base vs Fsport
03-06-19, 10:19 AM
#31
They're both long term keepers and near identical cars...biggest difference given who the car is for is color and front grille. 95% of drivers probably wouldn't know what all their car has or doesn't have or what the drive difference is between this or that etc. Looks pretty, costs X, color X, has X button, etc.
03-06-19, 10:48 AM
#32
Driver School Candidate
Unless she's into cars, go with the base model. Use the difference to put towards new tires and/or the insurance costs (which I'm sure won't be cheap for a newer "sports" sedan and a younger driver).
03-06-19, 02:08 PM
#34
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by @osiriskidd 
have you looked at the luxury package?
outside of the is350 sport+ mode, fsport of mostly aesthetics.
memory seats and parking sensors would be worth it.
have you looked at the luxury package?
outside of the is350 sport+ mode, fsport of mostly aesthetics.
memory seats and parking sensors would be worth it.
yeah and thanks; but I am getting a CPO, so its sort of color and then options for her etc but yeah that's a nice set up the lux package
03-06-19, 02:12 PM
#35
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
@OP. I asked the same question last month when I was shopping an IS200t for my son. I decided the F-Sport option was a "must have". The difference in price was not much for me. My decision to go with the F-Sport were follow:
- Resale value in the future
- Buyer's remorse for not getting the "Non-F" will be greater than getting the "F".
- For maintenance, as far as brake pads and tires. The cost will not be a big different during the life of the ownership. 5-7 years for 12K per year.
- For reliability, technically, it is a Toyota. :-)
- F-Sport looks better.
- Resale value in the future
- Buyer's remorse for not getting the "Non-F" will be greater than getting the "F".
- For maintenance, as far as brake pads and tires. The cost will not be a big different during the life of the ownership. 5-7 years for 12K per year.
- For reliability, technically, it is a Toyota. :-)
- F-Sport looks better.
03-06-19, 02:16 PM
#36
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
while i wholeheartedly agree with you on a certain level, i did mention in an earlier post, that somethings you got to say what the heck or some exotic and/or esoteric phrase lol but yes those cars, or really most sub 5k cars are great for the "there i was at 3am raining and dark as ever and car wont start....let me call my dad!" so it may backfire on me as well...but seriously, i had a 330, my wife now has a 350 and both cars have been the best of all of them in terms of reliability...so i guess im looking for that peace of mind for her as well with a little bling to go along with it....
03-06-19, 02:18 PM
#37
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
spot on my thoughts initially and still back and forth, but yes that is left shoulder caricature, the right one says, go blue..fsport... lol
03-06-19, 02:40 PM
#38
drives cars
while i wholeheartedly agree with you on a certain level, i did mention in an earlier post, that somethings you got to say what the heck or some exotic and/or esoteric phrase lol but yes those cars, or really most sub 5k cars are great for the "there i was at 3am raining and dark as ever and car wont start....let me call my dad!" so it may backfire on me as well...but seriously, i had a 330, my wife now has a 350 and both cars have been the best of all of them in terms of reliability...so i guess im looking for that peace of mind for her as well with a little bling to go along with it....
I respect you for wanting to get her a car that is going to have 0 issues at least for a few years. My old Buick Century (first car) was pretty much bulletproof other than the infamous false-alarm check engine light of GM sedans of that time, and window regulators dying a couple of times. Drivetrain-wise, I had no issues whatsoever as I added 30,000 miles to the odometer over 4 years. I was lucky that my grandmother felt like upgrading to a newer car after paying it off. Well, more accurately, my uncle convinced her to.
So I "bought" it from her for $1. However, I think I got lucky. Most GM products of the 2000's weren't known for being uber-reliable like Toyota/Lexus vehicles. And with the IS 200t being a sub-$30,000 vehicle CPO, it's not too shabby an investment as a reliable runabout. So I think any hate is uncalled for - though at the same time, I'd have been giddy to have a snazzy Lexus as a first car. Heck, I was intimidated just owning a car at all...
03-06-19, 02:51 PM
#39
03-06-19, 03:12 PM
#40
while i wholeheartedly agree with you on a certain level, i did mention in an earlier post, that somethings you got to say what the heck or some exotic and/or esoteric phrase lol but yes those cars, or really most sub 5k cars are great for the "there i was at 3am raining and dark as ever and car wont start....let me call my dad!" so it may backfire on me as well...but seriously, i had a 330, my wife now has a 350 and both cars have been the best of all of them in terms of reliability...so i guess im looking for that peace of mind for her as well with a little bling to go along with it....
03-06-19, 03:18 PM
#41
Pole Position
I HIGHLY recommend the F Sport this is coming from a 23 year old lol 
03-06-19, 03:52 PM
#42
Lexus Champion
If they're both in good condition, at similar price and miles, then just go with aesthetics and whichever one pulls you stronger. It sounds like you're leaning to the F Sport.
I wouldn't worry about the instrument cluster. There is a small electric motor, but I see no reason for it to be more prone to failure than, say, a power window motor, door lock actuator, windshield wiper motor, etc. and you aren't worried about those. After that one item, it's just a TFT display, which the base cluster has as well.
I wouldn't worry about the instrument cluster. There is a small electric motor, but I see no reason for it to be more prone to failure than, say, a power window motor, door lock actuator, windshield wiper motor, etc. and you aren't worried about those. After that one item, it's just a TFT display, which the base cluster has as well.
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gregmikki (03-08-19)
03-06-19, 05:12 PM
#43
Pole Position
If they're both in good condition, at similar price and miles, then just go with aesthetics and whichever one pulls you stronger. It sounds like you're leaning to the F Sport.
I wouldn't worry about the instrument cluster. There is a small electric motor, but I see no reason for it to be more prone to failure than, say, a power window motor, door lock actuator, windshield wiper motor, etc. and you aren't worried about those. After that one item, it's just a TFT display, which the base cluster has as well.
I wouldn't worry about the instrument cluster. There is a small electric motor, but I see no reason for it to be more prone to failure than, say, a power window motor, door lock actuator, windshield wiper motor, etc. and you aren't worried about those. After that one item, it's just a TFT display, which the base cluster has as well.
03-08-19, 05:05 PM
#44
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
An ES 330? A BMW 330i? An ES 350? Lots of models with those numbers attached.
I respect you for wanting to get her a car that is going to have 0 issues at least for a few years. My old Buick Century (first car) was pretty much bulletproof other than the infamous false-alarm check engine light of GM sedans of that time, and window regulators dying a couple of times. Drivetrain-wise, I had no issues whatsoever as I added 30,000 miles to the odometer over 4 years. I was lucky that my grandmother felt like upgrading to a newer car after paying it off. Well, more accurately, my uncle convinced her to. So I "bought" it from her for $1. However, I think I got lucky. Most GM products of the 2000's weren't known for being uber-reliable like Toyota/Lexus vehicles. And with the IS 200t being a sub-$30,000 vehicle CPO, it's not too shabby an investment as a reliable runabout. So I think any hate is uncalled for - though at the same time, I'd have been giddy to have a snazzy Lexus as a first car. Heck, I was intimidated just owning a car at all...
I respect you for wanting to get her a car that is going to have 0 issues at least for a few years. My old Buick Century (first car) was pretty much bulletproof other than the infamous false-alarm check engine light of GM sedans of that time, and window regulators dying a couple of times. Drivetrain-wise, I had no issues whatsoever as I added 30,000 miles to the odometer over 4 years. I was lucky that my grandmother felt like upgrading to a newer car after paying it off. Well, more accurately, my uncle convinced her to.
So I "bought" it from her for $1. However, I think I got lucky. Most GM products of the 2000's weren't known for being uber-reliable like Toyota/Lexus vehicles. And with the IS 200t being a sub-$30,000 vehicle CPO, it's not too shabby an investment as a reliable runabout. So I think any hate is uncalled for - though at the same time, I'd have been giddy to have a snazzy Lexus as a first car. Heck, I was intimidated just owning a car at all...
03-08-19, 05:06 PM
#45
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
