Sean K.

I currently have an 07 IS250 with the auto. I am lemoning it due to electrical problems.

When we were looking for the car last year, we were told by a salesperson (and lied to about service related issues with the auto) that you could only buy a manual transmission with black or gray exterior colors and black interior (which is too hot in AZ).

We fell in love with the red w/ tan interior and even though I'm a die hard manual fanatic, we got the auto.

So, was the dealer full of it when he said we could only get it in black or silver?

If I can get a manual trans in red, I'll likely repurchase an 08. My reason for demanding the manual now is I've found out (contrary to what the salesperson told me) that the auto IS transmission is sealed and cannot really be service....instead, it is replaced when it fails. My understanding is that the manual can indeed be serviced just like any other manual gear box.

Any help is greatly appreciated. If I can't get the manual, I may end up having to just buy something more practical since I tend to keep my vehicles til the wheels fall off.

Thanks in advance,
Sean

mjf

Helloo

Manuals are hard to get in general.
I have three friends who have the manual and they are all black or silver.
Ironically, I have a friend looking for the same color combination. He has looked all over northern California and cannot find one.
All the dealers says that have never seen this color combo.
He now searching the entire state and plans to look nation wide.
I will keep you posted on his findings.
Good luck

m

fluxx

iTrader: (1)

YES the dealer is lying to you. i had the option of a matador red manual 4 months ago at the Sarasota, FL. dealership... i cant remember the interior color but i think it was black on black, possibly black/silver. I really wanted the red in auto but they only had 2-3 manuals in matador red.

and if you really really want me too, i could swing by the dealership and see if they have any and take a picture for you. i up by the dealership pratically every day or other day.

Sean K.

Not necessary. I believe ya. I "built" an IS 250 RWD MT in Matador red on Lexus' website. If you can build it there, I'd think it should be available. Sounds like the dealer was just lying to make the sale.

Go Lexus! Customer service my butt.

Sean

Shoafb

Make sure and test drive one first.

Do so with the AC off, and listen for clutch noises and vibrations.

ssmoked

i have one. with black interior. there were like 3 other manual red IS on the lot when i got mine (palm beach lexus). If I have the chance to redo it again, I would not get the manual 250 because of the clutch noise, vibration, mushy feeling........ just takes the joy and name away from the Lexus

Shoot, if you want mine, I will sell it to you

3015 miles
2008
perfect interior and exterior condition
I will also throw in my 1500 watts 12' Alpine subwoofer to give the music some more kick!

PM me if interested for pics

Sean K.

Wow. So getting a manual may be a solution for the non-serviceable auto tranny but you get noise and vibration as a substitute?

Not good. Thanks for the heads up though.

Sean

Chadley6mt

iTrader: (1)

Apperently mine was a special order..White on black interior with MT. Since the new price drop in canada $31900 comes with a "high quality" cloth interior.. its all good for me though.. leather burns my *** when its hot. and freezes when its cold...either way.. the lexus is more reliable then my volkswagen jetta.. thank god i got that fast little ****-box sold.

Brian231

Can you post pics of your interior? I want to see the seats for the Canadian market. I will be in Victoria, BC in a couple of weeks, hopefully there is a Lexus dealer there.

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

depending on the region......you might need to special order it.....

IS250HuNnY

when i got mine there were 2 red ones and 2 silver ones on the lot but i didnt like the red so i took a silver one but this was back in 2006

Sean K.

Any complaints about clutch noise, mushiness or vibration?

Thanks,
Sean

Rividsoul

clutch noise - yes
vibration - yes
mushiness - huh?
Victoria dealership - yes

And the lexus.ca site looks like it offers more colours for MT now. I had to order mine and it took 4 months to arrive. They don't make that many MTs

Big Andy

The auto transmission can be serviced by any competent specialist. When they say it is sealed they mean that the auto transmission fluid does not need to be replaced for something like 100,000 miles. Replacing the transmission if it fails when the car is under warranty is the most cost effective way to deal with the problem by doing a straight swop for a new one. Obviously, if the car has done 150,000 miles and is well out of warranty you would make a judgement call on repair/replace on cost estimates. Lexus auto transmissions are highly reliable and I wouldn't expect any problems.
Toyota manual gearboxes are not that good, certainly when installed in Lexus vehicles, with first to second being regularly problematic. Strip downs of Toyota gearboxes I've seen at 60,000 miles have shown significant wear.

Kris Laes

I drive the IS220d with manual transmission, mind that is a different gearbox compared to the 250.

Here in Belgium you can get the IS with 16", 17" or 18" stock rims. if you take the 17" or 18" rims you get a gearbox with a shorter end ratio, as compared to the 16" rims.

I have the 17" rims and I think the first gear on the gearbox is very short now. With the huge torque of the diesel engine, it is quite impractical to use. And indeed, shifting from first to second gear is a bit rough, but that might improve as my car has only driven 500 km total.

That being said, car magazines compain that the IS with the longer end ratio (16" rims) suffers from a very long fifth and sixth gear, forcing you to shift back a gear for fast overtaking manouvres. I do believe that, as my 5th and 6th gear feel just perfect with the reduced gear ratio.

However, I'd never want to drive an automatic gear box, driving stick is so much more fun... But that's a personal opinion of course.