Moekind

Hi guys,

I have a few quick questions, should I buy an 06/07 IS350 now (October 2010)
or wait till next year. Will there be a price drop from now or Jan 2011?
Or will there be an even bigger price drop when the IS gets redesigned for next year?

Also, is it better to get an 06 is350 or 07 is350?

I'm a Mercedes fan boy trying out a Lexus for the first time.
Don't want to spend too much money, this is like a test vehicle for me, and my budget is very tight.

Thanks a lot for your time.

EJC

I don't think you'll find a major difference in the value of a 4-5 yr old car two months for now.

syzygy

The advantage of the '07 compared to the '06 is that you have a button to turn traction control off with the 07+ models.

With the '06 models, you can only turn traction control off by doing a sequence of braking/parking brake inputs, and once you turn off traction control you cannot re-engage it while driving, whereas on the 07+ you can re-engage traction control while driving.

The advantage to having traction control off is that it allows you to have optimal acceleration from a stop, if that matters to you.

It's not really a deal breaker for most people, but it's something to consider.

Moekind

Were any problems or quirks ironed out in the 07 model compared to the 06?

syzygy

No, but there were quirks ironed out in the '09 compared to the 06 - 08.

Generally speaking, the IS350 is built like a tank. It's phenomenally reliable and durable for what it is.

That said, the most major "issue" with the '06 to '08 compared to the '09+ is the potential existence of a weak valve spring that has a .2% chance of breaking under sufficient stress. I say issue in quotes because it's not too big of a deal, but there is a recall for it as we speak. That's one thing you should be looking for when you are looking at used IS350s - have they been taken in for the valve spring recall or no? Truthfully, the answer to this question won't really make a difference in terms of your plan of action, but it's something to keep in mind.

Again, the major difference between the '06 and '07+ is the ability to turn traction control on and off with ease.

I've had my IS350 for a year (35k miles or so) and it's been nearly impeccable. Totally hassle free - I've just gone in for simple maintenance. I think you'll find most IS350 owners who sell their car almost always do so because they have decided to move on to the "next level" (e92 M3s, ISFs, C63 AMGs, etc.). The IS350 is really a terrific choice for a daily driver.

The most common issues you'll find with IS350s are relatively minor things for which there are TSB's (maybe the occasional creak/rattle here and there inside the cabin) or universal problems like squeaky brakes.

The IS350 will never give you any major problems, though. You'll never find yourself on the side of the road scratching your head over a check engine light, etc.

Good luck with your search.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

The 07 also adds the shark-fin antenna... so if you ever plan to have XM radio that lets you avoid adding an external antenna for it.

Infra

iTrader: (1)

The '07 also fixed the "quirk" of the fuel door release and trunk release switches... in the '06 they were stacked vertically, in the '07 they are larger, and sit side by side horizontally.

Having owned both an '06 and now an '07... that, and the things carLx and Kurtz listed are all I can think of.

I do tank issue with the saying "built like a tank", though... because tanks are notorious for having mechanical issues. WWII tank transmissions and suspensions would self-destruct. =)