I'm a current G35x Sedan owner looking to make the move to a new IS. As I read the forum people talk about different package options like Nav, ML, Sport, etc., but when I go to lexus.com and build the car it seems like the only option packages are:

1) Premium package with 3 flavors that add either 18-in Alloy Wheels with Summer Tires, Preferred Accessory Package (includes Cargo net, Trunk mat and Wheel locks) and All-weather floor mats or

2) Luxury with the same 3 flavor options.

So when people talk about sport or nav as seperate options, how does that work?

Thanks

 

The web site shows you the option packages on the allocations that are shipped to dealers in your geographic region. I personally think it is a terrible system, and leads to ridiculous situations such as we have in the Northeast, where the only way to get a car with the premium Mark Levinson sound system is to special order a car and wait four months for it to be built and shipped over.

 

Well lets start off with whats your zip code and what are you looking for? Anything you know you want and know you dont want?

 

My zip is 66062 (Kansas City Metro) and here's what I'd really like:

An IS 350 with Luxury package (although I don't care about ML). So must I have ML with a 350, cause the 250 looks like I can get Lux with Nav and no ML.

Anyway, as you can tell I'm confused.

Thanks

 

You are correct. You cant get a lux package 350 without ML. You also cant get a 250 lux package at all. Im sure you can special order one of those options. The luxury package is the most expensive package and i dont think its possible to get it without getting one of the lower options like ML.

 

They don't build 250's with the lux package? That means I can't get a 250 with HID headlamps? That would seriously suck.

 

The Sport Package gives you HIDs as well on the 250.

I believe that the lack of variation with the IS is because of first year allocations, where Lexus wanted to profit as much as possible with the IS, and keep everything as simple as possible for first year buyers who are willing to pay top dollar to get the car sooner than everyone else.

I'm pretty sure than future model years of the IS will have more variation where you won't need to do Special Orders. For now, due to short supply and high demand, Lexus can do what they want with their game plan.

 

Ah, indeed it does. But judging from the "Available Options" shown on the Lexus "Build Your Lexus" page, at least in my area code (90068) they only offer the Sport Package on the 350. Oddly enough, from clicking around on the web site it appears that you can get the Luxury Packag on the RWD MT 250 and AWD 250. The only model it doesn't show up as available on is the RWD 250.

I'm sure there's some reason for all the complexity...

 

Well mostly likely the reason they dont offer all the options on the 250 is becuase the 250 is the base model. Its there to provide a low cost to get people into the IS. They figure that they wont sell alot of fully loaded (will all the expensive options) IS250. Most would would buy the 350 if they were going to get navi, and sports or lux package. Each on of the those packages are 7-8K extra. And with that much added on, most people (not all) who are going to be ok with that would just get the IS350. If they dont think they are going to sell a bunch they make less of them with that option or none at all.

 

In most regions, they don't offer all the options on the IS350 either. The only reasonable explanation is that they are trying to simplify distribution logistics at the cost of consumer choice.

 

I remember going through this when we were ordering our IS. The website says one thing, the brochure says another thing, and the dealer says a third thing. Very confusing! Even the salesman was not sure what packages were available, and what the exact contents of each package were. It seemed like it changed on a weekly basis!

We finally ended up getting an IS250 AWD with the Luxury package plus one "additional option" which turned out to be headlight washers. We really wanted the rear parking sensors, but the headlight washers will be useful in the Northeast when it snows and muck accumulates on the front of the car.

 

As well as being able to get the 18" staggered summer tire package and a manual transmission, but have no chance of having the sport package. What the...?

 

Ideally I'd like to get an IS 250 RWD with Luxury, Nav and Mark Levinson packages in Blue Onyx, Breakwater Blue or Desert Sage. I guess my chances for finding that combo in Southern California aren't looking too good.

 

Since doing my search for an IS in SoCal this last month, I can assure you that you will not find ANY 250s with Lux pkg or ML/Nav unless they happen to be special orders that fell thru. All 250s coming into SoCal are pretty much Premium pkg, Auto, w or w/out Nav, and w/ 18" rims/tires. Also, Blue Onyx & Desert Sage and extremely scarce, but a few Breakwater Blues filter in - pretty much what you will see are Smoky Granite, Black, Silver & White.

If I could've found a IS250 Luxury or Sport w/ ML & Nav I would've bought in a heartbeat. Lexus just doesn't ship them to SoCal this way. I guess I need to thank them for this, since it forced me up into a 350, and the rest is history