Tides

Hey there Club Lexus,


I've been looking into purchasing a Lexus for a while now and have been perusing the forums seeking information to narrow down which model I'd like to invest in.


A little about me, I'm coming from the BMW side of the house having been on both the E46, and the E90 platform. I'm coming from a 2007 335i, where performance mods are incredibly easy to come by, and it feels like no matter what there's always something else you can do for an easy boost to your whp.


One of the biggest factors when it comes to me purchasing a Lexus is it has to be standard, and from what I've seen the IS250 is the way to go if you're looking to get manual transmission, but that also includes being over 100hp behind the 350?!


Long story short I'm coming to you in hopes that you can lend any advice in terms of what can be done to a 2nd gen IS250 in order to boost the whp up a little while still maintaining a naturally aspirated engine. (Not a fan of boost, one of the reasons I'm looking to replace the 335) Or if the IS250 is the wrong way to go in your experience and opinion, set me straight! I will not be offended if you tell me what I have concluded so far is way off.


Thanks in advance for any insight, and hope to get to know many of you in the coming months.

P128sniper

So by standard u mean manual and not automatic? Well in that case the 250 is your only option and it'll litterly feel like ur riding an electric scooter that's on 5% battery power left compared to ur 335i...are u coming to lexus for reliability? If so the 250s have carbon build up issues and would go with 350 because it's quick (not as quick as the 335i) but ALOT faster then the 250 but only comes automatic... I wouldnt consider a 250 at all in your position but that's because I like speed and the 250 will give you none.. Plus the carbon build up.. That's just my 2 cents.. Ooo and nothing u can do to a 250 for more horsepower..

Tides

Correct, I'm really only interested in manual transmission. So in terms of achieving manual transmission while still having power is my only avenue then to look into a first gen IS300? That's too bad..


Yes reliability is a large factor, as I'm looking to have a reliable daily while I work on a separate project, while still having a certain level of performance and luxery that I'm accustomed to.

P128sniper

Yea It sucks they don't make the 350 in manual because it is an amazing car , fast reliable and has the looks as well.. Yea u can go with first Gen the is 300 but to get stock it'll still be much slower than ur 335i, not sure how much speed is important to you plus it's an older car 2001-2006...

SC400slide

iTrader: (11)

It would take quite a bit to increase the HP of a manual IS250 up to the stock HP of an IS350. What is more important? Speed or standard?

Dont forget every 2nd generation IS also has manual gear selectors behind the steering wheel...

Another thing, the IS250 is pretty slow. Pretty, AND slow.

Tides

The age of the car doesn't bother me too much, but speed is definitely a factor...



I guess a better way to put it is that speed really wouldn't matter to me if it wasn't on a manual... I'm just too attached to that connection you have with the car while driving standard, so having more speed if it's automatic really wouldn't result in the same feeling regardless.


That's too bad, because I definitely want a newer gen IS as they look very nice and have a lot of potential aesthetically.. But it looks like I will either need to hunt for a 1st gen IS300 in good condition, or Lexus just isn't for me..

P128sniper

Yea if you need standard and speed is pretty important than its either is 300 and mod it or lexus isn't for you as much as it hurtshurts to say it..

bbaugher47

You can swap in a manual transmission. Someone just completed the swap. I have not read the post due to it not really concerning me. But that is an option as well

top5

Dont buy it. I regret it. 2 years later I wish I had an is350 with 8 spd tranny. The 250 is slow imho and the transmission is meh for a lexus.

Reliability is pretty good. Original clutch is starting to show its age after 155km. Previous owner never swapped it out and I haven't had issues since purchase. Ill give the transmission that.

RandyIS250

Previous BWM Owner ? get IS 350 or IS-F or F-Sport backpage, is250 AWD at least for me because of my daily and winter driving. for fun and speed i got my TRD Solara. is250 is truely slow not a speed car.

MikeyK02

iTrader: (7)

This is coming from someone whos owned all 3

Is300-lighter better handling, rather slow, but can boost

Is350- great hp fun, but no manual. The one here who swapped it might as well work for lexus. It aint easy

Is250 - slow, tranny is terrible ( youll need to get a short shift to make it tolerable) not cost effective to get power.

If you can go automatic get a 350 or isf. If you need manual get a boosted is300

Bichon

I wish. The paddle shifters are nothing but a maximum gear limiter, and will allow but not compel an upshift.

FiveSeven

iTrader: (3)

Coming from someone who also owned a 335i Manual I wouldn't settle for anything less than the IS350.. Although some IS350's have the timing chain cover leak (my friends ended up having one)... All IS250's will eventually have the carbon build up issue.

If you are totally stuck on getting another manual you might want to look at a 2003-2006 G35. I owned a 2003.5 G35 that I drove to 160k miles.. one of the most reliable cars I've ever owned.

strikeraj

Yea I don't think anything in the IS line will satisfy you unless you do the swap like Jeff (see his post)


Or as an alternate, you can get an infiniti like fiveseven suggested


I personally drives an IS350 and it is nice enough I don't miss my stick too much. Especially transmission tune is almost coming out according to vendors