IS 500 - A Year In Review
01-07-23, 10:47 AM
#1
Rookie
Thread Starter
IS 500 - A Year In Review
Hey all, it's been about a year since I took ownership of my IS500, and I thought it would be nice to make a review of this car. I have previously been a Product Specialist for Lexus and had the opportunity to drive every Lexus model (except for the LFA), as well as quite a few of their competitors. I broke down my review into a few categories that I felt would be relevant to a future buyer, and things that stood out to me. Hope you guys will find it useful in your car-shopping endeavors or find it relatable to your ownership of the car.
Appearance:
The IS model line aged very well. I remember a lot of criticism when the 3IS came out pertaining to the "predator" grille, but that seems to have all but disappeared. The current IS now looks aggressive, yet very mature and far from overstated. When I initially saw the Enkei wheels on the Lexus site, I didn't know how to feel about them. In person, they look even better than the BBS option. The bulged hood and quad exhausts are totally awesome, and a big plus. I think the CF OEM spoiler and mirror caps found on the DHP IS350 would make the IS500 look more aggressive. In addition to some springs and spacers for a more flush wheel arch. Whether you prefer this or not, the IS500 gets almost ZERO attention on the road. To non-enthusiasts, it looks like every other IS; so much so that my friends barely noticed when I traded out my IS300 for it. If you like being seen, then this might not be the car for you. I also live in Miami Beach, which is flooded with IS models as well as cars that are 5x the price of it. So there's that as well.
Performance:
The IS500 is a great-sounding and engaging driver's car. It does have its quirks, but they're not deal breakers. The V8 makes nearly all its power up in the high revs, so you get to hear the awesome sound when you punch it. The power is more than enough and provides the perfect amount of tire-burning excitement, yet composed enough that it doesn't feel like it wants to send you into the nearest wall or oncoming lane. It will do a great burnout, and drive it hard enough and you'll find you'll need a new set of tires very soon. It's certainly tail happy, and very easy to slide around, even with traction control on. I do think the OEM Potenzas should be swapped out for some stickier and perhaps wider rears because the car spins quite a bit on launch. The suspension is too soft, even in Sport S +. The car sags a lot when you're on the throttle, and feels like the front end comes up too high. The RCF and GSF models do not feel this way at all. This can easily be remedied with a nice set of aftermarket coils or springs. The transmission is old, clunky, and needs to be completely warmed up to do any aggressive shifting. Most of the time it feels like it's taking a nap, which is good for daily use, but not when you want to actually drive. To force it to wake up, use the gear drop-down on the gas pedal. It'll drop the transmission into the lowest gear possible, and the RPMs will soar. Sport mode feels almost identical to normal, and Sport + stiffens the steering and livens up our sleepy 8-speed with faster shifts and improved throttle response. I think that Sport mode should be how S+ feels, and S+ should tighten up the suspension significantly. The brakes are another minus. They take some getting used to and feel like you need to press hard to stop the car. It's funny because the IS350 with supposedly weaker brakes feels much more assuring. I think this is not an issue with the brakes themselves but with the response to pedal input (hopefully there will be a correction in the future). The exhaust is a little too quiet for my taste, it is almost nonexistent before 3000 RPMs. The steering feels nice and connected, providing ample road feel and nicely weighted in Sport S+
Interior:
The interior is old and definitely needs a refresh. But it's got all the creature comforts. The big touchscreen included in the navigation package is well-fitted and CarPlay compatible but is wired CarPlay only. I found a wireless module for it (HIGHLY recommend). The seats are bolstered perfectly for me but maybe too tight for taller/wider-built people (I'm 5'7). The rear space is very tight but who cares, I don't really like driving people around anyway lol. I love the tachometer, and the Sport + mode tach looks quite a bit like the LFA's. Overall, I don't mind its aging style, it does the job and still looks good - almost charming in the age of huge iPad screens in most cars.
The competition:
I chose this car over a C43, M340i, IS350 Dynamic, and a Pre Owned C63 we had. All those cars were great options as well, which I thoroughly enjoyed driving. In the end, I wanted the V8 soundtrack, which left me with the C63 or the IS5. After factoring in maintenance, I decided on the IS500, and I'm very happy with my choice.
Verdict:
Overall, I give the IS500 a 7.5/10. It is far from perfect and feels old, but has this charm to it. In a world filled with turbo sixes, iPad screen infotainment, and All Wheel Drive, it feels like one of the only options available if you're looking for a classy, engaging, and comfortable daily driver. The competition may be more advanced or faster, but you can't judge a car on quantifiable values alone. I'm happy to have bought one.
Appearance:
The IS model line aged very well. I remember a lot of criticism when the 3IS came out pertaining to the "predator" grille, but that seems to have all but disappeared. The current IS now looks aggressive, yet very mature and far from overstated. When I initially saw the Enkei wheels on the Lexus site, I didn't know how to feel about them. In person, they look even better than the BBS option. The bulged hood and quad exhausts are totally awesome, and a big plus. I think the CF OEM spoiler and mirror caps found on the DHP IS350 would make the IS500 look more aggressive. In addition to some springs and spacers for a more flush wheel arch. Whether you prefer this or not, the IS500 gets almost ZERO attention on the road. To non-enthusiasts, it looks like every other IS; so much so that my friends barely noticed when I traded out my IS300 for it. If you like being seen, then this might not be the car for you. I also live in Miami Beach, which is flooded with IS models as well as cars that are 5x the price of it. So there's that as well.
Performance:
The IS500 is a great-sounding and engaging driver's car. It does have its quirks, but they're not deal breakers. The V8 makes nearly all its power up in the high revs, so you get to hear the awesome sound when you punch it. The power is more than enough and provides the perfect amount of tire-burning excitement, yet composed enough that it doesn't feel like it wants to send you into the nearest wall or oncoming lane. It will do a great burnout, and drive it hard enough and you'll find you'll need a new set of tires very soon. It's certainly tail happy, and very easy to slide around, even with traction control on. I do think the OEM Potenzas should be swapped out for some stickier and perhaps wider rears because the car spins quite a bit on launch. The suspension is too soft, even in Sport S +. The car sags a lot when you're on the throttle, and feels like the front end comes up too high. The RCF and GSF models do not feel this way at all. This can easily be remedied with a nice set of aftermarket coils or springs. The transmission is old, clunky, and needs to be completely warmed up to do any aggressive shifting. Most of the time it feels like it's taking a nap, which is good for daily use, but not when you want to actually drive. To force it to wake up, use the gear drop-down on the gas pedal. It'll drop the transmission into the lowest gear possible, and the RPMs will soar. Sport mode feels almost identical to normal, and Sport + stiffens the steering and livens up our sleepy 8-speed with faster shifts and improved throttle response. I think that Sport mode should be how S+ feels, and S+ should tighten up the suspension significantly. The brakes are another minus. They take some getting used to and feel like you need to press hard to stop the car. It's funny because the IS350 with supposedly weaker brakes feels much more assuring. I think this is not an issue with the brakes themselves but with the response to pedal input (hopefully there will be a correction in the future). The exhaust is a little too quiet for my taste, it is almost nonexistent before 3000 RPMs. The steering feels nice and connected, providing ample road feel and nicely weighted in Sport S+
Interior:
The interior is old and definitely needs a refresh. But it's got all the creature comforts. The big touchscreen included in the navigation package is well-fitted and CarPlay compatible but is wired CarPlay only. I found a wireless module for it (HIGHLY recommend). The seats are bolstered perfectly for me but maybe too tight for taller/wider-built people (I'm 5'7). The rear space is very tight but who cares, I don't really like driving people around anyway lol. I love the tachometer, and the Sport + mode tach looks quite a bit like the LFA's. Overall, I don't mind its aging style, it does the job and still looks good - almost charming in the age of huge iPad screens in most cars.
The competition:
I chose this car over a C43, M340i, IS350 Dynamic, and a Pre Owned C63 we had. All those cars were great options as well, which I thoroughly enjoyed driving. In the end, I wanted the V8 soundtrack, which left me with the C63 or the IS5. After factoring in maintenance, I decided on the IS500, and I'm very happy with my choice.
Verdict:
Overall, I give the IS500 a 7.5/10. It is far from perfect and feels old, but has this charm to it. In a world filled with turbo sixes, iPad screen infotainment, and All Wheel Drive, it feels like one of the only options available if you're looking for a classy, engaging, and comfortable daily driver. The competition may be more advanced or faster, but you can't judge a car on quantifiable values alone. I'm happy to have bought one.
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01-07-23, 02:39 PM
#2
Intermediate
Great review! Thanks for posting. Funny, the "predator style" grille is exactly what grabbed my attention in the fall of 2020 when I saw a Lexus commercial featuring the refreshed new IS during an NFL game. Ran to a friend, showed him the 1987 movie and said "what do you think? pretty close eh ?" LOL. Rest is history.
Last edited by TGPCanada; 01-07-23 at 02:45 PM.
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wthrman2 (01-07-23)
01-07-23, 03:51 PM
#3
Pole Position
Nice overall review! You are 100% correct about the Bridgestones, those bad boys were replaced with Michelin PS4S’ within 4 months. I couldn’t stand them. 🤮
I’ve read other posts who’ve said the same about their cars getting zero attention. I have not had that experience. Other than being dazzlingly clean 97% of the time, I’m sure the ‘IS500’ personalized plate helps the public out. 😜😈
I’ve read other posts who’ve said the same about their cars getting zero attention. I have not had that experience. Other than being dazzlingly clean 97% of the time, I’m sure the ‘IS500’ personalized plate helps the public out. 😜😈
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01-07-23, 07:47 PM
#4
Pole Position
01-08-23, 02:05 AM
#6
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01-08-23, 09:34 AM
#8
Pole Position
01-08-23, 09:36 AM
#9
Having experienced some of the cars you’ve experienced plus a few others, I agree with your review. I’m here for the quirks and I’m here for the IYKYK factor.
01-08-23, 09:45 AM
#10
I will say as probably one of the younger owners, it’s getting a decent amount of buzz on tik tok. Lexus of concord has a pretty big tik tok presence and a couple videos of a caviar is500 has gone viral.
it also always comes up on tik tok when people talk about the actura tlx type s and how much better this car is then that. I think the tlx type s is a great car in its own way and many ways more practical but of course I prefer the is 500 to it.
it also always comes up on tik tok when people talk about the actura tlx type s and how much better this car is then that. I think the tlx type s is a great car in its own way and many ways more practical but of course I prefer the is 500 to it.
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phoenix888 (02-01-23)
01-08-23, 10:11 AM
#11
I will say as probably one of the younger owners, it’s getting a decent amount of buzz on tik tok. Lexus of concord has a pretty big tik tok presence and a couple videos of a caviar is500 has gone viral.
it also always comes up on tik tok when people talk about the actura tlx type s and how much better this car is then that. I think the tlx type s is a great car in its own way and many ways more practical but of course I prefer the is 500 to it.
it also always comes up on tik tok when people talk about the actura tlx type s and how much better this car is then that. I think the tlx type s is a great car in its own way and many ways more practical but of course I prefer the is 500 to it.
01-08-23, 12:08 PM
#12
Pole Position
I will say as probably one of the younger owners, it’s getting a decent amount of buzz on tik tok. Lexus of concord has a pretty big tik tok presence and a couple videos of a caviar is500 has gone viral.
it also always comes up on tik tok when people talk about the actura tlx type s and how much better this car is then that. I think the tlx type s is a great car in its own way and many ways more practical but of course I prefer the is 500 to it.
it also always comes up on tik tok when people talk about the actura tlx type s and how much better this car is then that. I think the tlx type s is a great car in its own way and many ways more practical but of course I prefer the is 500 to it.
Went to Caffeine & Octane today and a few of us noticed the new RX 500h was swamped by teens an early 20-something’s.
1. They know about our cars.
2. They are very interested in them.
I had just as many younger people ask about my car as middle aged folks.
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01-09-23, 12:38 AM
#14
^^ I haven’t seen another 500 in NYC either (at least in person). It’s Bimmer/IS350 central here. M340s and M440s on almost every other street. Though, once I get my hands on my 500 they would be in for a big surprise if either challenge me to a “race” without taking a closer look at her hehehe :: rubs hands menacingly ::
Last edited by CyberNinja; 01-09-23 at 12:43 AM.
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01-09-23, 02:39 AM
#15
Pole Position
Last edited by DLPTony; 01-09-23 at 04:12 AM.
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