Lexus IS350 and IS250

[pto]

Official Lexus IS site now up!

Lexus.com

Boasting a 305 HP V6, the IS350 will be the superior of the two new models planned to be released. With 'paddle' style shifting.

The IS250 supports a smaller engine but all time 4-wheel drive.

I've read local articles supporting the statement of a release of a; softtop(coupe and sedan), hardtop(coupe), and a wagon.

I personally would get the non-convertable-coupe.

I've just read that the IS350 will reach 60 in about 5.7-5.8 seconds.

Pricing

2006 IS250 (base model)

$ 27,585 - Manual - RWD

$ 28,955 - Automatic - E-Shift - RWD

$ 30,905 - Automatic - E-Shift - AWD

2006 IS350 (fully loaded)

$ 42,475 - Automatic - E-shift - RWD

Any opinions?

Image Credits to Fast-Autos.net

Edited September 17, 2005 by pto

[VGVL]

Why does the IS250 have the 6-speed manual option and the IS350 only has an automatic? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

And why the shifting paddles on an automatic? :laugh:

The interior looks nice.

[pto]

Why does the IS250 have the 6-speed manual option and the IS350 only has an automatic? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

And why the shifting paddles on an automatic? :laugh:

The interior looks nice.

586259177[/snapback]

I'm almost certain they'll update that by spring.

[Acezo]

Love the looks of that car, really slick. The interior is lined very well also (Y)

[dmp3]

Why does the IS250 have the 6-speed manual option and the IS350 only has an automatic? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

And why the shifting paddles on an automatic? :laugh:

The interior looks nice.

586259177[/snapback]

Mercedes does that too, which is why I'd never drive a Benz.

They have a manuel option for there lower model cars, like the C230, but on the C32 AMG, the only option is automatic. I don't understand the reasoning by it.

EDIT: Oh, and about the car, I dont think it looks too good, but i'm old-school. Even at 19 years old. :p

[mrogers]

Good to see that they've returned more to Lexus' roots. I hated the design, outside and especially inside, of the previous IS. This one looks much more of a synergy of sport and posh. In the previous IS, a luxury company tried too hard to go hardcore sport, and the result was a goofy looking nose, cheap looking rear, and just plain WIERD and uncomfortable interior. This one looks great. But WTF is with those mirrors?? They're HUGE for a car of this size!!

[Scudworth]

paddles on an auto is just like that retarded J-shifter thing. Its so people who dont know how to drive standard can feel cool without the risk of wrecking their gearbox :p

[ThunderRiver]

automatic transmission is cost-effective (meaning cheap) compared to manual transmission. The downside is that automatic converter is very difficult and pricy to fix once it is broken. For high-end cars, unless you are very sophiticated in terms of changing gears, I don't think manual is such a great choice.

Manual is normally for low end cars becuase it is seay to fix. Poor people need an easier way to get by.

By the way, if you live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, you will know how crappy it is to have a manual car. I don't care how you guys suggest otherwise, but in a city where you move and stop..and move and stop, that's tedious for changing gears.

I just love automatic transmission. Very easy to use, no more hassles.

[dmp3]

automatic transmission is cost-effective (meaning cheap) compared to manual transmission. The downside is that automatic converter is very difficult and pricy to fix once it is broken. For high-end cars, unless you are very sophiticated in terms of changing gears, I don't think manual is such a great choice.

Manual is normally for low end cars becuase it is seay to fix. Poor people need an easier way to get by.

By the way, if you live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, you will know how crappy it is to have a manual car. I don't care how you guys suggest otherwise, but in a city where you move and stop..and move and stop, that's tedious for changing gears.

I just love automatic transmission. Very easy to use, no more hassles.

586259568[/snapback]

For an everyday car, I can agree that automatic is convenient, but for a sports-car, manuel is the only way to go. You not only lose 20% of your power just by going with automatic, but you lose 90% of the fun of driving.

Although I am not the best at driving manuel, and it takes me some time to get used to the clutch of each car, when switching different manuel car (when i'd valet), manuel is great, fun, and just... you can control the power of the car! :D

[ThunderRiver]

paddles on an auto is just like that retarded J-shifter thing.  Its so people who dont know how to drive standard can feel cool without the risk of wrecking their gearbox :p

586259558[/snapback]

Personal preferences, so keep that to yourself. There is nothing wrong with automatic transmission. The only benefits with manual is such that you can speed up much faster, and you can do coasting (switch to neutral) whenever necessary. It also save more gas. However, the burden of changing gears isn't what I called fun and exciting.

[couture]

When I first saw these at the ajc autoshow in atlanta I didn't like them, but this new design is really growing on me. That car looks sexy (Y)

[XanoZuke]

OMFG!!!! That's nice. :woot:

I still don't understand the meaning of the paddle thing, but I'm cool with it :D

[Mystical112]

looks pretty nice...

[nomis_nehc]

wow, i gotta say, toyota is really on a roll nowadays. revamping all of their lines (scion, lexus) and making every model sexier.

[pto]

wow, i gotta say, toyota is really on a roll nowadays. revamping all of their lines (scion, lexus) and making every model sexier.

586262265[/snapback]

I agree with this and the previous statement that the 05 IS and below models were nothing lexus-ey at all.

Scions are super-hawt also.

[bayrider]

great to see they actually did something decent with the interior of the IS350. I just hated the inside of the IS300, my cousin had one, it didnt even have a decent arm rest.

[dreamz Veteran]

overall, it looks pretty good. the headlights are a little honda accord-ish (which isn't bad), and the rear end looks a little funky, maybe out of proportion, but it looks nice. (Y)

[bayrider]

actually, the more i look at the IS350, the more it resembles the new BMW 5 series' to me...

[leedogg]

Is there a price estimate for this yet?

[pto]

actually, the more i look at the IS350, the more it resembles the new BMW 5 series'  to me...

586266692[/snapback]

My thoughts exactly.

I think that's why I'm liking it so much.

^@ the price estimate, i am unsure and i'll check into it.

[pto]

Yes, I've got price estimates. They will be edited into the first post.

[Diablous]

Very 5 series like, I do like it.

As for the auto thing, well I think the AMG gearboxes are tuned to be sporty all the time, where as the lower models have a more saloon styled one. I believe Lexus are doing the same, if you've ever watched a SLK 55AMG go, you'll see why it's auto. The only thing I don't like about autos is you can't downshift into corners using both engine and brakes to slow, where as auto is all brakes.

[bdsams Veteran]

car is teh sex

[Scudworth]

Personal preferences, so keep that to yourself.

586259588[/snapback]

well, it did say "opinions" in the header, and that being my opinion, I presented it, but whatever....

[nomis_nehc]

actually, the more i look at the IS350, the more it resembles the new BMW 5 series'  to me...

586266692[/snapback]

that's what i said to my friend the other day. actually, if you look at the new avalon, it has a similar feeling to it too.