Just outside of the box - I heard some cops in the european countries (I think it is) are using IS-350 or even IS-F are being used as undercover cars. Is this true?

 

im in mass too get the 350 with snow tire you'll be good. im in the westeren mass were you get dumped on by the snow every year. my friend make it around with his IS300 with just all season tires with a hr commute to work. it all on how confident you are in your driving. i had the 250awd it great drive in the winter nodout

 

Best thing I'vd heard all year.

I have a 350, took it snowboarding last year twice. It's fine in the snow, and thats with all seasons on. You just need to know how to DRIVE. People cry about snow like it snows year round. I like my tight turning radius and the speed of the 350. Don't get the 250, it's embarrassingly slow.

 

Thx alot for all these info... but at the end i wanted the 350... i want the power cuzz i think the 250awd is way under power for a v6.... so 350 its is just get snow tires thats all...

 

yeah get the 350 if you can find it. im in mass.... it was harddd to find it... nearly impossible to find one with a clean carfax 07+ ............. i wouldnt get a 06' ISx50.

good luck finding it. But have you ever considered the GS350? it has power to it and its AWD and its bigger.... just a thought....

But IS350 for sure if u find it.

 

Wats wrong with the 2006 is350.....

 

how do people say the 350 is 7k more than a 250? thats dumb. its all about the package you have in your car. the 350 doesnt start that much higher than a 250. i had a 08 250. left it for a 06 350. i live in CT. i got cheap nexton snow tires for around $650. think about it. snow is only on the ground no more than 5-8 times a year. you dont need awd all year round. go have some fun. i dont notice any gas mileage change form my 250 to the 350. i go the same distance.

 

^MSRP of IS250 base is $32,145 vs. $38,570 for the base IS350. $6,535 more. This is before you add on either luxury or sport packages. But the OP is buying used and this point is moot.

The wallet wanted the base IS250, but the heart had to have IS350 Sport Package. I also just had a long-term loaner of a base 2010 IS250. Not bad. Really. Enough power for the most part unless you drive with a heavy foot and want the car to react accordingly. You seem to have similar preferences to mine, so I'd say get what you really want.

 

Depends what you want. If I were you I go to the dealer and test drive both 250 and 350. I got a 250 because of price and gas mileage.

 

Not really, no.

Base automatic (apple to apples, right?) RWD IS250 is $33,315 MSRP (who pays MSRP??) and invoice is $29,983.

Base RWD IS350 is $37,595, invoice is $33,833.

So a difference of $4280 MSRP or $3850 invoice.

Nowhere near 7k in either case.

and as noted, even less of a difference used.

Pricing from:
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2010/lexu...97/prices.html

and

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2010/lexu...83/prices.html

Oh, and FYI, Luxury pack for either car is the same price, so that wouldn't impact the price difference between them.
($2529 invoice, $2810 MSRP)


So you're looking at roughly ~11% higher price, ~15% worse mileage, in exchange for ~50% more hp.

 

and also a heavier front end...don't forget that.
Reviewers have noted that the is350 does not match the is250 in handling, especially bumps during turns.

 

I just pulled numbers from Lexus' site to show where the first $7K figure came from. And yes, I noticed a different pricing structure than the one that was in place when I bought in 2007.

And I was referring to the post about price difference being more a factor of which package was equipped above but I digress.

I wish we could get the deals you guys get on the mainland.

 

Bah, I doubt this. I drove an awd is250 with the 17's and crap tires. It def did NOT handle as well as my is350 does with the oem staggered 18" setup.

 

350's is only heavier than the 250's by like 100lbs.. and got 100hps over the 250's if I may add

 

good for straight line acceleration
the weight gain is not the issue. But heavier front end is.