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Turbo four-cylinder or naturally aspirated V6? The answer to this age-old question faces everyone shopping for a new Lexus IS. Here are the pros and cons of each.
I really don't like having to destroy these articles, but as an IS owner, I feel it's my duty this time...
Aside from the name change, the IS 300 RWD remains essentially unchanged for 2018. Under the hood, you'll find a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 241 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That's good enough to propel the sedan to 60 mph in around 7.6 seconds, and it takes around 15.5 seconds to complete the quarter mile.
Both gain five horsepower over last year's iteration, the larger of which managed a 6-second 0-60 run and 14.4-second quarter mile.
The new, 5-horsepower-higher engines have not been tested. The 6.0-second run is also arguably the slowest you can expect to get to 60 in an IS 350. Multiple tests prior to that one have shown the mid- to high-five-second range. I think more important is the idea that someone has tested the 2018 IS, when that hasn't happened yet, unless I missed something.
IS 300 Turbo is what they're calling it now? Not an IS200T? or IS Turbo?
I've heard IS 300 RWD is also being used. IS 300 AWD was already the official name for the existing 300, just now they added "RWD" for the 2.0 turbo model.
BTW, if we're going to answer the question in the article... My two cents.
If you want performance, or even think might, test drive all of them. If fuel economy is important, definitely go for the 300 RWD. The 350 RWD is also marginally better than the 300/350 AWD, so it's a good compromise if you want not-so-bad fuel economy and good acceleration. The 300 AWD is not slow, but it won't shove you back into your seat at high revs either. Even if it's only a couple of tenths off the 350, it doesn't always feel like it is. That said, if I could have a do-over I'd just go all in on an IS 350 AWD. I wanted the added traction of AWD, given I live somewhere that gets regular snow in the winters. I might have also gone with the 350 RWD with a good set of winter tires, just for the benefit of the 8-speed.
How did you get 50 horsepower out of a tune? Could you please list specifics? Tune + Headers + Exhaust?
His talking about ECU tune and not bolt ons. The difference between the IS300 vs IS350 is the company detuned the IS300. Therefore, some people just ecu tune it back to IS350 number.
How did you get 50 horsepower out of a tune? Could you please list specifics? Tune + Headers + Exhaust?
RR racing has a complete plug and play ECU tuning package.
Just an ECU flash will yield 50HP (35whp). There's an option to add headers and exhaust which will achieve 70whp, for only $2800. I was quite impressed with the ECU tune. I tuned it day one. I'll wait for the engine to break in a little more before adding the headers and exhaust.
His talking about ECU tune and not bolt ons. The difference between the IS300 vs IS350 is the company detuned the IS300. Therefore, some people just ecu tune it back to IS350 number.
I'm a bit confused here. I thought they just said that the 300 is a turbo I4 now, and the 350 is an NA V6?
I hate this new meaningless nomenclature ��
The IS200T is the 2.0L turbo.
The IS300/350 is the V6 3.5L normal assertion motor.
motor.
normal *aspiration, I assume?
Correct. However, the IS 200t is being renamed to the IS 300, and the existing IS 300 AWD continues on with the V6, unchanged from this year's model (except for the 2018 V6 updates including 5 extra horses).
Lexus IS 300 vs. IS 350: Which one Should You Buy?
