I can totally tell.

 

Nothing says classy like plastic seat covers

 

I'd be curious to know how the steering and handling have been improved on the 09 350. I had a friend drive one and he said he couldn't tell the difference.

 

And I saw nothing in the new car features info from Lexus for 09 that suggested this had changed either, other than a 0.1 difference in one alignment setting

Everyone said 08s had improved steering feel too though and there was never any reliable information on that either.

 

I bought the 09 instead of the 08 because i can tell that the suspension improved. When u drive the 08 it feels light and steering wheels feels light as well. The 09 is much more stiffer. My BF felt the same way. The 08 somehow felt a little light like my sisters camry

 

My personal experience has been the opposite. I own a 2008 IS350 w/sport suspension and I've been driving a 2009 IS250 loaner for the last few days. The 2009 probably doesn't have the sport suspension, but I can tell you that the '09 steering isn't any different than my car. Overall I didn't love it. Maybe I'm biased because of the little engine compared to mine, but I couldn't wait to return that thing to the dealer. Black birds eye maple is cool though, as is the white stitching on the seats. Chrome trim around the nav screen is just a fingerprint magnet. Completely unnecessary.