If Lexus made a MT IS350 I would buy one in a heart beat.

I sold my 2007 IS250 7 months ago because of lack of power and because it was an auto, and selling it for a good price helped also. It was also boring to drive. I had a Acura GS-R for 9 years and I miss that car more then my Lexus. I regret selling the Acura.

Now I'm having a hard time of what car to get next. I want a fun car to drive. I was even thinking of getting a 2003 NSX with 15k miles for $50k. My friend had a 92 NSX and it was a blast to drive. But I dont know if I want to shell out all that money right now.

I have been driving around a 01 Corolla for 7 months now. I'm itching to get something.

I just wish Lexus made the IS350 with a manual transmission.

 

ibtl

this has been discussed millions of times...

 

Yeah, won't happen. 95% of 250 buyers skip the manual entirely, and like 80% of all IS sales are 250s anyway.

So few people would buy a manual 350 (and NOT buy an auto) that they'd never come close to making back the development costs on the transmission.

Plus, it's not 1950 anymore, automatics are better than manuals.

The auto 250 gets better mileage than the manual for example.

even the fastest Porsche these days isn't a manual. Computers shift faster and better than humans do.

 

if you wanted to go for gas mileage, should've gotten a prius.

 

I have been wondering for a long time that, why Lexus didn't promote/make more 350s these years?

For an average buyer, after negotiation the same equipped 250 and 350 will only have about $2000-3000 difference, will this money really matters a lot for people who are buying a $30k - 40k+ range luxury car?

When I was buying the IS, I was 'forced' to buy the 250 because all dealers in my state didn't have the 350 I wanted in stock. The 350s in the US at that time only have two choices: the basic one (no NAV etc.), or the fully equipped one (which almost stepped into the GS350 price range), obviously these were not my choice.

 

Despite all the electronics in automatics it will never be as fun as driving a real manual.

 

The IS 350 doesn't sell well because it's the exact same car as the 250, feature-wise, it's just more expensive and less fuel economy. A lot of people just don't care about the power (which I don't get, but whatever).

As to the OP, no they won't. Manual IS's are like leprosy.

 

I wished they have IS-F MT!

 

what so fun driving an AUTOMATIC extremely fast car?

 

Not this generation...

 

Depends on were you live. I live in a hilly area (SOUTH OC) and with a manuel i can shift into neutral downhills.

IDK if they have changed autos but last time i checked you have a good delay between shifting into neutral and drive.

 

The IS250 is the economical IS. The IS250 MT is slower, gets less MPGs and isnt available on the lots... WELL NO WONDER it sells poorly.

Its odd that BMW is able to offer Manual Transmissions in all of their 335 series(AWD, RWD, Coupe RWD, Coupe AWD) cars... if they cant make that R&D money back

 

automatic paddle shifting is good enough! Thats how all lexury sports car should be.. I love it!!!!!!

 

No dealers stock them because they don't sell.

The reason that BMW offers manuals is two-fold. One, different kind of buyer. Two, they charge $1200 for the automatic. It's already built into the pricing on most IS's.

 

I'm with you all on this.

Word! but only difference is rwd vs awd tranny.

I missed all the previous discussion on this, but Toyota doesn't have to do R&D on the tranny. Just get the V160/V161 from getrag, like they did with the supra.