test drove the 2014 IS350 F Sport
06-22-13, 02:51 PM
#1
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
test drove the 2014 IS350 F Sport
i was at the dealer being nosy and saw a 2014 IS 250... wasn't interested and turned around to walk away and low and behold, there was a 2014 IS350 FSport in NG/BLK. my sales guy who's also a good friend went inside and got the keys, threw them to me and said take her for a spin
. the gauge cluster is a very nice option, you can change the color of the speedo needle from red, white to blue, you can view the nav on the far left side of the gauge cluster, cool features. the seats are 100% more comfortable and hug friendly than any other, they are nicely bolstered without suffocating you. the space is somewhat tight, but slightly more room than the previous gen. the plastic looks a little cheap, especially around the nav screen. the drive was "DAMN"... nice. handling is very much improved, IMO the handling in the 250 was better, maybe because it was a slower car. anyway, anyone looking to buy the 2014 IS350 F Sport... if you can get past the plastic (which IMO shouldn't be a deal breaker) then go for it. steering is tight on both vehicles and the suspension has been improved, major improvement. Lexus of Rockville Centre has 2 on the lot, a 250 and a 350 F Sport, don't know if they're getting anymore in but sales have started although they can't leave the dealerships until 7/1/2013. oh, i couldn't find the HL washers thingamajiggys... was also surprised to see a staggered set up on the 350, 225/40/18 F, 255/35/18 R.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9111680052/http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9111680052/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/76804690@N05/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9111678712/http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9111678712/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/76804690@N05/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9109452605/http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9109452605/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/76804690@N05/, on Flickr
. the gauge cluster is a very nice option, you can change the color of the speedo needle from red, white to blue, you can view the nav on the far left side of the gauge cluster, cool features. the seats are 100% more comfortable and hug friendly than any other, they are nicely bolstered without suffocating you. the space is somewhat tight, but slightly more room than the previous gen. the plastic looks a little cheap, especially around the nav screen. the drive was "DAMN"... nice. handling is very much improved, IMO the handling in the 250 was better, maybe because it was a slower car. anyway, anyone looking to buy the 2014 IS350 F Sport... if you can get past the plastic (which IMO shouldn't be a deal breaker) then go for it. steering is tight on both vehicles and the suspension has been improved, major improvement. Lexus of Rockville Centre has 2 on the lot, a 250 and a 350 F Sport, don't know if they're getting anymore in but sales have started although they can't leave the dealerships until 7/1/2013. oh, i couldn't find the HL washers thingamajiggys... was also surprised to see a staggered set up on the 350, 225/40/18 F, 255/35/18 R. http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9111680052/http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9111680052/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/76804690@N05/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9111678712/http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9111678712/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/76804690@N05/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9109452605/http://www.flickr.com/photos/76804690@N05/9109452605/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/76804690@N05/, on Flickr
Last edited by sydtoosic; 06-22-13 at 02:59 PM.
06-22-13, 06:55 PM
#3
I actually saw an F-Sport today as well, I got to sit inside, but did not get to drive it. The car looked nice in person. It was black on black, which I think looks best. I agree the plastic parts look cheap 
The previous gen was on par with the GS in terms of materials. Now you can really tell the difference. Not sure if it's a good or bad thing. The time will tell. Hopefully I can get to drive one soon.
The previous gen was on par with the GS in terms of materials. Now you can really tell the difference. Not sure if it's a good or bad thing. The time will tell. Hopefully I can get to drive one soon.
06-22-13, 07:01 PM
#4
The pursuit of F
Nice pics of the Nebula Gray. Looks classy yet sporty and aggressive all at the same time. 
Is the suspension and NVH same, better, or worse than Gen 2? And the plastic is really that cheap? I have a CT and it's mostly good considering the price point - how does the IS compare?
Is the suspension and NVH same, better, or worse than Gen 2? And the plastic is really that cheap? I have a CT and it's mostly good considering the price point - how does the IS compare?
06-22-13, 09:59 PM
#6
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
basically all the plastic... especially around the nav screen area. Lexus could have done a better job with the interior materials on the new IS. come to think of it, the seats looked sort of blan but passed on my report card, however, they were very comfy. that grill is crazy... i also liked the grill on the 250. the top grill was horizontal slats with a nice design (sorry forgot to take pics) and the bottom was the honeycomb design, funny because it didn't look strange, i actually thought it was cool.
Last edited by sydtoosic; 06-22-13 at 10:05 PM.
06-23-13, 03:42 AM
#7
Pole Position
Wait. Sydtoosic, you mentioned that the IS250 handled better than the IS350. I'm assuming that you test drove both cars then. Were both in F-Sport guise ie with the adaptive suspension?
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06-23-13, 05:34 AM
#8
i was at the dealer being nosy and saw a 2014 IS 250... wasn't interested and turned around to walk away and low and behold, there was a 2014 IS350 FSport in NG/BLK. my sales guy who's also a good friend went inside and got the keys, threw them to me and said take her for a spin. the gauge cluster is a very nice option, you can change the color of the speedo needle from red, white to blue, you can view the nav on the far left side of the gauge cluster, cool features. the seats are 100% more comfortable and hug friendly than any other, they are nicely bolstered without suffocating you. the space is somewhat tight, but slightly more room than the previous gen. the plastic looks a little cheap, especially around the nav screen. the drive was "DAMN"... nice. handling is very much improved, IMO the handling in the 250 was better, maybe because it was a slower car. anyway, anyone looking to buy the 2014 IS350 F Sport... if you can get past the plastic (which IMO shouldn't be a deal breaker) then go for it. steering is tight on both vehicles and the suspension has been improved, major improvement. Lexus of Rockville Centre has 2 on the lot, a 250 and a 350 F Sport, don't know if they're getting anymore in but sales have started although they can't leave the dealerships until 7/1/2013. oh, i couldn't find the HL washers thingamajiggys... was also surprised to see a staggered set up on the 350, 225/40/18 F, 255/35/18 R.
IMG_0837 by sydtoosic, on Flickr
IMG_0838 by sydtoosic, on Flickr
IMG_0839 by sydtoosic, on Flickr
. the gauge cluster is a very nice option, you can change the color of the speedo needle from red, white to blue, you can view the nav on the far left side of the gauge cluster, cool features. the seats are 100% more comfortable and hug friendly than any other, they are nicely bolstered without suffocating you. the space is somewhat tight, but slightly more room than the previous gen. the plastic looks a little cheap, especially around the nav screen. the drive was "DAMN"... nice. handling is very much improved, IMO the handling in the 250 was better, maybe because it was a slower car. anyway, anyone looking to buy the 2014 IS350 F Sport... if you can get past the plastic (which IMO shouldn't be a deal breaker) then go for it. steering is tight on both vehicles and the suspension has been improved, major improvement. Lexus of Rockville Centre has 2 on the lot, a 250 and a 350 F Sport, don't know if they're getting anymore in but sales have started although they can't leave the dealerships until 7/1/2013. oh, i couldn't find the HL washers thingamajiggys... was also surprised to see a staggered set up on the 350, 225/40/18 F, 255/35/18 R. IMG_0837 by sydtoosic, on Flickr
IMG_0838 by sydtoosic, on Flickr
IMG_0839 by sydtoosic, on Flickr
Did you get a picture of the window sticker by chance?
06-23-13, 06:13 AM
#9
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
. my bad, didn't get a pic of the window sticker but i did take a quick look and it was 45K +. this car is going to sell very, very well.
06-23-13, 07:39 AM
#11
yes Nat, i tested both. the 250 was not an F Sport, but i threw the 250 around a corner and a couple of tricky curves and it drove as though it was on rails, the 350 F Sport did well on the same corner and curves but not as well... not a huge difference but i noticed that the 250 took those same curves slightly better.
my bad, didn't get a pic of the window sticker but i did take a quick look and it was 45K +. this car is going to sell very, very well.
. my bad, didn't get a pic of the window sticker but i did take a quick look and it was 45K +. this car is going to sell very, very well.
06-23-13, 08:22 AM
#13
Pole Position
Same like the BMW 328i vs the 335i. The 328i handles better than the 335i due to the lighter 4 cylinder engine in its nose compared to the long and bulky inline 6 in the 335i.
06-23-13, 06:38 PM
#15
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I don't like the front end of the fsport. It looks like they tried to copy Audi and went overboard. I think if the center black license plate bar was on the outside of the mesh it would look 100% better.