Edmunds: First Drive: 2006 Lexus IS 350

[ajayjuneja]

meh. you can't turn the traction control off. What fun is that?

My G35 lets me do that!

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Yum. I think that might be my next car in a few years. Wonder what the pricing is on that guy. Just a lil disappointed the IS250 only makes 204hp? That's pathetic in this day and age - Acura pushes out that much power from the K24 in the TSX.

Yeah, but how much torque does that K24 churn?

The TSX was up first and it laid down a pretty solid pass of 169.9 hp and backed it up within 1 horsepower on a subsequent run. Torque was 152.2 lbs-ft. Once again, Honda underrates a K-series, although in this case not nearly as bad as they did with the K24 Accords. We estimate the real flywheel output of this engine to be somewhere in the vicinity of 210 hp and 175-180 lbs-ft. Check out how flat the torque curve is as well despite using a single runner intake manifold

source

Honda has lately been fibbing numbers on their engine outputs. In real world, the TSX probably puts to the ground, about the same torque as an IS250. This notion of "no torque" hondas is dated.

Both variants of the K24 are underrated and undertuned. Honda is hiding even more power in these engines with conservative tuning. K24A2 benefits up to 25 hp in areas of the power curve from only breathing bolt ons and retuned ECU.

K24A2 technical

^ There we go. It's a 4 cylinder to boot, compared to a 6 in the IS250. Seriously, they couldn't have come up with something better? The 230hp 6 from the Camry at least?

Look at the K24A2 w/12psi turbo!

/poops pants. goes to change boxers.

thank gawd they changed out those rice lights. i'll be testing the RWD this fall

 

[MasterAndCommander]

It's ok...doesn't excite me. Drop in a V-8 with 350 or more ft-lb of torque, then we will talk

 

[JulesMaximus]

:thumbsup:

 

[Relayer]

that's what I'm talking about...drool

I wish that thing was $30,000

 

[Aharami]

very nice looking car, but

Still, there's so much technology aboard the IS 350, the driver is too insulated from the driving. The electronic throttle's response isn't as crisp as we would like, the transmission takes too long to respond to the paddle shifters and the steering is precise and quick, but hardly communicative. It's enough to make you miss the old IS 300's nervy, adolescent edge.

it seems like it suffers from the usual Lexus bland driving. Nothing some aftermarket suspension and sway bars cant fix.

My friend's mom actually test drove the GS300 and the RL. She hated the way the GS drove...said it felt like she wasnt driving at all. She ended up getting the RL and loves it. Personally, Id have gotten the GS and replaced the suspension setup with a stiffer aftermarket one. But I guess not everyone got bit by the mod bug

 

[Liviathan]

Very nice. Like the design, looks a bit more "Lux" than the current design. The current design always looked more street racer to me than anythimg.

 

[Vegito]

Originally posted by: Aharami

My friend's mom actually test drove the GS300 and the RL. She hated the way the GS drove...said it felt like she wasnt driving at all. She ended up getting the RL and loves it. Personally, Id have gotten the GS and replaced the suspension setup with a stiffer aftermarket one. But I guess not everyone got bit by the mod bug

lol.. its like seeing all the minivans in ny with lower suspension and spinning rims for soccer moms

 

[NFS4]

http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_lexus_looking_sales/index.htm

 

[Otaking]

I have to say, I like this one over the current IS

 

[m2kewl]

"The IS 250 cruises along freeways like the luxury car it is. The ride is controlled but soft. On twisting roads it sort of wafts along never doing anything that could upset the passenger cabin extensively. Exciting? Not really. But it is comfortable, reassuring and competent"

aka drives like a boat - and this accounts for predicted 40% of sales

 

[jaedaliu]

Originally posted by: SouthPaW1227
This new thing rips off the Nissan body (Maxima, Altima) terribly bad, escp. the backend. Not nearly the "streety" car the IS 300 was.

Everything seems to do that these days. I consider the new Z (well, not new any more, but you know, the 350Z) the design that Nissan reshaped the bodies of the new lineup around. The new eclipse seems to be a 350Z ripoff (body-wise)

I don't mind though, I like the look.

btw, a 2.5 putting out 204 HP isn't bad at all. That's probably near the upper limit of current technology. the 300 puts out 215 hp, and isn't that old of an engine. (by comparison my maxima's 3.0 only puts out 190)

 

[edi sucks]

The IS300 is soo much nicer...

I'm thinking of picking one up (used), I just dunno if i'll have problems with NJ winters...did those have some type of stability control?

 

[vi edit]

I'd have to see one in person. Pictures just aren't doing much. Any idea what the IS350 will MSRP at?

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'd have to see one in person. Pictures just aren't doing much. Any idea what the IS350 will MSRP at?

I saw it and drove it on person about 4 or 5 months ago, and its really weird looking from the back.

the handling is not as good as the 3 series either, and I havent tried the new 3 series yet

 

[Dari]

It looks like an Acura TSX.

 

[Wooster]

Live in Boston for four years. IS300 is totally useless in the winter even with traction control. Light snow will be okay as long you put some weight in the trunk.

Originally posted by: edi sucks
The IS300 is soo much nicer...

I'm thinking of picking one up (used), I just dunno if i'll have problems with NJ winters...did those have some type of stability control?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: edi sucks
The IS300 is soo much nicer...

I'm thinking of picking one up (used), I just dunno if i'll have problems with NJ winters...did those have some type of stability control?

By nicer, do you mean slower, with a cheaper interior, less features, and less interior room with boy-racer looks?

 

[edi sucks]

NFS4: pretty much, yeah

Nothing wrong with the "boy racer" look, not everyone wants to drive grandpa's car.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: edi sucks
NFS4: pretty much, yeah

Nothing wrong with the "boy racer" look, not everyone wants to drive grandpa's car.

The IS350 isn't a grandpas car...that's what the LS430 is for

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: edi sucks
NFS4: pretty much, yeah

Nothing wrong with the "boy racer" look, not everyone wants to drive grandpa's car.

The IS350 isn't a grandpas car...that's what the LS430 is for

in person the front of the new is is very aggressive looking, but I agree it doesnt have that spartan look of its predecessor. It has a much more refined look to it.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Wooster
Live in Boston for four years. IS300 is totally useless in the winter even with traction control. Light snow will be okay as long you put some weight in the trunk.

Originally posted by: edi sucks
The IS300 is soo much nicer...

I'm thinking of picking one up (used), I just dunno if i'll have problems with NJ winters...did those have some type of stability control?

That's why they have snow tires.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: edi sucks
NFS4: pretty much, yeah

Nothing wrong with the "boy racer" look, not everyone wants to drive grandpa's car.

The IS350 isn't a grandpas car...that's what the LS430 is for

all the electronic nannies make the IS350 a grandpa's car.

and it looks like an olds from the side and rear.

 

[secretanchitman]

306HP? dammit, it beats the bimmer 330i by around 50hp...meh.

its gaining on the current generation M3 hp wise...it'll be interesting to see those 2 match up, at least for me.

why only a 6-speed manual for 250 and not for 350? ">.<". oh well, at least it gets paddle shifters/automanual.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
306HP? dammit, it beats the bimmer 330i by around 50hp...meh.

its gaining on the current generation M3 hp wise...it'll be interesting to see those 2 match up, at least for me.

why only a 6-speed manual for 250 and not for 350? ">.<". oh well, at least it gets paddle shifters/automanual.

The E90 M3 is supposed to have a 400+HP V3.
There is also supposed to be a TT E90 coming next year with 330HP I think

That being said, Lexus also as an IS460 waiting in the wings along with the the hybrid ISxxxh