saleem

What a ****ing car . Im just mesmerized by the preciseness and smooth factor of this car. I think its quite possibly one of the finest four doors I have ever driven in my life. The first thing I noticed as soon as I opened the door to the moment I heard the deep tone of the exhaust is the refinement. The five speed transmission on this car has to be the smoothest I have felt, clutch is just unbelievably at ease, the fact that my driving feel was almost telepathic just blew me away from the first time I stepped on the gas dropping it in third gear ripping through traffic in between lanes, words cant describe the feeling. Now I know why the used IS300 market is so exclusive and holds its value so well . Horsepower shmorsepower factor doesnt bother me at all, my assumptions were just wiped clean the moment I took this car out. I think my next car will be a new IS250 or the IS300 manual ofcourse . I cant believe people buy these cars in automatics.

redGSRguy

I don't know about the manual ones, but in my sister's automatic I don't really hear much of an exhaust.

flipside909

Hehe don't knock automatics. The reason why I bought a new 2004 IS300 in E-shift (Auto) was because of my commuting and stick in SoCal traffic is not fun. Needless to say I have 76,000 miles on my 27 month old IS300. I don't regret not buying a manual tranny because I love the car regardless of the transmission it has. Just a point of reference, I came from a rare 1999 Toyota Solara SE V6 w/a 5spd Manual Tranny and now 96k miles.

MSMLexIS

I like my auto too but i would like a manual especially since the suspension has stiffer springs.

GeIS300

Hey there folks.
My first post here and wanted to chime in on the IS300 5 sp.
I've been a lurker, so to speak and have been learning a bunch about these wonderful cars.

1st about the transmission, IMO it's pretty smooth, but not on par with the Acura / Honda 5 or 6 speeds.. having just switched over from an '95 Integra. The 1st -> 2nd gear shifts on cold days can be notchy and on manuals, there is a well documented "thunking" when shifting in the lower gears.

2nd about the handling, I think that it is a perfect balance between performance and civility. Mid corner bumps are swallowed up, turn in is crisp and it seems like the faster you drive, the more settled it becomes, rather than squirrley like my Integra.

Last, I love the inline 6 layout! Smooth running, flat torque curve, and a beautiful snarly top end... quite a bit different than the V6 engines in idling and top end characteristics.

I think the consumer world is finally learning to appreciate all the things that this car can do... I'm considering ditching the wife's SUV for the Sportscross wagon (probably the best "if I could have only one car" car).

Cheers and I love this forum!

GeIS300

Jason5150

I just got an 03 IS 300. And I love it in the manual . It took a while to find one . Only thing is I hear a noise from the rear of the car when I first shift from first to second .I have been told it is my uv joint . Has anybody had this problem?

evan s.

Although I dont own an IS300 *YET* I have had the pleasure of driving both, and I have to say that the e-shift IS fun but I just can't see myself being happy with an automatic car.