RAH808

Have any of you guys driven both a GS and an IS?

I want to make sure I'm thinking about this the right way.

I can have the IS and:
- an extra 8-10k in the bank
- more fun to drive car (corners better, slightly quicker, etc)

Or I can have the GS and:
- More comfortable experience for all, especially back seat adults

My question comes down to this: How much more fun to drive is the IS than the GS?

If both are equally fun, I'm very tempted to spring for the GS.

FWIW - I'm 45, married, a 17 year old and a 10 year old, and feel like the GS is more what a grown man should drive. Then again 99% of my driving is without back seat passengers - we have my wife's MDX for family outings.

Thank you for your thoughts!

EZZ

Your 17 and 10 year old won't be happy back there. It's a little tight. I love love love the smallness of the car though. I fit through traffic easily and it feels super nimble. GS handles very well for a bigger car though. Only way to know is to take a test drive and bring the kids to see how they fit.

tea

GS. no doubt

ra123

I was debating the two myself for the last 7 months. I am in a similar situation as yourself except I have younger kids. The GS is slightly heavier and a large sedan. I test drove both. I liked the IS350 because it seemed more nimble and fun to drive. If you're not going to have passengers 99% of the time like me, go with the IS and save the money for something else. I compared it to a bmw 435i and ended up buying it because it was only a fraction of a second slower but a lot cheaper and more reliable.

M1AH3A7

IS350 without a doubt. I was at the same crossroads and you can really feel the extra weight on the GS which makes it a whole lot less fun to drive. It feels numb and much more slower than the IS

steveo55

Go for the GS. I have the IS350 its great car. My friend just got a GS350 Fsport and i drove it. I fell in love same power but more room. Seats are comfy. The nav screen is huge. More grown up car. Im 30 im ready for bigger vehicle. I want to go for the GSF. Im paying a lot for wifes RX soon as im done paying both cars ill get the GSF i figure the payment will be about what im paying for both cars which im used to.

MWIS350

I like both car and they have same power and engine. GS is little more heavier.

Kushp14

GS, or your 17yr will always be driving the IS!

Glashub

Every time I see a GS I have to stop and look because it can look like a Toyota or Hyundai or other large similar cars from different angles. The IS looks like nothing else on the road. I still love looking at it and often see design nuances in the sun that I missed. My .02

dojoman

iTrader: (5)

Go IS for the look. GS for refinement and options that you cannot get with IS F-sport. GS F-sport has parking sensors, memory seats and rain sensor wiper.

FSportDRM

iTrader: (2)

The new GS front end looks great just like the IS. To be honest the interior of the GS is also more luxurious. Your kids willl have plenty of room in the back seat of the GS

Lex2133

"99% of my driving is without back seat passengers - we have my wife's MDX for family outings"

..... Get the IS,and a GS. And get rid of the MDX

gregerst

I read somewhere that the average age of an IS buyer is 41 and I'm right in there. I haven't driven the GS but both are nice looking sporty cars especially with the F package. I don't think you could go wrong with either one. But I personally would only get the GS if the extra room was needed. In my case it isn't but if you're having doubts whether the IS is for you then go for the GS and you won't have regrets later on.

RAH808

So much good advice - I agree with it all! Confirms to me that I'm on the right track thinking about this. When my local dealer get the 2016 GSs in, I'll have to test drive both.

Thank you!

JDR76

I have an IS but will likely be trading it out for a GS in the near future. The handling is nearly identical. The GS is only about .2 second slower to 60 but has way more features and a larger interior. I prefer the IS exterior, though.

I will say though, that I've had 4 adults on a road trip in my IS and everyone commented that it was quite comfortable. The IS does have the split folding rear seats, if that helps in your decision. They don't fold in the GS.