IS300. Neh? - Tuner-Junction

Pink-Bandaid · #1 (**permalink**) April 11th, 2006, 05:36 PM

I love the Lexus IS300.

But I'm not too much of a fan of the new body although, it's sort of growing on me.

The old body just has the something more and if you wanted, you wouldn't really need to do much outside, body modification because the feature of it is pretty much done for you, anyway.

What do you guys think?

New body? Or the old body?

New IS

Old IS

A_White_Gs-R · #2 (**permalink**) April 11th, 2006, 06:28 PM

I prefer the new is hands down. longer looks alot better more aggressive and sportier. to me the old one looks rather bland.

Johnlude85 · #3 (**permalink**) April 11th, 2006, 06:32 PM

defenately like the old body better.

Ricky · #4 (**permalink**) April 11th, 2006, 07:25 PM

Ive already driven the 250 300 350 and the new 3 series at a lexus event. My feelings on it are as follows. The 250 awd is crap, the regular one handles decently but for what it is your better off getting a 3 series, it just doesnt compare. The older 3 series depending on who you talk to feels nimbler to me but the styling is getting dated on it. The 350 feels more boatish to me then the other IS series and the 3 series just dominates it but the 350 is the fastest IS series ever made. I think they were saying that the smg or what ever they call it gets you a 13.7 1/4 mile time.

So bassically the IS350 looks cooler imo and the is300's styling is getting dated. The IS350 is alot faster out of the box but the only problem is the automatic transmition which many will complain about. They are talking about a 6 speed manual but I havent been keeping up with it. It could be out for all I know. My choice is definately the 350 sure you have the 2jz in the is300 but out of the box they are running 15s and to boost it or do anything to get it faster is going to cost you alot of money. The 350 out of the box gives you good performance alot better then the cars that it competes with. The only downside is that the handeling is below the three series.

IMO its not an easy choice. You can get an older slower car that may handle better or you can get a newer incredibly faster car. Realy the differences between the is350 and the is 300 are enormous. One was made to fight off the 3 series and the other one is just in a league of its own.

Rhythm Kid · #5 (**permalink**) April 11th, 2006, 08:56 PM

I prefer the new body style actually. The old body style is showing its age. Plus the old body style IS bland and really wasn't much to look at unless it had a decent kit on it.

The new IS series body style looks very aggressive, thats what catches me...

ThirdLane · #6 (**permalink**) April 12th, 2006, 12:05 AM

IS300/Altezza is the smallest $35,000 car I have ever driven. Up front is cramped and the back is really cramped, I can't imagine how uncomfortable it would be on a long trip. I'm only 5'8 and the IS is too small for me. As a matter of fact I have driven a 2003 IS300 5spd and a Mazda 3 back to back and the Mazda seem roomier imo. You gotta understand that IS300 is really old now since its been sold in Japan for 2 model years prior before Toyota decided to bring it to the states. I had a chance to demo the IS350 and that thing flys for a stock car but only gripe is too softly sprung and its only available in auto but much roomier and way more comfortable (baby GS) since it was redesigned with US consumer in mind. Styling wise I am still leaning on the older IS since its a much tidier package but the new IS is growing on me. But if I had the finances for the new IS i would look elsewhere ie. Infiniti(1), BMW(2), or Audi(3). Since the g35 is still a proven car no matter its over 4years old. Back to the original question, fuck the back seat and if you are smaller than I, I would go for the IS300 since the venerable 2jzGTE swap is quite simple in that car and still have dough left for wheels/brakes/suspension and it will eat a M3 with ease(saw a GTE powered IS at ATL International running low 13 multiple times, stock GTE at that). IS300 is a handler at that compared to the IS350. IS300 is much more nimble out of the box. But don't rely on us to make the decision for you. Ultimately you'll end up driving/paying/taking care of the car, so make the decision yourself. Hope this was helpful

Ricky · #7 (**permalink**) April 12th, 2006, 03:13 AM

do you know how much it costs to work with a 2jz

Soarer_TT · #8 (**permalink**) April 12th, 2006, 04:13 AM

new style is fuckin sex

Glenfiddich_man · #9 (**permalink**) April 12th, 2006, 04:24 AM

i love the new body

HondaGuy1122 · #10 (**permalink**) April 12th, 2006, 05:16 PM

front view rooks rike a 350zee to me.

mad-ass · #11 (**permalink**) April 12th, 2006, 06:06 PM

New IS just because it's start up gauge action are like, uh..Hmm..

Tits.

ThirdLane · #12 (**permalink**) April 12th, 2006, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sin

do you know how much it costs to work with a 2jz

the particular guy I was talking about said he did the work himself and it cost him about $3500 for the engine and tranny from Japan and as for labor he saved that money by doing it himself. He told me that if you were to have it done by a reputable shop, he said looking to spend 10-15K just on the engine swap and parts.

mad-ass · #13 (**permalink**) April 12th, 2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirdLane

the particular guy I was talking about said he did the work himself and it cost him about $3500 for the engine and tranny from Japan and as for labor he saved that money by doing it himself. He told me that if you were to have it done by a reputable shop, he said looking to spend 10-15K just on the engine swap and parts.

10~15k for that work? is that right?

shit, I'd rather pay them like 1000 to teach me and do it myself.

hcarcrx · #14 (**permalink**) April 12th, 2006, 08:36 PM

i really like the "old" is as a race car, but the new is does look really sexy!! cantwait to see it as a race car!!

ThirdLane · #15 (**permalink**) April 12th, 2006, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad-ass

10~15k for that work? is that right?

shit, I'd rather pay them like 1000 to teach me and do it myself.

yeah that a bit steep but that was 2 years ago so the price probably dropped by quite a bit

Tadashisan · #16 (**permalink**) April 13th, 2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad-ass

10~15k for that work? is that right?

shit, I'd rather pay them like 1000 to teach me and do it myself.

give a man a fish you feed him for a day, teach him to fish you feed him for a lifetime.

in any case, I love the new IS. Everytime I happen to see one on the road, and seeing as I live in Santa barbara, CA one of the most expensive areas to live in the US, i see the damn things all the time....it makes me jealous...way jealous

HondaGuy1122 · #17 (**permalink**) April 13th, 2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tadashi-san

give a man a fish you feed him for a day, teach him to fish you feed him for a lifetime.

in any case, I love the new IS. Everytime I happen to see one on the road, and seeing as I live in Santa barbara, CA one of the most expensive areas to live in the US, i see the damn things all the time....it makes me jealous...way jealous

if only i lived in california...I wonder how my life would be.