vi926

congrat! i thought mbz fixed their reliability issues.... guess not

I test drove a lot of cars before buying my IS, including some that were cheaper.

For example I test drove a V6 camry (though honestly it was still like 30k which is insane)

When I sat in it my wifes first remark, which was the same as my thoughts, were "This feels just like a 10 year old camry with a bigger engine"

There wasn't anything especially great about it compared to just an old used one.

Honestly, in the 30k and below category the nicest car we test drove was the Saturn Aura (probably the current Malibu based on it would be similar). It would've been around 25k pretty much loaded. It had decent power and mileage, and especially for GM a pretty decent interior.

The IS350 though was the first car we sat in that -felt- like a 30+ thousand dollar car.

Combine with having the best performance of all the cars we tested (well, tied with the G35 really, but better than all the others including the Acura TL-S, Caddy STS, the V6 Camry, and a number of others) as well as offering excellent mileage compared to most of those, and BY FAR the best brand reputation for reliability, and it was a pretty easy decision.

I wanted a car with good performance, and excellent reliability and a really nice interior experience. Lexus didn't make one of those prior to the 2IS. Toyota hadn't made one since the Supra and the prices on the mk4 supras are -way way way- beyond insane for even a 10-15 year old one.

GM hadn't made a car like that since the 94-96 B-body, excluding maybe the vette (again insane pricing) and a few recent caddys that just fell short compared to the Lexus....the Aura was a nice surprise but you could really see what you got extra for the $ comparing it to the 2IS.

Infiniti had the G35, and that was my second choice really, but the 2IS just just a little better in a lot of ways.

Nissan has the 350Z but it was basically an inferior G35 for my needs.

Acura was vaguely close with the TL/TL-S but it was a clear 3rd behind the G35 and 2IS.

Honda hasn't made a car like that ever.

Ford.... sorry...can't even keep a straight face there... ditto Chrysler.

Subaru has the WRX but the STi don't come in automatic and the interior honestly sucks.

Mitsubishi has been hemmoraging money for so long I wouldn't even consider em, and the EVO has similar issues as the WRX.

BMW besides all the reliability jokes on the 335i about doubles the price of the car if you want any options in it, and you still get a dated crap interior compared to the Lexus.

Believe me, if there's been a 20-something grand car that compared well to the IS350 I would've seriously considered it.

wow, you really went out of ur way to find the right car.

same *BLEEP* happen to me every time i finish washing my car. its black btw. i can't make them go away :(

Does anyone have the hidden radar Lexus is pushing. If so I would like to know how you like it? Also is it possible to install yourself. I am hearing $1500 installed does that sound high?

TX

I have an Escort mounted on the windshield. Texas must be one of the few states in which it is illegal to have a detector, huh?

isn't it illegal in ca too??

i know the older gen of LS have built in radar dect from LEXUS. my friend has one. its pretty cool. it is flush in to the dash.