IS300 AWD Loaner
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Joined: Sep 2015
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From: MA
IS300 AWD Loaner
My IS350 is in for service so the dealership gave me a brand new IS300 as a loaner. Other than being optioned to a lower level than my car that has the luxury and nav packages as well as the optional 18" wheels (the reason it is getting serviced), the major difference is, obviously, the engine.
Maybe it is partially attributable to not being broken in yet (the car only has 500 miles on it), but what a difference those 51 ponies make! The 350 feels so much smoother and has a much stronger low end punch than the 300. To be honest, it's a bit hard to believe they are both 3.5L engines.
Maybe it is partially attributable to not being broken in yet (the car only has 500 miles on it), but what a difference those 51 ponies make! The 350 feels so much smoother and has a much stronger low end punch than the 300. To be honest, it's a bit hard to believe they are both 3.5L engines.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,363
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From: Ontario
Same engine, IS300 is detuned. Looking at the torque curves, the difference is at the high end of the power band, so you really have to push it to feel it or at the track. The difference at the low end is really felt with the IS250 though.
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 294
Likes: 4
From: CA
It might also be the way the ECU "learned" on previous drivers.
Last week I went into the dealer to hear one of the sales guy's F-Sport exhaust. He let me drive his car because it was a demo car anyway. It was the same car as mine (IS350 AWD F-Sport) except he had an F-Sport exhaust. When I drove it, his car felt so much heavier and sluggish than mine, despite me driving alone. His tires were different than mine, but I don't think those alone would make the car feel sluggish. The only thing I can attribute it to is that the ECU learned his driving habits and changed the way the car felt.
TL;DR: I think the ECU learns how you drive and a loaner car may not be a good representation of how the car could potentially feel.
Last week I went into the dealer to hear one of the sales guy's F-Sport exhaust. He let me drive his car because it was a demo car anyway. It was the same car as mine (IS350 AWD F-Sport) except he had an F-Sport exhaust. When I drove it, his car felt so much heavier and sluggish than mine, despite me driving alone. His tires were different than mine, but I don't think those alone would make the car feel sluggish. The only thing I can attribute it to is that the ECU learned his driving habits and changed the way the car felt.
TL;DR: I think the ECU learns how you drive and a loaner car may not be a good representation of how the car could potentially feel.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 232
From: CA
Originally Posted by goldengame
It might also be the way the ECU "learned" on previous drivers.
Last week I went into the dealer to hear one of the sales guy's F-Sport exhaust. He let me drive his car because it was a demo car anyway. It was the same car as mine (IS350 AWD F-Sport) except he had an F-Sport exhaust. When I drove it, his car felt so much heavier and sluggish than mine, despite me driving alone. His tires were different than mine, but I don't think those alone would make the car feel sluggish. The only thing I can attribute it to is that the ECU learned his driving habits and changed the way the car felt.
TL;DR: I think the ECU learns how you drive and a loaner car may not be a good representation of how the car could potentially feel.
Last week I went into the dealer to hear one of the sales guy's F-Sport exhaust. He let me drive his car because it was a demo car anyway. It was the same car as mine (IS350 AWD F-Sport) except he had an F-Sport exhaust. When I drove it, his car felt so much heavier and sluggish than mine, despite me driving alone. His tires were different than mine, but I don't think those alone would make the car feel sluggish. The only thing I can attribute it to is that the ECU learned his driving habits and changed the way the car felt.
TL;DR: I think the ECU learns how you drive and a loaner car may not be a good representation of how the car could potentially feel.
I got 15mpg average when I had a IS250 for a couple days. Hahaha
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 83
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From: MA
Yeah, not really buying the ECU programming since I've driven it for 75 of its ~550 total miles.
It just feels weak at low revs but maybe that is just the difference between 255 and 306 BHP.
Not that 255 is a slouch by any stretch, but given that my previous car, a G35, also had 300+ BHP, it's been awhile since I drove a car with "only" 250 on a regular basis.
It just feels weak at low revs but maybe that is just the difference between 255 and 306 BHP.
Not that 255 is a slouch by any stretch, but given that my previous car, a G35, also had 300+ BHP, it's been awhile since I drove a car with "only" 250 on a regular basis.
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