General Car Conversation 2024 - part 1
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,075
Likes: 511
From: Knoxville, TN
I'll just come out and say that I've owned several V6s but the 2GR-FKS in my current GS350 is my favorite. I had a version of the same engine in my 2020 Tacoma, but in the GS it's super refined and I like the sound of it. Much more so than the 2GR-FSE I previously had in my 2014 IS350 or 2015 GS350. .
We had a 2011 IS350 with the 306hp version of that engine. The fastest IS350 they ever made.. That car absolutely was a MONSTER but I barely ever drove it, at all. The engine sounded like a Hoover when you got on it and just wasn't that pleasant to me. It was slower, but I vastly preferred that J-Series V6 in my older TL. It also sucked way too much gas for what it was which we know I don't care about but still, I was equalling or beating it with the LS430 with gas mileage with both driven normally.
That IS350 we had would smoke our Mercedes lol but the experience and sounds and feels getting up to speeds with said Benz.... not even close. I really NEVER drove that car now that I really think about it. I'm looking for reasons to take the MB out. Oh I need chapstick... or a pen.
It's why I think these cars with downsized crap that run great acceleration times, people aren't really over the moon over them. Getting there is half the fun.
As soon as my dealer gets an SL43 (4 cylinder) I'm going to drive it. That car is universally hated pretty much by the press so far.
Last edited by AJT123; May 7, 2024 at 05:18 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,191
Likes: 1,763
From: Ohio
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,624
Likes: 4,044
From: Maryland
Last edited by SW17LS; May 7, 2024 at 05:59 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,075
Likes: 511
From: Knoxville, TN
No, when my mechanic did the spark plugs he noticed that one of the coils was soaked in oil from a valve cover leak. He documented it all for me so I could take it to the dealer and have it covered. Talked to my guy at the dealer today and he suggested we get it done during the original warranty just because it’s easier to get coverage than with the extended warranty.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,191
Likes: 1,763
From: Ohio
This is interesting. I did not care for that engine overall.
We had a 2011 IS350 with the 306hp version of that engine. The fastest IS350 they ever made.. That car absolutely was a MONSTER but I barely ever drove it, at all. The engine sounded like a Hoover when you got on it and just wasn't that pleasant to me. It was slower, but I vastly preferred that J-Series V6 in my older TL. It also sucked way too much gas for what it was which we know I don't care about but still, I was equalling or beating it with the LS430 with gas mileage with both driven normally.
That IS350 we had would smoke our Mercedes lol but the experience and sounds and feels getting up to speeds with said Benz.... not even close. I really NEVER drove that car now that I really think about it. I'm looking for reasons to take the MB out. Oh I need chapstick... or a pen.
It's why I think these cars with downsized crap that run great acceleration times, people aren't really over the moon over them. Getting there is half the fun.
As soon as my dealer gets an SL43 (4 cylinder) I'm going to drive it. That car is universally hated pretty much by the press so far.
We had a 2011 IS350 with the 306hp version of that engine. The fastest IS350 they ever made.. That car absolutely was a MONSTER but I barely ever drove it, at all. The engine sounded like a Hoover when you got on it and just wasn't that pleasant to me. It was slower, but I vastly preferred that J-Series V6 in my older TL. It also sucked way too much gas for what it was which we know I don't care about but still, I was equalling or beating it with the LS430 with gas mileage with both driven normally.
That IS350 we had would smoke our Mercedes lol but the experience and sounds and feels getting up to speeds with said Benz.... not even close. I really NEVER drove that car now that I really think about it. I'm looking for reasons to take the MB out. Oh I need chapstick... or a pen.
It's why I think these cars with downsized crap that run great acceleration times, people aren't really over the moon over them. Getting there is half the fun.
As soon as my dealer gets an SL43 (4 cylinder) I'm going to drive it. That car is universally hated pretty much by the press so far.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,624
Likes: 4,044
From: Maryland
In other news, since I am struggling with deals and finding S580s and 7 Series…I’m planning on going to drive an LS500 tomorrow…been a long time since I drove one.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,191
Likes: 1,763
From: Ohio
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,585
Likes: 91
From: CA, Mid OC
I had a 2014 IS250 F Sport and it was slow, but I still liked the car. It was quiet. I then got a 2016 IS350 F Sport. 306 hp, it didn’t weigh much more than the 250, the fuel economy didn’t concern me (but it was very similar to the 250 so get the big motor), and it was much more willing to move. It really didn’t have much of an engine sound. Now, they are old enough that people who like to put fart can exhaust on cars can afford them and they sound like ***.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,606
Likes: 4,788
From: GA
Yeah it's funny when people diss the IS 500 for having "the same" 0-60 (which, it isn't) as those 2IS 350s... I'm like, "Drive them back to back and tell me the IS 500 isn't faster."
I've driven a 2IS 350, and I did really like it, mostly due to the steering and the brake/throttle inputs. They all felt so nice, somehow. However, the transmission was very lazy and not responsive, which was a bummer. It was about the only thing letting the car down, though. I liked it a lot.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,624
Likes: 4,044
From: Maryland
I had him look it over real well since the warranty was ending and he said other than that it’s great. He read the the riot act about 10k oil changes so I guess it’s 5 k from here on out lol
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 882
Likes: 11
From: TN
This is interesting. I did not care for that engine overall.
We had a 2011 IS350 with the 306hp version of that engine. The fastest IS350 they ever made.. That car absolutely was a MONSTER but I barely ever drove it, at all. The engine sounded like a Hoover when you got on it and just wasn't that pleasant to me. It was slower, but I vastly preferred that J-Series V6 in my older TL. It also sucked way too much gas for what it was which we know I don't care about but still, I was equalling or beating it with the LS430 with gas mileage with both driven normally.
We had a 2011 IS350 with the 306hp version of that engine. The fastest IS350 they ever made.. That car absolutely was a MONSTER but I barely ever drove it, at all. The engine sounded like a Hoover when you got on it and just wasn't that pleasant to me. It was slower, but I vastly preferred that J-Series V6 in my older TL. It also sucked way too much gas for what it was which we know I don't care about but still, I was equalling or beating it with the LS430 with gas mileage with both driven normally.