pheonix72

iTrader: (6)

The IS has very nice and comfortable back seats. The issue is Legroom. Epecially for taller folks and it will affect the front occupants.

MRHansen11

Being that the IS350 is auto, I can move my seat up if need be. A bit tougher to do with manual

There are two sport models I am looking at now(both 08's) that seem reasonably priced. Once is a nice 3.5-4 hr drive, so getting there to test drive it is a bit tough. However, Im assuming, it probably handles slightly better(if it does) and is just .4" lower. Its not like it has a different ECU and drives completely different(atleast not that I have seen )

IS-SV

^ Best of luck w/search.

MRHansen11

Thanks! Now to get my car sold

andper10

There will be the same amount of labor time/cost associated with changing the springs whether you keep the shocks or get new ones, actually more than if you installed coilovers...something to keep in mind. If you get a car in the 80k+ mile range I would recommend replacing the shocks at the same time as doing lowering springs to prevent having to redo the same labor within a few years when the shocks go.

Your cheapest option suspension-wise would be a very low mileage sport package car if you can find one and like the current ride height, or a car that already has had the shocks changed if you can live with the ride height (put the VINs of your prospective cars in on the Lexus website to check service records).

When I got my IS350 used with around 110k miles, 2/4 original shocks were leaking and the ride quality was not good as a result. I paid $400 to get the existing springs installed on new F-Sport shocks. Probably would have been worth it to get coilovers, but there wasn't much reliability data available for the ones I looked at and rebuilding them every 25k as some people reported would have gotten expensive very quickly.

I am also not a fan of the wood grain so I did the 3M 1080 Carbon Fiber look vinyl wrap (there are threads about it on here). I took all of the trim out of the car and spent many hours on it but there are certain areas that didn't turn out as well as I hoped, like the corners of the cupholders and retractable cupholder top. In my experience, those curves are too tight for it to come out flat and stay that way (either the vinyl will rip when you heat it up and stretch it, or the adhesive won't be strong enough when the car gets hot causing it to curl up and then rip when you attempt to flatten it back out. But passengers don't notice these little things and are impressed with the look. Hydro dipping will look better than vinyl wrap, but cost more.

Oh, and the heated/cooled seats are worth it if you live in a cold/hot climate!

IS-SV

Any luck getting it sold yet?

MRHansen11

It's not sold yet, however I do have a potential buyer at 5k. Which I would be ok with.

Second plan is... Keep tsx and get another s2000.

Hmm

IS-SV

Mmm, interesting. Having more than one car is my preference.

MRHansen11

Agreed would be great.

Now the IS F has entered the equation so, if that happens no two cars.

Would still have my wifes car and the pickup, so I guess I would but

andper10

IMO, the ISF isn't worth the additional price over the IS350 as a daily driver, especially considering the gas mileage hit you take. It isn't that much faster than the IS350 until you get above 100mph. But the ISF would make a better track car and it might depreciate less.

2008 Lexus IS-F 0-60 mph 4.2 | Quarter mile 12.6
2007 Lexus IS 350 0-60 mph 4.8 | Quarter mile 13.3
http://www.zeroto60times.com/vehicle...-60-mph-times/

MRHansen11

Thanks for the input!

Locally there are no ISF's around, but I have a buddy who works at Lexus and they just had an 08 come in with 53k miles for 21k. May go take a look.