zhifan1

Wow...280k miles and no work done on the AC? Very impressive...

Only gripe i have is no auto-folding wing mirrors. Come on, Lexus!!

ed21x

really? the IS350 engine is one of my favorite parts about the car. it's somehow fuel efficient while being naturally aspirated. sure there are turbo 4's that have better fuel economy, like the is200t, but they lack the smooth linear acceleration that i prefer.

E46CT

Actually I drove a loaner ES350 (brand new 2017 with 100 miles on it) while my IS200t was in for service and was shocked at how much vibration there was at a stop light and under low RPM on the ES350. To me, the 200t is smoother. But it is also something like 15 years newer.

arentz07

Hmm, yeah I think the NX 200t is very smooth at idle as well. Overall the ES I drove just seemed less refined than the NX, RX, or even my IS however... Keep in mind the ES 350's engine is not identical to the IS 300/350. Sometimes when my car is cold, there is some minor vibration, but that tends to sort itself out in minutes of driving.

Honestly it's only ever a problem when my wife rides with me - she likes to put her phone in the door handle, which makes a buzzing sound against the door when the car is at idle.

E46CT

agree the ES350 is overall more refined (or isolated) than a sportier car like the IS or GS.

arentz07

Mmm, maybe I didn't phrase right, but I actually thought the ES was refined, yet maybe not very well composed. I think it was somewhat more unsettled over bumps. It was quiet, yes, and the ride was soft. But, I think it just didn't feel as quiet as the RX, or as composed as the IS - kind of a mixed bag between them. I think it's down to the roots of the car being in the Camry. Don't get me wrong - I had a Camry as my last daily driver, and it was comfortable especially on the highway. But, over rough roads, I think my IS, even though it's an F Sport, just rides better. I didn't spend much time in the ES, but enough to kinda make that same parallel. In 90% of situations, the ES feels softer and quieter, but it can feel a bit mushy and imprecise when you either toss it into a turn or hit some rough patches.

Nonetheless, if I had more money I may very well have been driving an ES as a daily along with something more fun for weekends. Had to make a compromise, so I got the IS - but now that I have it, I prefer it that way.

link13

I have some brand loyalty as an owner of a 1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S (AE86) that I bought in 1994 and I bought a 1994 GS300 in 2002. Both cars were very reliable and enjoyable. The interior sold me on my 2014 IS250 F Sport, but brand loyalty had a heavy hand in my consideration of the IS. I had that car for 27 months (lease) and did have the battery drain issue, but did not have any other issues. The IS250 was only lacking in the power department. I turned in the 250 and leased a 2016 IS350. It's got the power I wanted and at 306 hp, it's not a world beater, but it's enough.

I don't pick apart the technology because I've driven cars with none of it for a long time. As a sailor and a guy who's had cars with no nav, I know how to get where I need to go. I like the smooth power of the 3.5L V6 and appreciate the sound of it, but not enough to do aftermarket exhaust. The 8 speed transmission has somewhat rough shifts when cold and gets confused sometimes in normal mode. I love F Sport + mode. My situation was good for a lease, but I am moving and will be commuting soon. I plan to buy this car at lease end.

fivesevenn

i went for the IS because of the reliability and i also get Toyota/Lexus parts on cost price. also because i plan on keeping the car.

jincuteguy

So you're saying the C-class right now is better than the IS?

davyjordi

that's what he's implying.