Lexus IS 350 and IS 250

19091939596131

Comments

  • jrock65jrock65 Member Posts: 1,371
    The difference is, at least cooling seats are available in a "cheap" $1300 package, whereas you gotta go up to a $3500 package for xenons.
  • is3ooguyis3ooguy Member Posts: 68
    Ouch! That's all I can really say...
    I'm hoping my friends south of the border fair better than the pricing we got up here. As some of you might know I recently traded my '03 IS300 in one an '06 330i. Love the new car but still miss my Lexus in some ways. I won't bash Lexus, I love them. This time though I just decided to try a BMW for once.
    The reason why I'm kinda pissed is because I really do like the new IS. I only have a 3 year lease and know from experience I can usually get out of my lease as early as 2 years into it (I buy 24k per year but use under 20k etc) Maybe I live in a dream world but part of me was hoping in 2 years or so to trade in the Bimmer on a IS350 (maybe manual option by then ;) ). But I don't see that happening now.
    $48,900 + fees to start?! Is that a joke? No roof or HIDs?
    If I want some of the basic stuff I like the car is $54,550 + fees
    That seems about $5000 to high to me and let me explain why....
    My 2006 330i $47,400 to start
    All I added was side/rear electric sunshades for another $590. Total $48,090. Done.
    I got my roof, my memory power electric seats, HIDs, rain sensors, fold down rear seat, seat heaters, etc ALL standard on the 330i in Canada.
    That's about as close as I can configure the 2 cars. I know I'm seating on 'ette and the Lexus has real leather (don't really care and heard the 'ette wears better?), I get my butt cooled as well as heated (neat feature I can't get on the BMW), and an auto (nice for some but one of the reasons I got a 330i was because I wanted a manual)
    Pricing in the USA hopefully will compare better. Up here I'm suprised and disappointed. It honestly looks to me that Lexus is charging a premium over BMW up here. Maybe that time has come? Lexus is great.
    But to me it just seems to be priced to high.... by about 5k or 6k.
  • oacoac Member Posts: 1,594
    The way I see it, the price of the IS350 is fair. Not a bargain, but not outrageous either.

    Agree. Although I would say that a 300+HP sport-luxury sedan with the level of standard features on the IS350 should certainly retail a lot higher than $36K (incl dest), don't you think ? Porsches/MB/BMW with 300+HP doing 0-60 at ~5s will run you $50 - 90K, easily !!

    The main thing I would change would be to make HID standard and separate out AFS into an option (like on the 2006 GS).

    Like brightness, I do agree as well. On my LS, I have come to find the Xenons/HID much preferred over base Halogens. But, to keep the price *reasonable* things will be left out of the base car, and things will get put on the base car.... Leather and moonroof standard are pretty good.

    As it stands now, you're forced to get a $3500 package just to get xenons.

    I agree. This sucks, but .... maybe you can order one just the way you like it and avoid unnecessary features. So it takes 90 days, so what, as long as it is what YOU want.

    See, I almost always agree with your posts, jrock. :)
  • brightness04brightness04 Member Posts: 3,148
    Thanks for pointing that out. I missed that "cheap" alternative entirely ;-) Will have to see just how bad the default interior is and whether the wood is worth the remaining $1100, ack!
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    WOOOH!!!! Lexus IS 250 RWD starting at $37,900 in Canada. Now, THAT is a good deal. Hmm, now, as I build the car and "add" manual as an "option" the price goes down to $36,300... Shouldn't they say the car starts at $36.3K then? Anyway, it comes with very good features. It is like a step away from luxury at the base model. All you would need to add would be power seats, leather, sunroof, xenons, anything bigger than the 16" wheels, and you are pretty much there.

    Optioning the car out with the sport package, which comes with things I thought were not included (good things like ventilated seats that I believed were only available in 250 RWD AT with non-sport and all models higher up in the echelon) would cost me $46,508 the way I optioned it out. This is a list of the options in sport package:

    SPORT PACKAGE $9,600.00
    Power Moonroof, Adaptive Front Lighting System, Bi-Xenon High Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlamps, Electrochromic Side View Mirrors, Power Telescopic Steering Wheel, Power Tilt Steering, Premium Leather Seat Surfaces, Lexus Driver Memory Seat System with Three Driver Memory Settings, Lexus Passenger Memory Seat System with Three Driver Memory Settings, Heated Passenger Seat with Ventilation Fan, 10-way Power Adjustable Drivers Seat, 10-way Power Adjustable Passenger Seat, Heated Driver Seat with Ventilation Fan, Sport Suspension, P255/40R18 (Rear), Performance Summer Radials, P225/40R18 (Front), Metallic Dash Accents, Aluminum Sport Pedals with Rubber Inserts, Chrome Scuff Plates, 18" Aluminum Alloy Wheels, Rain Sensing Wipers.

    I also included the rear spoiler for $608.00

    This is a sweeeet package :)

    BTW... you can't get white with cashmere leather? :surprise:
    I guess it will have to be white on sterling or blue onyx on cashmere.

    Now, the IS 350 is sitting a little higher than I thought it would in cost by about $1,500 CAD. Optioned out the way I like it, it will run me $54,308 (with spoiler). The options list I included was the sport package. The sport package includes:

    SPORT PACKAGE $4,800.00
    Limited Slip Differential, Power Moonroof, Adaptive Front Lighting System, Bi-Xenon High Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlamps, Electrochromic Side View Mirrors, Power Telescopic Steering Wheel, Power Tilt Steering, Lexus Driver Memory Seat System with Three Driver Memory Settings, Lexus Passenger Memory Seat System with Three Driver Memory Settings, Sport Suspension, P255/40R18 (Rear), Performance Summer Radials, P225/40R18 (Front), Metallic Dash Accents, Aluminum Sport Pedals with Rubber Inserts, Chrome Scuff Plates, 18" Aluminum Alloy Wheels, Rain Sensing Wipers.

    $54,308 - $46,508 = $7,800

    I wonder just how tunable the 250 is and if it would be fast enough for me. I know the IS 350 is a rocket, but just how much of a premium is worth 5.3 seconds 0-60 mph :cry: I'll wait for my salesman to call me for a test drive. He says we won't get any 350 in until next month. We'll see. :shades:

    Overall I am not dissapointed. This is in my ballpark and I plan on financing 6-8 months from now. I still think this is a good deal. What can you get for $54,000 CAN? A Dodge Magnum SRT-8 with a 0-60 time exactly that of the IS 350 for $53,335.00 (According to C&D it is 5.1)? The car doesn't even have anywhere near the features of the IS 350. Good work Lexus! I kinda think that I am gonna be surprising a lot of Dodge owners at the stop lights :P
  • natsukashinatsukashi Member Posts: 10
    TIA
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    Press Img button, post link of pic, press Img button. For example if I wanted to post this: http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid190/p6bef59fdbca780c03966b11dcc6a0fdf/f1e70fa1.jp- g

    ...I would press "Img Button"http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid190/p6bef59fdbca780c03966b11dcc6a0fdf/f1e7- 0fa1.jpg"Img Button" and it would turn out like this:
    image
  • natsukashinatsukashi Member Posts: 10
    Thanks, but what if the image is on my computer and not out on the web?
  • kdshapirokdshapiro Member Posts: 5,751
    "Both Pat Robertson and Jessee Jackson put NOLA disaster information together in their unique (biased) perspectives, neither of which was necessarily valid, or more worthwhile than the raw data."

    Nor less worthwhile either.
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    Then what you can do is either a) send it to me, or, b) host it on Sony Imagestation at Imagestation.com. Make an account, it is somewhat straight forward. After setting up an account upload the picture, right click on the picture, click properties, highlight the image's address copy it, paste in between the image buttons and then post. Hope this helps. Email me at mikehobbes@hotmail.com to send it to me for posting if you want. Right now, I am goin for a haircut!
  • natsukashinatsukashi Member Posts: 10
    image
  • toyotaf1fantoyotaf1fan Member Posts: 37
    Mike your joking right??

    The 250rwd is about 4 grand overpriced. The base models doesn't include leather and roof like the States. If you get the sport the price comes to 45. Plus destination plus taxes. That's almost 55. Thats brutal. You could buy the car south of the border and pay almost 9 grand less. That includes the difference in the dollar, 6.1% for tariffs and both GST and PST taxes.

    Lexus sure did miss the mark here in Canada.
  • is3ooguyis3ooguy Member Posts: 68
    $36,300 only sounds good until you realize it has cloth seats, no roof, no fog lights, no HIDs, 16" rims, and less power than before. As soon as you add any option package your over $41,000CAN and that doesn't even get you HIDs or the roof. If you want those your at $42,600. That sounds good to you?
    BTW, you don't 'add' the manual you simply choice which one you desire and add options from there. When I enter the build section, mine starts on the manual tranny (but then again I'm using Safari on a Mac, don't know if that makes a difference). Meaning the new IS250 RWD in Canada starts @ $36,300 ;)
  • natsukashinatsukashi Member Posts: 10
    ">imageimageimageimageimageimage<img src="
  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,621
    This, by the way, is how NOT to post them.

    Horizontal scrolling is not my favourite thing.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • wale_bate1wale_bate1 Member Posts: 1,982
    Tee hee.

    Almost need a new monitor for that!
    ;)
  • ivan_99ivan_99 Member Posts: 1,681
    If I want some of the basic stuff I like the car is $54,550

    Don't you still have a 7% GST and 7%PST on new cars as well...

    14% tax on a 55K car can really hurt.
  • is3ooguyis3ooguy Member Posts: 68
    Make that 15% in Ontario (7% GST, 8% PST)....
    And Yes, it does hurt :cry:
  • acurasacuras Member Posts: 14
    Mike, I think the guys on here are right. Lexus offerred a decent base price by decontenting the car in Canada. Any self-respecting dude is looking at 42K+ for a 200 HP RWD manual!. Lexus put the boots to Candians on this - add the roof and leather, as per American cars. Then compare prices. $42K Can vs 29900 for the US. That is a huge price premium. Price should be 36000 with leather and roof. I know you like this car, but it is no bargain.

    Considering the back seat issue, I am sticking with my TSX. The difference for rear wheel and an L on the hood is definetly not worth the money.
  • wale_bate1wale_bate1 Member Posts: 1,982
    Well, I can assuredly agree with the L on the hood part, but the RWD is another story entirely. I'm not prepared to make the currency exchange, but I figure RWD to be worth a good three to seven grand US, depending on the car.

    Diff'rent strokes, Willis, diff'rent strokes...
  • prigglypriggly Member Posts: 642
    Add Lexus to the list of car companies who have chosen to attempt to take gross advantage of Canadian automotive consumers. The price of the new IS IS absolutely outrageous.

    De-contented base cars without even xenons or moonroofs on the base models, no stand-alone options so that one is forced into high-priced option packages (many items of which should be standard features considering the base prices of the various models), no all-season tires on any of the optioned 350's, no ML on any car but the most highly priced 350 at 60G's before "Personalization Options", taxes, etc.

    Unless one just must have the bigger engine and RWD in the 350 regardless of cost, it is simply not possible to make the purchase of this car make sense, not to mention its intrusive and obligatory VDIM, redundant back seat and the inadequate powerplant in the other two iterations.

    The feature-rich and value-laden 2006 Acura TL will eat this thing for lunch.
  • biker4biker4 Member Posts: 746
    If one was not in an IS thread, one would think people are talking about overpriced BMWs - seems Lexus may be getting to that point.
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    I agree with you guys however, I will revert to my previous statement: What can you get for $54,000 CAN? A Dodge Magnum SRT-8 with a 0-60 time exactly that of the IS 350 for $53,335.00 (According to C&D it is 5.1)? The car doesn't even have anywhere near the features of the IS 350.

    Many say that the srt8 is a value buy :confuse:

    In Canada, the TSX starts at $36,330.00. The only difference in standard options that really would make a difference is that the TSX includes leather standard, moonroof, xenons, 4way power passenger seat, 8way driver seat. The car is a front driver with a 4 banger. You know what, I just convinced myself that the TSX is a better value. However, I stand by my assesment of the 350! :P
  • acurasacuras Member Posts: 14
    Interesting how the USA prices - at least the base ones - are reasonable. In Canada they made the base 250 reasonable by equipping it like a KIA. And they call this a luxury car company??? You can go buy a Hyundai Sonata loaded for 17-25K less, and that is with a V6 that will kick the IS 250 in a straight line. What a disgrace. THe 'options' packages also suck. I predict the car will sell very well in the US but will languish in Canada.

    Mike, I think you can get a 300C for less than 50K with hemi. Also charger. TL and G35 are also much cheaper options.

    TSX is only a 4 banger, but it has more HP than the 250. It is also reported to be faster in a straight line, but this is not really an issue to me with traffic the way it usually is. It also comes with tilt/entendable wheel. FWD s RWD is a good argument in areas with great weather, but for many Canadians, I dare to say that FWD is a better option. As Wale said, though, everyone will differ on this one. All I can say is that I am disappointed with what they have done. Maybe people should buy in the states and bring 'em back.
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    I do agree that the options packages suck in Canada. Too much equipment is added when most people would rather take 2-3 things out of there. I personally only need Xenons, power seats, leather!!, moonroof, and 17" wheels. Heated/ventilated seats are also a must.

    Do some know if it is possible to custom order the car from the factory with only select options, not a clump of things grouped together to grasp the most money out of poor Canadians?

    In Canada, the IS 300 started at 39,900. That is something to think about though. :confuse:
  • acurasacuras Member Posts: 14
    IS300 sales could be counted on 1 hand. Clearly they did not learn a lesson.
  • mm9351mm9351 Member Posts: 72
    Looks like all IS350s will be coming in LOADED with Nav/ML / and the works to NY, NJ, CT... Just spent some time at the dealer tonight. .. they are coming in stickered around $43k, so don't expect to see any 350s around here for $36K. IS250 AWDs are coming in loaded with the Luxury Packages (Flint Mica on the lot stickered at $38K + with Nav). So expect to cough up another $5K premium for the IS350. And the 350s are showing up in limited availability; so the next shipment is expected early November (approx. every 2 weeks).
  • fatcat71fatcat71 Member Posts: 75
    Went to the dealer and finally got a chance to sit in the car. Very nice. Raining too much for a test, but hopefully this weekend.... 35K for a base awd seems a bit much, almost 40k with nav/ml seems out of the question. unless lexus offers some real agressive leasing I'm looking at 575 or so a month. Don't know if it is work 100/mo more than a similarlly equipped audi a4 quattro. Damm, the 05 G35x was 475/mo. If only my garage was 6 inches longer....... but I guess that is the story of my life! :blush:
  • mike_g24mike_g24 Member Posts: 5
    The same here in Atlanta area too. I was planning to buy one if I can get a base model. I think I may have to go to the BMW dealer, as I was postponing my car buying, and cannot wait any more. It is really ridiculous.
  • prigglypriggly Member Posts: 642
    If a loaded IS350 stickers for US$43,000 in the US and CDN$59,700 in Canada, the car is overpriced by CDN$10,000 in Canada compared to the US using present currency exchange rates. Another way of looking at it, in the equivalent of CDN dollars the car would sticker for almost US$51,000 in the US!

    And these numbers do not even reflect the additional taxes that are extracted from car buyers in Canada, 17% additional here in B.C.! That makes the cost of a loaded IS350 approximately CDN$70,000!

    This is a full CDN$17,000 approximately more than a loaded '06 TL.

    Is Lexus Canada out of their mind or what??!
  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,621
    Well, this is interesting.

    When the Infiniti G was introduced several years ago, and earlier yet, when the Lincoln LS was introduced, the Canadian pricing was several thousand lower for a given option list. I seriously considered buying my LS (Lincoln) in Canada, but even though it would have been ~$2K less expensive, there were several "issues."

    I wonder what's changed.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • patrickwpatrickw Member Posts: 32
    I'm just wondering how hard it was raining that you wouldn't want to test an AWD in it. How did you get to the dealership?. :confuse:
  • patrickwpatrickw Member Posts: 32
    It seemed natural to me to express my experience as the new (the IS models) vs. the familiar (my current vehicle). I'm sorry if I violated the etiquette of this forum.
  • harrybush00harrybush00 Member Posts: 76
    I think a few pages back someone stated that a 0-60mph time of 7.9sec for the IS 250 RWD seems slow, but I think it's dead-on given the 3400-3500lb curb weight and only a 2.5L V6 making ~200hp. I think it would have been awesome if, at the same pricing scheme, the IS250 was a IS300, with a 3.0L V6 making about 240-250hp.

    As far as the pricy options go, this was what I was referring to earlier. The base prices seem reasonable, but if anyone wants some goodies attached, and maybe even if one didn't want any options, Lexus will probably only make cars with some sort of option package, with a few scattered stripper models. Only time will tell how sales is sustained over the long haul and whether enough people are willing to pay several thousand over a comparably equipped competitors.
  • hbillyhbilly Member Posts: 2
    I agree, I'd get a 330 instead of the 2006 IS.

    Can you tell me if the BMW dealer discounted your 330? thanks
  • tyorder1tyorder1 Member Posts: 25
    So, can anyone post prices and options for the IS250 AWD. Base and then options would be nice. Thanx
  • realthorrealthor Member Posts: 26
    That is the way I want my 350, at around $43k US.
    In Texas, we are only getting the base 350 with 18's.
  • hintzhintz Member Posts: 72
    Drove the IS 250 today, first the backseat is terrible, the leather was so so quality, not like my ES, lots of plastic and brushed aluminum, and the dashboard material was of low qualtiy, I'm going to look for something else.
  • wale_bate1wale_bate1 Member Posts: 1,982
    Finding out that the IS is not like an ES is possibly the best news I've had today!

    Huzzah!
  • golffoolgolffool Member Posts: 6
    I picked up my new IS350 today in San Diego. I previously had an ES300. Its a great fun car. Yes - the back seat is a tad small and the trunk is a tad small too, but its such a fun car to drive. I looked at all the others car you all talk about and for me the IS350 was perfect. The price was $38,234 which only included 18" wheels, wheels locks and the perforated leather seats with heat and AC.
  • merc1merc1 Member Posts: 6,081
    That opinion puts you at odds with industry analysts, sales figures, and operating margin...but you are welcome to it!

    Its not an opinion its a fact. The G35 only expanded the market. The 3-Seires was not affected by the G35 nearly as much as you tried to originally state. Now if you have the sale figures I'll like to see them. Their nothing to support your statement about the G35 "eating into the 3-Series sales big time" like you orignally stated. The 3-Series barely noticed the G in the marketplace. Now if you originally meant the G cut into 330i sales you'd be a little more correct.

    M
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    So that's a non-sport package equipped car, right? 38k?

    BTW, and AC? Is there a car sold over 25k msrp that comes without AC?
  • merc1merc1 Member Posts: 6,081
    See here is the problem. You don't have to own a car to discuss sales numbers. Secondly nowhere at any time did I say that the G35 had no effect on 3-Series sales. If you had read the original post that I replied to instead of jumping into the conversation mid-stream and ignorant of the facts you would know that I was replying to the description of the G35 having cut into the sales of the 3-Series "big time", which implies that the 3-Series has experienced some kind of huge drop, and the fact remains that it hasn't. Period. Now if you have numbers to prove that the 3-Series has experienced this big drop since the G35 came out then show them or otherwise its just more of the same nonesense.

    Also in typical fashion the argument has been turned around to something that wasn't being debated. Nobody here said anything about whether or not the 3-Series was or wasn't being discounted. The original poster said that the G35 cut into the 3-series' sales big time and that is what I took issue with, yet you say my posts shouldn't be "trusted" because of something I didn't even speak upon. I didn't say squat about any discounts on the 3-Series and/or whether it was being discounted or not.

    See here are actual facts: In 2003 BMW sold 111,944 3-Series models and in 2004 they sold 106,549. Wow what a big drop! Sounds like BS to me.

    I really couldn't care less what you think of my experiences or anything else because you're just as biased as anyone else here. Like you're some kind of impartial voice of reason or source of knowledge.

    Trust? I would never trust anyone who tends to criticize any and everything that isn't Lexus or that thinks anything that Lexus doesn't do well is irrelevant. That is a clear and present bias, of which you have.

    M
  • andyrooandyroo Member Posts: 15
    Hi, I don't know much about pricing when it comes to brand new cars to the market. I was wondering what the lowest price you could buy either the IS250 or 350 for OTD in the states for? Would it be only about 1k lower then the base price or could you negotiate like any other car on the market? (Including great credit and if you lease it?)
  • karrerakarrera Member Posts: 1
    I test drove an IS-350 today in san diego ca, i couldnt get a good feel for the car the salesman was a wuss and was complaining about the speed ,anyway the car was ok,i didnt get the feel that i got to have it ,dont get me wrong i think the car has a lot of potiental ,i just think maybe its a little over rated,would i by it over the bmw 330i hmmm,i would say yes because of performance and the warrenty lexus give ,much much better than bmw over all is350 at the end of the day i think lexus would get the deal.
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    ...the perforated leather seats with heat and AC. (golffool)

    BTW, and AC? Is there a car sold over 25k msrp that comes without AC? (blueguydotcom)

    Don't be so pessimistic. For once it's a time to say: Don't think outside the box! Think i n s i d e the box. What golffool was implying, which is not too hard to misconstrue, was that the leather seats have heat and a/c. ...
  • mikegillermikegiller Member Posts: 602
    This actually does not seem like such a tough question anymore, now that I think of it:

    IS 250 ($45,000 with 200 HP 2.5L) vs. Avalon Touring ($41,000 with 280 HP 3.5L, the same as in the IS 350 minus longitudinal engine placement and direct injection)?

    IS 350 ($55,000 with 306 HP 3.5L) vs. Avalon Touring ($41,000)?

    I know that I say that the back seat doesn't matter a whole lot, however it IS a good thing to have room in the back when it is needed; this is much more practical. It will have a lot of power, luxury [xenons, leather, moonroof, stereo, power seats, back seat room (ooh la la, if you know what I mean ;)), trunk space, etc.], and some pretty measurable sport. Not the handling of an IS, but when I want to toss the car around, I will be able to for sure. I had a test-drive of the Avalon Touring and it did impress. I kinda think that being as young as I am, 19, I would like to conserve my money to a certain extent, and the value of the Toyota, at $41K, undercuts the 250 and 350 by $4K and $14K CAN respectively and still has the same luxury features minus a few.

    This actually does not seem like too tough a decision to make, although some just prefer smaller cars, I am not willing to spend so much more money when the luxury and speed I want is available in such a convenient package I find quite appealing as far as looks and feel go.
  • harrybush00harrybush00 Member Posts: 76
    Seems like if you're looking at the IS and the Avalon, you're looking at two completely different cars. If you're not looking for a smaller and more nimble car, then by all means, the Avalon would be the way to go. But really, why not go for the ES330 instead? Or something outside of the Toyota family? There are plenty of other cars that probably strike a better balance between the IS and the Avalon.
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    Yes negotiate like everything else. First day out of the gate I accompanied a friend to Discover Infiniti in Kearny Mesa, CA and he got 800-1200 (can't recall exactly) off on his brand new G35. It was the first one they sold that day and first official sale day for the G35.

    Everything is negotiable.
  • blueguydotcomblueguydotcom Member Posts: 6,249
    I'm sorry, I didn't think of the vibrating, massage, heated/fan-powered seats. My bad. When i think of seats, I rarely attribute actions to them.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.