SW17LS

Made it by my dealer today and got a chance to test drive both the 250 Luxury and the 250 F Sport. MSRPs were $46,500 and $47,500 respectively, both white. The F Sport had the black NuLuxe interior and the Luxury had the bone colored NuLuxe interior.

Overall I was very impressed. The car rode quite well, handling was very nimble and light, steering was well weighted. LOVE the LFA gauges which I was kind of on the fence about, loved the supportive sport seats in the F Sport.

I was surprised by how peppy the 250 was actually, I look forward to driving a 350.

Now to the big one:

Interior Quality

When comparing the IS to say, my 4GS its clear that the IS is a less expensive, entry level car. There are some cheap feeling plastics in the interior, most notably the lower door panels and lower dash (below the glove box). However, I did not feel these materials felt low rent or out of place in the car like I do about the 6ES. All the places where you touch, the steering wheel, console materials, the upper dash, the upper door panels, door pulls, around the window switches, switchgear, etc are all very nice quality. Thats my issue with the 6ES, the encroachment of hard plastic to areas like the door handle surrounds, upper dash areas, window switches.

I thought the steering wheel felt very high quality, buttons were solid, plastic around them high quality. Nice thick leather wheel.

Overall I feel this interior exceeds the 2IS interior when it comes to style, and meets or exceeds it when it comes to materials.

The new displays are also excellent. The new generation nav with birds eye view was excellent despite the smaller screen, resolution was as good or better than that in my 4GS. HVAC controls are neat, and feel high quality.

My salesman drove a little too (He had only driven the 3IS once) and I did find the cupholders obtrusive to passenger comfort.

Rear seat room is an improvement from the 2IS, but is still tight.

Very pleased with the car, it wouldn't be a daily driver for me, its too small but it would be a fun car to have in the family. It would be the F Sport without question...

kabgolf1

If you think the 250 is peppy then you will think the 350 is a rocket. I have a 2IS 350 and often get a 250 as a service loaner and feel like I am in a turtle in comparison because I am used to the extra HP.

SW17LS

For whatever reason I felt this 3IS 250 felt peppier than the 2IS 250 loaners I've had before...

kabgolf1

Mabe the new 350 will have the same peppier feel.

corradoMR2

3IS is 60 lbs or so lighter and I believe I read somewhere some very minor tweaks to the engine and tranny were done which could explain the pepper feel. Maybe the fluids among other things...

SW3GS, thanks for the review. How was the 250 F Sport ride comfort and handling compared to the regular 250. How would you compare the 250 F Sport to your 4GS, a CT or RX F Sport if you've driven these?

SW17LS

No problem. I thought the F Sport gave up very little in the ride department compared to the regular car, and it gained a lot in both interior and exterior style and handling. Where the F Sport GS didn't appeal to me, I would definitely get the F Sport in the IS.

The GS definitely rides better, and has a more solid, vault like "Lexus feel", feels like a larger car, for instance you look down the hood of the GS and you can see the fender flanks and all when driving, where you don't in the IS, but the IS is definitely nimbler. I have not driven an RX F Sport, but the IS rides worlds better than the CT which I have driven.