I really liked the IS300 when it first came out, but it was only automatic. Then I drove the 5-speed when it came out. Nice car, but not quite what I wanted. I also heard about Lexus possibly dropping the V8 in it, and decided to wait for that. I didn't really consider it when I was car shopping last spring because I would never buy a car that is up for a complete redesign within a couple of years (1-2), and by that time it was underpowered compared to what else I could get for 30K.

As the previous owner of a GS I really appreciate the customer service and general service you receive from Lexus. The dealership actually built a service center down the road from the dealership itself. It has -get this- a beautiful waiting area with electronic golf (huge screen, real clubs and *****, real courses), and as many free sandwiches and drinks as you can consume.

Oh yeah, ON TOPIC. First, the cars were built for different purposes, luxury/sport vs. sport/luxury. Second, who gives a **** what other people think about your car? I hate it when people say that the sti and evo are souped up econoboxes and that a neon srt is still a neon as much as when others say the rotary eats oil and will blow up around 5,000 miles. Then again, I like conversations with knowledgeable people who can speak and type in cohesive sentences as well.

Maybe I set my standards too high. *Sigh* I weep for the future.

 

dmp... What makes you think that I give " a Rat's ***" about what you think or your opinion...

I don't!!!!

Thought I would share with the members that do. If you don't save your breath bro!

 

I notice that your posts are usually in poor taste or designed to show what an *** you are. You dogged the IS300 on their forum? Wtf did you think they would say?

You're either a troll or the biggest self-righteous ******* ever. Say hello to the ignore list.

 

1st - I didn't use 'breath'...I'm typing.

2nd - I'm trying to teach you something here...I'm trying to get ppl to stop stressing out over what 'other people' think of their cars...it shows insecurity.

 

Man, there's a whole lotta bickering going on in the forum today. Between this thread and the SRT-4 thread, I'm getting quite dizzy...

 

Uhoh, looks like someone's got a case of the Mondays

 

Those differences are marketing more than anything else. They're within statistical range to come out of the same test batch. Just grab an engine out of the bin. 220 when it's in a GS and 215 when it's in the IS. The more expensive car gets the more powerful engine.

If we have learned anything as RX owners, the marketing department has final say over what goes into the brochures.

 

My Lexus dealer always gives me an IS300 when I'm in for service on my wife's car (way too often by the way). It is a very nice car, but totally different in EVERY way from the 8.

Let me summarize this all by telling you my 83 year old father-in-law's comments about the 8 and the IS:

The 8: It's too fast and it turns too sharp. It's too low. (it's hard for him to get in and out and he's bothered by the SUV and 18 wheeler tires being as tall as the roof)

The IS: You should have bought one of these.

Enough said.

 

Hmmmmm... I'm gonna tell my dad to get an IS when he takes his car in for service. I want to try driving one. But hmmmm... he doesn't know how to drive stick so I guess it'd be an automatic.

He's never had problems with his car. His old ES300 (which is now my older brother's) has had problems, but none of them materialized until years after he gave it to my older brother so I dunno if it's because it just wore down or if it was cuz my bro didn't take care of it. I'm guessing it's more the latter though.

I would've seriously considered the IS if it were 5K cheaper than what it was. I love Lexus and all but the IS seems overpriced.

 

I love my Rx8 but I also enjoy my IS 300 Sportcross. Notice i said that I enjoy them both since you cannot compare the three. I have two IS 300's. One has the six speed and the Sportcross is the automatic version. Great cars but not in the same league as the RX. Only and idiot would even consider a comparison. Different cars that are designed for a different type of driving.

Compare the IS to a BMW 325i or the Acura. That's the type of car it is.

The RX is one car length faster to 60 and then slowly walks away from the six speed IS. The RX feels much faster and that my friends is what really matters.

The IS on a tight road circuit would not stand a chance against the RX. Not even close. I really thought the IS was a tight handling car until I got the RX about a year ago. My RX feels like my sportbike. Revs and handling.

Ron

 

Outta curiousity, what made you buy TWO IS's? I can't imagine wanting two. Seems kind of strange to have 2 of any car unless your spouse wants the same car and you or she aren't into sharing.

It's kinda funny since I like the random stuff in cars. For the IS I wanted one because of the chronograph style dash. For the RX8 it was the suicide doors that just got me.

 

LOL I was just thinking that sure seem to be a lot of these RX8 vs <Insert car here> threads croping up today.

Trolls out on day pass? :D

 

Its funny how alot of car guys cant stand it when some other car gets the praise instead of theirs. The Lexus IS300 and Mazda RX8 are two completely different automobiles, why is anyone arguing here? We're not even comparing cars in the same class. The Lexus is more of a sporty luxury car while the RX8 is a luxurious sports car. Both have their pro's and con's but it seems like no one else can deal with it except us RX8 guys. Weird.

 

Yeah, no kidding! They're inevitable, I know, and I don't complain b/c I like to learn about other cars aside from the 8 but man, Rhawb was right--some people had a bad case of the Mondays :p

BTW, Batt, what do those series of numbers mean under your name?

 

I read through a lot of that topic and I don't know if those guys noticed they contradicted themselves and were poorly informed. Here's my disclaimer *I have absolutely nothing against the IS300 and I actually like the car*! I saw people there claim they weren't holding the IS as a status symbol yet I saw people say they would never downgrade to a Mazda (or Ford from the really angry ones). Add the 3 doors, the poor engine reliability (of course none of them know of the N/A RX-7 they seem to only have heard of the woes of the poorly tuned or maintained FDs), can't forget it outhandles the 8. Some of those guys need to take their egos out of their car. Sure I love my RX-8, my RX-7, and my Evo but I will never insult someones choice to enjoy another car. If someone trades their 8 for a 350Z and they give their take and really like the Z that much more I'd just wish them the best with their new car or say nothing! As one sane voice interjected over there "Some people were acting like Lexus/Toyota was paying them to defend the car"! People need to get over it because when we die these cars will not be in the ground with us!

 

I thought I would never see this. Taken right from there forum..........''I do have an intake and exhaust, but that doesn't mean much''. Gosh I wish every rice burner would read this

 

Mines going with me!!

 

Pretty funny how people get mad because you mention a different car than theirs ...

I personally will test drive the next generation IS because I think Lexus builds great cars and if it convinces me, we'll see what happens. There are many great cars, RX-8 is one of them and the IS is another.

All this "my car is can better than your car" is as childish as it can get, with one exception, the typical whole 0,1 better at 0-60 time than another car debate is even worse and usually utterly incompetent concerning normal person low level street performance driving. I don't know about others, but I use the car everyday, 36.000 km so far and never have encountered a situation where more acceleration would have been necessary.

The one and only question is if I enjoy a ride for whatever reason and I imagine I could enjoy several cars in different fashions. IS included.

 

The IS and the 8 really are two completely different cars. I do really like the IS300, in fact, it was my second choice after the 8, but I got the 8 because I figure I'm still young and don't need a sedan yet, and can get away with owning a sports car.

 

A few months back we had this crazy thread where everyone was talking back and forth in binary, then just to stir things up we started talking in hex and I changed my little tag there to hex too.

so from this "umm is this thing on?"

you got this "75 6D 6D 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6E 67 20 6F 6E 3F"

but you can't fit the whole thing in so it actually converts to this "umm is t" :D