Lexus IS Regret?
03-31-20, 09:50 PM
#151
Advanced
Well firstly, it sounds like luxury & creature comforts is more important to you, and less important is road worthiness & driving pleasure. My primary objective was the latter, and performance, so got the most powerful of the IS lot - 350 FSport RWD - with the understanding that some standard luxury features would sacrifice, but at the same time better quality, reliability, & longevity than BMW.
Secondly, almost all of the other cars you mentioned are (run of the mill) FWD - albeit all good cars - but not the greatest wrt performance, so it seems like there's some unbalance in the OP.
Like you I also did lotsa research beforehand and there's not as much remorse (wrt road worthiness & driving pleasure & performance) but you have to get the IS350 FSport RWD. Including luxury features & creature comforts, if you want a "driver's/performance/sports car" - whatever brand/model that may be - ALWAYS get RWD, regardless of torque and HP. I already had/have one RWD - a Lexus GS300. When I was recently in the market again for a new car my search started with EVERY brand/model RWD I could find, and everything else was secondary. I had a TINY BIT of remorse when the newer Camry was released, but again, it's FWD (maybe AWD in northern states & Canada).
Secondly, almost all of the other cars you mentioned are (run of the mill) FWD - albeit all good cars - but not the greatest wrt performance, so it seems like there's some unbalance in the OP.
Like you I also did lotsa research beforehand and there's not as much remorse (wrt road worthiness & driving pleasure & performance) but you have to get the IS350 FSport RWD. Including luxury features & creature comforts, if you want a "driver's/performance/sports car" - whatever brand/model that may be - ALWAYS get RWD, regardless of torque and HP. I already had/have one RWD - a Lexus GS300. When I was recently in the market again for a new car my search started with EVERY brand/model RWD I could find, and everything else was secondary. I had a TINY BIT of remorse when the newer Camry was released, but again, it's FWD (maybe AWD in northern states & Canada).
Last edited by LaZeR; 04-02-20 at 03:32 PM.
04-01-20, 01:52 AM
#152
Pole Position
Well firstly, it sounds like luxury & creature comforts is more important to you, and less important is road worthiness & driving pleasure. My primary objective was the latter, and performance, hence the most powerful of the IS lot - 350 FSport RWD - with the understanding that some standard luxury features would sacrifice, but at the same time better quality, reliability, & longevity than BMW. Secondly, almost all of the other cars you mentioned are (run of the mill) FWD - albeit all good cars - but not the greatest wrt performance, so it seems like there's some unbalance in the OP.
Like you I also did lotsa research beforehand and there's not as much remorse (wrt road worthiness & driving pleasure & performance) but you have to get the IS350 FSport RWD. Regardless of luxury features & creature comforts, if you want a "driver's/performance/sports car" - whatever brand/model that may be - ALWAYS get RWD, regardless of torque and HP.
Like you I also did lotsa research beforehand and there's not as much remorse (wrt road worthiness & driving pleasure & performance) but you have to get the IS350 FSport RWD. Regardless of luxury features & creature comforts, if you want a "driver's/performance/sports car" - whatever brand/model that may be - ALWAYS get RWD, regardless of torque and HP.
Last edited by davyjordi; 04-01-20 at 11:19 AM.
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kj07xk (04-01-20)
04-01-20, 07:54 AM
#153
idk if I can agree with you but I get your point I think. No matter how clean the car is or waxes, if you touch it with ANY towel you can see the scratches reoccurring. Literally paint corrected, polished, waxed, and the final light buffing was scratching it moments later.
And theres not enough clear coat to begin with so we only have so much correction we can do, says my detail guy. He said with German cars he can really lay into it and knows he has plenty of clear coat to dig into, not so with the Japanese cars. I believe him.
And theres not enough clear coat to begin with so we only have so much correction we can do, says my detail guy. He said with German cars he can really lay into it and knows he has plenty of clear coat to dig into, not so with the Japanese cars. I believe him.
04-01-20, 02:16 PM
#154
Advanced
As for resale value, RWD models are rare and hard to find in northern states, and especially more so in Canada where most manufacturers and especially Lexus offers ONLY AWD & FWD. There are hardly any newer generation IS & GS with RWD in Canada, and they're rare in northern states like Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, etc. Northern buyers are hard up for RWD and pay a lot, or even travel south, to buy an IS or GS in RWD (again IMO).
Last edited by LaZeR; 04-02-20 at 03:35 PM.
04-01-20, 02:31 PM
#155
drives cars
Well, in those northern climates that you speak of, in spring & summer months, OR during times when there's NO snow or ice, RWD affords better driving performance than AWD (IMO anyway).
As for resale value, RWD models are rare and hard to find in northern states, and especially more so in Canada where most manufacturers and especially Lexus offer ONLY AWD & FWD. There are hardly any newer generation IS & GS with RWD in Canada, and they're rare in northern states like Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, etc. Northern buyers are hard up for RWD and pay a lot, or even travel south, to buy an IS or GS in RWD (again IMO).
As for resale value, RWD models are rare and hard to find in northern states, and especially more so in Canada where most manufacturers and especially Lexus offer ONLY AWD & FWD. There are hardly any newer generation IS & GS with RWD in Canada, and they're rare in northern states like Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, etc. Northern buyers are hard up for RWD and pay a lot, or even travel south, to buy an IS or GS in RWD (again IMO).
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davyjordi (04-01-20)
04-01-20, 03:05 PM
#156
Advanced
On a related note, it's not only performance related, AWD adds more: mechanism, weight (sometimes several hundred pounds), and (new car) cost $$$$.
Last edited by LaZeR; 04-01-20 at 11:07 PM.
04-01-20, 10:37 PM
#157
It was pretty clear to me that the buyer will only consider AWD cars, i.e. it is his personal requirement of the car he buys.
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davyjordi (04-02-20)
04-02-20, 07:18 AM
#158
i own an is 250 non f sport (the least desirable IS) and i have no regrets.. best car i drove and all the ladies are always impressed
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LaZeR (04-02-20)
04-02-20, 03:05 PM
#160
Driver School Candidate
04-03-20, 05:05 AM
#161
04-03-20, 05:40 AM
#162
Pole Position
while that may be true, his wallet may not be in alignment with his emotional perception of the two cars. while new, the price difference may not be very much, but 350s on the used market command a much higher price tag than the 250s or even the 200t/300s.
04-03-20, 04:35 PM
#163
Pit Crew
Major towns in southern Ontario & BC, and northern New York state, also don't get tons of snow, even if they do it doesn't last very long, and with a set snow tires it's a no brainer. But all of this applies more so if you really want, and ONLY want RWD, like me!! On a related note, it's not only performance related, AWD adds more: mechanism, weight (sometimes several hundred pounds), and (new car) cost $$$$.
On a related note, it's not only performance related, AWD adds more: mechanism, weight (sometimes several hundred pounds), and (new car) cost $$$$.
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LaZeR (04-03-20)
04-03-20, 04:51 PM
#164
Advanced
You got the IS350 FSport? And what Year? Depending on the year was it "originally shipped" much further south? Don't think any Lexus Dealers in Canada get new RWD IS, GS, etc.
Last edited by LaZeR; 04-03-20 at 08:17 PM.
04-03-20, 10:46 PM
#165
Pit Crew