Doing some research on a potential purchase of a 2IS.
I'm wondering if the IS is prone to door dings ? I've yet to see a picture (or even an option listed by Lexus) for body side moldings or the likes to protect the sides of the IS from dings. Now most folks will say to park far, far away from other cars or to park next to a curb or column, but there are times when you can't avoid parking next to another car. Do current owners suffer from dings on the side of their new IS ??? TIA . . .

 

I don't have any yet after 7 months and I observe the "parking rule" about 75% of the time.

 

No dings yet but I either park real far away or close to the curb as possible.

 

I like the new Lexus without the side body moulding. It's cleaner looking and sleek. It'll be like that for all the L-Finesse designed cars coming into the lineup.

It really depends on how you park your car. Other car's doors can be high or low depending if they're a sedan, coupe, or SUV, so you can't prevent other people banging onto your car.

The best thing to do: park far away from everyone else, park as far left or right as possible away from the car next to you, or valet park the car.

 

Proper body-side moldings are an option on the ES, should be on the IS as well for those that want the protection. Car companies say its part of the design, but personally I don't think door dings look that good.

The real bottom line, it is a cost cutting measure for the manufactures, which consumers will pay for at the body shop.

 

There is an option at the dealer for side moldings, if thats your thing but personally I think it takes away from the look.

 

Yeah I'm not sure that "cost cutting" is the reason manufacturers have stopped putting door moldings on...

 

Heh, door moldings IMO is useless. I look at most older generation cars, that has been mildly taken care off, and all the dings are ABOVE or UNDER the moldings. It only works to a certain extent.

I think the 2IS's body lines does not flow with moldings. Likewise for the G35C.

 

i think moldings would make the car look better.. without them i think the car looks chunkier

and they DO help with dings.. cause with my old IS300, all the dings were on my moldings.. none on my car

i have a ding on my is250 already.

 

The car is ridiculously soft and prone to dings... the sheet metal is thin IMO and will not hold up to well next to an inconsiderate driver who parked next to you. I came back to my car with 3 seperate dents/dings all at ONE time!!!! The pros who looked at it suggested it was a fist... if a fist can dent the car, just imagine what a metal door could do to it...

 

i would love to see those "pros" punch a piece of sheet metal and dent it that much. Especially an area near a fold in the metal where its going to be even stronger than a flat piece. Unless youre Bane from batman no ones going to be able to punch a car panel with their bare hands. Also that dent is no where near the shape of a fist

Try punching a metal file cabinet your hand will break into a million pieces before you do that kind of damage

 

IMHO I'm not a huge fan of side moldings and that only protects part of the side. The area above and below the moldings is still exposed. I've had the car for 7 months and haven't got a ding yet and I'll park wherever I see a spot....

 

Thats exactly what I said when the first dude told me that... but then when two others said thats probably it and that there may have been a fist fight next to my car when it was in the parking garage... i guess its possible if you figure that I have the worst luck with cars... The dent looks bigger in the picture than in reality, since yes, it WAS the size of a fist. In addition to that dent, there were claw marks and hairline scratches all around that back corner... one scratch was deep enough to scuff my tail light

Upon first impression, I thought maybe it was from a bat... but who puts a bat to a car parked in a garage across the street from the municipal PD?


All I can say is thank God for body work, paint polish, and PlastX

 

I too observe the parking rules. Once I parked away from everyone and some shmuck still parked next to me and dinged my door (not my IS). I don't know if he did it on purpose or what. By observing the parking rules, yes, it will decrease the chance of dings. But as long as there are idiots out there who don't care when they open their door, there is still a chance. As for molding on the IS, not for me.

 

Thanks for all the replies.
Kloh7, do you have a link or jpeg that you can attach. I've searched this forum and the lexus website and I can't find any mention of side moldings for the IS. I'm a firm believer of an 'ounce of prevention' is better than a lb of cure, so I'd like to see what the BSMs look like on the IS. I know it may sacrifice the smooth body lines, but as long as it is body color matched, I'm willing to consider it. Parking in SoCal is a zoo, and I don't trust the other drivers in parking lots, unless I can find a spot b/w a Rolls and a Bentley