AmbyBomb

It's easy to say a V8 would be overkill if you haven't driven it. I knew I was buying my car the moment I started it up and felt the car shake as the V8 boomed to life.

Snowwolfe

How often are USA dealers resupplied with this model Lexus?

wthrman2

AndyBomb - I am not disputing the V8 is great and would be amazing to have. To me, it's about the balance and at the moment, there are more "+'s" with my 350 than the 500. At the moment, the only + that the 500 has over my 350 is the V8, but that is it. If you drive a V8 only in town and never go on highways, on long trips and such, and all you do is drive around city limits, the 20K extra for the 500 isn't worth it for me. Add the fact that my 350 has the interior color I love, has the sunroof, and better looking OEM wheels, then to me, the V8 ain't enough at this point.

wthrman2

Not often, the IS in general has been in limited supply but the IS 500 is very scarce and so far, the only 500 arriving at dealers are the Launch Edition or Premium verion that have been pre-built by Lexus and allocated randomly across the dealers. In other words, no custom orders have been taken so far.

jjc1111

Caviar/Black Premium arriving February 12-17 @ Lexus of Huntsville, AL - MSRP $599 doc fee - prefers to sell in-state - contact Jason 239-289-8273

AmbyBomb

Fair enough, for city driving, it's probably useless. Gas mileage is pretty rough too. I got about 200 km to the first half to 3/4 of a tank.

AmbyBomb

Has anybody noticed the car beeps at them if they brake hard or accelerate hard?

hotct

I'm getting super impatient waiting on some IS 500's to show up at the dealer I got on the waiting list at. I mean this CT200h has been comfy and dependable for years now, but it's a real slug

macmaster

As an owner of both I will say you’re going to love both children.

V8ISGreat

One of the things I like about the IS 500 Premium is all options/packages are included. When I went on the Lexus website to build an IS 350 F Sport with similar specs, the price was only about $6,000 less than the 500 Premium. Do you have the dynamic handling package on your 350?

wthrman2

^^ I don't, so here in Canada, the difference between what I have (non-DHP) and the IS 500 is about 20K (plus taxes). The only thing my 350 doesn't have that I miss is the ML system but it wasn't available with the DHP in Canada back in 2021. The 500 is a great car, don't get me wrong, but the fact I already have the 2021 model, to borrow the word of macmaster, the 500 will be anti-climatic given that it will just really have the extra power (that I don't need) but also lose many of the goodies that are important to me.

macmaster

I did say that didn’t I...The car is growing on me, the more I drive the way it was meant to be enjoyed, the more it turns heads not just for its looks but its sound. The 500 might be basically identical to the 350 but I think it’s a whole different level of respect from auto enthusiasts. When you see a Honda Accord racing down the freeway you think “what an a-hole.” But when you see a Ferrari doing the same thing you go “cool, what a lucky SOB.” I’m not saying 350 = accord and 500 = Ferrari but performance cars are on a different level and afforded more respect, and the IS500 despite what it still lacks is indeed a performance car. The IS350 is cool, but they put the V6 in almost every Lexus.

wthrman2

^^ I hear what you are saying, the 500 is in a league of its own that is for sure. I really wanted to get one but as I am getting closer, I am now realizing that it not for me anymore but I will never say anything bad about the car. It is gorgeous and awesome that they put a V8 in it but I have been wanting to be in love with this car and not sure why, but lately, it just doesn't my juices going so I am either going to keep my 350 or do something totally different! I will likely take more time to assess what I want and given the whole car shortage situation, I'll be in my 350 at least till the spring of 2023 which is not a bad thing. To be honest, in a weird way, I was just watch a video from the Chicago auto show from Raiti's Ride and that Z in that Boulder grey (which is is similar to Incognito) with those amazing gun metal painted finish wheels looks amazing with a red interior that is perfectly balanced in the way I wish Lexus would have done. Since I have given up on owning the 500 for at least 5 years, I will just go back to my 2 year pattern of flipping and enjoying trying something different. Nothing saying I am going Z, I just meant that the Z made me aware that there are some other cool alternatives out there I'll still be on the forum periodically, I like the folks here. (Just google that Raiti's video and you will be very impressed by the color/wheel combo and interior color combo)

TGPCanada

I'm not going to argue with any of this . No question about it - from an enthusiast's perspective, the 500 commands a different level of respect . Hands down. For most of the general buying public, they don't see any difference or could care less. I was talking to a guy in a supermarket parking lot today who had a brand spanking new 22 IS300, and mentioned to him about the 500. His response: "why on earth do you need so much horsepower???". My response:. "I dunno, to be on top of the food chain?". Lol.

If I didn't have a 21 IS350 already, and was in the market for a new car, a daily driver , etc, no question about about it I would snap up an IS500 in a heartbeat . But to trade it in now , dish out another $20K+ for exactly the same car except for the V8 just seems like a hard pill to swallow. I'm seriously considering just keeping the 350, shelling out even more and getting an LC500, which seems way more car than the IS500 with its 10 speed auto, world class interior, etc . The crazy part about all that is that is exactly what the wife wants me to do! Anyhow, the IS500 (or LC500) are extraordinary vehicles , and will be treasured pieces for years to come . We will all be driving electric appliances in the not so distant future .

Answer

I'd feel the same if I had the new body style. I normally upgrade every 3 years so 2021 should have been the year, but knowing the 500 was around the corner, I held off. I didn't felt like having the same exact drivetrain once again. Glad I waited!