Lexus IS 300

tgravo2 · April 2002

I meant the manual.

hunter001 · April 2002

I knew what he meant...I was just giving him a hard time. :-)

Later...AH

fcng · April 2002

They will put a 3.3L V6 instead of the 3.0L six in the current IS. The ES and IS getting the 3.3L which the GS will follow suit with the 3.3L also.

superman5 · April 2002

anyone leased? leased through lexus or chase, i leased my IS300 and its by chase bank, anyhow, i want to add an factory spoiler and possibly L tuned body kit (factory kit made by Lexus/L tuned/TRD). I was wondering if that will be ok or will I be penalized at the end of the lease?

cateusebio · April 2002

Hi All,

I'm considering a purchase of the IS300. What kind of deals are people getting in the SF Bay Area? Which dealer would/did you work with?

Also, why are the VK/VP packages cheaper than the LS/LA packages, but it includes the sun roof?

Thanks.

raybear · April 2002

The Bay Area's tough to get a deal, but start negotiations near invoice and see how they take it.

slider95 · May 2002

Does anyone have any info on changes or additions for the 2003 IS300?

fedlawman · May 2002

for the I to be replaced by a V. I doubt if Toyota would be so foolish.

subzero206 · May 2002

except for a couple of new wheel designs.

fcng · May 2002

fedlawman, anything can happen in this world. They are only rumours but competition is heating up very fast. G35 with 255 or 260HP, TL Type S with 260HP. Lexus is a tad behind in HP count. If Lexus moves to 3.3L displacement and can move past the 260 mark then people will visit Lexus dealerships. Of course, Lexus lovers are not all about HP count. That is the trend and it sells.

v_tech · May 2002

the IS300 is the most maligned car ever!!!! it is purely asinine to suggest that the IS300 is not a solid car because it can't outsell a RX300 or beat a ugly impala off the line.

anyone who would buy an impala over a IS300 is a glutton for punishment. this has got to be one of the ugliest cars on the road today. plus, it is made by chevy which means that after 5 years it won't be able to even start. the only way an american car can live past 5 years is if you cut out a big hole under your feet and make like the flintstones.

how can the IS300 be a souped up corolla when the impala is a malibu deluxe?? what a joke.

how can anybody not think that the G35 is just butt ugly from the rear??? i mean did they ask audi for permission to copy the A6 rear?? because that is what the G35 looks like. on the G35 board they are insisting that the car looks nothing like a altima. that is what i love about edmunds.

i have already accepted that town hall is dominated by posters who are older and far too conservative for the IS300. if you listened to everyone here at edmunds you would think that the IS300 is the biggest piece of junk ever made. if you go listen to the editors at Road and track you would think that it is one of the finest cars on the road today. it is classic. car and driver says this. R/T says that. who cares already.

HVAN, jump in a G35 and i'll jump in a supercharged IS300. after we come out of the first turn i'll be gone. i'll even put on those lens covers so you don't have to look at the clears anymore.

if you want to race in a straight line that is fine too.

RIEZ, build me a 42K IS300 and i'll go to car and driver and smoke the crap out of any car in this class. someone needs to stop all this insanity. the A4 was tested at almost 40K by C/D. a 330i is listed at 40 to 42 after tax by every mag that ever tested it.

by the way, if anybody thinks a fully loaded G35 costs less than a IS300 loaded they are on drugs. i heard those things were going for 38K. anybody heard differently??

vtec

jrct9454 · May 2002

...the Infiniti dealer here in the Sacto area has three G35s he is willing to sell [lightly optioned, of course] for less than $28k.

As for perceptions about the IS, both favorable and not, I really think it has very little to do with age, per se. The staff at R & T certainly does not qualify as a group of youngsters, by any means. I'm 57, and would be driving an IS now except for the fact that when I went shopping 18 mos ago, no one wanted to sell me a car for less than $32k, and most were more. I would have stretched to reach that, maybe, if the 16" wheels had been available anywhere on the West Coast, but they were not then and are not now. So add another $1000 for wheels and tires that won't be gone in less than 20k miles...

So for me, it was a question of the car being overpriced for what it was [and wasn't]; since then, the street price has gotten more realistic, and the competition hotter...but now I'm out of the market for awhile, too.

I'd like to see a more useable trunk in a successor car, and a ride/handling compromise that is closer to the EU standard, but I think the price belongs well south of $30k.

bobbob911 · May 2002

Better trunk? Yes. 60/40 split rear seats are a must also.

But why would you want to neuter the true strength of the IS300 (the handling) just so that it can straddle the same compromising line that every other car in the market is at?

Why does every car need to be exactly the same?

riez · May 2002

jrct9495... The IS300 has a wonderful engine, great chassic/suspension, and very good transmission (manual tranny, that is). But it doesn't seem as if the rest of the car, including its pricing, was designed to appeal to its logical target market. How many boy racers are there looking to drop $30-40,000? Thought they tended to like heavily modified Civic coupes or other type FWD sub/compacts for around or under $20,000 MSRP. Is this the market for the Matrix/Vibe, new Suzuki, the new Mazda, etc?

zeusman · May 2002

Like soo many people on this page, I think this is a terrific car that seems to get picked on. It competes toe to toe with 330i for $10 to $12 grand less. No it's not as big as a G35, but it's more fun to drive and sportier to look at. I think people like to pick on it because it goes up against the established BMW and does not quite beat it, unless you bring price into the equation and it's not as big a car as most americans tend to prefer. What you get is a fun car from a manufacturer know for making reliable long lasting cars. What is wrong with that? Yes I wish the trunk were larger, but outside of that this car is a wonderful car. I did test drive a G35, CL-S 6 speed, 330i before chosing my 5 speed stick IS 300.

jrct9454 · May 2002

...and mine is that ultimate, last-inch-of-your-life handling is not what this class [A4, C, 3er, G, etc.] is all about. These are supposed to be comfortable touring cars that handle and brake in a fashion that makes them more fun and more safe than the average bear.

Anyone who has already bought and is happy with their IS gets no guff from me - I said I think it's a fine package overall. But I wanted a little less busy-ness in the ride [lousy concrete freeways in too much of Calif] and a little more trunk space [a touring car, after all] for a price closer to $28k. The G may or may not fit that definition...haven't driven one yet, so can't say.

As for the rest being a "compromise" between ride and handling - sure, every car not an outright sports racer is by definition a compromise. BMW got to be the icon in this category by providing good handling without jarring your teeth on broken pavement. The IS with the 16" wheel/tire combo would go around corners plenty fast enough for me.

I wanted a BMW 325 at Japanese prices and with Japanese reliability. They came close, but not at the right price for me at the right time. And I'm not convinced the car is somehow being unfairly criticized or being "dumped on" - I read a lot from happy owners here and elsewhere, so somebody must like it. I do agree that the styling details, and YES, the marketing details [like the 17" wheels being universal in our market], DO seem as if they are aiming at a demographic target that is smaller than the price point would suggest can be sustained. I presume that's why the price has drifted lower. That doesn't make the car a failure, and I certainly didn't say that.

nschulman3 · May 2002

I leased a sportcross in february and am very happy with it. The sedan looked too much like every other car in its class and the lack of fold-down rear seats really bothered me. The extra room afforded by the wagon design and fold down seats took care of that problem. A big complaint seems to be the size of the car, but for me, the small size is a positive. I live in a large northern new jersey city and am faced with a lot of traffic. The sportcross felt more nimble than a lot of other cars i tested. The handling is as good or better than any other car in its class and the brakes are much better than my 2000 a4. The biggest drawback of the sportcross is the lack of a manual. In my case, i probably could have talked my wife into getting a manual, (our last 6 cars have been stick) but she wanted the ease of an automatic. My other car is a subaru wrx with a 5 speed manual, so when i want to enjoy a manual, i have that. As far as the car's price, i'll agree with many others that the sticker may be a bit high for what you get. However, no one pays close to sticker for this car. The lease deals are even better. i looked at the g35 too, and although the sticker was about the same, the lease was more than 100.00 per month more. If you look at other cars where great lease deals are available, you'll usualyy find a poorly made car or one that is about to be discontinued. With the is 300, you get a reasonably fast, teriffic handling and well-made car for less than others in its class. I have owned a few saabs and audis and although they were all a lot of fun, i got tired of all the trips to the dealer for little problems. Sure, most of the work was covered under warranty, but the hassle of taking the car to the dealer every month or so got to be too much. The lexus doesn't offer free maintenance like my audi did, but i can afford the $30 oil changes and minor upkeep. It is still atrip to the dealer either way.

parnola · June 2002

My friend has a 2001 IS and heard something about a tire recall. Does anyone know if there is indeed a recall on them? Thanks.

jrct9454 · June 2002

...on the tire recall. Or talk to your dealer...the short answer is yes, but there are come caveats.

Kirstie_H · June 2002

A major daily newspaper is looking for people who bought used luxury cars with the idea of moving upscale at discounted prices only to find out that the cost of parts and service was greater than expected. Were you surprised or shocked by the cost of routine maintenance and common repairs like mufflers, brakes, shocks and struts, transmissions, headlight replacement, etc.?

If so, please send an e-mail containing your contact information and vehicle description to jfallon@edmunds.com no later than Wednesday, June 12.

nyccarguy · June 2002

I saw a black IS300 E Shift parked on the street the other day and it had colored matching tail light covers. I think the car looked sharp with them. The aluminum wing on the other hand...

kvsm3 · June 2002

2002 IS300s in dark colors have smoked tail light covers as a standard feature. This was not the case for 2001.

nyccarguy · June 2002

I've seen them and they look worlds better than the standard, but the ones I am refering to are aftermarket body colored tail light covers.

kvsm3 · June 2002

I have not seen the aftermarket ones. I have purchased a 2002 Eshift Black IS300 and love the car alot!
Since this was my first Lexus purchase, the dealer treatment was excellent and am very glad that I purchased the IS300.
There are other cars cheaper and faster than the IS300, but being compact, RWD, and having Toyota quality, I figured I couldn't go wrong! :-)

kam66 · June 2002

You probably saw OEM Toyota Altezza (optional) tail light covers on the IS300. Several people on another chat board have purchased them through either Yahoo or other is300.net members. I definitely think the 2002 tail lights look better than the 2001s on darker colored IS300s, but I think I'd even prefer the solid colors that match the vehicle.

qualityguy · June 2002

What is the good price for this car now?

vocus · June 2002

As close to invoice as possible. The cars are not selling well, so you should be able to make a good deal on one. Cheap leases are also available.

drivinisfun · June 2002

The styling of this car is partly responsible for the lackluster sales. Watch the IS300 resales values drop like a brick when the next generation IS model debuts. the car is indeed a good effort by the Toyota folks, but you just can't expect lots of people to pay upwards $30K for what essentially is a spiffed up $25K Toyota RWD sedan in other markets.

The "L" in the grille is worth $5K. Not worth it in my opinion. Even if the Lexus dealer feeds me Dom Perignon and Caviar on every service visit. I would have been much more interested in this car sold as a Toyota and with a sticker admission price that would have undercut the BMW 3 series from the get go.

At $30K there are much better choices in this segment. The Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G35 and BMW 3 Series are superior driving machines to the IS300.

The Boyracer looks don't cut it in this price segment. Imagine a Subaru WRX rebadged as a Cadillac or Lexus...instant flop. This is what happened to the IS300. The IS300 belongs in the WRX market audience, not in the BMW market audience.

jmess · June 2002

Seems like we have read the same opinion expressed by the same people numerous times before in this forum. The responses to these opinions have also been posted numerous times in this forum by IS owners.

For anyone really interested, you can see it all by scrolling up a 1000 or so posts.

To summarize, there are lots of IS owners who disagree.

ilanazach · June 2002

I have followed the IS since its launch with great interest and anticipation. Lexus did a very nice job for their first effort. I personally like the styling very much, both the interior and exterior. It presents an alternative to the blandness of most cars, even those in this class. It does not resemble a Corolla or Civic. The handling and steering are excellent. I have experienced this myself in test drives and nearly every professional review states this as well. The IS is a tremendously fun car to drive.

That said I do find some problems with the car. I think Lexus missed the mark with the quality of the interior and the with the car's power. The materials inside are not Lexus quality, they are much more in line with Toyota vehicles. The interior of this car does look like a Toyota. The leather is alright, but why is the door liner cloth?, why are the plastics hard and poorly textured?, why are there no steering wheel audio controls? These materials are much nicer in my Maxima than in the IS. The interior can be upgraded dramatically while still remaining sporty, funky and different. It needs to be more like the other models in the Lexus lineup.

The car's performance needs to be enhanced as well. 215HP and 218 Ft/lbs is not enough in the current marketplace. This car should be fast, not just adequate. After all it is essentially a sports car. Improved acceleration along with its already great handling would bump up sales and improve it's reviews.

My opinion then, is that this car has sold poorly because of downscale interior materials and a lack of power. I think the Infiniti G35 will far outsell the IS. Hopefully Lexus will redesign this car to better compete, and hopefully beat not only BMW but Infiniti as well. Perhaps a slightly more expensive higher end trim line or even a high performance version to compete against the M3. The latter is what I would really like to see. Out.

drivinisfun · June 2002

Agree with your points, minus the styling. The styling is a handicap to the long term market success of the IS300. It appeals more the "Sony Playstation crowd", than the "Teutonic, upscale crowd.

"Perhaps a slightly more expensive higher end trim line or even a high performance version to compete against the M3. The latter is what I would really like to see. Out."

Answer: V8 powered Lexus IS430.

wale_bate1 · June 2002

Okay, gang, anybody changed rubber on the 16" rims yet?

I'm getting more and more serious about the car, and I'm wondering about rubber now. In the past, I have automatically chosen the bigger paws, regardless of car, as the standard wheels were usually a joke.

This car is different. 17" rims on a car the Corolla's size seems overkill to me. Whenever I look at one with 17's, they seem just a touch too much, and more of a styling element than a real stab at peak performance. I begin to wonder if 16's with a 215 or so might not weigh less, provide the same width of contact patch, offer better ride quality and detract little from overall handling v. the 17's.

The current 17's are 215/45-17, which comes out to a 24.74" outside diamter. The current 16's are 205/55-16, which is approx. 25.02" OD. If I went with 215/50-16 instead, that's 24.6", and a 225/50-16 (wonderfully common size!) is right at 25" even.

Anybody tried this game yet? Does it reduce unsprung weight? Any performance issues? Is 9" of tread (225) too much for a 6.5" rim?

Love the car...

fastdriver · June 2002

There is a nice comparo test in the current issue of Road & Track. They test 11 "Hot sports sedans" in the $30,000-46,000 bracket. For some strange reason, they left out the Chrysler 300M?

fastdriver

tomjonesrocks · June 2002

I am reading this and all the people bashing the car and I still like it and am strongly considering buying one. But I agree--I don't want to buy it at BMW prices. If I have to pay over 30k for it I'm not partiularly interested--I'll wait and buy a preowned car later. I'm reading stuff about price cuts--are they planning on cutting the price for the car?

Anyway, my question is, is the time for a good deal on the car now or later? I want a manual transmission; which limits me to the 2002...and I just don't know much about leasing, and would be afraid that since I drive a bit more than 15,000 miles a year and have to park my car outside all the time I'd get raped in return fees on a lease.

Any suggestions would be helpful--Thanks!

Scott

raybear · June 2002

An IS300 with VP-Power and Leather Package and RF-Rear Spoiler invoices for less than $29,000. Figure they'll have some other options on board, but the $29K figure may be worth a shot, depending on where you are shopping.

alpha01 · June 2002

The comparison test you speak of was very well written-comprehensive and interesting. Note that the IS300 finished 3rd, a quite good showing. The car is simply awesome. The Inifiniti G35 may be awesome, but it sure is a large car- larger than I would want (personally) if I had the money to be purchasing this type of vehicle. Plus... the IS300 now has the availability of the 5sp...
~alpha

drivinisfun · June 2002

When Lexus redesigns the IS300 (I think the platform and current driving dynamics are great)with a less "Rice Rocket" look and improves the interior materials/design, I might get interested in it again.

As it is today, the IS300 is a very good car, but overshadowed by much better offerings in its immediate market segment.

Back in 2000, the IS300 was the latest and greatest. Two years later, no longer is and this is reflected in its poor sales figures and heavely Lexus subsidized Lease deals.

Lexus made a big mistake with this car upon introduction: Ommitting the 5-speed manual for the first model year. Infiniti is repeating the same mistake now with their G35 sedan.

There should be a size distiction in this class as I am noticing Car buff rags are dumping RWD vehicles that happen to fit this segment but have size/weight differences and thus affecting results on these comparos they make. My point: The IS300, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 Quattro are vehicles of similar exterior dimensions and weight. The Infiniti G35, Lincoln LS, Cadillac CTS for example are relatively heavier and larger RWD sport sedans. So I think it is somewhat unfair to compare an IS300 against the Lincoln LS for instance. The G35, LS, CTS belong more in the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series class size.

Lexus:: Fix this car. You almost got it right.

tomjonesrocks · June 2002

Can someone give me an idea about what the interior packages on the IS 300 are all about? I like the cloth/leather combination--is that what comes standard or is that an additional package?
I don't need the full leather.

Scott

jmess · June 2002

You tend to see more IS with Ecsaine (synthetic material) inserts and leather. I have never seen an IS with fabric seats. Ecsaine is sold as a package with the power options like seats and mirrors; the Limited Slip Diff is also in the bundle. I don't regret not having the full leather on my car, the Ecsaine is very durable and easy to keep clean. A must have is the limited slip diff. Relying on traction control alone is a poor substitute for the real thing.

whotheman · June 2002

The IS300 has changed inside since you probably last sat inside of it. The interior is much improved!. The pop-up NAV and new dash/seat materials make it more appealing inside than the new G35, which seems like the original IS inside.

Considering the fact that the IS is always compared to the $40k 330i, and still manages to impress all who test it speaks volmues on the success of this offering. It's far better turned out than a CTS, more engaging to drive than the TL, and is a on par with a 325i in value, room, and performance.

I like the original, aggressive styling. Very lean and bold. Are they shedding the conservative Lexus image yet?

whotheman · June 2002

One-Year verdict on the '01 IS300 in the new Motor Trend this month. They were VERY pleased with the car and its dynamics.

The car is not a flop because it is doing what it was designed to do, bring younger buyers into the Lexus fold. And once they get there, they won't go anywhere else! AND it is helping to change Lexus' image as a more hip and aggressive marketing and performance brand. So what it's sales lose in numbers it makes up for in image and future sales.

wale_bate1 · June 2002

IS300 is my likely next purchase, and Sportcross my choice.

I can agree that Toyota can't style its way out of a paper bag on most occasions (see Camry, ES300, Sienna) and has the boredom factor nailed to Buick levels, but I LOVE this car. You can keep the lenses on the butt (I'd buy the color covers), but the rest of it? Love it. Right down to its silly little drilled pedals and the chronometer display (LOVE it).

In the past, I would have said the only good Toyota designs come from Italy (see GS), but I think this one's on the money.

And I think its value to the company, as pointed out, goes a lot deeper than volume. No reviewer that I've read anywhere fails to be impressed by the car. Many have issues, but nobody has said "pass" on this one.

As far as competing with Bimmer, I think that's silly marketing. You don't lure the true Bimmer pilot out of his machine with a wannabe, no matter how close. You CAN turn heads and get taken seriously as a great sport sedan if you're good enough though.

This one's good enough.

hunter001 · June 2002

I doubt if too many "younger buyers" can afford a 30K+ pricetag. They would at most be able to afford something like a Toyota Celica or something. Ideally, if this car were priced at around 25K or so, the "younger buyers" argument would have held water.

Later...AH

wale_bate1 · June 2002

I think it depends on your definition of younger!

The folks I see driving this car around town are mostly in their early thirties, a few in their late twenties, and a smattering in their forties.

I don't have the documented demographic info, but that's a whole lot younger than the average Lexus customer!

There are now six of these babies living within a one block radius of my home! It's hard to take my occasional evening cigar stroll these days. I have to stop each time I see one!!

vocus · June 2002

I would love to have an IS300, and I am 23. I have a 2002 Jetta 1.8T now, with alot of problems, and I would gladly pay another $3K (my Jetta MSRPed for ~$25K) for the IS300.

verozahl · June 2002

I would love a 2.0L Altezza (IS200) for about $22K or whatever. Of course, Lexus insists on taking the Altezza and sending the price skyward. Hence, the 3.0L I6 is the standard engine in the U.S. model.

hvan3 · June 2002

Lets not kid ourselves here. As I've said many times, the IS300 is nothing but a souped up Toyota Corolla with the fancy "Lexus" emblem on it. The IS300 was doomed from the get go. I told ya! If it was badged as a Toyota for $25K, it can clearly compete against WRX, RSX, and Altima. But no, Toyota got greedy and decided to market the vehicle for $30K+ and call it the "Beemer fighter". LOL

Even if Lexus redesign their "souped up Corolla" for whatever model year, the G35 sedan/coupe and 350Z will have the momentum to take market shares away in the $30K+ segment. Lexus will have to drop the IS300 or introduce a new flagship model. Redesigning the IS300 alone won't cut it!

absolutelyred1 · June 2002

Whatever hvan3. Do you REALLY drive an Impala? Cool!

My Dad had one in '65.

I love my souped up Toyota Corolla with the fancy "Lexus" emblem. Don't think I'd trade it in for an Impala though...

Sorry dude! But you go ahead and enjoy. Don't be so jealous of us, 'K?

verozahl · June 2002

"souped up Corolla?" Not any more than an Impala is a "souped-up Malibu."

Selling the Altezza as a Lexus is fine, but why only the $28K IS300? I think they should offer a 2.0L engine in it too. Of course, they have the Bimmer complex, but ... argh!

In any case, the interior on the Lexus IS300 is strange. Exterior is fine, but the interior is a little spastic for me.

wale_bate1 · June 2002

And an X-type is just a Contour with a kitty and Conolly, right? Sheesh!

I want a small sport wagon. I want RWD, 6 cylinders, handling, leather and a bit of styling.

I can go to BMW, or I can shop at Lexus. That's about it right now. And I like the Lexus.

Lexus IS 300

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