"Third time is a charm" -- great 3IS article/review
09-25-13 | 06:18 AM
#16
Driver
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Q
For an F-Sport IS350 nearing $50K, there is no excuse for the quality of the plastic steering wheel control bezels. 3 Grand more nets me a base GS which has fine quality cabin materials. And any pricing advantage Lexus has over competitors should be put back into the car with materials and features. Up in price solidifies Lexus's Tier 1 status and forces other automakers to follow suit. We have the bean counters to thank for all this :/
No it's not any of the above you mentioned, but it's still a "Luxury" badge and some of the cabin material choices are the same grade as my 2003 Explorer. That is not acceptable even if it is "entry level".
You're confusing my topic of "Materials used" with "Build quality aka assembly".
Well any marketing department will doctor up photos to make the car look more appealing. It's like make-up hiding blemishes which are overlooked because the 3IS has a superior riding chassis.
Because the GS is physically bigger and people will always find a need or want. If Lexus was smart they'd expand the powertrain options quickly.
It didn't wear well because it was the second of the L-Finesse beginning which suffered many quality issues 2006 - 2010. Material quality though was good. Build quality (assembly) is better on the 3IS however
They're all cheap but that doesn't excuse automakers and bean counters to get away with that
No it's not any of the above you mentioned, but it's still a "Luxury" badge and some of the cabin material choices are the same grade as my 2003 Explorer. That is not acceptable even if it is "entry level".
You're confusing my topic of "Materials used" with "Build quality aka assembly".
Well any marketing department will doctor up photos to make the car look more appealing. It's like make-up hiding blemishes which are overlooked because the 3IS has a superior riding chassis.
Because the GS is physically bigger and people will always find a need or want. If Lexus was smart they'd expand the powertrain options quickly.
It didn't wear well because it was the second of the L-Finesse beginning which suffered many quality issues 2006 - 2010. Material quality though was good. Build quality (assembly) is better on the 3IS however
They're all cheap but that doesn't excuse automakers and bean counters to get away with that
I say again, the 3IS is better than 2IS in handling. But, it stops there. Options lost, interior downgrade (did you see the pictures above?), loss of touchscreen and now you're fooling around with a mouse. Come on Lexus. Why do you want a upside-down staircase as your center console too?
The 2IS is superior OVERALL even though the 3IS beats it in handling. Otherwise, it's not even a new engine (as we all know). Heck, add the sway bars on the 2IS and you have a "standard" 3IS.
Lexus compromised the 3IS in important areas to get the handling close or at a 3-series and A4. Have you seen the 3-series interior? It's absolute crap, with the navigation screen seemingly glued on to the dash. Lexus is chasing the wrong dog...
LIke Hoovey said, all these luxury makers shouldn't get away with this.
09-25-13 | 09:14 AM
#20
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 916
Likes: 8
From: CA
Add sway bars to a 2IS and you have a 3IS but nicer??? lol I drove the 2IS for 3 days as a loaner. I could not stand the dated interior. The touch screen is small and has etch-a-sketch graphics that the sun hits at the wrong time. The ventilation dials added as an after thought look crude and feel cheap. Yards of black vinyl stretching like the plains of Kansas on the dash. A ride that is Korean like. Man, keep the 2IS. It looks dated on the road already.
Last edited by Glashub; 09-25-13 at 09:19 AM.
09-25-13 | 10:01 AM
#24
Driver
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Q
Because I'm trying to see what all the hype is about. Like every one says, to each their own. Everything is my opinion. No need to get all hurtful about it.
09-25-13 | 10:09 AM
#25
Pole Position
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,602
Likes: 88
From: Singapore
I'm not hurt. I don't even have an IS and I'm actually leaning towards getting a second-hand 4th gen GS450h.
However I did test drive the new IS and I do get the hype over the car. Really, the interior quality of the car is a non-issue. And I say this after I had spent 45 minutes test driving an IS250 F-Sport. The biggest thing that stood out to me was how tied down and composed the car felt and how the driver's seat was a very special place to be in.
However I did test drive the new IS and I do get the hype over the car. Really, the interior quality of the car is a non-issue. And I say this after I had spent 45 minutes test driving an IS250 F-Sport. The biggest thing that stood out to me was how tied down and composed the car felt and how the driver's seat was a very special place to be in.
09-25-13 | 10:21 AM
#26
Driver
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Q
I'm not hurt. I don't even have an IS and I'm actually leaning towards getting a second-hand 4th gen GS450h.
However I did test drive the new IS and I do get the hype over the car. Really, the interior quality of the car is a non-issue. And I say this after I had spent 45 minutes test driving an IS250 F-Sport. The biggest thing that stood out to me was how tied down and composed the car felt and how the driver's seat was a very special place to be in.
However I did test drive the new IS and I do get the hype over the car. Really, the interior quality of the car is a non-issue. And I say this after I had spent 45 minutes test driving an IS250 F-Sport. The biggest thing that stood out to me was how tied down and composed the car felt and how the driver's seat was a very special place to be in.
On a positive note, I like the 60/40 split seats...
Last edited by IS350AWD; 09-25-13 at 10:26 AM.
09-25-13 | 10:27 AM
#27
haha all the new owners who cant accept the mishaps of their new cars and all the previous owners who wont budge. Its ALL laughable to be honest and no one here should take anything personal.
Truth is, wether the 3IS is a great car or not, those who went and bought first year model got SCREWED. Don't take that personal either, but with a radio that has a mind of its own, plastics that scratch easier than paint, and same engines, there is NOTHING more than LOOKS.
But hey, it handles great
Truth is, wether the 3IS is a great car or not, those who went and bought first year model got SCREWED. Don't take that personal either, but with a radio that has a mind of its own, plastics that scratch easier than paint, and same engines, there is NOTHING more than LOOKS.
But hey, it handles great
09-25-13 | 10:39 AM
#28
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 758
Likes: 26
From: Sweden
haha all the new owners who cant accept the mishaps of their new cars and all the previous owners who wont budge. Its ALL laughable to be honest and no one here should take anything personal.
Truth is, wether the 3IS is a great car or not, those who went and bought first year model got SCREWED. Don't take that personal either, but with a radio that has a mind of its own, plastics that scratch easier than paint, and same engines, there is NOTHING more than LOOKS.
But hey, it handles great
Truth is, wether the 3IS is a great car or not, those who went and bought first year model got SCREWED. Don't take that personal either, but with a radio that has a mind of its own, plastics that scratch easier than paint, and same engines, there is NOTHING more than LOOKS.
But hey, it handles great
Yes, the audio system seems to be troubling in the US. Europe got another software. My ML and nav works fine.
As for engines, i think the hybrid is great. But you don't have it either, so naturally you don't see the improvement over 2IS.
09-25-13 | 10:54 AM
#29
Driver
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Q
haha all the new owners who cant accept the mishaps of their new cars and all the previous owners who wont budge. Its ALL laughable to be honest and no one here should take anything personal.
Truth is, wether the 3IS is a great car or not, those who went and bought first year model got SCREWED. Don't take that personal either, but with a radio that has a mind of its own, plastics that scratch easier than paint, and same engines, there is NOTHING more than LOOKS.
But hey, it handles great
Truth is, wether the 3IS is a great car or not, those who went and bought first year model got SCREWED. Don't take that personal either, but with a radio that has a mind of its own, plastics that scratch easier than paint, and same engines, there is NOTHING more than LOOKS.
But hey, it handles great
09-25-13 | 11:03 AM
#30
Once that Nav issue gets fixed, the plastic gets better (it will, too many issues already), and the heart transplants come in, THEN I'll make the switch. Truthfully the front of the car is hands down BEAUTIFUL.
I simply refuse to get first model year of anything, yes you are the "first" to have them, but at what cost?
Last edited by Vroomin350; 09-25-13 at 11:06 AM.