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Lexus IS 300 SportCross
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Comments
Think the SportCross my wife bought earlier this year is the only one my local dealer had for the entire MY2004. In the past year, believe I've seen one other SportCross and I drive about 25,000 miles a year.
The SportCross has some interesting characteristics compared to the IS300 sedan. It actually has a slightly better weight distribution. Believe the sedan is 54/46 and the SportCross is 53/47. Plus the SportCross uses a slightly wider rear tire (a staggered tire set up). (My wife's car came with the summer high performance tires.) So it is a most competent handler!
When my dealer went to locate one for me, he found 11 of them in a 100-mile radius.
If I had to to it over again, I'd order one. I'd order one exactly to my spec and wait the darned ten weeks for delivery. I didn't have that option on the last one.
Had the four tires/wheels shipped directly to one of the participating Tire Rack installers (used TO Haas). Very easy to order. No problems with installation. Worked like a charm.
Does yours have LSD? The summer higher performance tires? My wife's has both. Blast to drive.
Snow tires, VSC, ABS/TC, and winter AT mode all help make the IS300 decent in the white stuff.
I'm still amazed at how beautiful her car is. Love the look and color, bright red. And you never ever see another one so people ask about it. Great car with exclusivity.
My Sportx days are probably numbered at this point. I am sorta of in love with the new C6 Vette. I am working towards acquiring an 06 version next fall.
I have never owned a V8 muscle car before and I really like what GM has done with the C6. I have been so anti GM in the past that I almost can't believe that I said that though
I think a loaded M3 with the SMG (which I would want) would cost more than a C6 configured to my specs. I also think the C6 would be cheaper to own and operate than the M3 over the long run. The C6 isn't as high tech as the M3. Just a big old reliable push rod V8. The LS2 is more of a torque monster(400 of them) than the M3. I also think the C6 might be a better cruiser than the M3 on a long trip.
The wife just gave me her blessing today for this project. My current plan is to wait until August and order an 06. This gives the General a year to work out a few C6 bugs. So that leaves me lots of time to kick the tires on the competition.
Also, what is the advantage of having the LSD and the VSC? Doesn't the car already have the traction control?
Anti-lock brakes prevent the brakes from locking up so you don't skid and can still have some steering capability.
Limited-slip differential is an acceleration enhancer. It ensures power goes to that wheel with the most traction. An open differential sends power to the wheel with the least traction (e.g., a wheel spinning on ice).
Most traction control systems use the ABS system and sensors (and sometimes will reduce engine output) to reduce wheel spin in order to maintain traction. BUT TC is NOT an acceleration enhancer.
Stability control systems use the ABS/TC systems and additional sensors to compare where the computer thought you wanted to go to where you are going such that if it appears that you are about to fishtail it will brake whatever wheel is needed to ensure you maintain the appropriate course.
NHTSA has extolled the safety virtues of stability control systems. They prevent things like rolling your car.
GET ALL THESE SYSTEMS ON THE SPORTCROSS. ABS and TC are standard. LSD and VSC are options.
Thanks. Yah it seems like to get the most out of the sportcross, I will want to get everything on it, and since the VSD and the LSC are not very much (compared to the other options), might as well get them.
How do people like the GPS form lexus? Boss just go the Acura RL and it is amazing. Have not seen the GPS that comes on the IS300 in 2004. Is it worth the money?
Also, Does anybody know of a tow hitch for the sportcross? I have a Ducati motorcycle and I need to be able to trailer it to the track. Total weight of the trailer and the bike is undre 1000 lbs.
http://www.hitch-web.com/proDescrip.asp?ProductCode=284334&OI- D=8
You wrote:
"Even with TRAC, VSC, LSD and snows its still a wee bit scary every now and again."
I would appreciate if you could elaborate about your 16" snow tire SC winter driving experiences. Also, which snow tire has worked best for you?
Thanks!
Chas
Thanks!
17" wheels & tires will provide better handling. How much will they impact ride quality and increase the risk of pothole damage? Are 16" tires better suited for the rain-prone Mid-Atlantic? Are there any other considerations?
Thanks!
Any thoughts?
Thanks for the reply.
"I have yet to read a test report of a TSX with automatic transmission."
CR has reported on the AT TSX.
"I'm betting it is a dog. Remember, it is a 4-cyl car."
Yes, it does have less torque.
Please see revised question:
While there isn't a TSX hatchback or WGN, the TSX does have a fold-down rear seat, rear side-curtains, 2 more cubic feet of passenger space, better MPG, FWD (better for winter traction than SC?) and a choice of AT or 6-spd MT. Any other thoughts why the SC may be a better choice?
Now drive around for a day and notice how many SCs you see vs TSXs. Nobody even notices the TSX because they see one just like it every where. Nothing wrong with that but it gets kind of boring going to Costco and seeing 5 TSXs in the lot along with a million other Honda products.
As far as winter traction goes both cars need winter tires to be safe. I find that most of my winter worries are caused by other drivers more than traction. Unless you have a helicopter you aren't going to get very far between traffic accidents when it get really slick.
Out of their overall list of 21 "Sporty Sedans", CR has the IS300 in 4th ("Excellent") and the TSX in 8th ("Very Good"). As they put it, "If sporty performance is most important..." then they top rank the IS300. For a good balance of sportiness and comfort", they have the TSX ranked 6th.
CR recommends both. IS300 has the best predicted reliability of all 21 cars!
As I suspected, the AT TSX is an absolute dog. 0-60 mph in 9.2 seconds!!! The AT SC is about 1.5 seconds or more better according to published test results (around 7.4-7.7 seconds).
I'm so happy I'm in the State of Permanent Summer Tires (CA)! BTW, the F1s have been exemplary in the wet, great in the dry, and are holding up well at 10K. I think I may get to 14K this time before I re-up. Good recommendation, jmess. Only downside I've noticed is a pretty fair dB difference as the tread has eroded. But ride, handling and traction have way more than made up.
The SC is now at 20K and remains the joy to drive it has been since day one. People still ask me what it is and why haven't they heard of it.
I understand your C6 lust with regard to muscle for fun. I myself am still casting longing looks in the direction of an S4 Avant. But when the SC lease is up in 15 months, unless Lexus shows me something dynamite in a compact wagon (not bloody likely), I'm really leaning toward the A3 Sportback 3.2 DSG.
The A4, 3-series and IS are all getting up-sized, and frankly that doesn't interest me. I don't care to give up the RWD, but after having spent some time in a new TL, I realized that day in and day out I hate a car larger than the SC, even a really competent one. That's hate!
Still, before it's all over, I may just fall to that V8 lust. Just the thought of stripping off the S4 badges and playing around town...
I really like the specs on the S4 Avant. I spent sometime in the previous twin turbo S4 and found it to be a fun car. The A3 look interesting also. I wouldn't hold your breath for Lexus to come out with something as interesting as the Avant.
I have yet to drive a new C6 due to the limited number in my area. The supply is just starting to exceed the demand a bit so that might change pretty soon. I am really nervous about the legacy GM has with quality and customer sat.
Thanks!
I had a talk with my original sales guy and he said it was kind of funny that back in 02-03 they had a hard time selling these cars. Now that they hardly ever get one they have people ask for them. So they see the rarity of the SportCross as a good addition to their current used car mix which had 3 sedans.
Another note is they struggled a bit about buying the car due to the Intensa Blue Pearl color. The comment was a few years ago the IBP color sold really fast. Lately they haven't been selling well. So color choice can have an impact on the value of cars over time.
Anyway it was a great car that only something like a C6 could really replace. I highly recommend these cars and I was also impressed with Lexus in general. So now I have to wait for my C6 to be delivered and drive a Honda van every day. So it goes.
Weh-hell, congrats big guy! Oh I'll bet you're going to have a blast!
Sorry to hear that your SC is gone, as there's one less person to talk to, but I'm happy you took the plunge.
In a way, it's like peer pressure. I may just have to give much more serious consideration to the S4 Avant and give up the notion of the A3 3.2!
;-)
Enjoy!
I had never owned a V8 powered vehicle until I bought the Tundra truck to tow the racecars. While the Z28s, Sting Rays, GTOs, BOSS 302s, and etc were screaming around I was driving imports with 4 bangers.
So I see the C6 as a good compromise between a muscle car and a sports car; along with a bit of lux. I also thought that I would rather be an old guy being forced to sell my Vette, than being an old guy that never had one.
So if the Avant fits and won't break the bank then go for it. If you have to tighten the belt in the future, sell it and enjoy the memories. I see the depreciation as an entertainment expense. Far cheaper than yearly trips to Vegas?
"they struggled a bit about buying the car due to the Intensa Blue Pearl color. The comment was a few years ago the IBP color sold really fast. Lately they haven't been selling well. So color choice can have an impact on the value of cars over time."
While in a few cases there are bizarre colors (remember Chrysler's Nitro Yello for the early Neons?), the dealer will tell you anything and everything s/he can think of and make up in order to reduce what they'll offer you for your car. Heck, if it was red they would say red was out. Or green. Or yellow. Or any other color that your car was in. Ever notice how at the time you trade your car or try to sell it to a dealer, your car's color isn't "hot" any more?
It was a pretty nice transaction. We talked about the car for 5 minutes the day I was there and they said they would call me. The next day they called and wanted to buy the car. So the following day I dropped it off and got the check within about 10 minutes.
First class treatment before buying, after buying, and when selling the car back to them. If I am ever in the market for another sports sedan then Lexus will most likely get my business again.
I switched to 17x8 wheels and 225-45-17 tires on on 4 wheels. I put about 10K on them and I didn't have any abnormal tire wear and I drove the car fairly hard, but not stupid (all at 35PSI BTW). I still think most of the tire wear issues are due to alignment. It takes a few years of experience doing alignments and a lot of attention to detail. I think a lot of the dealer techs doing alignments are lacking one of the two. Also the tire shops alignment folks operate mostly using the "close enough" method.
Riez and Wale may have another opinion though?
Alignment is key, and you can't trust the dealer to make it right, IMO. They'll get it within factory spec, but if routinely driving hard, factory spec isn't quite close enough apparently.
I still have the staggered set up, and maybe that has something to do with it, but I'm wearing the outside shoulders in front, and my pressure is at 37 up there, or two pounds up. I'm also wearing both outer shoulders in the back, though much less notably. And this is all with a dealer alignment after the last rubber change. I'm thinking a slight camber adjutment is in order, but I'm not spending the $140 the dealer charges to tweek my tuning. They wouldn't understand what I was talking about anyway, being used to dealing with LS, ES and RX drivers... ]-}
One thing I would definitely not do is opt for a longer-wearing, less sticky summer tire. The fun factor with sticky rubber is simply too darn high. Anything less, IMO, would be cheating yourself out of some serious joy!
My ex-wife has about 20,000 miles on her '04 SportCross. She's always gotten about 25 mpg driving on interstate at about 74 mph.
In midwest many drivers have switched to 90 octane ethanol. Ethanol now about 10 cents cheaper than even 87 octane regular.
Somebody finely bought my Blue 02. I sold it to the local dealer and they ended up doing a CPO on it. While I was working on the C6 purchase I sort of had seller's remorse a few times. It was tough driving the Ody Van every day. Now after about a month of driving the torque monster I have pretty much got it out of my system but I am still going through steering feel withdrawals. The IS steering feel is really good and the C6 is sort of numb at times.
With the torque monster and the 3:15 perf rearend the auto is less than perfect but it gets the job done. The main thing I don't like is how violent the kick down can be if you end up in first gear. If it wasn't for the electronics you could loop the car if you were turning at all because the car has so much torque. The stability and traction control system work really well in this car. Far better than the nanny mode the SportCross stability system is locked in.
Went with the F1 GS D-3 again. Four installed at Big O ran $714, down a bit over last year. Got them on just in time for a run up the coast to Sonoma (Cazadero, really) next Thursday. Can't wait. Once out of Petaluma and onto CA-1 it's a beautiful and mostly curvy drive. Pretty much perfect for the car.
Thanks,
Andrew
Can I pick up a pair of the stock 17x7.5 rear wheels and 225/45-17 tires and use them on the front without offset or rubbing problems?
Will I have to use front wheels with a 50 offset and rear wheels with a 55 offset?
Can anyone suggest a non-directional 225/45-17 tire so that I can rotate the tires in a conventional manner?
After three years, I have gotten really frustrated with the uneven wear and replacement issues, and a flat left front tire this weekend has pushed me over the edge (the directional spare works on the right side only).
I had four 50mm offset 17x8 Volks on my car with 225 GoodYear GSD3s (directional). I really liked the way the car turned in; it dialed out some of the understeer which was further reduced with a set of aftermarket swaybars. So I know for sure the 50mm offset and 225s won't rub.
The is no reason why you can't use the directional spare any time you need it. It is a spare and nothing bad will happen to the tire. The tire just works better when rolling in the prescribed direction.
You would have to check some of the tire stores for non-directional tires.
I found that tire wear was diminished with wider wheels and tires along with a proper alignment. The inside edge will still wear faster than the outside though.