2018 IS 300 F-Sport vs 2019 IS 300 AWD F-Sport?
09-07-21, 09:48 AM
#1
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2018 IS 300 F-Sport vs 2019 IS 300 AWD F-Sport?
1) Yesterday I purchased a 2018 IS 300 F-Sport 4cyl Turbo from CarMax.
2) CarMax has a 30 day return policy (CarMax horror stories not required...)
3) Today I found a 2019 IS 300 AWD V6 F-Sport that's identical to what I purchased in every way, but has the V6 and AWD for $3k more.
Q: Is it worth an additional $3,000 for the 260hp V6 and AWD alone? I know hp is roughly the same as the 4cyl., but I like knowing I can mod the V6 down the road for more power, so aside from that is there anything else I'd really be missing if I didn't opt for a 350 F-Sport?
(Also, why is the Mark Levinson stereo so rare in F-Sport models? Haven't seen one yet.)
2) CarMax has a 30 day return policy (CarMax horror stories not required...)
3) Today I found a 2019 IS 300 AWD V6 F-Sport that's identical to what I purchased in every way, but has the V6 and AWD for $3k more.
Q: Is it worth an additional $3,000 for the 260hp V6 and AWD alone? I know hp is roughly the same as the 4cyl., but I like knowing I can mod the V6 down the road for more power, so aside from that is there anything else I'd really be missing if I didn't opt for a 350 F-Sport?
(Also, why is the Mark Levinson stereo so rare in F-Sport models? Haven't seen one yet.)
09-21-21, 08:06 AM
#3
drives cars
If you're in GA, my guess is that you probably don't need AWD, but the V-6 itself would be appealing. It'll be quicker 0-60 than the 300 RWD, but the gas mileage will be a lot worse. Even my RWD IS 350 that I drive spiritedly a lot of the time still gets around 21 MPG average, but my 2016 IS 300 AWD was barely able to get 19 MPG average in similar conditions (albeit a bit colder winters).
The AWD system is fantastic for driving in snow, especially "fun" driving in the snow. It is rear-biased, and it makes the car super easy to drift.
The 6-speed auto has some pros and cons related to the 8-speed. For one, the 6-speed generally holds gears a bit longer and executes shifts more slowly than the 8-speed. This is especially evident in sporty driving, when full-throttle shifts are slower. However, the 6-speed also needs to downshift a bit less than the 8-speed. The 8-speed can be hyper focused on getting the RPMs down when left in Normal mode. Overall, the 8-speed feels more modern, but the 6-speed is just as smooth and is generally just fine. People like to hate on it, but it's certainly not all bad.
I think having the V6 does provide a more premium experience in terms of sound and smoothness, but it's up to you what's important... That premium feel versus having low-end torque, and getting more power versus more gas mileage.
The AWD system is fantastic for driving in snow, especially "fun" driving in the snow. It is rear-biased, and it makes the car super easy to drift.
The 6-speed auto has some pros and cons related to the 8-speed. For one, the 6-speed generally holds gears a bit longer and executes shifts more slowly than the 8-speed. This is especially evident in sporty driving, when full-throttle shifts are slower. However, the 6-speed also needs to downshift a bit less than the 8-speed. The 8-speed can be hyper focused on getting the RPMs down when left in Normal mode. Overall, the 8-speed feels more modern, but the 6-speed is just as smooth and is generally just fine. People like to hate on it, but it's certainly not all bad.
I think having the V6 does provide a more premium experience in terms of sound and smoothness, but it's up to you what's important... That premium feel versus having low-end torque, and getting more power versus more gas mileage.
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