Will be test driving an IS 350 this weekend. No need for manual. I am turning in my 2006 TL, can not take it anymore. For those here who own a 2007/2008 IS 350 are there any real issues with this vehicles, suspension, electronics, interior, etc. etc. What is the price range for a 2008 IS 350?I could search but time does not permit and If all goes well this weekend I may purchase the IS 350. Do you have to place an order for this type of vehicle? Looking for silver exterior w/ black interior. Thanks guys for any info.

Welcome ..... IS350's are in generally short supply. You'll find them, but you won't find dealer's with many of them in stock at one time. Tungsten Pearl with black interior should be available. That's the same color I have......very easy to keep clean, inside and out. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

The few bugs that have cropped up (really minor stuff) have been taken care of at this point. You won't have issues.

Do not really like my '07 IS350. Plan on selling and buying a BMW 335ci or a used Porsche 911. Too many rattles, sterile feel and too many on the road. Not in the least bit different!

If i were u and i have so much money, i would go with the ISF, otherwise IS350 is the way to go

I used the following threads to figure out what my Lowball Price should be for my initial offer, what my Target Price should be, and how to negotiate for my IS:

how to negotiate a great deal on a new car?
how to negotiate a great deal on a new car? Reloaded

Check out the first post of the second thread (by mrblackpcs2) and the last couple of posts on the second thread (by who1zep, me) to get an idea of what to do.

For a purchase of this size, it's well worth your time to search. This is especially important since you are trading in your relatively new TL... You better be sure what each car is truly worth because you'll be doing two negotiations in this case.

Everything I've read says do not even discuss trade-in until you have the price you want on the IS. Don't negotiate a great IS price only to screw yourself by giving away your old car. sirkfc is absolutely right to know what your TL is worth going in, and if they don't give you a great price, sell it yourself or negotiate a better combo-deal at another dealer. Some dealers will give you a great trade-in price if you are buying a new car from them.

Lex thanks for your advice, I was going to use only to find out that the IS350 sport package needs to be special ordered and it take 4-5 months, is this really true. When I test drove the vehicle I was told that the sport package is almost as similar as the lux. package. Now I am a little dissapointed. Can anyone chime in with some input? Again thanks to all for your help.

Just curious what you can't take anymore about your TL?

There is a difference in the way a car drives with and without the Sport Suspension; more firm and tighter. And the front end sits 1/2" lower. You probably won't find Sports Package in dealer stock so you will have to order it. 4-5 months is excessive, more like 2-4 months, depending on timing. The Sports Package and Luxury Package are similar in their content, with some overlap. Look on Lexus.com for the specifics.

They're identical except for:

Sport Pkg has different suspension (a little firmer springs/shocks, front sits 1/2 inch lower)

Sport Pkg has aluminum interior trim pieces (while Lux package gets wood)

Sport Pkg has the sport pedals

Sport Pkg has Aluminum door sills front and rear (Lux has illuminated front, Aluminum rear)

Sport Pkg does NOT get the power rear sunshade that the Lux pkg does

Sport Pkg is about $500 less than the Lux Pkg (if you get the Lux Pkg with 18" wheels)- that alone made the Sport Pkg a no brainer for me since I was special ordering anyway and prefered the AL trim to Wood and like a tighter suspension. (and couldn't imagine ever wanting or using a power rear sunshade)


Both packages get the same features otherwise (heated/cooled vented seats, the better mirrors, power tilt/telescope, 3 position memory on both sides, rain sensing wipers, etc).

Sport pkg will likely be special order... mine took about 2.5 months, and was well worth it IMHO (but I really prefered the aluminum trim to the wood, wanted a specific color combo, and also wanted an entertainment option they don't normally build (Mark Levinson stereo without Nav).

You might stumble upon a random sport pkg car at a dealer if you're very lucky, but it's pretty unlikely it'd also have everything else you wanted (color combo, other options, etc).


The trick, really, if you go this route is finding a dealer who really understands what a special order is and how the processs works and is willing to do it for you.

I didn't understand when I began why it seemed so rare that a dealer wouldn't LOVE the idea of someone walking in off the street saying "I want exactly this car, here's a huge pile of cash if you do nothing at all but fill out a few forms" and I still don't understand why it seems to be rare, but apparently it's a lot harder to find a dealer than you'd think who likes doing it.

JUst curious, the dealer offered me 26,500 for my TL(2006) , I owe 22,000, will they still honor that price for my trade-in ,even though I will wait for maybe three months for my vehicle to arrive? They are asking for a $1000 deposit. Would I have to get the trade-in price on the actual invoice? And do you guys recommend I limit the use of my TL? Thanks again to all for your advice.

Get everything in writing!! The trade in value for the TL will be based on it being in the same condition as when the dealer valued it. They may restrict how many miles you can put on it in the interim. So make sure everything is in writing.