Lexus IS 350 and IS 250

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Comments

  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    Congrats on the new baby of yours. The sound and the feeling of the IS 350 is uncomparable. It gives me goosebumps. I fear that the IS 250 might be too tame... BUT, I also want the sport suspension. Hmmmmmm.... these two cars are both so good that it is hard to choose. Tell me if this makes sense. I want to put $10,000 down on a 48 month lease @6.9%. Before taxes and levies, it comes to $574 a month. Is it insane to start negotiations at $480? This means that I will be paying $23000 before taxes instead of $27500 for the course of my lease. I heard that you start negotiations based on no money down figure. If that is true, then how do I go about figuring a number to start to work with?
  • glenn386glenn386 Member Posts: 47
    I agree with you if the choice was truly the 3.5 engine or the Nav/ML/xenons. There's more to it for me, you can't get the AWD and the 3.5 together. Where I live in Minnesota that means the RWD would have to be stored from late Oct-Late April, or put snow tires on (extra rims, tires and hassles) and accept that even with the snow tires the thing would handle horrible in the winter. I just would rather have the 250 available for 365 days a year than the 350 for 210 days a year.

    But, I love the 3.5 Engine.
  • glenn386glenn386 Member Posts: 47
    I'm having trouble getting your numbers to work out...help me understand.

    You want to lease for 4 years, put down 10K and then get lease payments of $574/mo before taxes (about $610/mo after taxes), but you want to negotiate down to a 48 month lease payment of $480/mo ($510/mo after taxes)? do I have it right?

    If that is the case. I wouldn't recommend leasing at all.

    if you are leasing I assume you are driving less than 12k per year so the car will have less than 48K miles at the end of the lease.

    Around here you buy a IS 250 with Premium and sport package for about $36 out the door (taxes vary of course).
    If you put down $10K you can get a 5 year payment of $515/mo at 7%. After 4 years of the 5 year loan (the lease term you spoke of) you will owe $7.5K on a car that should conservatively be worth $15k. $7.5K of equity to roll over into the next car. Or you can keep the car, plus at any point during the 4 years you can get out of the car if you want to and not be trapped by a lease.

    The 350 with Premium and sport package can be had locally for $40k out the door. Using the same 5 year loan ($10K down)the payment would be $595/mo. At the end of 4 years you would still owe about $9k on vehicle that should be worth at least $16k.

    the math doesn't work out to lease the car if they really want 5-$600/mo after $10k down.

    Good luck
  • toyotaf1fantoyotaf1fan Member Posts: 37
    Mike is talking in Canadian dollars. That could be whats confusion.

    I have never leased before. I don't even know how it works. I think I got my deal by paying cash for the car. If you can't pay for it cash, take out a line of credit. Your interest rates on your line of credit will be lower than 6.9% and plus you have something to show for your money. Just another option for you.
  • truckasaurustruckasaurus Member Posts: 44
    I never tried the Sports suspension, it was not on any of the demo cars and the ride is pretty firm with the regular suspension and 18" wheels. Did the sports make a lot of difference?
  • truckasaurustruckasaurus Member Posts: 44
    The 350 has a switch on the dash that puts the traction control into snow mode. I have no idea if it works, but that might up your days on the road in a 350? I'll need it once every 40 years here in central Texas.
  • suave_tequilasuave_tequila Member Posts: 116
    Since you like GFM!!
    Heres a video link to a Lexus commercial that only airs in Taiwan. OMG I feel like that guy in it after seeing this!

    link title

    Suave Tequila :shades:
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    Hey Rick,

    That is a pretty nice video. The only thing that gets me is that even though it was done a million times better than Nissan, that is the same theme that Nissan's commercials commercials plays with. Lexus' ad agency is pretty damn good. Sexy, Sexy car!.... although I think it was a tungsten pearl IS. If that was GFM I would have known it. You can't get GFM with the cashmere leather and that leather was cashmere.
  • suave_tequilasuave_tequila Member Posts: 116
    Yeah you can GFM w/cashmere, but not Tungsten w/cashmere! It can only be GFM then!

    Suave Tequila :)
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    That is weird.

    The US always has better options to choose from than us Canucks.

    :(
  • altima35sealtima35se Member Posts: 2
    "though it was done a million times better than Nissan"

    Ignoring the fact that (as was pointed out) the commerical was a rip off, the Lexus commercai misses the outstanding payoff, when the girl says "Not on the first date". That is THE big moment, and Lexus left it out. To their credit, the Lexus commerical has great production values. But it's the cleverness that's missing. So, no, I don't think it is a better commercial. The car does look great, though. On the other hand, the commerical where the IS rumbles down a snowy incline sliding all over the place at slow speeds, is terrible, so I would't say Lexus ad campaigns are infallible.
  • ineedanewcarineedanewcar Member Posts: 29
    Hi Truckasaurus,

    Congrats on your new IS. Sounds verrry sweet.
    I've never seen an IS blue onyx/sterling interior. Could you post some pics? I'd like to see how the color combination looks.

    Thanks!
  • ineedanewcarineedanewcar Member Posts: 29
    Lexus is recalling IS's for faulty seat belts.

    Does anyone know which models/years are affected?

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060413/ap_on_bi_ge/lexus_recall_1
  • ineedanewcarineedanewcar Member Posts: 29
    Hi Glenn,

    I must admit I haven't taken the SE V6 on a super windy (as in twists and turns, not wind)road yet. On the clover leafs that you mentioned, I didn't really feel that much of a difference between the two.

    In terms of price, after doing internet and in-person negotiations, the best offer I've gotten so far on an IS250 RWD premium + Nav is 33,791. For an '07 Camry SE V6 with Nav and leather, the best offer I've gotten is 28,800. That's $5K more for a smaller, slower car with a big "L", awesome looks, and quiet ride.

    So I decided to go with the Lexus. Essentially I'm choosing this car in a manner similar to how I chose girlfriends & wife - based on looks vs. what's good for me!
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    zing!

    I am doing the same!
  • from_flfrom_fl Member Posts: 113
    You people are so shallow just like me.
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    Why not have both? I know it's rare though. Especially in cars. Women...Welll.....Yeah it's still rare.
  • truckasaurustruckasaurus Member Posts: 44
    Ineedanewcar,

    Here you go

    ">Blue Onyx Sterling
  • ineedanewcarineedanewcar Member Posts: 29
    It's soooo beautiful....

    Where do you live/which dealer?

    I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area and can't seem to get a blue onyx/sterling no matter how hard I try.

    There's a blue onyx/black with my name on it, coming in two weeks but if I don't like it, I'll hunt in your part of the country for a blue/sterling.
  • truckasaurustruckasaurus Member Posts: 44
    I got it from Lexus of Austin in TX. I ordered it in December and just got it a couple of weeks ago.
    There was another blue one in their showroom when I went back for the plates last week. Not sure what color the interior was or if it was a 250 or 350.
    The black interior looks great on that color blue though. I used to have a BMW 325 in those colors. It gets so hot here in the summer the black leather burns your legs, which is why I went for the sterling plus the vented seats. The sterling goes well with the blue.
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    Hi guys!

    I just put down my $1000 deposit and ordered myself an IS!

    I ordered a glacier frost mica with sterling leather IS 350 with moonroof package which includes Power Moonroof, P255/40R18 (Rear), Performance Summer Radials, P225/40R18 (Front), Woodgrain Trim, 18" Aluminum Alloy Wheels. I decided on the sterling after being in the black leather IS and finding that even with the ventilated seats, the black leather holds heat much more.

    I requested to have it arrive on my birthday, which is the end of July.

    I made this ever-so-rash decision after the salesperson offered to have me drive it alone around town and see how it felt. I was grinning ear-to-ear the whole time and yelping out of joy. Granted, it does not have the same feel as the sport package, but you gotta hold back somewhere, ya know. Otherwise, what is holding me back from getting the next package up, and then after that: the next package up!? Money!

    Guys, I am so happy. Now, to count down the days until it gets here; then, the negotiations begin! Also, May will be the last month that orders will be placed for the 2006 models. When my car is arriving, I will have the lowest rates for leasing possible. After fetching the low lease rate, I will get my payments dropped. The timing couldn't be better. What do you all think? Sounds like a plan?

    :D
  • suave_tequilasuave_tequila Member Posts: 116
    Congrats Mike!
    Hey how much is ur IS? When you were driving it, were you thinking to yourself "P.I.M.P" :P What a cool salesman!

    Suave Tequila :)
  • ricksterqricksterq Member Posts: 45
    Does it allow for playing MP3 format? I know it's got the audio port, but it sure would be nice to load a 6-disc CD player with 6 discs of MP3s. :P
  • from_flfrom_fl Member Posts: 113
    Wow. Congrat Mike.

    BTW:
    ...Also, May will be the last month that orders will be placed for the 2006 models....

    Mike: Is this offical? How do you know about this?
    Thanks,
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    My IS 350 (boy that sounds good!) stickers for $51,150 before any taxes or levies are included. When I was driving it, I don't know what I was thinking, because the experience was so surreal! There were just so many things going through my head. Driving that thing in traffic is dangerous. It is very easy to speed! After the test drive I absolutelly knew I had to get it. No questions after that! I can't wait until my birthday. My last birthday wasn't exactly a cheery occasion; my dad's closest friend who was a very close family friend I had known since I was born had passed away..

    This one is gonna be a good one!

    :D
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    Yessir it does! Isn't that great knowing you can load roughly 48 albums in your cd changer?
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    Thanks!

    I was told by the salesman (yea.. I know :P) that next month is the last month they will be taking orders. The new 2007s arrive on the lots in late September/early October. Worst case scenario is that it takes roughly 3 months for the car to get to the dealership. That should allow for enough time for all the lot to be cleared of the 06s. That makes sense to me. However, I don't know how "official" it is. Either way, late July/early August should have the best prices. Where is everybody? :P
  • ricksterqricksterq Member Posts: 45
    Excellent! I was at a lexus dealer today to check out the stock stereo, since you'd have to cut off your arm and leg just to get a shot at possibly getting an IS 250 AWD with the ML stereo here. I was impressed with it. Sounded great. I did ask the salesman if MP3s could be played in it, and after a little bit of confusion he said it WASN'T able to play MP3s. He said him and another salesman had tried to play MP3s in the CD player and it didn't work. Personally, I couldn't find any information on whether it could or couldn't play MP3s on the net.

    I take it you have empirical data on this one? :)

    It's not really a deal-breaker for me. I love the car and I've begun internet price-shopping around my area. Hopefully, in the next few days I'll be a proud, new owner! :P
  • fl_xy001fl_xy001 Member Posts: 3
    You can play MP3 CDs on the stock stereo. I have been playing MP3 CDs in my wife's IS350.
  • ricksterqricksterq Member Posts: 45
    Thanks to everyone on the forums here for helpful information. I just drove home my new IS250 AWD. It's glacier frost mica with luxury package, nav and preferred accessories package. Wow, what a car!

    I'll post my purchasing details in the proper section. :)
  • ineedanewcarineedanewcar Member Posts: 29
    Hi all,

    I'm in California, and apparently on the West Coast there's a conglomerate of 56 dealers in 13 states. NO ONE in this conglomerate can get me a blue onyx exterior/sterling interior. It's just not routinely made, they say. I'd have to special order from Japan and wait 6 months. That would suck.

    Then Truckasaurus on this forum shows off pictures of his gorgeous blue/sterling IS350.

    So I know blue/sterling's are made. And the Lexus web-site says so. And I'm guessing they're made routinely, just not distributed for some strange reason to the West Coast.

    So for those not living on the West Coast, have you ever seen a blue/sterling on a dealer's lot? I'd be willing to buy it, 250, 350, RWD, MT, AWD whatever, just as long as it's blue/sterling with Nav and ship it to Cali.

    Or I was thinking... the Lexus dealers in Colorado have to get their cars from Japan somehow, I'm guessing they disembark at the port in Long Beach, CA... I wouldn't mind buying it from a Colorado dealer, and shipping it from Long Beach...

    It's not like I'm obsessed with getting a blue/sterling or anything like that...
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    Some salesmen just don't have very good product knowledge. What you do when you get into the car next time is look at the bottom part of the instrument stack on the right-hand side. It will tell you what formats are supported.

    In this picture, you will see right above the shiftknob, right beside where you can barely make out "WMA", it says "MP3".

    image

    The only difference between ML/NAV and base is that it will not support DVD, Dolby Digital, and DTS.

    image
  • benzoservceguybenzoservceguy Member Posts: 60
    We (wife & I) ordered a 6 speed (MT) with sports pkg in Red/Black. Placed order at end of Jan. Order did not get to Lexus until end of Feb. 90 days wait (maybe longer) :cry: As of 4/15 (tax day) :cry: stil no vin "allocation" yet. Was told *MAYBE* by May 1 will have a VIN.
    Here in So Cali, was originally told by local dealer that 6 speed & Sports pkg DID NOT EXSIST. I kept telling them they are making it for the East Coast. NO-ONE here wanted to look (they would rather sell what they see (have) not see what they can sell) FINALLY found a guy who would order it AND offer a discount. Wil be paying $31,715 PLUS tax, tages, license, fees & etc (JUNK FEES)
    That equates to $2,500 OFF MSRP.
    Would you or any1 else reading this suggest negotiating MORE once the car arrives at the dealer? Or take the deal & run.
    BTW ... this will be our 3rd car (replacement car for US ... really the MRS :P ) The Kid gets the '00 Acura TL w/ 90K and I still drive my '99 E36 3 series Bimmer rag top w/ 105K ;)
  • mvc_jonesmvc_jones Member Posts: 88
    It's amazing how many auto manufacturer's have such a big disparity in the design of NAV stacks vs. non-NAV stacks. Your picture show how much better in terms of appearance the NAV stack looks in the IS. Same goes for my car, night and day...

    What's up with the digital clock in both setups though? This design detail to me looks like pure Toyota in an upscale car. Minor detail, but missed opportunity to do something simple/inexpensive but nice to further distinguish marques.

    I am not a fan of analog clocks for readability, but Infiniti got this detail right in my opinion in terms of style in their line, and for a while they even seemed to point out this minor detail as a distinguishing item...
  • ricksterqricksterq Member Posts: 45
    Mike,

    Thanks for the info regarding the ability to play MP3s and the photos. I did finally notice the text at the bottom of the stereo system when I was taking delivery of my car. Time to start burning my MP3s for my mobile juke box! :shades:
  • dakotaokdakotaok Member Posts: 5
    What is the cost of replacing the tires? I was told $2,000, but that seemed high. Any help would be appreciated.

    Also, is it true the Dunlop's it comes with aren't safe in cold climates?
  • wco81wco81 Member Posts: 594
    Just get an iPod.

    People buying $40k cars are going to spend time burning CDs (which you listen a couple of times and toss)?

    {/Shakes Head]

    Isn't life too short?
  • ricksterqricksterq Member Posts: 45
    People buying $40k cars are going to spend time burning CDs (which you listen a couple of times and toss)?

    What? First of all, when were you privy to my listening habits? You think I'm going to burn a CD of MP3s listen to it a few times, then toss it?

    Second, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you still have to convert your CDs to MP3 or WMA format to play on an IPOD? If so, where am I saving time by purchasing an IPOD when I can use a freeware version of realplayer that automatically converts any CD I play in my computer to MP3 format and then just copying those to a blank CD that costs the amount of change I can find in my sofa, versus a 2G+ IPOD.

    If anything I've assumed is incorrect, please feel free to correct me.
  • maxidrivemaxidrive Member Posts: 70
    I'm using both... Since we still can't access the ipod directly from the IS audio system, it's a great idea to burn your all-time favorites onto 6 discs and load them in so that you have easier access to them.
  • shackl4d23shackl4d23 Member Posts: 4
    I am trying to decide between two colors; the pearl white and the dark grey color (something like Smokey Mica - don't have the colors with me). I am going to tint the windows either way. Does anyone have either of these two colors? If so, do you like it, would you rather have something else, etc?

    Also, for the people who have the memory seats, is it worth the extra money?

    Thanks
  • ricksterqricksterq Member Posts: 45
    I am trying to decide between two colors; the pearl white and the dark grey color (something like Smokey Mica - don't have the colors with me). I am going to tint the windows either way. Does anyone have either of these two colors? If so, do you like it, would you rather have something else, etc?

    Also, for the people who have the memory seats, is it worth the extra money?


    I believe the 2 colors you're referring to are glacier frost metallic and smoky granite mica. I could've purchased either of those colors and I went with the glacier frost. It just looks so cool in the sunlight. It's got kind of a bluish or purplish hue to it from different angles. It's a very cool color, I think. The smokey granite had a nice metallic look to it, but I opted for the glacier frost. The one thing is, it is basically, white so I'm thinking it's going to be a bear to keep clean. I've never owned a white vehicle, so it'll be a new experience for me. I plan on having the windows tinted, but I'm no pimp, so I'll keep it conservative. :)

    As for the memory seats, time will tell. If my wife ends up driving my vehicle every now and then, then it'll probably pay off for me. If not, then it probably won't get much use. I believe it comes as part of the luxury package, though, and there's a lot of nice things in that package, so it was worth the extra money to me.

    Good luck in choosing your vehicle.
  • wco81wco81 Member Posts: 594
    You can make custom playlists (or even smart playlists) and just load them on your iPod. Just like burning a special mix CD but without having to actually burn the CD.

    Rick, the Real software you described sounds exactly the same as iTunes. It converts CD tracks into MP3 or AAC files and then from that point, you can transfer them to the iPod or burn mix CDs.

    All music software has to rip or convert CD tracks to a compressed file (in MP3, WMA, AAC, whatever). An iPod, or any other digital audio player, lets you store these music files in infinite combinations (or until the thing breaks down,). With most players, you can store far more than a CD. So you don't have to worry about making the files fit on a CD or waiting for the files to burn, taking the CD and marking it so you know what's on it, putting it in some protective wallet or jewel case, etc.
  • sowkusowku Member Posts: 18
    i was driving on the 10fw or 105 in SoCal, those fw are very bumpy... and i hear the squeaking noise from the dashboard. i know it's not a old car. so what's going on?

    anyway... my friend is250 steering wheel shake sometimes like an old car. that's something too.
  • from_flfrom_fl Member Posts: 113
    Check the tires/rims for steering wheel shakes.
    They may be out of balance or just bad.
  • from_flfrom_fl Member Posts: 113
    You can check prices on tirerack or discount tire. They are about 600+ per set.
  • golffoolgolffool Member Posts: 6
    I get my oil changed at a fast lube place and after the oil change the Oil Maintenace Required light is still on. Does anyone know how you turn it off???

    Thanks!!
  • gmnjgmnj Member Posts: 3
    I just can not decide on the IS 250 vs. the 350 w/premium package. My issue is that the IS 350 tag comes close to $40K which is a few thousand over my budget and the power of the 250 comes up a little bit short for me.

    Has anybody had this same issue and what did you end up doing? Are you happy with your decision?

    Also, I think the spoiler (front and rear) is sharp looking. Has anybody purchased that?

    Thanks...
  • truckasaurustruckasaurus Member Posts: 44
    Its worth it :)
  • oldman26oldman26 Member Posts: 10
    What is the size of the Nav. Screen on IS 250/350 cars and can anyone direct me to the web site that provides instructions on how to use the Nav.system?
  • maxidrivemaxidrive Member Posts: 70
    On the day you get delivery of the car, the dealer will show you how to use the Nav among other things.
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