I'm currently driving an 04 accord 4cyl. the 4cyl works for me, but i'd like to have something a bit more powerful. by next year i'll be able to afford a nicer car, and was looking at leasing an insanely powerful is350 or a 330i. but i'd rather own my car, and that means i'll have to get something less expensive. my choices now is basically the is250 or acura TL.

my main question is: has anyone gone from a +205hp car to the IS250 and concluded that the IS250 isn't quite that powerful?


or should i just spend a little more and finance the is350 fully loaded? because i'm going to keep either of these cars for at least six or so years, and would deeply regret owning the is250 when i can afford something stronger.

 

205hp at the crank is like 185 at wheels at the most.
so yeah its weak as hell.

 

If you can offer more of course get a 350 is better...1 liter larger and 100 more HP...
I had a 350 also...but i can tell u that...BMW 330 have the better handling...

 

yeah, one of the main differences between the 330 and every other car is the handling, but how do they gauge handling? it's not like i will be taking the car to empty curvy roads along the beach, so i'm sure the IS will satisfy my handling needs on regular roads.

i was going to consider financing an audi a4 2.0t and chip it for additional power and keep it for the same amount of years i am planning with an IS, but german reliability is questionable after those four years of free maintenance are up, that's why i'm going with either a lexus or acura now, then maybe play with the german cars when my finances can cover an unexpected repair

 

if you can afford it get a IS350, that way there will be no regrets later on.

 

If you can afford the 350, thats the way to go. Only down side is that they're still in short supply and you may need to wait for the one you want, whereas 250's are more readily available, but its worth waiting for if you need to IMO. Best thing to do is decide for yourself, test drive both and you can make your own informed decision.

 

It isn't as fast as the 350 obviously, but if you press that big pedal on the right hard and keep it above 4500 rpm it goes pretty well.

 

250 has more than enough power, just gotta stay involved and shift, which makes things fun.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=208757

 

correct me if im wrong but i dont think its 205hp at the crank... I believe they changed their way of rating the HP of most cars now...

 

i really dont understand why everyone complains why the 250 has so little power. i mean, compared to the audi 2.0T, the 250 has 4 more HP...the C230 (with a 2.5L V6) has 201 HP

the 250 is also nearly the same price...so i dont know why people wouldnt want to get a 250 if they are also considering the audi or 230. against the TL though, thats hard cuz for the money, the TL is hard to beat.

 

It all depends on your point of view.
The IS350 is an all out fast car. Tons, tons of power...sick power in all honesty, more than you can use for daily use for sure.

The IS250 has plenty of power for everyday use, and its still a fun car, specially with the 6speed manual.
Heck, you can keep up, or beat any stock 1st gen out there. Now, not that the 1st gens where breaking any speed records, but hey were fun as well.

And if you are driving a 4cyl accord, the 250 will be plenty fast.

 

do you have to fully load it, im sure you can sacrifice some options and that will help you to afford the 350. Have you test drove either one. If you plan to I suggest you drive the 250 before the 350, not the other way around

 

I am getting the 250. When I first went to Lexus to look at the IS, I looked at the specs on paper and I wrote off the 250 as being weak. 204 really sounds anemic for today's standards. I was impressed with the 350 but no AWD available so I decided to wait. About 4-5 months later, I got my car itch again so I started looking at the M35x, BMW 5 and the RL. All great cars and none felt right. So while I stopped by Lexus again to take a look at the GS300 AWD (which to me felt more like an ES), I asked the rep to bring out a 250 for comparison. I can tell you, it felt great! In fact, it felt as peppy as the M35 and the RL although in a drag race, those would win.

As I am waiting impatiently after I placed my 250 AWD order, I kept wondering if I should have gotten the 350. So to put the question to rest, I have actually done what 4Teh has suggested. The Lexus rep brought over a 250 AWD and a 350. Took them around winding back roads with fast and slow corners and highway ramps and a stretch of highway. Used the same route for both, back to back. I can tell you, the 250 still feels like it has a lot more than 204 horses (It is also rumored that Lexus down played the horses on the 250 by 20-30). In windy roads, the difference was barely noticeable to me, especially in slow corners, where the AWD felt better. On the highway ramp, my wife in the 250 took off so fast while I was in the 350, it took me a few more seconds to catch up than I anticipated (In fact I would say that for the first 2-3 seconds the AWD had the edge because it must be just gripping and going). Once we were on the open highway though, the 350 really showed itself and before we knew it I flew past her at 110 mph (which honestly felt like 50 by the way).

To make a long post short, the 350's hp difference is clearly noticeable, esp when you are taking off a highway ramp of drag racing with another car from a red light. No ands, ifs or buts. The IS 250 definitely feels very sporty (probably sporty enough for most mortals) and definitely worth a look. I can guarantee you that most who have bought 350s have done so without trying the 250 based on the anemic appearing figures on paper. What is important is how you feel when you drive the car. If you drive it and it feels anemic to you, then get the 350. If it feels just right, get the 250.

As they say, "don't knock it till you have tried it". I did not change my order and I am sticking with teh 250 AWD.

My long 2 cents worth.

 

You are wrong. The 204 rating is using the new SAE standard along with the 306 rating of the 350.

 

The IS250 should become the IS300 in their next mid-cycle engine upgrade (at least in N.America) IMHO .