amalik1

Hi all,

Okay, before you guys go crazy on me for the title...

I'm contemplating on getting a Lexus Sedan to satisfy some need for speed, and I prefer to stay within the Toyota Brand (Call me brand loyal I guess). I have a V6 3rd gen 4Runner that I love to death (had it since 97 to present day), but the slowness is starting to kill me. Not wanting to Supercharge it or Turbo it as I'm wanting to keep it stock, and between the tranny upgrades needed and forced induction, I'm at the price of an LS or IS anyway.

I'm narrowed down to an older (99-00) LS400 or a 1st gen IS. Either purchase would be 100k miles minimum on the clock. I absolutely LOVE the IS body compared to the LS, but I don't mind the LS one if I had to get it.

For NOW, no plans for a turbo kit or 2JZ-GTE swap or R154/V160 swap or anything like that. I'm aware of all the options there (Or should I say option$$$$$ ).

Now... the LS400 has a 1UZ-FE V8 (Impressive to have a V8 on that tiny of a vehicle) engine with 290HP, and the 2JZ (non-turbo) in the IS maxes out at about 215hp according to Google... but I'm not too concerned with 'max' HP as much as practical acceleration speeds (0-60, 60-80mph).

Have any of you driven both the IS 300 and LS 400 and can give me some feedback in terms of just acceleration/highway speed? Also, I'm open to feedback concerning non-speed items alone (i.e if the LS 400 has some wicked head gasket issue I'm not aware of for example).

Thanks

Scratchy

I'd suggest test driving them yourself. The stock IS is a really slow car honestly.

I haven't driven a 1UZ LS to compare it with, but my brother has an SC430 with a 3UZ. He has an extra 600lbs and ~100hp and it feels a lot faster. I'd expect a 97+ LS400 to be similar. Probably gets roughly the same gas mileage too.

KA8

iTrader: (1)

I've driven 99 LS400 and IS300 L-tuned both new. Awesome in their own ways. I still believe 98-00 LS400 is the lightest and smoothest of all LS's. Headgaskets on LS' s are robust and you really gotta try hard to blow them. If you're going for crazy power no doubt IS but if you're looking for all around good package LS is the car.

amalik1

Can you elaborate on what you mean by crazy for power on the IS? (Since LS has a more powerful engine?) Do you mean the fact that you can GTE swap/etc?

KA8

iTrader: (1)

Exactly. If your plan is to stay stock LS is your choice. But when you get the itch to go faster down the line going turbo on the IS is no brainer.

NYKnick101

the 1UZ is not as impressive as it may seem. Sure its nice to have 290 to the crank but it has a lag that I hate. IMO I would personally choose the IS since it has much more aftermarket support if you really want a GO FAST car. WIth the LS, its really you get what you get. The LS makes a really nice VIP car tho