IS350 Test Drives - Impressions and Questions
#31
To my knowledge it's been in every 250 since the 2IS. It may have been called labeled something different for marketing purposes or whatever, and it may not have been implemented exactly the same way but as far as I know the actual learning of shift points was always there. Constant subjective one-upmanship comments about how much better the 350 is than the 250 are trite at best, not to mention downright tiring. Everyone here is well aware of the pros and cons of each car. "Mine's better cuz ______" is best left to the 12 and under crowd.
#32
Yes, I have the "gear display" but the display is different. I thought maybe this was the 2015 mode and I have a 2014. Mine just shows the gear I am in but does not show the up and down bars. Am I wrong?????
#33
Lexus Champion
Not sure then. Mine has the bar display as shown in the link.
#34
Now, I lean towards the more nimble feel of cars with V6 engines. I really really like the modern looks of the new IS350. Funny, cause when I first saw pics of the car, I hated it. Now, I've warmed up to the pics and in person, it's stunning - especially from the rear three-quarter view.
I wish the IS350 just had about 50 more HP and torque. Then it would be perfect. I've read this same sentiment in several other reviews as well. Any 2016 rumors for a model update with a boost in power?
I wish the IS350 just had about 50 more HP and torque. Then it would be perfect. I've read this same sentiment in several other reviews as well. Any 2016 rumors for a model update with a boost in power?
Some people say the 350 is slow but I don't get it because I have yet to lose on the freeway. Granted I don't race anything above my level, though I did keep up with a 427r ...which leads me to believe that guy was just afraid of going faster because I was right on his bumper (ya it was stupid). Off the line though, I'm not as confident. I'm old enough now to not want to street light race anymore so the power is where I want it ...passing speed on the freeway. And in Sport mode I can boost up 10-15mph without dropping out of 7th gear which is great because when other cars see how easily you speed up from them they are less likely to get in a pissing contest with you.
The car definitely learns your behavior so I drive around normally in Normal mode for my daily grind and get 24-25mpg freeway/city split and it knows I drive like a wimp. When I want the boost I switch to Sport mode and the car's behavior completely changes as I use that mode more aggressively. I personally like to save Sport+ for straight up racing and canyon runs.
Since you like to drive in Manual mode I will say the car does have another limitation that will annoy you. It will auto-shift (yes, in Manual mode its stupid) when it hits redline though it only seems to happen on gears 1 and 2 as I've bounced off the rev limiter in gear 3. Though it does hold the gear as advertised through turns ...and this car is fun as hell in turns. I've lost so many people in turns it is ridiculous.
The new 2015 C-series looks promising but more so on the insanely awesome interior side (minus the ipad nav) as it is not getting the same praise on the way it drives. So maybe more luxurious and less sporty but until it we can test drive it ourselves it is hard to say. If I was buying right now like you are, I would definitely throw it in the mix ...especially since test drives are fun as hell.
Need to slide the Tach to the right to see the bars.
#36
To my knowledge it's been in every 250 since the 2IS. It may have been called labeled something different for marketing purposes or whatever, and it may not have been implemented exactly the same way but as far as I know the actual learning of shift points was always there. Constant subjective one-upmanship comments about how much better the 350 is than the 250 are trite at best, not to mention downright tiring. Everyone here is well aware of the pros and cons of each car. "Mine's better cuz ______" is best left to the 12 and under crowd.
Back to the main topic of this post, the website only mentioned IS350 having that technology and I believe it's also mentioned on my sticker when I bought the car. Go check your IS250 again and see if the technology is there. I cant believe you can even brought up the previous 2nd generation IS250 and tell us that it also has the technology. I have doubts about that, go search up and post evidence please.
At last, I was just stating how IS350 performs a whole lot better than the IS250 and that is the fact not an opinion. It's better and not worse. Who doesn't compare cars? People are doing it every day on this forum and out there. Last tip for you buddy, go trade in your IS250 before the 2016 IS200T replacement comes out. Just trying to save you some incentives.
Last edited by FinaLpeace; 08-29-14 at 07:52 AM.
#37
Lexus Test Driver
You seem to love to defend the 250 every time, if I'm not mistaken because you're driving one. I would like to say I went on the RC F forums and had a conversation about how I told them 1.25-1.5 seconds 0-60 differences between the IS350 and RC F is so little of a difference for a car that cost 50k compare to 75k+. They replied all saying 1.5 seconds is A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE. Let me tell you what are the differences between an IS250 vs an IS350 and that is a WHOLE 2 SECONDS faster from 0-60.
Back to the main topic of this post, the website only mentioned IS350 having that technology and I believe it's also mentioned on my sticker when I bought the car. Go check your IS250 again and see if the technology is there. I cant believe you can even brought up the previous 2nd generation IS250 and tell us that it also has the technology. I have doubts about that, go search up and post evidence please.
At last, I was just stating how IS350 performs a whole lot better than the IS250 and that is the fact not an opinion. It's better and not worse. Who doesn't compare cars? People are doing it every day on this forum and out there. Last tip for you buddy, go trade in your IS250 before the 2016 IS200T replacement comes out. Just trying to save you some incentives.
Back to the main topic of this post, the website only mentioned IS350 having that technology and I believe it's also mentioned on my sticker when I bought the car. Go check your IS250 again and see if the technology is there. I cant believe you can even brought up the previous 2nd generation IS250 and tell us that it also has the technology. I have doubts about that, go search up and post evidence please.
At last, I was just stating how IS350 performs a whole lot better than the IS250 and that is the fact not an opinion. It's better and not worse. Who doesn't compare cars? People are doing it every day on this forum and out there. Last tip for you buddy, go trade in your IS250 before the 2016 IS200T replacement comes out. Just trying to save you some incentives.
#38
I would like to say I went on the RC F forums and had a conversation about how I told them 1.25-1.5 seconds 0-60 differences between the IS350 and RC F is so little of a difference for a car that cost 50k compare to 75k+. They replied all saying 1.5 seconds is A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE. Let me tell you what are the differences between an IS250 vs an IS350 and that is a WHOLE 2 SECONDS faster from 0-60.
#39
As far as the learning of shift-points, do not confuse that technology in isolation with packaged features or new marketing terms from Lexus. Rather that come to conclusions about technology you've obviously been oblivious to heretofore, I would suggest going to the 2IS forums and ask around about how long it's been here. I don't feel inspired to spend a lot of time educating someone on a subject when so much has been written about it over there.
About turbo, thanks but no thanks, I think I'd rather have cancer than a car with a turbocharger in it (and I've discussed why in several other posts already), so if that's the only option in the IS after 2016 then I won't be buying one, but thanks for the tip little buddy.
#40
Pole Position
Thread Starter
I think you're mistaken about a lot of things. I don't recall ever saying I drove either a 250, a 350 or anything else as my current vehicle. I do recall a thread where I corrected this misconception that real world MPG difference between the 250 and 350 is a lot more than the EPA estimates would suggest, and whenever someone makes the assertion that 7.2 0-60 times is a slow car then maybe I disagreed, but it is a wild exaggeration to say I "love to defend the 250". And I've never said anything that contradicts the notion that if you want a car for the track, or need the HP and don't care as much about your fuel bill, the 350 is a better choice.
As far as the learning of shift-points, do not confuse that technology in isolation with packaged features or new marketing terms from Lexus. Rather that come to conclusions about technology you've obviously been oblivious to heretofore, I would suggest going to the 2IS forums and ask around about how long it's been here. I don't feel inspired to spend a lot of time educating someone on a subject when so much has been written about it over there.
About turbo, thanks but no thanks, I think I'd rather have cancer than a car with a turbocharger in it (and I've discussed why in several other posts already), so if that's the only option in the IS after 2016 then I won't be buying one, but thanks for the tip little buddy.
As far as the learning of shift-points, do not confuse that technology in isolation with packaged features or new marketing terms from Lexus. Rather that come to conclusions about technology you've obviously been oblivious to heretofore, I would suggest going to the 2IS forums and ask around about how long it's been here. I don't feel inspired to spend a lot of time educating someone on a subject when so much has been written about it over there.
About turbo, thanks but no thanks, I think I'd rather have cancer than a car with a turbocharger in it (and I've discussed why in several other posts already), so if that's the only option in the IS after 2016 then I won't be buying one, but thanks for the tip little buddy.
Just curious to see your reasons behind being anti-turbo...
#41
Without having time to read your other posts, why do you not like turbos? My 335 is the first turbocharged car I've ever owned and I really enjoy driving it. There's no lag (you an only notice it if you're really looking for it) and the increase in low-end torque makes the car feel much more punchy at lower RPMs. Thus, even though my car is only .5 seconds quick to 60 than the IS350, it "feels" a lot faster when I'm just cruising around the city. The IS has a decent amount of power, but it's up high so you have to wait for it to build.
Just curious to see your reasons behind being anti-turbo...
Just curious to see your reasons behind being anti-turbo...
#42
I think you're mistaken about a lot of things. I don't recall ever saying I drove either a 250, a 350 or anything else as my current vehicle. I do recall a thread where I corrected this misconception that real world MPG difference between the 250 and 350 is a lot more than the EPA estimates would suggest, and whenever someone makes the assertion that 7.2 0-60 times is a slow car then maybe I disagreed, but it is a wild exaggeration to say I "love to defend the 250". And I've never said anything that contradicts the notion that if you want a car for the track, or need the HP and don't care as much about your fuel bill, the 350 is a better choice.
As far as the learning of shift-points, do not confuse that technology in isolation with packaged features or new marketing terms from Lexus. Rather that come to conclusions about technology you've obviously been oblivious to heretofore, I would suggest going to the 2IS forums and ask around about how long it's been here. I don't feel inspired to spend a lot of time educating someone on a subject when so much has been written about it over there.
About turbo, thanks but no thanks, I think I'd rather have cancer than a car with a turbocharger in it (and I've discussed why in several other posts already), so if that's the only option in the IS after 2016 then I won't be buying one, but thanks for the tip little buddy.
As far as the learning of shift-points, do not confuse that technology in isolation with packaged features or new marketing terms from Lexus. Rather that come to conclusions about technology you've obviously been oblivious to heretofore, I would suggest going to the 2IS forums and ask around about how long it's been here. I don't feel inspired to spend a lot of time educating someone on a subject when so much has been written about it over there.
About turbo, thanks but no thanks, I think I'd rather have cancer than a car with a turbocharger in it (and I've discussed why in several other posts already), so if that's the only option in the IS after 2016 then I won't be buying one, but thanks for the tip little buddy.
THEN why are you here posting so many personal opinions and arguing over a car you dont own or have experience driving compare to the owners of the vehicle. Read what you just posted even after admitting you don't own either vehicle, you decided to say "I do recall a thread where I corrected this misconception that real world MPG difference between the 250 and 350 is a lot more than the EPA estimates would suggest" What would you know about REAL WORLD mpg differences between the two models if you do not own either one? Do you think you would know better than people who had actually owned both the 3rd gen IS250 and IS350...... like me? Previous traded in was an 07 IS250 as well.
Getting back to the Highlight for this post is the technology part, here's the link again
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex.../Street-Smarts
Quote from Article above "This winter, Lexus’ introduced its latest artificial intelligence technology, the G force Artificial Intelligence (G-AI) system, to be launched on the 2014 IS 350 (available summer 2013). Like ECT-i, G-AI is designed to study an aspect of your driving and personalize the car’s behavior accordingly."
If you keep reading the article which you obviously didn't since the previous post by a member who showed the link. The G force Artificial Intelligence (G-AI) system is only available in the [ 8 gears ] IS350 even the picture on there shows it. Read the article and it tells you how it relates to "SHIFTS GEARS IN IS350 SPORT MODE". Okay it didn't literally stated that IS250 doesn't have this technology but you have a brain right? Therefore only the IS350 has this "specific technology" which I mentioned was a PLUS and obviously BETTER compare to the IS250 which 99.9% I'm certain doesn't have (G-Ai) system. "Who's educating who again"?
Since I've owned both the IS250 and IS350, I can tell you this shifting technology only applies to the IS350 because I can actually "feel" it when driving around corners whereas the IS250 I felt like I was driving my 2007 IS250 but with better handling, which is the reason why I traded back in. The IS350 and IS250 feels totally different when driving around corners and this is where this technology kicks in, "preventing automatic-shifting surprises."
You've mentioned how you disagree with the IS250 being slow in this segment and yes cars are always compare from the same segment of each brand for people to shop around. If saying the IS250 is a slow car is unacceptable for people who don't like a fast car, then that is the same as saying the IS350 is a fast car is unacceptable for people who don't like a slow car...... Please do not be stubborn and accept the fact that it's either "slow" or "fast" in this segment of the game. Facts vs opinion
You're free to hate on the decision and yes "hate" since you told us your desire to get cancer than accept a turbo engine that Lexus is going to make in the future. Unfortunately for you, even LEXUS thinks they need a faster and more fuel efficient "IS250 replacement" which is the IS200T. You're not going to buy an IS250 because Lexus is replacing it with a turbo engine? Why not I thought you prefer the IS250 over the rest of the IS models? Go hurry and buy the IS250 and tell us how you like it before they stop manufacturing it.
Last edited by FinaLpeace; 08-30-14 at 08:14 AM.
#43
I think I'll stop right there.
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