Handling difference between IS 350 and F Sport
#1
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Handling difference between IS 350 and F Sport
I placed a deposit on a 2014 IS 350 this evening after a lengthy test drive. Financially, we stretched pretty far to get this car. It may take a few days before I take delivery since the dealer is trying to get the color combination we want. This will be my wife's car--she's not into performance, so she's satisfied living without the F-Sport, so we can save $$.
I've not driven the F-Sport--there seems little reason to since she won't budge. OTOH, I hate to think exactly what I'm sacrificing by going with the base model, but I'd like to know even at the risk of losing peace of mind. She's okay with popping for the 18" staggered wheel/tire combo with summer rubber, so that helps somewhat.
So, is there a night/day difference between the cars?
TIA
I've not driven the F-Sport--there seems little reason to since she won't budge. OTOH, I hate to think exactly what I'm sacrificing by going with the base model, but I'd like to know even at the risk of losing peace of mind. She's okay with popping for the 18" staggered wheel/tire combo with summer rubber, so that helps somewhat.
So, is there a night/day difference between the cars?
TIA
#2
I placed a deposit on a 2014 IS 350 this evening after a lengthy test drive. Financially, we stretched pretty far to get this car. It may take a few days before I take delivery since the dealer is trying to get the color combination we want. This will be my wife's car--she's not into performance, so she's satisfied living without the F-Sport, so we can save $$.
I've not driven the F-Sport--there seems little reason to since she won't budge. OTOH, I hate to think exactly what I'm sacrificing by going with the base model, but I'd like to know even at the risk of losing peace of mind. She's okay with popping for the 18" staggered wheel/tire combo with summer rubber, so that helps somewhat.
So, is there a night/day difference between the cars?
TIA
I've not driven the F-Sport--there seems little reason to since she won't budge. OTOH, I hate to think exactly what I'm sacrificing by going with the base model, but I'd like to know even at the risk of losing peace of mind. She's okay with popping for the 18" staggered wheel/tire combo with summer rubber, so that helps somewhat.
So, is there a night/day difference between the cars?
TIA
Not sure if you know but F Sport doesn't have a lot of the luxury features like memory feature, tilting side mirrors on reverse, cooled seats ect...
#3
I placed a deposit on a 2014 IS 350 this evening after a lengthy test drive. Financially, we stretched pretty far to get this car. It may take a few days before I take delivery since the dealer is trying to get the color combination we want. This will be my wife's car--she's not into performance, so she's satisfied living without the F-Sport, so we can save $$.
I've not driven the F-Sport--there seems little reason to since she won't budge. OTOH, I hate to think exactly what I'm sacrificing by going with the base model, but I'd like to know even at the risk of losing peace of mind. She's okay with popping for the 18" staggered wheel/tire combo with summer rubber, so that helps somewhat.
So, is there a night/day difference between the cars?
TIA
I've not driven the F-Sport--there seems little reason to since she won't budge. OTOH, I hate to think exactly what I'm sacrificing by going with the base model, but I'd like to know even at the risk of losing peace of mind. She's okay with popping for the 18" staggered wheel/tire combo with summer rubber, so that helps somewhat.
So, is there a night/day difference between the cars?
TIA
I have a 350 F Sport on order for myself. I took my wife on a test drive with me. Like your wife, mine does not care much about driving dynamics. Her reaction after the test drive: "It's more comfortable than your old BMW 3 series, but not as nice a ride as our RX 300 (1999 with 200,000 miles on it)."
So different strokes for different folks. The 3IS is a wonderful car regarless of trim selected. As SonyHome noted, she will probably enjoy the "luxury" options in her car more than the performance enhancements found in the F Sport.
Last edited by CtSFox; 10-06-13 at 07:00 AM. Reason: typos
#4
The pursuit of F
From the reviews and tests I read over the months, the difference in comfort and handling between the non-F-Sport and F-Sport is noticeable on the track but not as significant in daily driving.
#5
For any car that rarely if ever will be taken on a track, it makes sense to empasize ride comfort so long as the handling isn't overtly sloppy. When you test drove the car you did not notice that the handling was overtly sloppy, so you have nothing to be concerned about. Look forward to the fact that you will be able to take the car on long trips arrive without feeling like you need a spinal adjustment.
#6
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If your wife doesn't care about performance you could also go with IS250 to save more. Way Lexus set these trims up you have to sacrifice something to go one way or other and it sounds like you did the right thing for your wife so I wouldn't worry about it.
Not sure if you know but F Sport doesn't have a lot of the luxury features like memory feature, tilting side mirrors on reverse, cooled seats ect...
Not sure if you know but F Sport doesn't have a lot of the luxury features like memory feature, tilting side mirrors on reverse, cooled seats ect...
Next up was an Infiniti Q50 (a base model without the drive-by-wire steering). She liked the car better than the X1, but she disliked the seats and found the suspension to be harsh (I attributed the punishing ride to the mandatory run-flats).
Then came the Lexus. The seats felt perfect to both of us, the ride quality was great, the car had good power and the build quality was exceptional. She was in love. I began to push for the F-Sport, because of the upgraded suspension and steering, but she held firm for reasons of price. For me, I thought the suspension was good and I loved the steering (a surprise, since I'm not a fan of EPS).
So, I started the day thinking Bimmer SUV, but the IS 350 won the day. Were there things to like about the X1 and Q50? Sure: IMO, the AWD versions of the X1 still have great hydraulic steering, and BMW's I-6 N55 motor is phenomenal (300 lb/ft of torque available at 1250 RPM). The Q50's 3.7 V6 had greater mid-range punch than the Lexus, and the car is easy on the eyes.
The IS 350 though, is a better balanced car. I had intended to also drive the Caddy ATS, but after driving the IS 350, there was no need to go further. Still, I wished my wife would have been open the F-Sport....
#7
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If it makes you feel any better, the non F-Sport IS already handles very well. This reviewer certainly seems to think so :
The IS being the base RWD sedan in Lexus' line-up, there will be a TON of after-market suspension/chassis/handling parts made available in the next few months. You could always modify the car if after some time driving it, the base suspension doesn't satisfy you.
That being said, there are TWO features in the 350 F-Sport that can't be easily added as after-market : the active adaptive variable shock absorbers ( AVS) and the LFA-inspired gauges.
Ironically, the AVS not only improves handling but due to its ability to automatically adjust shock stiffness to road conditions, when left in normal/Sport mode, it might actually improve ride comfort.
The IS being the base RWD sedan in Lexus' line-up, there will be a TON of after-market suspension/chassis/handling parts made available in the next few months. You could always modify the car if after some time driving it, the base suspension doesn't satisfy you.
That being said, there are TWO features in the 350 F-Sport that can't be easily added as after-market : the active adaptive variable shock absorbers ( AVS) and the LFA-inspired gauges.
Ironically, the AVS not only improves handling but due to its ability to automatically adjust shock stiffness to road conditions, when left in normal/Sport mode, it might actually improve ride comfort.
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#8
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If it makes you feel any better, the non F-Sport IS already handles very well. This reviewer certainly seems to think so :
http://youtu.be/IPCP2z1LgGQ
The IS being the base RWD sedan in Lexus' line-up, there will be a TON of after-market suspension/chassis/handling parts made available in the next few months. You could always modify the car if after some time driving it, the base suspension doesn't satisfy you.
That being said, there are TWO features in the 350 F-Sport that can't be easily added as after-market : the active adaptive variable shock absorbers ( AVS) and the LFA-inspired gauges.
Ironically, the AVS not only improves handling but due to its ability to automatically adjust shock stiffness to road conditions, when left in normal/Sport mode, it might actually improve ride comfort.
http://youtu.be/IPCP2z1LgGQ
The IS being the base RWD sedan in Lexus' line-up, there will be a TON of after-market suspension/chassis/handling parts made available in the next few months. You could always modify the car if after some time driving it, the base suspension doesn't satisfy you.
That being said, there are TWO features in the 350 F-Sport that can't be easily added as after-market : the active adaptive variable shock absorbers ( AVS) and the LFA-inspired gauges.
Ironically, the AVS not only improves handling but due to its ability to automatically adjust shock stiffness to road conditions, when left in normal/Sport mode, it might actually improve ride comfort.
#10
RS-R is getting their shipment of suspension components in mid November. Dropping it 1" will make it handle a little better and you will still maintain most of the factory ride.
For now I am going to order a set of RS-R down springs they are 279 plus shipping through RS-R directly.
For now I am going to order a set of RS-R down springs they are 279 plus shipping through RS-R directly.
#11
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RS-R is getting their shipment of suspension components in mid November. Dropping it 1" will make it handle a little better and you will still maintain most of the factory ride. For now I am going to order a set of RS-R down springs they are 279 plus shipping through RS-R directly.
#12
Sony, I had no idea the F-Sport had fewer luxury features than the IS 350. As for memory (I assume you mean driver's seat memory), our salesman told us that it wasn't available on either car in 2014. I'm partially to blame for not doing my homework on the car. We started the day driving a BMW X1 (a small SUV that she had expressed interest in). I've driven E 36 Bimmers in the past and was sure that she'd go for it--she didn't. Overpriced she said, plus she felt the suspension was too rough, and the seats were too hard. I disagreed on everything but pricing, but we moved on.
Next up was an Infiniti Q50 (a base model without the drive-by-wire steering). She liked the car better than the X1, but she disliked the seats and found the suspension to be harsh (I attributed the punishing ride to the mandatory run-flats).
Then came the Lexus. The seats felt perfect to both of us, the ride quality was great, the car had good power and the build quality was exceptional. She was in love. I began to push for the F-Sport, because of the upgraded suspension and steering, but she held firm for reasons of price. For me, I thought the suspension was good and I loved the steering (a surprise, since I'm not a fan of EPS).
So, I started the day thinking Bimmer SUV, but the IS 350 won the day. Were there things to like about the X1 and Q50? Sure: IMO, the AWD versions of the X1 still have great hydraulic steering, and BMW's I-6 N55 motor is phenomenal (300 lb/ft of torque available at 1250 RPM). The Q50's 3.7 V6 had greater mid-range punch than the Lexus, and the car is easy on the eyes.
The IS 350 though, is a better balanced car. I had intended to also drive the Caddy ATS, but after driving the IS 350, there was no need to go further. Still, I wished my wife would have been open the F-Sport....
Next up was an Infiniti Q50 (a base model without the drive-by-wire steering). She liked the car better than the X1, but she disliked the seats and found the suspension to be harsh (I attributed the punishing ride to the mandatory run-flats).
Then came the Lexus. The seats felt perfect to both of us, the ride quality was great, the car had good power and the build quality was exceptional. She was in love. I began to push for the F-Sport, because of the upgraded suspension and steering, but she held firm for reasons of price. For me, I thought the suspension was good and I loved the steering (a surprise, since I'm not a fan of EPS).
So, I started the day thinking Bimmer SUV, but the IS 350 won the day. Were there things to like about the X1 and Q50? Sure: IMO, the AWD versions of the X1 still have great hydraulic steering, and BMW's I-6 N55 motor is phenomenal (300 lb/ft of torque available at 1250 RPM). The Q50's 3.7 V6 had greater mid-range punch than the Lexus, and the car is easy on the eyes.
The IS 350 though, is a better balanced car. I had intended to also drive the Caddy ATS, but after driving the IS 350, there was no need to go further. Still, I wished my wife would have been open the F-Sport....
I forgot to mention that F-Sport also don't have leather.
Congratz on F-Sport! I don't think either option would be bad choice.
Last edited by SonyHome; 10-08-13 at 06:59 PM.
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