Had The Unfortunate Pleasure Of Driving A.

[bruddahmanmatt]

Lexus IS250 6M/T. Oh my gawd what a piece of s**t. Before I go on let me just say that I'm an avid car enthusiast who loves to drive anything and everything to see how they drive, ride and feel behind the wheel. With that being said, Lexus build quality cannot be disputed. The level of craftsmanship applied to even the "lowly" IS is bar none some of the best in the industry. With that being said, the guys in charge of driving involvement either didn't show up that day or were told to "sit" by the guys in charge of comfort and cabin noise...or road noise...or exhaust noise...or any sort of noise whatsoever.

Starting at the engine, gutless. I had a very brief stint in an IS350 about a year ago and forgot what it drove like. I do remember it being very quick in a straight line but that was about it. I only got to run it up to speed once and didn't get much time behind the wheel so I didn't have much to go off of in terms of a comparison. Getting back to the 250, why anyone would buy a 250 is beyond me. At least a 328i's motor can be heard from the driver's cabin and at least it's still a fun motor and a reminder that 3-Series Bimmers were great cars even before they got twin turbos. A 335i and G35 are no comparison. The exhaust note was also non-existant and the throttle laggy as fcuk.

The trans. Ugh. UGH. The clutch was one of the softest pieces of s**t I've ever sampled in my life. No wonder EVO bashed this thing. The shifter was a rubbery and vague piece that was about as isolated from the car as the car was from the road. For all you whining nancies who complain that the shifters in our Gs and Zs vibrate, go buy an IS250 6M/T. The shifter is completely devoid of any sort of vibration so you won't have anything to complain about... until you realize that it lacks any sort of tactile feel or connection to what's under the hood. Something which is paramount when it comes to buying a sporty car with an M/T IMO. If you don't feel connected to a car, why buy an M/T? To save gas? Oh please. Getting back to the clutch, it grabs high like the clutches in our cars and most European cars but you couldn't find the biting point even if you had one of the engineers who built the thing riding shotgun. Total crap.

Suspension? Another "ugh." Soft and sloppy describe the car at best. I will say that it's fairly comfortable and smooth over bumps though, but to me a car in this segment should at least try to resist the tendency to pitch and roll.

Now that we've established that the IS250 6M/T drives like crap, what did I like about it? Well for starters the 14 speaker Mark-Levinson sound system pwns the Bose 10 speaker system in my G. Basically your passengers won't be able to hear you b**ching about the cars lack of power and crappy shifter if you have the stereo cranked up to 11. It's that good.

The gauges are some of the cleanest and sexiest pieces I've ever seen in a production car. The light saber look is a real winner. I love the center tach and speedo mounted shift and speed limiter lights that illuminate when you hit a pre-determined engine or road speed. It's too bad the engine takes forever and a day to get both needles moving. The center stack however is a bit too drab and lifeless IMO.

The seating and "feel" you get inside the car is also something I liked. I actually think my G Sedan is a bit too big sometimes and wish it rode on the EX's shorter wheelbase. I'd take a bit less rear legroom in exchange for a bit better handling and a slightly shorter car so despite the IS's rear being a bit cramped and only slightly more spacious than that of a G Coupe (that's Coupe, not Sedan) I liked it's proportions. Then again I tend to look at things from a driver's perspective as opposed to a passenger's so I suppose the back seat occupants in a G are much happier than they'd be in an IS. In the end I still liked the IS's cockpit feel.

Styling has always been one of the 2nd Gen IS's high points. The L-Finesse design theme works very well on this car. Very edgy and techno without being too nuts like the E90 4 door 3-Series. Side by side I think the car edges out our V36 Sedan in the design department and is right there with the W204 C-Class and the B8 A4 as the best looking cars in this class.

The last thing I'll mention that I really liked were the door handles. The car's keyless entry system works like our ikey when you exit the car (you push a button on the outside of the handle to lock the car) but when you approach the car to unlock the door, you simply slide your hand down the back of the handle and the doors unlock. Very trick. With that being said, when someone writes about the gauges and the door handles being their favorite features on one of your model lines, it doesn't bode particularly well for that specific vehicle range.

My advice, avoid an IS250 like the flu. Avoid the 6M/T as if it were Ebola. In fact if you get the chance, torch every possible IS250 6M/T that you can. After driving this car I'm convinced that until the driving dynamics department (if such a thing even exists at Lexus' HQ) hires a few true driving enthusiasts who know what a stick and clutch are supposed to feel like, no Lexus should EVER be built with a manual transmission...EVER. If you're in the market for an entry level luxury car and don't need a stick, by all means consider an IS, just make sure it's a 350. Just remember that the gem of an engine that lay underhood will be bolted to a car that'll keep you from enjoying it whenever the windows are up and that the fun ends once you approach the first corner. The IS-F has been getting fairly rave reviews lately and all I can say is that Lexus must have given this car one hell of a makeover to be garnering such good press on a model that's completely crap in base form. Then again, there isn't much that a 5.0L V8 and an 8 speed slushbox won't cure.

[Wannabe6MT]

Its a base model Lexus. What do you except?

Atleast the G comes STANDARD with 306hp.

[bruddahmanmatt]

Originally Posted by WannabeSport

Its a base model Lexus. What do you except?

Atleast the G comes STANDARD with 306hp.

What do I except? Expect maybe?

A BMW 328i Sedan is a base model BMW (until the 128i arrives of course) yet it's still an amazingly great drivers car. An Audi A4 2.0T is the first Audi you run into right above the A3 hatch and it's still a fairly fun drivers car. At least the W204 C-Class isn't pretending to be a 3-Series fighter. It's a Mercedes-Benz and therefore drives like one. With the original IS300, Lexus was aimed squarely at BMW. The 2nd gen IS pushed the envelope with edgier styling but the driving dynamics were lost between the first gen and the second gen. A genuine 3-Series fighter it ain't.

My point is that just because a vehicle is a brands entry level car, it doesn't mean it has to be uninvolving. Even the TSX makes a better driver's car than the IS250. Additionally, if a manufacturer is going to try to pass off a car as being one thing, then don't design it to drive like something else. My reason for posting this is simple. Lots of people here cross shop the IS with the G.

[Wannabe6MT]

Oops, Typo, and BTW, i agree with you.

But its a Lexus. One of the most boring and uninvolving cars on the market.

[emceephi]

That was an interesting read.

[chilibowl]

Ill pee on it.

[RBull]

Yeah, interesting read. I haven't actually driven one myself but don't doubt what you're saying.

[fecurtis]

Congratulations, you've described the entire Lexus fleet. My paper shredder has more personality than Lexus.

[anotherOAKg]

Fortunately for Lexus, 99.999% of the population does not know what a 'MOD' is, nor do they redline it at green lights or care to hear what their exhaust note sounds like. They also dont like to feel every bump, crack or piece of debris on the road. And that's exactly what they keep in mind when they build their cars.

[Callaway]

Me and a buddy at work swapped my G37 and his IS250 for a night and I completely agree with you on all points. The car is boooooorrrring.

[O HELLA OEM]

What about the IS-F? =]

[GeeWillikers]

Originally Posted by WannabeSport

Its a base model Lexus. What do you except?

Atleast the G comes STANDARD with 306hp.

And you get lots of road noise and suspension creaks and groans at no extra charge.

What a bargain.

[GeeWillikers]

I love the 430/460, and also think the GS line is gorgeous.

Is is too small for me, I'd have to look up the line, and then they get a little pricey for my taste.

You can call them boring, or you can call them refined. You can call the G sporty, or you can call it unrefined.

To each their own, I find qualities I enjoy and could live with/without in both lines. Neither is a POS in my book.

[Klubbheads]

Originally Posted by chilibowl

Ill pee on it.

same here, I felt the same exact thing every time i was driving my cousin's IS350, that car was a POS aside from its engine.

[redline624]

I own both 2007 G35 Coupe 6MT/RAS fully loaded and 2006 IS 350, Mark Lev, NAV....blah...blah.....etc....

I think they are too different beasts. I have 20's and the Tanabe Touring Medallion exhaut on both vehicle. With that being said, the G is definitely more of a drivers vehicle with the hint of luxury and performance.

IS 350 is more refined, I think Lexus' intention was to be quiet and subtle. It's not supposed to make obnoxious noise and feel all the bumps on the road. Far as the interior.....well if you have ever own any Lexus minus the es series. Nissan/Infiniti or BMW can't even touch the lexus. Far as the performance IS 350 stock will romp all over the G35/G37 6MT; 335I, well we all know, it's still the king. Let's give credit where it's due.

Don't get me wrong, my G is still my pride and joy to drive, it doesn't see rain or donwtown (where roads are all jack up!). Keep in mind I have Tanabe Seven Pro's set on medium....I feel everything on the road But, what a joy to drive!

IMHO, I believe the IS250 was designed for the Mom's....I bought mine for my wife, but I got her the IS 350 so I can have fun in it sometime.

However, I do agree with you on the fact......why 6 speed on 250, why not have the 6 speed on the 350.