I am realllllly considering this, and honestly I am stuck on what to do.
Ill describe the situation and if you have some help input on this decision feel free to share

The current:

2007 IS350
51,xxx MILES
The light interior, paint is 7.5/10 (some dings and some chips on front bumper/hood)
Options nav/no ml... heated/ventilated seats....afs HID... Rear spoiler
$420/month

The available:

2008 IS250 w/ F-SPORT WHEELS.
22,xxx miles
Black interior (that I love)
paint is 9/10.. just one ding on the whole car.
Options EXACTLY THE SAME.. afs hid, seats, nav no ml, real spoiler...
The only thing I can see that I will be sacrificing on the switch is 100hp which I KNOW ill miss..
would be paying about $450/month no money down...


I know some will say this is a no brainer and vice versa...
Like I said I see some benefits... More MPG, much less mileage, more warranty, BLACK interior, better paint and interior... 100hp less..


... I did just buy a 1991 integra DA to leave the 350 parked at home till the weekends, if I make the switch ill sell the integra since ill be doing more MPG... is the difference in gas a BIG deal between the 250 and the 350? ... Should I do it ?

 

The decision is easy. NO!

 

Unless you travel a lot, the mpg you save will be offset by the increase in car payments.

 

Why are you going to pay $30/month EXTRA just to get an inferior car?

 

this is why I posted,

Ill be moving up 1 year.. 30,000 less miles ... FSPORT WHEELS...

I guess am trying to justify getting better paint and interior color..

 

this is the main thing holding me back, if I make the switch am just gonna have a 250 parked and paying $30/month more for it.....


decisions...

 

If I were in your shoes and are not satisfied with your current car, wait for 3IS. See how it looks and stuff, test drive it when it comes out. Don't like the 3IS? Go ahead and get your 2IS end of the year model so you got the best possible for the 2IS, in the color you want, the exterior/interior. Stay with the 350.

 

Is the IS250 a RWD or AWD model? In FL, of course, it is rare to get snow or ice, but there is a lot of heavy rain, and AWD helps in rain, too. The IS250 AWD model is sluggish, though...you may not be satisfied with the power.

Is it a Lexus CPO (Certified Previously-Owned)?......they are usually among the safest buys in used-cars. Even if not, assuming it's a RWD model in the condition you describe, unless you are a bona-fide speed freak and would really chafe at the loss of the 350's HP/torque, it sounds like it's worth considering......but inspect/test-drive it thoroughly and, if possible, get a CarFax report on it. Then, if you still have doubts, take Squirrelz's advice and wait for the 3Gen model.

 

i wouldnt do it... does IS250 actually get that much better mpg in real life?

 

Are you really that worried about the mileage? By the time the car hits 200k, it'll make very little difference in performance, reliability, and resale value. We're not talking old school Ford Pinto here.

 

true.. I will wait for the 3IS.. if I dont like it I will jump on an Fsport

That is a very good question, like you said I dont think ill ever see snow here but rain is definitely a big factor. However the car is RWD. The car has a full service list, it belonged to the Finance manager at my dealership.
I did infact think it over, like you said... I cant seem to let go of the extra 100hp


I dont know the exact #'s anyone can clarify on this?

lol true thanks guys

 

If I were you, I'd stay with what you got. When I was buying an IS, I had the option to get a "loaded" IS250 AWD or a base IS350 with vented seats. I went with the '07 IS350. However I have been wanting to sell the IS350 in the last few months wanting to get an AWD drive car such as the C300 4Matic or BMW 335xi. Now I decided it's just best to stay with what I got.

I wouldn't make the change because first, 100 HP is a big loss. You'll get better gas mileage but only by 2-5 MPG. Your warranty would be longer for a year but so far, my '07 has never had any problems other than bad MPG that I'll deal with. The car is pretty reliable, stay with yours if it's been reliable so far. Mine too has paint that I would like to be better. The front has loads of rock chips and back has light scrapes.

I don't know why people so want black leather. I got black and I'm wanting to change it. Other than it stays cleaner, I hate it. Just yesterday, it was 97 degrees. When I got out of school, I got in my car, burnt my a** and couldn't breathe cause it was that hot in my car even with 35 percent tints all around. My friend's Corolla was parked next to mine without tints and cloth seats. His car was way cooler inside than mine for some reason. I'm thinking of maybe dying some of my interior parts white for contrast.

I think you should just stay with what you have for now. Wait for the new IS to come out and if you don't like it, then go for a used F-Sport one day.

 

Tan leather will get just as hot as black leather. If there is a difference, it's negligible. Once you have the AC on, the car will be cool. I have black interior and I wouldn't want it any other color. I use to have tan interior and in the Summer, it makes no difference.

 

After having both,I could never go back to a IS250.
That extra 100 HP changes the whole feel and fun of the car over a 250.
MPG's between the two are closer than you think.
A IS250 is a very nice car and fine until you drive a IS350.

 

i dont think you will get much better mpg, if at all, as 3.5l is more advanced engine...