2006 IS350 for 2011 Mustang GT Auto
05-16-11, 07:29 PM
#16
I would purchase the Auto version because of all the issues with the manual transmission currently.
The drivers seat is more comfortable in the Mustang compared to the 2006 IS seats. Handling overall is better in the Mustang than the IS as well and that's not me imagining it. Ride quality feels better in the Mustang too, but that could be the wear of and tear of the IS350 (54k miles.) The loaner 2010/2011 IS's from Lexus do feel "tighter" and more controlled compared to the 2006 IS.
Just wanted to trade in the IS before depreciation really hits when the next-gen IS arrives. Which should be end of 2011 for 2012 model year. Was considering on waiting to see what the next IS will be like, but I'm pretty sure the drivetrain will be unchanged.
I don't think another IS350 (or whatever the nextgen will be labeled) will be in my foreseeable future. Have an 08 ISF, so no need to own 2 of the relatively same cars.
I agree that domestic quality still isn't quite there yet. But Toyota/Lexus isn't without quality issues too.
2006 IS350 issues I've had:
- IP cluster needle lights went dim. Dealer wouldn't honor warranty (51k miles,) quoted $1200.
- Cam gear startup grind
- Major oil leak from front main seal
2008 ISF:
- Pulling to the right despite many attempts to align, tire swaps. Learned to deal with it. Changed to PS2's, issue is still there, but not as bad.
- NAV touchscreen dead. $5000 fix if not for warranty.
- Coil packs replaced
- And now, water pump is leaking slightly
I've learned that no matter what car you buy, there are going to be issues. Anything mechanical is bound to fail. And with cars now approaching something like 20,000-30,000 parts, even at 0.001% failure rate, that's still 20-30 parts that can fail.
Reasoning for a new Mustang GT would be strictly price vs performance + aftermarket potential.
The drivers seat is more comfortable in the Mustang compared to the 2006 IS seats. Handling overall is better in the Mustang than the IS as well and that's not me imagining it. Ride quality feels better in the Mustang too, but that could be the wear of and tear of the IS350 (54k miles.) The loaner 2010/2011 IS's from Lexus do feel "tighter" and more controlled compared to the 2006 IS.
Just wanted to trade in the IS before depreciation really hits when the next-gen IS arrives. Which should be end of 2011 for 2012 model year. Was considering on waiting to see what the next IS will be like, but I'm pretty sure the drivetrain will be unchanged.
I don't think another IS350 (or whatever the nextgen will be labeled) will be in my foreseeable future. Have an 08 ISF, so no need to own 2 of the relatively same cars.
I agree that domestic quality still isn't quite there yet. But Toyota/Lexus isn't without quality issues too.
2006 IS350 issues I've had:
- IP cluster needle lights went dim. Dealer wouldn't honor warranty (51k miles,) quoted $1200.
- Cam gear startup grind
- Major oil leak from front main seal
2008 ISF:
- Pulling to the right despite many attempts to align, tire swaps. Learned to deal with it. Changed to PS2's, issue is still there, but not as bad.
- NAV touchscreen dead. $5000 fix if not for warranty.
- Coil packs replaced
- And now, water pump is leaking slightly
I've learned that no matter what car you buy, there are going to be issues. Anything mechanical is bound to fail. And with cars now approaching something like 20,000-30,000 parts, even at 0.001% failure rate, that's still 20-30 parts that can fail.
Reasoning for a new Mustang GT would be strictly price vs performance + aftermarket potential.
05-16-11, 07:36 PM
#17
I disagree that the Mustang handles well, it handles like crap around turns in my opinion compared to other cars in its class. But it is a fast car, and it's not too expensive either. The interior on the newest model is much better than in the past as well. But like someone else mentioned, it depreciates fast. The newer ones are much more reliable though, Ford seems to be on top of its game now, but i still can't justify the purchase based on depreciation and the way the car handles (to me) lol.
The Manual trans is the only way to get that performance though because it has the Brembo's and 3.72 rear end. The auto doesn't yield the performance and you will quite possibly regret that.
05-16-11, 07:46 PM
#18
i love the IS, but that Mustang out handles most cars on the road right now for less than exotic prices. MotorTrend did a comparo at Willow Springs between the 5.0 and an M3. They were neck and neck the whole way with the Mustang ahead in slower turns.
The Manual trans is the only way to get that performance though because it has the Brembo's and 3.72 rear end. The auto doesn't yield the performance and you will quite possibly regret that.
The Manual trans is the only way to get that performance though because it has the Brembo's and 3.72 rear end. The auto doesn't yield the performance and you will quite possibly regret that.
auto now a day is so advanced it doesn't matter anymore. For example the Camaro auto out performed the manual version in 0-60 times. So auto or manual is up to the person but you won't sacrifice performance by buying an auto over manual.
05-16-11, 07:53 PM
#19
In most cases these days you are right, but keep in mind this is a Ford automatic. It isn't bad, but doesn't do that car justice.
05-16-11, 08:08 PM
#20
Actually on that car you do because they pack all the high performance goodies on the manual model. Check out Ford's website or Mustang brochure; you can only get the crazy handling and acceleration out of the manual model. Better yet, check out what MotorTrend says about that car.
In most cases these days you are right, but keep in mind this is a Ford automatic. It isn't bad, but doesn't do that car justice.
In most cases these days you are right, but keep in mind this is a Ford automatic. It isn't bad, but doesn't do that car justice.
05-16-11, 09:17 PM
#21
Lexus Test Driver
I don't think the average IS350 driver cross-shops the Mustang. One is modern and luxurious and the other is old-fashioned and extroverted. When you see car magazines do tests, these two are never paired together.
05-16-11, 09:27 PM
#22
I'll check it out later but it still doesn't mean manual>auto. You just get performance parts with the manual package.. doesn't mean you can't add those upgrades later on with the auto. What I'm trying to say is.. with the same performance parts auto vs manual is a driver's race.
05-16-11, 09:39 PM
#23
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I would have zero interest in a Mustang. They're a dime a dozen. Not to mention, every sports car driver wannabe has one. They're always the ones in the fast lane doing the speed limit. I think they're afraid if they go too fast something will fall off.
05-16-11, 09:40 PM
#24
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I disagree that the Mustang handles well, it handles like crap around turns in my opinion compared to other cars in its class. But it is a fast car, and it's not too expensive either. The interior on the newest model is much better than in the past as well. But like someone else mentioned, it depreciates fast. The newer ones are much more reliable though, Ford seems to be on top of its game now, but i still can't justify the purchase based on depreciation and the way the car handles (to me) lol.
05-17-11, 07:28 AM
#26
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I agree with Fizzboy7. Comparing apples to oranges, IMO. I have owed both, and in a NJ winter, I wound up in a ditch with 2 inches of snow on the the ground(Mustang) and the other I have driven through 8 inches of the white stuff where I couldn't get stuck if I tried(IS 250 AWD) 
good luck ...they are both fun cars!
good luck ...they are both fun cars!
05-17-11, 07:44 AM
#27
Earliest you'll see the 3rd gen IS is mid-late 2012 as a 2013.
05-17-11, 08:59 AM
#28
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05-17-11, 09:04 AM
#29
American car has come a long way in terms of quality improvement. Believe it or not, if you search vehicle quality surveys Ford and GM beat out Nissan, Mazda (Basically Ford), Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Subaru... and gasp recently Toyota because of the brake pedal recalls.
Last time I checked... Honda/Hyndai were tied out number one spot for quality. GM was Number 2... followed by Toyota and Ford... Nissan was 7.
German cars are dead bottom. There quality is totally shot to death. Worse car manufacturer nowaday are Volkswagen. Bottom 2 are Mercedez and Vokswagen. BMWs are on the bottom as well.
Mustang have been refined. Motor Trend and other car mags rate it better than M3 now in terms of handling. The new Boss Mustange will even kill the mighty Audi R8.
05-17-11, 10:02 AM
#30
I would have been pissed if I'd bought a 2010 GT and then months later the exact same car came out with 100 more HP, UNLESS the price I paid for my 2010 was far less than what I'd have paid for the 2011 (this is what I don't know about).
This is why I feel bad when I see people driving refreshed (2010+) Mustangs with a GT emblem on the sides instead of 5.0...