IamNate

Hey guys a while back I brought up about upgrading to a 2012 IS350 from my 2011 IS250. Today is decision day and I need some help with making my decision. This is basically it, I bought the 250 July 2011, to upgrade to the 350 it will be a lease for 120.00 more a month (including insurance). I will have to bring in 2k down for the 350. Is it worth it? I was planning on lowering my current 250, add nav and put wheels/tires on but the cost of all that will surpass the cost of upgrading to a 350. Would you do it? Should I do it? Performance over looks? Only downfall of the 2012 IS350 is it is SFP, which my current 250 is SGM. So that is it in a handbag, any opinions will help, please let me know the what you think.

iRock

iTrader: (12)

I did it. I would do it again. I don't mod my car through so that wasn't a factor

Sango

iTrader: (10)

If you don't have any existing debts, there would not be much a problem. Have you considered just buying it?

IamNate

I have considered it, but I don't want the payment to increase another 125 or so a month. The main thing is payment a month. So that is why I am considering leasing, one other thing I forgot to mention, I put 5k down on my 250, so I would be losing out on that money because trade in on my 250 is what I owe on it (just breaking even). So all in all, I would be putting 7k down on a leased car, does that sound worth it? I got the dealer to sell me the 350 for 3k below invoice (cause of incentives and crap). I was only planning on keeping my 250 for a total of 3 years, and if I lease for 3 years, including the 1 year I have with my 250 will be about the time I get into something else.

IamNate

I do not mod my car that much, just intake and tint. I do think a white IS looks sweet with black rims, though the 350 has the same silver rims my 250 has, so that might be something I would get, but other than that I wouldn't need to get exhaust and nav. This decision is too tough to call just off the bat lol.

Rikg35

350>250

The gas milage isn't that much of a difference. Id want 100hp if I ever needed it.. It would be there.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

If you really want it then get it. Otherwise be happy with the 250 and spend your money on something else

Sango

iTrader: (10)

Rikg35,

Depends on how on driving routes. I already know for me, the mileage over time per tank it will show to where at every certain X refills, the 350 had filled one extra tank than the 250 for the same distance travelled.

On the side, I test drove 350 recently, and I can say the vehicle is definately impressive as I felt the pick up power and surge. Would I want it, sure for a lesiure car but since I'm using as a daily driver, it would be no. Once a while I think behind my head of getting a Camry 2012 hybrid as use that as a daily driver and think of getting a 350 for lesiure in the later future.

kinglexus99

That sounds like a lot of money wasted on cars you're going to lease. You would be better off increasing your monthly payment and putting the new down payment towards something you can finance and keep IMO.

IamNate

Yea that is what my fiance is trying to get me to realize. She is not a supporter of getting a new car considering mine is still new. If I end up leasing the 350 I would purchase after the lease is up, the problem is, wasted money which she is going crazy about. My obsession in cars is not helping the situation lol.

es808

iTrader: (32)

Financially, sounds like you should stick with your 250.

In the end, I would pay more to purchase a car. I don't see the advantage of leasing unless you own a business and can write it off. Even if you keep your car for 5 years then sell it, you still have something to sell if you purchase it. At the end of the lease, you have nothing to show other than your empty wallet. You can purchase it after the lease, but they still want a lot of money.

Sango

iTrader: (10)

I would listen to your boss (fiance). She is actually right.

Don't lease.... Actually buying would be the ideal method because you will lose out on the lease.

My0gr81

you gave 5K down for the 250, that brings the residual down quite a bit, and lowers the monthly. Carefully examine the lease papers for the 350, considering the 3K discount, in order to bring the payments to be so close, they had to have increased the residual. Buying back the 350 would then be a bad idea, where as keeping the 250 and buying it back at the end of term would be a good idea, even if to buy back and resell privately to recoup some of the 5K.

smokyis350

iTrader: (21)

It depends if you want the 100 HP. 0-60 in 4.8 seconds stock or 0-60 in 4.5 slightly modded or IS250 that runs 0-60 in 7.5 seconds.

ZeroSeVen

iTrader: (1)

I know it's very tempting to go for the much powerful IS350 but your car is still brand new. Wouldn't make more sense if you at least hold off for another year until the new IS comes out.

Do whatever you please as long as you thoroughly reviewed your finances.