IS250AWDowner

I'm getting ready to order a SGM/Black IS250 AWD w/ Lux , Nav & ML.... I've started to second guess myself.

The IS 350 is only slightly more $, but offers me the ability to rack up speeding tickets so much quicker. ;)

I'm considering the IS250 since it comes with the AWD and should be pretty good in the snow here in MA.

Does anyone have the IS350, and do they drive it in the snow?

I know the 350 has VDIM which helps keep it on the road, but what about starting from a stop?

Do you get stuck on hills at red lights, etc?

I see so many BMWs get stuck on the hilly back roads on my way to work.

Will I have to dump $2,000 on snow tires and rims?

Thanks!

I love my AWD. I live in Northern VA.. we get decent amount of snow once a year.. I drove out in the snow just fine. I put my snow feature on and drove passed all the SUVs on the road. They all were just starring at me as I passed them.. lol.

Does anyone know if the IS250 and 350 have this feature? Thanks.

how do you guys like the stock sound system in the 2006 IS models? is it any good? the stock system is described as:

"13-speaker 194-watt Premium Sound System with Automatic Sound Levelizer (ASL) and in-dash, single-feed, six-disc CD auto-changer."

i hate to dish out more dough for mark levinson, but decent quality sound is important too. as long as it sounds better than a sound system i would find in a hyundai, it would be all good.

I'm impressed with stock sound system. I was thinking about getting after-market system, but I changed my mind after hearing stock.

As far as the mp3 player.. I use the ipod and the only time the sound is low is when I have it set low on my ipod. I just turn the volume max for ipod and its louder then my cd and radio..

My co-worker who has an older version of Lexus tease me for not getting nav system and ML system, but I dont regret not getting it at all.

The rattle noise comes when I'm increasing in speed. I'll pop it in neurtral and rev up to 2100-2500 rpm and see if it makes a noise.

also try it at a stand still. put on the parking brake, put in neutral and bring it up to the rattling rpm for a few seconds. have someone else look in the engine bay, lay on the ground, etc and try to help pinpoint where the rattle(s) eminate from.

steviej

Thanks for the tip.. I'll try that out..

I did some further testing and it seems like the noise is only in automatic and still increasing in speed (from 0-60). I popped it in neutral and everything sounds normal. I tried the paddle shifting and I didnt notice the same noises. I just noticed it while I was in automatic. My guess is the noise might be normal considering its a 2.5 litre V6 engine and the mechanic at the dealership that drove said it was normal as well. I got the warranty.. so only time will tell.

Thanks for all the advice :D

I noticed it when I turned my music off.

turn the music back on louder and it will go away. :P sorry, couldn't resist.

can you pinpoint the rattle. is it a heat shield type rattle or, does the pitch of the rattle change with the speed of the car, can you make it rattle with the car in neutral?

steviej

The rattle noise comes when I'm increasing in speed. I'll pop it in neurtral and rev up to 2100-2500 rpm and see if it makes a noise.

The IS250 engine is 4GR-FSE

I hadn't heard anything about the rattle.

Thanks for the info. I only hear the rattle noise when Im reving to 2100rpm - 2500rpm. I noticed it when I turned my music off.

1) I was wondering if anyone knows the model number for the IS 250 engine

2) Is there anyone else that is hearing rattling nosie when you reving to/around 2100rpm - 2500rpm? I went back to the dealership and re-test drove the display model and it makes the same noise. I drove other v6 engines and it didnt make this kind of noise.

Thanks..