Kanpai

The RCF definitely was built better for the autocross, but it doesn't suit me well. I'm broad shouldered, so the seats in that aren't comfortable for any significant amount of time, like most other sports cars. I would take the overall comfort of the IS over the RC anyday. There were no LC500's, as those are for the Driving School for their explanation.

AmbyBomb

I've had the stock setup on the car for a few weeks now, and the car feels much better with the wider rear tires. Far more planted and less skittish compared to the square winter setup.

macmaster

Shame about the LC500 not being there. So this is what it's come down to. 2 Performance models at the driving event and that's it. Kinda sad. The 2018 Driving Event had the LC500 available for the autocross. Not sure why Lexus is holding back now.

I'm just trying to get a mental idea of how these cars stack up overall before I go in September. Back in 2018 I felt the best cars was GS F > RC F > LC500. There were no IS's at that time, not even IS350s. The GS F was a lot more comfortable yet still nimbler than the RC F and LC500. Sounds like that could be like the IS500.

Sheena2018

It's no IS500 but good enough for me.

plus $30,000 cheaper...

Kanpai

Well this event exists solely to push the driving school, which was half their time was spent talking about. The "feature" cars from this event were the NX (low buy in SUV) and IS500/RCF (Roughly same price), which made sense for the crowd of mostly casual folks looking for a test drive of basic cars. I'd say most of the folks didn't push their car at all during the Autocross because they weren't comfortable (like my wife) or didn't care, so the LC500 would be more or less lost on this crowd. They know if you're dropping $1k plus possible flights and hotels that you actually at least WANT to push these cars.

Kanpai

Yeah, but V8 GO VROOOOOOOOOM

pprj

Great car, with a great drive train.
Congrats.

95bat

Just not the drivetrain this section was created for

arentz07

Off-topic, but I am curious as to how you got $10k off in the middle of one of the worst car markets in modern history. Even before this mess started I still paid only $1500 under MSRP before taxes and fees, and that's with 6 hours of haggling lol. I know someone who paid more than I did for an IS 350, and his car doesn't even have Mark Levinson like mine does.

Either way, congrats and enjoy. It's a wonderful machine, still love mine to this day almost a year later.

Kanpai

Yeah definitely an odd flex to go into the IS500 section to post about an IS350 lol

arentz07

As an IS 350 owner, I will admit I mostly lurk here to moderate and/or dream about upgrading to a 500 haha. I won't deny I would love to have one. Having said that, it's healthy to look at the positives of anything you have in life. Fewer cylinders means better MPG and fewer injectors and spark plugs to change. Less power and displacement means lower taxes. Less demand means it's easier to find an IS 350. Plus, most randoms out there would not know the difference between the two cars, since they are very similar at first glance.

However, it's all less fun lol. As an enthusiast, having a "special" vehicle is just as important to me as all those pragmatic concerns above. If I wanted to be pragmatic, I'd go buy a Corolla Hybrid, or something in that vein. So I still want a 500, even though I can appreciate that having a 350 is advantageous in some ways for me at this point in time.

Kanpai

I don't hate the 350, it was the first Lexus I ever drove when I walked into the dealer asking about the 500. I completely agree with what you said, I actually enjoyed driving the UX hybrid yesterday, I know that car is definitely a more sensible purchase that I would still enjoy. Then I remember "Hurhurhur RIGHT PEDAL GO ZOOM" and I still want the 500, gas prices be damned.

arentz07

Haha yes. It go vroom. Sometimes it is that simple.

And I don't assume people in here have any shade to throw at 350 owners or the car in general. Most of us came here through other IS models. It's all the same foundation, thankfully a good one that can handle the additional power.

@Sheena2018 We have an introductions thread in the main 3IS forums, go post in there!

Fman2118

The IS350 is a great car, albeit a bit underpowered for me. I bought a 2021 IS350 last July an was pleased with it. So much so that it was why I had no hesitation trading it in for an IS500.

Kanpai

Exactly. The IS350 showed me that the car itself would suit what I needed. The absurdity of the old fashioned ethos of "shove a V8 in and go with it" in a modern luxury car (albeit been done many times, even by Lexus itself) was really what got me interested and tickled the muscle car fan in me while still allowing me to get an "adult car"