CornFX

Hi guys,

I'm 19 years old and thinking of buying a used IS250 or 350. what draws me to it is the look of the IS, both exterior and interior, combined with its compact size.

Anyway, I've only driven older cars before that belonged to my parents and would like to know how the IS compares with them in ride quality (i.e. road noise, and suspension softness). The cars I have driven before, and how I would rate their feeling are:

LS400 ('93) (smooth)
Camry ('90) (tolerable)
Camry ('94) (smooth)
Corolla ('94) (very harsh)
Tercel ('87) (tolerable)
Odyssey ('97) (tolerable)
Odyssey ('02) (smooth)


If any of you guys have driven these cars, or any other cars from this era, could you sort of give me a comparison on an IS feels compared to these?

I noticed that the IS has very low profile tires so that's why I am concerned. Everytime I leave my Corolla I have a headache from all the bumps and vibrations. The IS is sort of my dream car but I don't want to settle for a rough ride either like the corolla--and my corolla has 14 inch wheels with soft sidewall tires.

Keo

iTrader: (9)

I'll give you my honest opinion. I used to have a Honda Accord 98 EX. Ride quality was smooth and fair. I drove it for over 5-6 years. I just recently got my 07 Lexus iS350. The previous owner swap his shocks with Tokico HP (Blue) then I added a lowering spring. Depending on your area of location and street surface. Living in Long Beach there are some pretty rough roads. I'm bouncing on little bumps and dips and everything lol. But once I'm on smooth surface its like gliding on air. It's sad but I don't have experience on the OEM shocks. I heard it'll be much more smooth. Hopefully someone can fill you in on that. After a few weeks I gotten use to the stiff ride. Lexus is a compact luxury entry car but it's also like a sport. Accord and Camry however is a family sedan so the shocks is much more soft. As for Road Noise you won't have to worry about a thing. The car is very good at keeping it very low. If speed isn't a issue for you then get an is250 but if you want more of that Horse then get the is350 it packs more punch.

metaleckz

iTrader: (9)

Smooth....

is250916

iTrader: (1)

OEM ride is smooth

MikeFoxx

iTrader: (8)

Get the IS u'll be fine its nicer than any on the list

Sffd103

iTrader: (16)

Stock ride is smooth. Once you lower Any car the suspension ride changes. Try test driving one at a dealer somewhere so you can see for yourself.

ICU2

Does anyone feel the car feels smoother when you're a passenger? I always appreciate it when I'm a passenger but don't really notice anything when I'm a driver lol.

Mike_1GO

iTrader: (2)

its a smooth riding car for sure. my right front shock leaked and the ride is still very smooth and compliant. I had a 1990 Toyota Cressida previous to my IS350 and the ride with brand new struts was much worse (in fact, no comparision) to my IS350 with 62,000 miles on all original OEM suspension. bump absorption and NVH levels in any Lexus vehicle are far superior to that of any Honda/Acura product (I work for acura)

ISland350

Wow...19 years old and actually worried about how smooth the ride is? Now ive seen it all

darkdream

I thought the same thing. I think my S2000's stock suspension is too soft.

My is very smooth, but not as smooth as the ES.

DarkSeph

I'm pretty sure the IS250 is as smooth as any of those cars you listed. I used to drive a 2004 Honda Accord, 97 Camry, 2002 Mercedes E320, among others, and I think my IS250 drives better than all of them. But most similar to the Accord / Camry, with slightly stiffer handling and a sportier feel.

FSportIS

iTrader: (13)

Smoothness: Lexus IS250 offers you a different type of smoothness.
OEM version: smooth like butter, too soft for me.
F Sport package: It is a bit stiffer but still butter smooth.

Handling performance: Stock to stock comparison, Lexus IS250 should handle quite better than all the cars you listed. With some mods such as rear sway bar, coils etc it can be a super fun to drive car that you can autocross/track occasionally.

Luxury: A BIG jump from the rest of the cars you listed.

In summary, the Lexus IS250 is a way more fun to drive car than many of the cars you listed. Again, it will be stiffer and sportier but the handling is much more fun. Less body roll, corner sharper, acceleration smoother, brake feels better, steering feel way more accurate etc

Background: I drove a 2000 Honda Accord for many years before getting my IS250. I love the IS250 so much to the point I buy the IS350

If you look for "COMFORT ONLY", you should look for the Lexus ES and not the IS. IS is a balanced machine between comfort and performance.

bakalag

Definitely smooth. I think the non sport suspensions are even smoother (I had sport package). Honestly I put Swift springs and F Sport shocks on mine with 19's and it was planted and firm, but currently back on stock 18s and the slightly higher sidewall makes the car too smooth (spongy) for me now...

You should be fine with stock setup, would be very smooth =)
I've had plenty experience with an 02 Odyssey and I think the IS is smoother.

NYKnick101

MY IS OEM suspension is definitely a bit Firmer than the Camry, Oddsey and a few other models you have on there but I actually prefer it. When I drove a few of those cars, it felt like a boat and I did not like that. Its not to hard, not to soft, but just the right amount of stiffness to enjoy driving the car daily, as well as sporty

My Honda was definitely softer than the IS