liamket

Hey everyone,

I have been doing as much research as I can as I prepare to buy and new car and have narrowed it down to the 2011 IS350awd. Next week should be interesting as I try to negotiate the best deal I can get.

A few questions though. I am strongly considering the F-Sport exhaust and intake. I don't have much experience with aftermarket performance parts, or even performance parts in general. Are these two options worth it? Or should I go somewhere else? I know it all depends on "what i'm looking for", and I guess that I'm more interested in low end rumble than the high end notes.

What about the OEM lowering springs? Anyone have any experience with those?

Lastly, any last minute advice or recommendations? Or things to think about as I go in?

I appreciate the advice!

jbjones85

iTrader: (20)

I have the exhaust and I like it, I am also planning to get the intake. I would try and negotiate as much as possible on the after market parts if you are planning to get them from the dealer as much better deals can be found online. Maybe your dealer will price match??

llamaboiz

heres something to think about...

if you can have dealer options thrown into your financing and it doesn't increase your monthly by much... vs... buying options afterwards and paying cash up front...

liamket

i'm pretty sure i'm just going to pay cash. but yeah. although, i read you can't finance the intake.

jbjones85

iTrader: (20)

True, but then you are more upside down on the loan (assuming you don't put anything down)

ScKcBc

iTrader: (2)

get a used 08/09 ISF for the same price

andrewshu3

iTrader: (2)

i agree. awd not really necessary is it? Good winter tires should be enough for most.

JoshIS408

iTrader: (11)

Get exhaust intake sway bars. Buy coilovers aftermarket and your set. Do get springs waste of $

BinaryJay

Pay a few percentage points of interest on even more stuff for years. Buying anything based on the cost of monthly payments instead of the true cost never makes sense to me.

To answer the OP, you know, you don't need either of those things unless you're mainly after making the car sound different (and not necessarily better depending on what you expect).

Also, I love my AWD GS. I'll take an AWD car at least in this climate any time over RWD (tires being equal).

liamket

I live on a very steep hill and so the awd seems to make sense.

I have no intention of financing any of it, so I'm not worried about negotiating it into a payment plan. I do hope I can get them to cut some prices/labor costs if I negotiate it as part of the sale of the vehicle.

I guess I'm mostly after a sound that will turn heads, but won't be a continual drone. I don't know if the f-series is the best for that or not.

Lexasaurus

iTrader: (12)

Ooo AWD on the 350's now? that's pretty neat.

liamket

Just spent the afternoon testing the 250 with an f exhaust. Considering I kind drive like a grandma, I'm not sure the 350 is really worth it.

Trza

I had a 2007 BMW 328i coupe and recently sold it. It was a bummer swinging open those large coupe doors to get my son in and out of his carseat! At first I was like you liemket, trying to think pratically...just get the AWD is 250 it's enough car, its safe, comfortable, feels luxurious and has everything that I need to use as a daily driver...but then I tested the AWD is 350 and the experience was night and day! The 100 hp difference was definitely noticeable and we put a deposit down on the 2011 is 350 AWD because of it. Should be here next week sometime as they didn't have any on the lot except for the demo.

The kicker here in Canada is that the base 2011 is 350 is a few hundred more than a 2010 is 250 AWD that has leather and moonroof. Lexus dropped their IS prices 2 grand for the 2011's and as a result it made no sense for us to not get the 350 AWD. 2010 250 AWD with leather and moonroof are msrp $44250 vs the 2011 350 AWD msrp $44950 that has leather, but no moonroof. I barely used the moonroof in my bimmer so this was an easy decision for me. I'm sure I just made your decision even harder but either way I loved both vehicles.

ejn184

got my is 350 awd, a week ago, its a perfect choice. i've never regret it, try before the infiniti g37x, bimmer 335xi. right now im still thinking about it to put f sport springs, sway bar and chassis brace. dealer give me 10% discount from the one that i bought the car from.

BoDarville

obviously a badge ***** -- get whatever you feel gives you the most prestige -- instead of test drives take a poll of several gold diggers in your area to see what impresses them most