I owned a 2is IS250 for 5 years, while the car was a nice upgrade from a scion tc with 161hp. It really was a slug to get off the line when needing to go pass slower trailers on ramps.

For comments about the IS250 engine being bullet proof. I will invite you to check out the 2is forum and search "Carbon Buildup". I was one of many to have this issue with my is250. I loved the car but after two engine rebuilds and a third diagnosed carbon issue out of warranty I traded it in for a 14' IS350. Toyota always said that the carbon build up was resolved but I know many like me who had it come back at 40k and 60k intervals. Is250 engine has been the same since 2005 when the first is250 was released as a 2006 model and did not change till the is200t engine replaced it. I really do hope no one who owns a 14+ is250 ever has to go through those carbon buildup issues. It will sux if your call stalls out on a train track while waiting to make a left turn and have a train 1/4 mile away from you coming straight at you with your loved ones in the car. One of the most scariest situations I have ever gone through.

For that reason IS350 all day for me and will never look back at an IS250.

 

like they say, its the 200hp.. but overall, cant beat a sport looks with luxury style..

 

Also, we aren't talking fractions of a second in accelerating differences. We are talking SECONDS. I use my is350 power all day long, every day. I don't have to be going fast to reap the benefits of the extra 100hp either. Many times I've had to muscle passed a line of cars that wouldn't let me over. Being able to go from 20 something to 50 within a blink is very handy at times.

306HP should be the minimum for such a heavy car nowadays. I feel a lot more confident when doing interstate driving too. Nice to be able to pull hard passed an idiot semi truck driver.

 

I was thinking f sport 250 should atleast be 250hp and 350 should be 350hp and the fact that is has no memory seats kinda sucks, i mean it has auto adjust for the steering wheel and mouse when you hit that start button, but i would like to see the seats adjust also when you hit that start. Even the accord touring v6 comes 278hp

 

The 250 is a lovely slick and quiet entry level car, and it actually sold very well.
Regardless of what enthusiasts demand for linear power, the 250 made the bulk of the sales to the mass public.

However, a combination of cost cutting, plus government demands to lower fuel consumption and lower carbon pollution levels forced the initial replacement with the 2.0L four cylinder turbo, which is more powerful and more economical, but much harsher and louder.
In several years time, expect the 350 to be replaced by a 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo, however because this replacement has the same V6 layout albeit with a smaller capacity, it will be much smoother and quieter than the current 3.5L V6.
The four cylinder configuration of the 2.0L makes it a rowdy engine, but a more efficient and economical engine at the same time.

There is no perfect engine; just compromizes here and there...

 

Only because you are on the Lexus forum.
You go out there into the world and there is actually a lot more IS250 than 350. Those owners who bought the IS 250 used their own criteria selecting the IS, never read the forums and never learned to 'hate'.

 

+1.

Almost 90% of IS I see on the road is a 250 or 200t . I rarely see any 350s. Unless I am looking at my own car.

 

I have a 200t. The 2.5L V6 found in the 250 is definitely the smoother engine, hands down. But it lacks torque and really burns fuel. Ideally I would like a 350 RWD, but the 70-100mph pull in the 200t keeps me happy. And I look forward to the tuning capability of this engine. The rumored 3.0 V6TT should be a monster.

 

He, he, describes my experience. I am yet to see another IS350 on the road...

 

I've always felt a car is as good as it's relevance to what you think is important. I think any bashing a 250 gets just comes from people who place an importance on going fast. Which is OK, but I never understood the logic behind bashing a 200 hp car for not being fast enough. A 200 hp car of that size and weight is not designed for speed. It's designed for adequate. I happily drove a 200 hp 2006 TSX for 10 years and it was adequate for every daily driving task. It was also bullet-proof when it came to reliability, which is a big part of what I value. That's what drew me to the 200t - the engine is just fine for what I need, and the ride, handling, luxury and (assumed) reliability are all fantastic.

All cars are built for a purpose and a demographic. It makes about as much sense to bash a 250 for not being in the "street racer" segment as it us to bash a 3-series for being an awful off-road car. Cars should be criticized relative to what they were designed for, not to an individual "want" list.

 

Btw OP, you will find that the IS250's 2.5L V6 is both smoother and quieter: from idle, to pottering around town, to full throttle openings - than the bigger 3.5L V6.
Thus, I can't wait till they bring out a 3.0L V6 TT - it will rev so much more smoothly and quietly, thanks to lighter reciprocating mass.
I wish Lexus would make a 2.0L V6 TT, and let Toyota have the 2.0L in-line four cylinder turbo - the V6 is less fuel efficient, but so much smoother...
.

 

i'll just pop in to say that i love my 250. <3

 

Where is any data for that? If 250 wasn't competitive and sales weren't good enough the model would be discontinued. On top of that Lexus is selling a lot more 250s than 350s.

 

It wasnt competitive so they did get rid of it for the 200t.

 

Olasek it was discontinued, a least here in Canada, I bought the last one the dealership had back in December, they said the 200T will replace the 250 going forward. Just FYI.