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Buyer's Guide to Used Lexus 2nd Gen IS Models (merged buying advise threads)
07-16-10, 11:18 PM
#76
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Carlx thanks very much for the insight! I am pretty sure traction control was turned on for sure, so I bet that was the problem. I will try driving one with traction off. I bet this was the problem...thx again!
QUOTE=carLx;5647005]What you're referring to is a very common and irritating issue with the IS350. Actually, there are two potential issues going on here.
#1 - The traction control in the IS350 is extremely intrusive. Traction control completely bogs the car down during 1st gear where the IS350 should shine the most and in general will make the car feel extremely sluggish.
If you were driving with traction control on, there's your problem right there.
Let me give you a few numbers. Edmunds tested the IS350 (2006) with traction control on many years back. What did they get? 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds. That's pretty sluggish.
In 2010, Edmunds tested another IS350, only this time they turned traction control off. The result? They found nearly a full second improvement in acceleration, 0 to 60 came in at 5.2 seconds with traction control off.
Almost a full second improvement by turning traction control off? That's massive, and it's a testament to how intrusive the system is in this car.
That's not even the entire story - with the IS350, you can technically turn off traction control regardless of the model year. However, it's far easier to turn traction control off if you have a 2007+ model.
With the 2006 IS350, you can turn traction control off, but it requires an elaborate "pedal dance" which is described by the following video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMN-W...layer_embedded
Most 2006 IS350 owners don't see to be too phased by this, some argue that they've mastered the "dance" sufficiently to the point where they can turn it off quickly and efficiently at a stoplight if full acceleration is necessary.
#2 issue - The IS350 utilizes a sort of "intelligent" transmission that allegedly monitors your throttle inputs and modulates throttle sensitivity and response accordingly.
In other words, if you drive like a snail all the time, the throttle will not be as responsive on partial throttle application, which in turn can give you the illusion of sluggishness.
That's not even the entire story. If the car is driven like a slug for long enough time, then in some cases if you mash the accelerator to go WOT from a roll, the car won't put you into the lowest gear for optimal acceleration. Sometimes, it will actually put you into the next highest gear.
For example, if you are cruising along at 45 MPH and you mash the accelerator, for the car to provide optimal acceleration, it should put you into 2nd gear. If the car is driven like a snail for long enough, the "intelligent" transmission will, for some time, put you into 3rd gear instead. I find this to be phenomenally irritating, and there is a temporary fix for this, but it's cumbersome and I shouldn't have to do this - the temporary fix involves periodically unplugging the battery from the car for 5 min., thereby "resetting" the data gathered by the ECU. Throttle sensitivity will start off high again (in ECT normal), and most importantly, the car will put you into the correct gear during acceleration from a roll.
#1 is a major issue. If you're driving with traction control enabled, you're driving with a severe handicap.
#2 is a more minor issue during acceleration from a dig. If you decide to go WOT from a dig, then whatever data the intelligent transmission has gathered will be irrelevant. Assuming you have traction control turned off, you're going to achieve optimal acceleration. It is, however, sometimes an issue for acceleration from a roll. I've tested this out extensively (mostly during roll acceleration from ~45 MPH).
In general, during partial throttle, #2 can give you the illusion that the car is slower and more sluggish than it actually is.
Truthfully, the IS350 is 0 to 60 in 4.9 and quarter in mid 13s (13.5 flat, is about the average). During terrific conditions (low temperature, favorable density altitude) you can get as low as 13.2 bone stock.
Depending on traction/weather, you might get as high as 13.9. It's fair to say that the range of 1/4 mile times is between 13.2 to 13.9, and in general, that range is likely higher than that of you C5 vette.
Bottom line is this - If you want to really explore the potential of the IS350 you need to turn traction control off. For 2007+ models, this is achieved by pressing and holding the traction control button for 5 seconds (until the appropriate light comes on and stays on on the dash)
For 2006, you'll need to perform that "pedal dance" described in the aforementioned video.
Try that out, and see if you can arrange a solo test (no passenger) and let us know how that goes.
When you are test driving, set the display to show what gear you are in. This brings me to another issue, the IS350's "intelligent" transmission is very quick to place you into higher gears in an effort to save gas.
The situation where this is most annoying and noticeable is if you are at a stop waiting to take a 90 degree turn onto a road. Often times, during your turn, the car will prematurely shift you from 1st gear into 2nd gear.
Then, if you only gradually depress the pedal to go WOT, it's very likely that you will end up accelerating through 2nd gear instead of 1st gear.
If, after the turn, you stomp on the pedal as fast as possible, most likely the car will shift you from 2nd gear into 1st gear and you will accelerate in the appropriate gear (at least), although even in this case, I still find the fact that the IS350 puts me into 2nd gear (when I don't want it) to be rather annoying.
I could blather on and on in great detail about the performance in this car, but I'll spare you for now
.
To begin - let us know if you had tested the IS350 with traction control on or off. If traction control was on (this is the default, by the way), then that explains why you found the car to be sluggish (the car is relatively sluggish from a dig with traction control on)
If traction control was off during your test and you still found the car to be sluggish, then #2 could be an issue if you were doing mostly partial throttle applications during your test run.
If you found the car to be sluggish with traction control off going WOT from a dig, I would be be extremely surprised, because while the IS350 isn't a race car or full fledged sports car by any stretch of the imagination, one thing it does well - damn well - is accelerating forcefully from 0 to about 50 MPH. Acceleration, in general, is "strong" up to 100 MPH, but 0 to about 50 should never feel sluggish with traction control off, especially compared to a regular C5 vette (not the Z06 version).[/QUOTE]
QUOTE=carLx;5647005]What you're referring to is a very common and irritating issue with the IS350. Actually, there are two potential issues going on here.
#1 - The traction control in the IS350 is extremely intrusive. Traction control completely bogs the car down during 1st gear where the IS350 should shine the most and in general will make the car feel extremely sluggish.
If you were driving with traction control on, there's your problem right there.
Let me give you a few numbers. Edmunds tested the IS350 (2006) with traction control on many years back. What did they get? 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds. That's pretty sluggish.
In 2010, Edmunds tested another IS350, only this time they turned traction control off. The result? They found nearly a full second improvement in acceleration, 0 to 60 came in at 5.2 seconds with traction control off.
Almost a full second improvement by turning traction control off? That's massive, and it's a testament to how intrusive the system is in this car.
That's not even the entire story - with the IS350, you can technically turn off traction control regardless of the model year. However, it's far easier to turn traction control off if you have a 2007+ model.
With the 2006 IS350, you can turn traction control off, but it requires an elaborate "pedal dance" which is described by the following video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMN-W...layer_embedded
Most 2006 IS350 owners don't see to be too phased by this, some argue that they've mastered the "dance" sufficiently to the point where they can turn it off quickly and efficiently at a stoplight if full acceleration is necessary.
#2 issue - The IS350 utilizes a sort of "intelligent" transmission that allegedly monitors your throttle inputs and modulates throttle sensitivity and response accordingly.
In other words, if you drive like a snail all the time, the throttle will not be as responsive on partial throttle application, which in turn can give you the illusion of sluggishness.
That's not even the entire story. If the car is driven like a slug for long enough time, then in some cases if you mash the accelerator to go WOT from a roll, the car won't put you into the lowest gear for optimal acceleration. Sometimes, it will actually put you into the next highest gear.
For example, if you are cruising along at 45 MPH and you mash the accelerator, for the car to provide optimal acceleration, it should put you into 2nd gear. If the car is driven like a snail for long enough, the "intelligent" transmission will, for some time, put you into 3rd gear instead. I find this to be phenomenally irritating, and there is a temporary fix for this, but it's cumbersome and I shouldn't have to do this - the temporary fix involves periodically unplugging the battery from the car for 5 min., thereby "resetting" the data gathered by the ECU. Throttle sensitivity will start off high again (in ECT normal), and most importantly, the car will put you into the correct gear during acceleration from a roll.
#1 is a major issue. If you're driving with traction control enabled, you're driving with a severe handicap.
#2 is a more minor issue during acceleration from a dig. If you decide to go WOT from a dig, then whatever data the intelligent transmission has gathered will be irrelevant. Assuming you have traction control turned off, you're going to achieve optimal acceleration. It is, however, sometimes an issue for acceleration from a roll. I've tested this out extensively (mostly during roll acceleration from ~45 MPH).
In general, during partial throttle, #2 can give you the illusion that the car is slower and more sluggish than it actually is.
Truthfully, the IS350 is 0 to 60 in 4.9 and quarter in mid 13s (13.5 flat, is about the average). During terrific conditions (low temperature, favorable density altitude) you can get as low as 13.2 bone stock.
Depending on traction/weather, you might get as high as 13.9. It's fair to say that the range of 1/4 mile times is between 13.2 to 13.9, and in general, that range is likely higher than that of you C5 vette.
Bottom line is this - If you want to really explore the potential of the IS350 you need to turn traction control off. For 2007+ models, this is achieved by pressing and holding the traction control button for 5 seconds (until the appropriate light comes on and stays on on the dash)
For 2006, you'll need to perform that "pedal dance" described in the aforementioned video.
Try that out, and see if you can arrange a solo test (no passenger) and let us know how that goes.
When you are test driving, set the display to show what gear you are in. This brings me to another issue, the IS350's "intelligent" transmission is very quick to place you into higher gears in an effort to save gas.
The situation where this is most annoying and noticeable is if you are at a stop waiting to take a 90 degree turn onto a road. Often times, during your turn, the car will prematurely shift you from 1st gear into 2nd gear.
Then, if you only gradually depress the pedal to go WOT, it's very likely that you will end up accelerating through 2nd gear instead of 1st gear.
If, after the turn, you stomp on the pedal as fast as possible, most likely the car will shift you from 2nd gear into 1st gear and you will accelerate in the appropriate gear (at least), although even in this case, I still find the fact that the IS350 puts me into 2nd gear (when I don't want it) to be rather annoying.
I could blather on and on in great detail about the performance in this car, but I'll spare you for now
. To begin - let us know if you had tested the IS350 with traction control on or off. If traction control was on (this is the default, by the way), then that explains why you found the car to be sluggish (the car is relatively sluggish from a dig with traction control on)
If traction control was off during your test and you still found the car to be sluggish, then #2 could be an issue if you were doing mostly partial throttle applications during your test run.
If you found the car to be sluggish with traction control off going WOT from a dig, I would be be extremely surprised, because while the IS350 isn't a race car or full fledged sports car by any stretch of the imagination, one thing it does well - damn well - is accelerating forcefully from 0 to about 50 MPH. Acceleration, in general, is "strong" up to 100 MPH, but 0 to about 50 should never feel sluggish with traction control off, especially compared to a regular C5 vette (not the Z06 version).[/QUOTE]
07-16-10, 11:20 PM
#77
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Sure didn't scare me off buddy, more like educated me 
I will give it another shot with traction off. I agree the IS350 does many things very effectively. With the exception of looks, imho it does everything better than my C5.
I will give it another shot with traction off. I agree the IS350 does many things very effectively. With the exception of looks, imho it does everything better than my C5.Quick disclaimer - I hope I didn't scare you away from getting an IS350. When new people are looking to purchase the car, I tend to err on the side of being a harsher critic than usual because I find that to be more useful.
I'm not much of a muscle car/sports car guy, I've never owned one. I have owned a BMW 335i coupe though - though this car is in the same class as the IS350.
Nevertheless, the IS350 will likely be one of the best cars I will ever have the pleasure of owning, mostly because it does a lot of things extremely well.
I'm not much of a muscle car/sports car guy, I've never owned one. I have owned a BMW 335i coupe though - though this car is in the same class as the IS350.
Nevertheless, the IS350 will likely be one of the best cars I will ever have the pleasure of owning, mostly because it does a lot of things extremely well.
07-16-10, 11:21 PM
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10-26-10, 02:53 PM
#79
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Buying a car with over 50k on it?
Found this car that has right at 50k on it. they want 25,500 for it and are open to any "reasonable" offers 
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national
It has all the options I want and the color combo I have been looking for. The price seems a lil high for an 07. I checked the vin on lexus.com and it has had regular oil changes and serviced every 5k miles
What you guys think?
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national
It has all the options I want and the color combo I have been looking for. The price seems a lil high for an 07. I checked the vin on lexus.com and it has had regular oil changes and serviced every 5k miles
What you guys think?
10-26-10, 02:55 PM
#80
I bought my CPO 2004 RX330 with 54K and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! As long as maintenance records are available and you feel "comfortable" who your buying from, I'd say go for it.
50K on a maintained Lexus is barely broken in.
50K on a maintained Lexus is barely broken in.
10-26-10, 04:35 PM
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That's what i was thinking of doing
This is a 350..not a 250
go to this sight and register and enter a vin and get all the info it has to offer
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/home.do
This is a 350..not a 250
go to this sight and register and enter a vin and get all the info it has to offer
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/home.do
10-28-10, 08:56 PM
#89
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Need advice on buying a 2006 IS 350 with options
Hi everyone,
If this post is in the wrong section, please forgive me.
I am new to this forum and this is my first post.
I am in search for a used 2006 IS 350 with Nav and the Mark Levinson audio upgrade. My question is, how can I detect if a IS has the Mark Levinson upgrade by just viewing pictures of the nav unit? ie. Is there any labels or markings identifying that the Mark Levinson upgrade is present?
Thanks in advance, and any input is much appreciated!
If this post is in the wrong section, please forgive me.
I am new to this forum and this is my first post.
I am in search for a used 2006 IS 350 with Nav and the Mark Levinson audio upgrade. My question is, how can I detect if a IS has the Mark Levinson upgrade by just viewing pictures of the nav unit? ie. Is there any labels or markings identifying that the Mark Levinson upgrade is present?
Thanks in advance, and any input is much appreciated!