AVS alone would push to get the is350. Wondering if the 2017 changes would be significant enough for me to hold off for a 2016 model.

I had a 4 banger tsx which was about 204 HP. That felt more peppy than the is250 now. I guess i just have to test drive the is200t to see if the diff makes me want to make the move to that vs the 350.

Lexus really screwed everyone who got into a 2014 and 2015 models lol

 

I actually think the opposite of you have a 350. If the only change in the 2017 IS350 is the 5hp upgrade, then the 2014/15 owners will have a car that won't have changed for an entire generation

 

On non F Sport models, the change in steering feel is moved to Sport mode, rather than Sport + as on the F Sport models. I assume this is also true for the F Sport models that do not have AVS/Sport + (IS250 and IS200t).

 

Looking at my Signature. The reason I dont update my car because the 350 never get update. I dont care that 5hp. Lexus will update the 350 to the same as GS and wont launch the new engine or maybe iS300T till the next generation It seem to be!

 

it's pretty much a given, FI is the future, big displacement V6s are days of the past. Infiniti is coming out with a twin turbo V6 Q50 close to 400hp in a year or two, by that time, Lexus has no choice but to consider a IS300T for the next gen IS

 

Cheaper chasis set up...for example Mercedes is known for RWD but the CLA came out as a FWD

 

But the CLA is a completely different design from Cx00. So, you did not answer the question. How can Lexus change the IS from RWD to FWD and not change the body / design one bit?

 

I think if Lexus wants to enter the performance market then yes FI is going to be the future however Lexus as a luxury car brand will NEVER end the V6 option on any of their cars that currently have. The balance and smoothness of a v6 is what you WANT in a luxury car. That's why the majority of Lexus as well as Toyota's stable of midsized to full sized cars are the GR engines.

If Lexus didn't have their F-Sport division, they would have never went FI because they find out people really do WANT performance & Luxury. Some people want JUST performance, Some people just want luxury ONLY and that's why they are offering so engine options on the IS (which is actually kind of annoying IMO but not enough to care)

As for Infiniti, The Q50 Eau Rouge is supposed to be their version of a GT-R sedan on Nissan's Luxury line (infiniti). The R35 is the only Skyline/GT-R that didn't come as a sedan so the Eau Rogue was supposed to make up for it in nissan's eyes but unfortunately still a concept.

 

I agree, except the "great" NVH part, especially when compared to BMW's lovely inline 6's.

Good for a 4-banger, I could agree with.

 

the fact that the 200t is a turbo 4 alone would have forced me to get the 350

 

'17 model year most likely will be the MMC refresh for IS (it would be 3 full model years under the belt for 3IS, and IS always getting refreshed 1 model year behind GS, GS just got theirs this year), i would hold off on the '16 model if you don't need a new car right away

 

The IS200t is 239lbs heavier than the IS250 was.

Lexus.com is incorrect, the IS200t, IS300 and IS350 all have the same 13" brakes for 2016, mostly likely due to the increased weight of the IS200t.

Jeff

 

the brakes should be a major upgrade. the 250 brakes sucked

 

Just got back from test driving an is200t. First off, brakes do feel better than on my is250 when it was new. But the turbo lag is definitely noticeable. It's a full second, then you feel the torque. I expected that going in but it does not feel substantially faster until you get it going, typical for a turbo. Was able to get it on the freeway but only for about a 1/2 mile due to traffic conditions. It's not as noticeable on the freeway because I kept it in a lower gear so a higher rpm, but in stop and go driving you will feel the lag. So personally, it's a trade off, passing speed on the freeway vs the instant torque and then fade in power from a stop light. All about driving habits. But it's a huge difference in engine noise. It sounded a lot more forced especially when slowing down and shifting to a lower gear. The growl of the V6 is replaced by the more mechanical sound of the 4 cyl. Again, I t really depends on driving habits if you're considering upgrading. I would definitely look into an exhaust to drown out the 4cyl engine sound.

 

Is the ride smooth though on the v4 compare to the v6? Are you saying the IS 200t is A LOT louder than the IS 250? If the car is on idle/stop position, do you hear the muffler or the engine noise?