P128sniper

I think ill pass on that lol, I'm actually looking for a Smokey granite mica and will be financing. A quick off the topic question, does the 250 have DS mode, i know u can switch to the manual mode and use the paddles or the shift **** to shift gears, but is there DS mode where it's still automatic but shifts gears at a higher rpm, sort of like the g37 has?

nosurprise

iTrader: (1)

All 2IS have the paddle shifter that limits the gear; used it a few times and it's just a gimmick. I test drove the IS250 coming from a 2000 Honda Civic Ex (this has little more HP than the Dx). The IS 250 feels slightly faster than Civic.
With all city driving, I get 22 MPG on IS350. It really depends on what city you're driving in and how you drive in the city.

Joshohoho

I'd Say it depends on what you have driven in the past and what you expect from the IS250.

MBTC

Yes. I think the first few year models of the 2nd Gen IS you had to switch modes by doing a "pedal dance" (search here in the forum for more on that), but my 2010 has a console button to toggle between power, normal and snow modes.

Individual

iTrader: (7)

The power of the IS250 is more than enough for city driving and it's speed limits. I never had issues with it until I get it on the freeway. For example,one time when entering a freeway where there are two lanes that merges into one, and then merges into the freeway, I noticed a stock civic creeping up from behind to pass me, so I stepped on it and it barely moved, and the Civic beat me into the entrance. So I got peeved and throttled it as hard as I could, and it was a bit faster than the Civic, and I eventually cut him back off and kept going on the fast lane. But at that moment, I realized that it lacked power, and deterred me from thinking I'll have any success in trying to beat anyone back.

It kind of kept me humble, as I don't speed and drive too aggressively in my IS350. But I have the utmost confidence in the IS350 if I needed the power.

The great thing is that whether it's the 250 or 350, at the end of the day, it's comfortable, great looking, and reliable.

darkdream

You should have downshifted. It was probably in too high of a gear.

Supremancy

Its like 2 MPG difference form the 250 to the 350....

I get like 19-20 city and 26+ highway in the 350. My thing is this, if you get the 250 and dont like it you will hate yourself for as long as you have the car and you will envy every 350 you see going down the road. If you get the 350 then all is good. You have plenty of power and I guarantee you wont be thinking about gas millage. GET A 350

MBTC

Maybe if you drive the 250 the way most folks that buy a 350 drive theirs. Given a non aggressive "daily driving" style you'll typically get much more than 2 mpg difference.

I average about 6-7 mpg more than that in my 250, and can sometimes get as much as 10mpg better on highway trips without the A/C running. If I ran it in power mode and goosed the gas a lot, I would not be able to achieve those numbers.

If someone drives 18000 miles a year, assuming 4 bucks a gallon for gas, averaging 20 mpg would cost about $300 per month in gas for the IS350 compared to $230 per month for the IS250.

Some folks might not care about the extra $70 a month and going through tires and brakes faster, but a 10-20% fuel efficiency difference in the engine is worth pointing out. Not everyone drives 18k miles a year, some more some less, but those who drive more are probably going to care more about the mileage. If you want a FAST car, then just accept the premium involved and get a 350.

yin1235

get 350s , 250s really no power and making rattling on dash and back seat somewhere.

dmvp29

City driving is stop light, accelerate from 0 to 20 MPH, slow down for traffic, wait in traffic, accelerate from 0 to 20, "cruise" at 40 MPH for 1 minute, stop light, accelerate from 0 to 40 (cruise at 40 for another 2 minutes), stop light.

That's what "city driving" implies. If you're getting 20 or 22 MPG in an IS350 doing what I described above then your car is magical.

If you're cruising at 40-60 MPH for long periods of time, that's not city driving. We have 3 kinds of roads here in Texas - highways/freeways, city, and then winding backroads of the hill country where it's typical to cruise at 50 or 60 MPH for long periods of time. Backroads such as this =/= city driving.

Driving in the city means driving essentially in a grid where you have stop lights at nearly every block and the average speed is 20 or 25 MPH with lots of stop and go.

MBTC

There is nothing about the 250 design that would rattle more than the 350. It seems like a certain percentage of IS owners do report a rattle, and there are more 250 owners than 350, so a rattle is more likely to get reported on the 250.

My 2010 IS250 has never had a rattle of any kind in the fourth year of ownership.

DocFreud

why are you buying an AWD when you only going to drive in the city?

i think AWDs have a bad mileage too, compared to the rwd.. am i wrong?

510to808

I just wanna know how many of y'all bought it for the power because it makes no sense, it's a lexus, luxury car, I didn't buy it cause it drives fast ? I like the smooth ride and cursing in it. If I want fast and isf or lfa is the lexus to get if not lexus isn't for you obviously

JdSwiper

iTrader: (4)

Ya know ,my budget was $30,000 for my car. I always wanted a bmw.. Found a couple 2006 M5'S for around $25,000 .. Almost made a purchase on one with the same miles as my is250.. I backed off and went with lexus because of reliability, awd for the New England winters, and gas savings .. Do i sometimes wish i had the 500 horsepower M5, sure.. But when I get 25 mpg as oppose to 12 mpg I'm
Glad I went with a lexus.. Besides, theres not to many times out here in the city that I would be able to really open up the Monster anyways!!!!! So how important is speed??? Well, I drive a 200 hp car, theres your answer!!!!!

Lex_Giorgio

Huge deciding factor!

Yeah you have 100HP more, but when are you going to use it? IF you have lots of open highway and can allow to pin it, get the IS350, otherwise an IS250 will do just fine.