Best year IS 350 to buy?
01-24-12, 06:52 PM
#16
best bang for your bucks are the '09 edition. they have the updated tail lights which is really the only noticeable difference of all versions. sure they updated the front bumper on the '11, but unless you get the HID option, you won't notice any difference without the LED DRLs.
01-24-12, 08:17 PM
#18
I have an '09 and the only "recall" I had to do was the pedal "recall." Other than that, the only issues I've had (intermittently) are creaks/rattles/squeaks during cold temperatures, but this has always been an issue on most ISx50s.
01-25-12, 12:34 AM
#25
01-25-12, 12:41 AM
#26
2010 still had AFS, no LED strip. The front and back same as 2009.
2011 lost AFS and got the bubbling LED strip. The rear signal is clear vs amber. Missing LEXUS emblem on lower left part of trunk.
And apparently some 06-08 have this mysterious dent on the roof?
2011 lost AFS and got the bubbling LED strip. The rear signal is clear vs amber. Missing LEXUS emblem on lower left part of trunk.
And apparently some 06-08 have this mysterious dent on the roof?
01-25-12, 05:56 AM
#27
07 They added the shark fin on roof, disable traction control button, and bigger illuminated gas+trunk buttons.
08 They carved deeper slits in the front seat backs for more rear passenger leg room, adjusted the steering, and changed the OEM rims from hyper silver to liquid graphite color.
09 They updated slightly the front and back bumpers and lights. Changed driver side switches. I think they adjusted the steering again. Rims changed to "lobster claw" style.
10 They updated the Nav from DVD based to USB and updated the interface.
11 Rim style changed to 5 spokes? Added F-Sport package (which means no, superior, sport package anymore). Added silver trim to steering wheel and glove box. Updated the front and backs again. Added LED headlights. Loss AFS adaptive headlights. Loses passenger memory seat for those who get the lux package.
12 They they changed the color of temperature switches from green to red for heat, blue for cold.
As for packages, the Luxury pack is the most fully loaded. Then you have stand alone options like radar cruise control (super rare), parking assist, and headlight washers.
I'd get an 08+. Someone correct me on this info?
Check out the buyer's guide. Helped me a lot.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...e-threads.html
08 They carved deeper slits in the front seat backs for more rear passenger leg room, adjusted the steering, and changed the OEM rims from hyper silver to liquid graphite color.
09 They updated slightly the front and back bumpers and lights. Changed driver side switches. I think they adjusted the steering again. Rims changed to "lobster claw" style.
10 They updated the Nav from DVD based to USB and updated the interface.
11 Rim style changed to 5 spokes? Added F-Sport package (which means no, superior, sport package anymore). Added silver trim to steering wheel and glove box. Updated the front and backs again. Added LED headlights. Loss AFS adaptive headlights. Loses passenger memory seat for those who get the lux package.
12 They they changed the color of temperature switches from green to red for heat, blue for cold.
As for packages, the Luxury pack is the most fully loaded. Then you have stand alone options like radar cruise control (super rare), parking assist, and headlight washers.
I'd get an 08+. Someone correct me on this info?
Check out the buyer's guide. Helped me a lot.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...e-threads.html
I corrected your 2010/2011 stuff some...
Personally I think the two best, by far are either:
2008: All the cosmetic changes after this have been horrid IMHO (blinkers on the mirrors, the hideous lobster claw wheels, etc). If you really love the newer tails or something they're easy enough to swap too... and you get the best looking OEM wheels (liquid graphite split 5s)... if you don't care about in-dash nav, get an 08.
2010: You get a nav system with features from this century (though still well behind a current Garmin), and a USB/ipod setup built in.... you're stuck with the 09 visual updates that I'm not a fan of, but at least you can still get the sport package rather than the much inferior F-sport package. If you MUST have in-dash nav, get a 2010.
And speaking of.... Lux is not the "most fully loaded" for 06-10 models.... IMHO Sport package is most loaded. The content is identical between the two except for:
Lux adds:
Woodgrain, illuminated door sills, and power sunshade, but lacks all the things in the "Sport adds"
Sport adds:
Sport pedals, sport suspension, aluminum door sills but lacks the things in "Lux adds"
In my book the pedals and suspension trump the rear sunshade and woodgrain... and you can swap whichever door sills you want in 5 minutes.
For 2011+ models yeah Lux is most loaded because the F-sport package is mostly just some cosmetic stuff and loses all the actual functional benefits of the old sport package other than the suspension and pedals... (ie no memory seats, no auto-tilt/dim side mirrors, no rain sensing wipers, no power tilt steering, etc...)
Anyway, I'd avoid 06-07 because 08 has everything those do, plus the better rear legroom, better looking wheels, and better steering.
I'd avoid 09 because I dislike just about all the cosmetic changes, and there's no real functional improvement other than the location of the AUX jack is better.
I'd avoid 2011 and 2012 because not only did they make additional unattractive cosmetic changes, the car is actually losing features... (No AFS, no passenger memory, no real sport package, etc)
Last edited by Kurtz; 01-25-12 at 05:59 AM.
01-25-12, 06:39 AM
#28
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My 12 IS350C has memory seats both sides but no auto up windows for the rear windows on the drivers door. I have the AFS on my RX and not having that on the IS not even worth talking about. I have the Lux package.
