, I know about the peace-of-mind that AWD brings. But in this state, roads are snow covered maybe five days a year on average. (Plows and cleanup crews work very fast here) I love the power of the IS350, and the thought of settling for a heavier car with 102 fewer horsepower on the 360 days when the roads are clear in order to have a bit more confidence during the remaining days when they aren't just didn't make sense to me.
04-29-08, 07:30 AM
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I'm an IS350 owner from NJ, and I couldn't disagree more. I've had my car for 2 years and 7 months, and I can only remember one storm, an icy snow-over-rain event where the car was a handful. The rest of the storms a good set of snow tires was able to handle with relative ease.
I won't argue that for driving in snow, the AWD IS250 would be a better vehicle. If an AWD IS350 had been available, I would have bought it. As a former owner of both an AWD Audi S4 and an AWD Eagle Talon, I know about the peace-of-mind that AWD brings. But in this state, roads are snow covered maybe five days a year on average. (Plows and cleanup crews work very fast here) I love the power of the IS350, and the thought of settling for a heavier car with 102 fewer horsepower on the 360 days when the roads are clear in order to have a bit more confidence during the remaining days when they aren't just didn't make sense to me.
I won't argue that for driving in snow, the AWD IS250 would be a better vehicle. If an AWD IS350 had been available, I would have bought it. As a former owner of both an AWD Audi S4 and an AWD Eagle Talon, I know about the peace-of-mind that AWD brings. But in this state, roads are snow covered maybe five days a year on average. (Plows and cleanup crews work very fast here) I love the power of the IS350, and the thought of settling for a heavier car with 102 fewer horsepower on the 360 days when the roads are clear in order to have a bit more confidence during the remaining days when they aren't just didn't make sense to me.
04-29-08, 08:07 AM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
+1, If AWD was available in the 350 at my intial purchase time, I would have bought it. I am happy with my 250 AWD and plan to keep it.
