1st Gen Lexus IS vs. 2001+ Audi TT or A4 opinions please!!!
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pa
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1st Gen Lexus IS vs. 2001+ Audi TT or A4 opinions please!!!
Im helping my girlfriend to look for a new car, well me having the experience with lexus i suggested the Gs 300 to her. She claims the car is to big for her, matter fact she calls it a "big 'ol boat" so i turned her on to the 1st Gen Lexus IS. At first she liked the car, but i guess after looking at it over and over again she thinks it looks like a Civic (yeah i almost fainted too). A few days pass and she shows me pics of an 2001 Audi A4, me personally i never really paid attention to the audi since the new gens came out (the 07+ models). I told her i really don't like the look of the interior nor exterior, kinda reminds me of the VW Jetta. So the next day she introduce me to the 2003 Audi TT 1.8 when i saw that car i was like "man how im going to fit my big *** in that little car". So she is all in ups over this little car and im trying to convince her that the IS is a better choice. I've notice some of the lexus members of audi's in their lil arrangement of cars, and im just curious how this car is on reliability and maintenance on the Audi's. If someone ever drove the TT or A4 how does the overall performance compare to the 1st Gen Lexus IS, any input would help in either or category. thanks once again
#2
Bring her to an Audi dealer and into the service department and request some price quotes for maintenance, service and repairs. They should sway her to the Lexus side. Audi have the prepaid service but useless IMO. Are you asking about the 1.8L? They reliable but its their electronics that you should be more concerned about. But I say, she should get whatever she likes. If you girlfriend gets a car she doesn't like you won't be happy, personal experience lol.
#3
Intermediate
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
my friend has the 2001 a4...honestly? it drives exactly like the vw jetta. the interior finish is just a little bit better...and by a little i dont mean a lot. but shes probably more into the looks...then the audi wins...but i agree with Tangerine. she should get what she wants...the TT is way too small for my tastes. i drove my neighbor's around once and everytime i went in and out of the car i would smack my head against the top...if she had to choose between the audi's...i would get the a4. out of all the cars...id get the lex. btw...pics of your girl? might help me help you better hahaha
#4
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pa
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks tangerine and supra man i appericate the opinions, i heard alot of eletronically problems from benz and some from BMW so i asssume audi would be right around that area as well. we had a nice lil talk i told her (like you guys said) get what u like because you the one thats gotta drive it every day. i mention the IS because it's realiable and maybe a little cheaper to repair if needed. for my girlfiend she is a little girl, 5'2 100 something pounds soaking wet so the TT she can fit into no problem. lol and nice try supra ma, she already got a thing for fast cars, if she found out u have a supra i think we gonna have some problems . for the 1.8L im not sure which one that is, only ones she mention to me was the TT and the A4.
#5
Lexus Test Driver
My question is will the car be heavily modded or not? If say just to have a stock car, maybe with some bolt on's and rims, and relability, and cost of parts is the big concern go with the IS300. If heavy mods are involved, and peformence is the ultimate goal, go with the A4, the 1.8 is turbocharged already, and there are many audi tuners that can pump the A4 very easily, a chip upgrade gives 60hp! Just be aware of the cost and maintence to run a european car. One last thing, I love my IS300 interior, but even the automotive press agrees, Audi makes some of the best interiors.
#6
thanks tangerine and supra man i appericate the opinions, i heard alot of eletronically problems from benz and some from BMW so i asssume audi would be right around that area as well. we had a nice lil talk i told her (like you guys said) get what u like because you the one thats gotta drive it every day. i mention the IS because it's realiable and maybe a little cheaper to repair if needed. for my girlfiend she is a little girl, 5'2 100 something pounds soaking wet so the TT she can fit into no problem. lol and nice try supra ma, she already got a thing for fast cars, if she found out u have a supra i think we gonna have some problems . for the 1.8L im not sure which one that is, only ones she mention to me was the TT and the A4.
Your welcome, German cars are often overengineered. 1.8T is the 4 cylinder turbo version, they also have a 2.8L V6.
I don't have a Supra or anything fast, just a Camry. Something to think about *hint hint
As mentioned a simple chip for the 1.8T will net you good gains. But afterwards the performance parts will cost more than the Lexus'.
Good luck.
#7
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pa
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Your welcome, German cars are often overengineered. 1.8T is the 4 cylinder turbo version, they also have a 2.8L V6.
I don't have a Supra or anything fast, just a Camry. Something to think about *hint hint
As mentioned a simple chip for the 1.8T will net you good gains. But afterwards the performance parts will cost more than the Lexus'.
Good luck.
o to answer 2002 GGPIS3 i doubt she would modd the car like how you or I would, only thing she might do is rims and tint. i guess once she get use to that type of power i might look into that chip that y'all mention and also do simple upgrade to the stock turbo.
Trending Topics
#8
Yea the Camry does it job as my daily driver's daily driver =)
The 3.0L went into the B6 chassis A4 (which replaced the 2.6) while the 1.8 and the 2.6 were for the B5 (generation you are talking about). Stock wise the 2.6 has more power than the 1.8, but when you modify it the 1.8 has more potential. Both engines are solid but I would say the V6 is a bit more reliable because it is NA.
You can think of the TT as an A4 coupe, make sure it comes with a rear lip cause the previous generations that doesn't have one had issues. But you would have to be going real fast for it to take into effect, not that important.
The A4 has a FWD and AWD choice while the IS300 is only RWD, if snow and bad roads are a concern where you live those drivetrains should be considered.
Oh and the K04 (from the RS4) can be swapped for more power in the 1.8.
We're here to help, I dunno about the other members but I'm a car enthusiast that likes all kinds of cars.
Good luck with the car shopping
The 3.0L went into the B6 chassis A4 (which replaced the 2.6) while the 1.8 and the 2.6 were for the B5 (generation you are talking about). Stock wise the 2.6 has more power than the 1.8, but when you modify it the 1.8 has more potential. Both engines are solid but I would say the V6 is a bit more reliable because it is NA.
You can think of the TT as an A4 coupe, make sure it comes with a rear lip cause the previous generations that doesn't have one had issues. But you would have to be going real fast for it to take into effect, not that important.
The A4 has a FWD and AWD choice while the IS300 is only RWD, if snow and bad roads are a concern where you live those drivetrains should be considered.
Oh and the K04 (from the RS4) can be swapped for more power in the 1.8.
We're here to help, I dunno about the other members but I'm a car enthusiast that likes all kinds of cars.
Good luck with the car shopping
#9
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (1)
when i totalled my previous lexus in july, i was between the s4, a6, gs300, and the is300. i know several shop owners in my area and asked them their thoughts. over engineered or now the audi sedans were always in the shop, where as the lexus/toyotas were only needing to come in for general maintenance. a buddy of mine bought the exact car i wanted a black on black 2003 a6....and was kicking himself for buying it when gas prices were so high. im sure you guys will make the right decision. and definately make it her decision. and take your time, there are pleanty of all these models out there.
#10
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pa
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks tangerine and 3rdelement i appericate the info, well i myself is into japanese make. i had a buddy who oned and earlier BMW 318 i believe the hatchback im not sure about the numbers but it wasd hatchback. She had all kinds of problems with that car and later traded it in for a VW Jetta. All i ever owned was Honda accords, till i picked up my GS. with each honda i never had serious problems all i did the regular maintance on it. never been a fan of german cars... wait a minute im lying. all of the german cars that i like i couldn't afford at the time, like the M3, M5, 645, 745, S65AMG etc. lol. well for her i hate to say but she still stuck on the Audi, im going to try to get her to test drive the all of the cars so she can base her decision off of that. Right now she is going on looks (interior/exterior) but we all kno once you sit in that car and pull off the lot bout time you come back to the lot your mind can quickly change. Hopefully after she takes a ride in the IS, Audi TT, and A4 she might say "hmmm, the Civic look is not that bad after all" lol *thats what she think of the IS, a Civic look-a-like*
#11
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (1)
Its still interesting to me how many questions i get on my car. People just dont believe that its a lexus. Once i convince them of that fact they always ask me how much work ive done to it. Most people cant believe the color, the guages, and the stance of the car is stock. I love that!
good luck though on the car shopping. Hey it could be worse.....
FORD FESTIVA FTW!
good luck though on the car shopping. Hey it could be worse.....
FORD FESTIVA FTW!
#12
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pa
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Its still interesting to me how many questions i get on my car. People just dont believe that its a lexus. Once i convince them of that fact they always ask me how much work ive done to it. Most people cant believe the color, the guages, and the stance of the car is stock. I love that!
good luck though on the car shopping. Hey it could be worse.....
FORD FESTIVA FTW!
good luck though on the car shopping. Hey it could be worse.....
FORD FESTIVA FTW!
#13
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: california
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i agree on that
Bring her to an Audi dealer and into the service department and request some price quotes for maintenance, service and repairs. They should sway her to the Lexus side. Audi have the prepaid service but useless IMO. Are you asking about the 1.8L? They reliable but its their electronics that you should be more concerned about. But I say, she should get whatever she likes. If you girlfriend gets a car she doesn't like you won't be happy, personal experience lol.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post