Motoracer

The 2011 IS350 AWD doesn't count? :whistles: Enjoy your new ride! Too late! I'm guessing I would still prefer the Audi, but my old IS350 gave up very little on the luxury side compared to the more expensive Audi. Hopefully Lexus updated their Nav/music system since I bought mine in '06. My car had only one aux channel that could be used for satellite OR iPod. Mine came with XM radio installed and there was no way to hook up my iPod. The Audi system lets me have both, the iPod interface is good and there's a dedicated connector and pouch for the iPod in the glove box. Also, the nav system syncs with my mobile phone (Verizon, Samsung Omnia) automatically and updates the contact list so I can dial people up with a voice command and tell the system to navigate to the address if I've included one in the contact. One more thing I didn't like about the Lexus: inputs from the paddles to the transmission were more of a suggestion than a command. It was very slow to respond and sometime overruled me when my choice clearly wasn't going to trash the transmssion. The Audi S-tronic dual clutch responds immediately to paddle inputs and it does that even if the shift lever isn't pushed over into manual mode. Also like the rev-matched throttle blips with the downshifts in the Audi.

I found a lot to like about my 2006 IS350, despite the fact that the service department at Lexus of Northborough managed to put the rear wheels on the front front of the car while doing rotations on two separate service visits. But I had issues: 1, suspension too soft and steering feel completely opaque; 2, overly intrusive skid and traction control; 3, inability to get up my steep driveway in the winter, despite a 17" wheel and Blizzak setup; 4, headaches with the TPMS every time I switched back and forth between winter summer wheels. So this spring I traded up for a 2010 Audi S4. It's in a different league, which I suppose it should be for the added price, and I am one totally satisfied customer. Maybe things will be different when the warranty and prepaid service run out, but even if it ends up costing more to keep running it will be worth it. Just about every single thing is better. Way faster, way better handling at speed plus better ability to soak up bumps, the dual-clutch S-tronic is fantastic, the seats are more comfortable for long rides and the B&O audio is the best I've had in a car. If Lexus offered an IS350 with AWD I might not have have arrived at this decision, but they don't and I did and I have no regrets!

I bought aftermarket 17" Bobert wheels and Bridgestone Blizzak tires and I usually put two bags of ice melter in the trunk at the back corners. Still unable to get out of my steep driveway with even very light snow. I'm looking at Audi S4 or Infiniti G37x as alternatives.

Duh, I hadn't thought of that! That's why l like forum. No doubt Lexus markup for these Lexus parts is huge. When I do major suspension stuff on the race bike (RS125) I take it GMD Computrack who have a database of optimal geometry and settings. No idea how I'd do this with the car, but presumably there are some shops in the Boston exurbs that might know what they're doing and get it done a lot cheaper than Lexus. Thanks!

First time back on the forum since I bought my IS350 in 2007 and I'm checking to see if anyone has experience with the F-sport suspension bits. I'm liking the IS quite a bit for real world driving (I have a GSXR750 for other world), but the Lexus does suffer from lack of steering feel and a bit too much body roll. Thinking about installing the F-sport dampers, sway bars and rear brace but not the lower springs when the car hits ~60K miles next year. I realize that dropping the cg would help with body roll but I live in NE and have to deal with winter. I don't want to lower the body and use the front fascia as a snow plow. BTW I use 17" aftermarket wheels with Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires, which work fine except for getting me out of my steep driveway. The 17" wheels take the F-sport brakes off the table, which is probably good since they're $$$$. If anybody has experience upgrading an IS350 with the F-sport suspension parts please let me know. I've never driven an IS/F but reviews peg it as tuned way too stiff, presumably because there's so little allowable suspension travel with monster tires filling up the wheel wells. I'm hoping that the F-sport dampers and sway bars, combined with the standard springs will be a good comfort/handling compromise. As for steering feel, maybe that can't be helped or at best slightly improved with different summer tires once the Potenzas wear out.

I had the dashboard rattle in my '07 IS350. Took it into Lexus of Watertown (MA) who said they'd never heard of this problem (I hadn't been checking this site), but they fixed it under warranty. On the way home I found the dashboard was fixed but I had a brand new rattle, this time a sort of metallic sound which seemed to be coming from the steering wheel assembly. Took it to Lexus of Northborough who found that the problem was the knee panel under the steering wheel. I guess the Watertown crew took that apart and didn't get back together properly. Glad it's fixed but disappointed in Lexus quality.

One word of caution about tire pressure sensors. Living near Boston the first thing did for my '07 IS350 was buy aftermarket 17" wheels and Bridgestone Blizzaks for the winter at Direct Tire, which is a generally reputable shop. All went well until I had to put the summer wheels/tires back on when the TMPS "check system" warning came on. It turns out that the TMPS codes for Lexus are proprietary and unavailable to non-Lexus shops, and I had to go to Lexus for a service visit in order to wake the sensors up. The car comes with capacity to store two sets of codes that you can easily switch between, but sensors seem to fall asleep when the wheels are stored and have to be reset by the Lexus dealer. Same thing happened when I switched off for the next change of season. I complained to Barry Steinberg at Direct Tire that they gave me now warning of this when I bought the wheels and tires from them. He said they are trying to get a law passed in Massachusetts to force Lexus (and other OEMs) to make the codes available. In the meantime, he offered to take the car in to Lexus for me, absorb the cost, and give me a loaner car, so I have no complaints about Direct Tire. Just one more thing to think about if you decide to swap wheels and sensors.

My IS350 gets about 1 mpg better than the computer estimate. With gas prices near $4 and a really boring exurban commute, I've been working on efficiency. Without resorting to hairball techniques I can get 25 mpg on a 50 mile commuting loop with 25 stoplights and an average speed of 30 mph. Not bad considering 300 hp on tap for those rare occasions when it can be used.

I'm glad you started this thread as I'm thinking about F bits for my '07 IS350, but probably not until the stock shocks need replacing. I'll pass on the louder exhaust that probably doesn't add power, but I'd like to improve the handling and the brakes if the price isn't prohibitive. Better tires usually give the most bang for buck, but even at moderate pace my car has too much body roll. The brakes are reasonably effective but a bit spongy. The biggest deficit, compared to the class leading BMW 3 series, is the steering feel and unfortunately there doesn't seem to be an F-sport fix for that. I get just about zero feedback from the wheel, with a disconnected feeling that almost seems like an FWD car.

Living in New England I bought 17" wheels and Bridgestone Blizzak tires from Direct Tire as soon as I picked up my '07 IS350 at the end of last winter. The Direct Tire people were unable to program the second set of sensors for the winter wheels, so I had to get that done at the Lexus dealer. Evidently Lexus keeps OEM specific apparatus for this job strictly in house. I had no problem with the winter set up after that, and no problem when the summer wheels/tires were put back on at Direct Tire in the spring of '07. The car permits two sets of pressure codes, which should be a good thing. However, this winter when the 17" wheels/Blizzaks went back on the tire pressure warning appeared within about 30 minutes of driving even though the pressures were fine. The Direct Tire people reset it 3 times and each time it would relapse after about 30 minutes. I finally took it back to Lexus and they diagnosed the problem as one sensor going into "sleep mode" and only their equipment could wake it up! Cost me about $80, partially mitigated by a car wash and free lunch. I'll be *BLEEP*ed if this happens each time I swap the wheels. The Blizzaks seem to work well when the car is on level ground, but even with the winter tires getting up my steep driveway has been a real problem. Conditions that would not have phased by old Acura TL completely stop the Lexus. My wife and I both work so when the driveway is icy we have to decide which one gets the Toyota RAV4 (not deterred by any amount of ice or snow) and who has to try the Lexus and maybe stay home. The IS250 AWD didn't appeal to me much, but this winter has me looking at BMW 335xi and I'm interested to see the Mitsu Lancer Evo MR when it comes out.

I bought 17" winter wheels and tires for my '07 IS350 at Direct Tire (Natick, MA). We discovered that the Lexus has not made the programming equipment available to independent shops, so I had to take it to Lexus of Watertown where they programmed the sensors for $100.