IS500SM

Welcome Aboard!

TGPCanada

After going from a 21 IS350 to a 23 IS500, I can certainly attest that the only thing these 2 vehicles share in common is their beautiful good looks. Their personalities are quite different. Both great, just different.

DLPTony

That part. 👏🏽👏🏽

arentz07

I'm gonna be honest... if I ignore the drivetrain, which is nearly impossible, mind you, the way the cars feel is pretty darned similar. The biggest difference other than the drivetrain is the adaptive suspension. I didn't have AVS on my 2021 IS 350, and the IS 500 rides a lot nicer. Otherwise, the way the car goes down the road and steers is pretty much identical to my 350. Which is a good thing.

But, having that V-8 gives ME a different personality while I am driving. By the constant rumble, I am always reminded that I got the big boy engine, and I intend to use it.

wthrman2

I too came from the V6 to the V8, and what a change!! If only i could do the same upgrade in my personal life, i'd be a happy camper lmao

CyberNinja

For me, it’s a sort of culture shock because I went from a FWD, low powered/average revving V6 to a RWD, higher revving, pretty powerful V8 and I could actually ‘feel’ the power through the pedals. So aside from the suspension — which feels more or less similar — the difference for me is huge. I’ve borrowed my friend’s ‘18 IS350 once before and compared to the 500, this has a lot more character and drama to it which I love. Now, mind you I’m still breaking her in at 224 miles on the odometer so far, so I haven't been able to see that V8 roar at redline just yet, but even short bursts at 5k RPM on Normal and eco mode you can still feel the power.

SonicRob99

What is this… eco mode… thing you’re describing??

CyberNinja

Excuse me.. Where are my manners... I'm referring to that mode.. the mode that shall not be named, only to be used during the break-in period... you know, the *gulps* left side of the dial.. *Ominious Music plays*

DLPTony

HA! HA! Yes…*that* is the appropriate name, something to be seen as alien.

Ceten

Guess I'm the newest member of this particular club. 2023 IS500 white/red Premium with the matte alloy 19" wheels.

I just picked her/him (doesn't have a name yet) up yesterday afternoon.

I came out of a silver/red 2018 IS350 that I bought L-Certified at the end of 2019 and I LOVED him. I'm a little tall and have had a couple of back surgeries so getting in and out was not ideal but, once I was in, it was like wearing a glove. My only problem was I wanted more power and, with the change to the 2GR-FKS engine in 2018, upgrade options were pretty limited.

I don't know how many times I've said "I will NEVER trade in this car in unless I can get my hands on an IS500", but it was a lot. I loved my car so much and the price tag on the IS500 was high enough that I never put my name on the list. But I got really lucky:

We were in the dealership Wednesday to get my wife a new NX as her lease was just about up. I asked our salesperson (Nikki at North Park Lexus San Antonio is great) about the silver/red and white/red IS500's that the website showed as inbound and available. Nope. Every 500 is pre-sold, they just show that way on the computer. My wife ended up buying an Infiniti QX55 on Friday (they're the only luxury brand in this category that will let you have red/red and it looks sexy). She texted Nikki on Saturday morning to let her know and got a reply text of "No problem. Hey, the buyer pulled out on the white IS500 and it's on the ground, does your husband want to drive it?". 25 minutes later we were at the dealership. She let me put a few miles on it (freshly off the truck and still wrapped in plastic). I made a few slightly inappropriate comments about how excited I was driving it, did a little math to estimate my payments, and pulled the trigger.

I'm only 100 miles in, but my impressions so far:
Cons: (1) It's a 2023, why do I still have to plug in my iPhone for Apple Car Play on this Premium trim model? (2) With the red interior, the red trim on the lower portion of the doors is not as appealing as the rest of the red in my opinion. I'm thinking of checking out the parts department to see what lower door trim pieces from a black interior would cost.
Pros: It's the same interior layout, so it still feels like it was built around me. It feels a lot more "connected" to the road than my 350 if that makes sense. Paddle shifting under acceleration is much, much more assertive, not the "suggestion to the transmission" that it was on my 350. Some shifts, especially 2nd to 3rd almost feel like a real double clutch paddle shifter. I spent a ton of time and money on a midpipe and a few different muffler/resonator combinations to get the exhaust note just right on my 350; I'm not touching this exhaust: it purrs at idle, roars in the mid torque range, and redlines just before it starts to scream. Perfection.

I don't know if I'm the type of person that keeps a car forever or wants to trade it every few years (before my IS350 I had an F150 for 10 years), but I can't imagine being happier in any other car. If you're on the fence about an IS500, buy it.

wthrman2

^^ I'll be curious if you swap the lower door panels - I am OCD and did think of it at one point but moved on.

You have almost the same as me, I have different wheels but a 2022 Congrats and welcome...

CyberNinja

Congrats! You have almost the same exact spec I do (minus the “optional” BBS Rims). I think I’m one of the few lucky ones who didn’t get the near $3k up-charge for the rims.

DarthCholo

New IS500 owner here. Storytime!
2022 used USB 2.0 Premium with Enkie wheels. Full window tint and PPF on front hood and quarter panels from previous owner. Only mod so far I added is a Motorola wireless Android auto adapter. Connects in 30 seconds or less each time i turn on the engine. And also the Porsche magnetic phone holder suggested by a member here (pricy but worth it since it's used pretty much every time you use the car).

Previous Car : 2015 GS350 F-sport. Impressions so far compared to GS350.
- GS = better seats due to leg extensions and adjustable side bolsters. However the IS500 seats fit my frame just fine. My son is big enough now to ride in the front seat so the smaller rears is not a big issue.
- GS = had touch door sensors on rear doors. I keep trying to open the rears on the IS that doesn't have them
- GS = Better positioned arm rest and cupholders. IS arm rest and cup holders seem a bit not forward enough in the cockpit. I find myself reaching backwards a lot.
- IS500 = wins in everything else or tie. Wins in engine of course, tech is better, looks just as good and sportier, better fold down seats (vs small passthrough), easier to park, better cameras with the front being the most critical as to not scrape parking tire stops.
- IS500 multimedia = I thought i'd end up using Android Auto more, however simply moving to a touch screen and the mousepad vs non-touch and mouse on the GS, i'm finding the built in navigation perfectly suitable. It's nice having full youtube music integration though.

Previous to Lexus GS350= 2012 BMW 535i Msport
- BMW - seats were just as good as GS350, perhaps just a tad better.
- BMW = better transmission than IS and GS (ZF trannys are the ****)
- BMW = best sounding stereo and it wasn't even the upgraded harmon kardon. The IS500 ML is 2nd best i've heard stock. If the ML had 2 subwoofers instead under the seats in the floor boards like BMW had it would of sounded better.
- BMW = multimedia Idrive as just a tad better than the lexus options at the time. IS is perfectly fine for a sports sedan.
- BMW = Better torque down low from the turbo I6 Engine. But otherwise equivalent than the Lexus V6. V8 is a different animal due to it being a higher revving more exciting engine.
- BMW 3rd place in everything else. Handling sucked, terrible runflats and I had to find a shop that would switch them out, no spare tire, and MOST importantly NOT reliable (went into limp mode 3 times). I knew about reliability and is why i optioned for a certified used model that extended powertrain warranty. It paid for itself in the first breakdown. 2nd and 3rd breakdowns i was saving thousands in $$ time and effort. 1 month after warranty ran out the high pressure fuel pump went out. Stealership wanted 3k. I instead found a remanufactured party and an Indy shop and got back on the road for 1k. Got rid of the car shortly afterwards as it felt like a ticking timebomb. The GS350 zero problems and i drove it double the mileage of the BMW. I expect the same from the IS500.

Ceten

Congrats!
I also find myself pulling pointlessly on the rear handles (my wife’s car has the rear sensors). I also agree with the armrest/cup holder situation. The forward cup holder is almost useable. From my 2018 to this one, they swapped positions of the touchpad (formerly joystick) and sport mode selector. I change my mode A LOT and I have to snake my arm between the shifter and my oversized drink. Small price to pay for the car I’ve been dreaming of for 2.5 years.
I wish it had leg extensions (I’m 6’3”), but tilting the front all the way up works too.

To the other commenter above: I looked at swapping the interior door panels. At $680 each, I think I like the red just fine.

TipsyTonio

I know a plastic surgeon that may be able to work wonders.... assuming you're not too far gone...