F Sport package not a great value considering what you give up.
#17
Although I would've loved to have auto side mirror tilt option (parallel parking is a b*tch without it), owning the car that I love to look at alone is worth the extra $3500 or whatever for the fsport option. Since the price will be comparable anyways, just buy the one you think you can live with for the next however long you plan to keep the car for.
#18
KeyserS -- thoughtful and well written. I know you've taken some abuse from another forum -- don't let it get you down. If I wanted luxury items I'd never have bought an IS. Here's the difference for me: had a 2012 Genesis with every tech trick one could want + 385hp. A mighty fine car and a great commuter. But I never really felt an urge to drive it. Cars like that are more like appliances -- like a refrigerator. It was there when I needed it and everyone thought it was a Bentley and it was a nice car. But I never felt like I just had to go drive it.
The Fsport stirs my blood like cars used to when I was younger and I find myself looking for any old reason to go drive it.
The Fsport stirs my blood like cars used to when I was younger and I find myself looking for any old reason to go drive it.
#19
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Agree with what most others have said above... get what will make you happy!
Completely agree with the OP on the IS250... couldn't believe how underpowered it was for what you're paying (40's)... for just a few thousand more, you get a noticeable jump in power in the 350.
At the end of the day (after test driving both IS350 base and f-sport numerous times)... I choose the IS350 F-Sport because I felt I would regret not having the F-Sport package. The IS350 base just didn't do it for me... I felt that if I was going to buy the base model, that I should just buy a used 2010-2013 instead (just my personal opinion).
Lastly, I didn't buy the F-Sport because I plan to track it or actually use the F suspension... I bought it because I loved the exterior styling, the sport+ mode, the LFA gauges, the ultra white/red color combo, etc etc... essentially, I bought it because that's what I liked the most and I knew I'd have no regrets.
Completely agree with the OP on the IS250... couldn't believe how underpowered it was for what you're paying (40's)... for just a few thousand more, you get a noticeable jump in power in the 350.
At the end of the day (after test driving both IS350 base and f-sport numerous times)... I choose the IS350 F-Sport because I felt I would regret not having the F-Sport package. The IS350 base just didn't do it for me... I felt that if I was going to buy the base model, that I should just buy a used 2010-2013 instead (just my personal opinion).
Lastly, I didn't buy the F-Sport because I plan to track it or actually use the F suspension... I bought it because I loved the exterior styling, the sport+ mode, the LFA gauges, the ultra white/red color combo, etc etc... essentially, I bought it because that's what I liked the most and I knew I'd have no regrets.
#20
I totally agree with that advice and I often point out that the best way to spend the least on cars throughout your life is to buy cars that you will keep the longest. The incremental cost associated with each new purchase will easily overcome much of the differences in fuel savings or whatever else you will save by buying an economy car, if you end up trading it earlier than you have traded a more expensive car.
#21
If I wanted luxury items I'd never have bought an IS. Here's the difference for me: had a 2012 Genesis with every tech trick one could want + 385hp. A mighty fine car and a great commuter. But I never really felt an urge to drive it. Cars like that are more like appliances -- like a refrigerator. It was there when I needed it and everyone thought it was a Bentley and it was a nice car. But I never felt like I just had to go drive it.
There is no better reason to have a preference for a particular car. Ultimately it comes down only to the one question of whether it has that sort of effect on you. I just wish that it were possible to buy just the grill and the gauge and the decorative things on the exterior, but keep the fog lights and the leather interior. I absolutely have to have leather interior. And I can live with the more conventional gauge, and I can even live with the plainer grill. But honestly, if it weren't for giving up the leather and the fog lights, I would probably give some serious thought to the F Sport, because there is no question that it adds something pretty special to the car.
#23
Driver School Candidate
If it were me, I'd get the Luxury Package instead. Ergonomically, it's just harder for me to clear the bottom of the steering wheel in the manual tilt cars, even with the wheel all the way up. The power tilt and telescope cars have a much bigger range of tilt.
Also, fans on my butt.
Also, fans on my butt.
#24
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For me more than anything the deciding factor was the front seats. I've noticed the seats on f sport are low profiled and snug fit vs on the regular I felt they're way too conventional which for me takes away the fun of driving. I didn't even know that f sport had that fancy lfa gauge until I picked up my car which was a pretty nice surprise.
#25
i dont understand why people have to justify not getting the F-Sport package.... thats why there is choice of two - if you dont like F-Sport, you get regular.
Me - i cant imagine getting anything but the F-Sport.I value having cool LCD screen in front of me, as well as looks and AVS a lot more than I value anything else I lose because of it.
Me - i cant imagine getting anything but the F-Sport.I value having cool LCD screen in front of me, as well as looks and AVS a lot more than I value anything else I lose because of it.
#26
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I can't stand the boy racer look of the F-"Sport" package to be honest!
I agree 100% that the best value is on the IS350 with Luxury package with ML sound system for 46K
I agree 100% that the best value is on the IS350 with Luxury package with ML sound system for 46K
#27
You know, you could always get the non-Fsport with all the luxury features you want, then complete a front bumper conversion and put on the FSport bumper. A person in the GS forum did just that. He wanted the luxury features of the non-Fsport. His car turned out awesome and he has the best of both worlds. Might not be the cheapest way to go, but you'll get your cake and can eat it too.
#29
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#30
Also seems like many people here are fixated on performance. Not all buyers of the IS250 care about performance let alone that hideous Fsport grill which is totally subjective.