hey guys im planning on getting a isx50 soon and i just love driving stick but everyone keeps talking about how the tranny sucks *** and grinds is it really that bad? if so i would just get the is250 awd or the is350

 

get the 350

 

well to answer your question, i test drove a manual 250 once and it felt pretty sluggish compared to some others... :\

 

the 250 manual (besides getting terrible mileage for a slow car with a stick) is using a re-purposed toyota truck transmission...it's pretty awful.

Unless you're planning to do a lot of off-roading there's not much reason to get the AWD. Buy a 350 and pick up an extra 100+ horsepower instead.

 

Mine seem to be one of the freak 6MT that works fine. No problems what so ever. I love banging through the gears and being able to down shift.

But if I had the choice I'd get the IS350 for the power and breaks. Too bad it cost almost $15,000 more here in Canada.

 

I would just get the IS350. If you really want a manual, you should look into 335i/328i/A4 series. The IS250 manual isn't that great. Lexus should stick with automatics just like how mercedes does..

 

I must agree with VenZon...

Mine works perfectly fine....
however the flywheel could of been a bit better feeling then plastic but none-the less... i enjoy my IS2506MT, if i wanted the perfect car i would of bought an M3 but im 23 and cannot afford that level of pimpin yet :P

 

if you are used to driving a honda/acura transmission (buttery smooth), then this transmission will disappoint you. If you are used to driving an old beat up truck or car that has a tranny with a bad synchros or about to take a dump, then this tranny will feel alright. My Integra had the best shifting tranny I've ever driven. Better than my mr2 turbo tranny which isn't too bad but much better than the Lexus.

 

i got 06 6MT, my feel ok, not that bad like some people said.
but if you dont mind drive a auto then get the 350.

 

Get A 350, you wont be disappointed and just use the sport shift if you want to down shift for instant power.

Make sure to put the tranny on sport mode though.

 

Yes.

The manual tranny negatively impacts the resale value significantly.

 

in my opinion the manual tranny is utter trash. my gears grind unbearably from 1st to 2nd and sometimes from 3rd to 4th. synchros are also terrible.. my quickshifter is coming in the mail soon so i hope that will make it feel a bit better. but if i could go back i'd probably go with the auto or get a different car entirely

 

no problems with my manual... no jar of marble noises or grinds.

 

My 2009 also feels fine. No mables or grinding as other people have said.

 

Read the professional reviews on the manual. Car & Driver did one and so did Edmunds...both short take follow ups but they do talk about the tranny. Now admittedly the "jar of marbles" and 1-2 sychro issues aren't mentioned in those reviews but they are generally positive. It is truly a truck box so that in itself should give you an idea what you're in for.