foxwiz

I like how the new IS convertible looks but I'm for info from people that already own one before I make a decision to buy or not..

Anyone here have one? Or know someone that does?

I have the 250C and love it. I got it June 24th and have put over 2600 miles on it so far. Drive is smooth and the biggest issue I have is sharing the driving with my wife!

Got the Matador Red with the black interior. I wouldn't get the white interior as it's tough to keep clean.

The first week I had the car, I took a trip from Los Angeles to San Diego early in the morning when the freeway was pretty open. About 150 miles and averaged 34 MPG!

Funny thing is that I haven't seen another IS C on the road yet!

I've had my IS 250C just over a month and it's rated at 21/29. Two weeks ago I took trip from Los Angeles to San Diego, about 150 miles. I reset the mileage gage and when I arrived in San Diego I got 33.9 MPG. Granted I left home around 6 AM so there was no traffic and I was pretty light on the gas.

In normal street/highway driving I get an average of 26.

Love the car and since I've purchased it, I haven't seen another one yet!

When is the 2010 model going to be available? If you order one, it can take 3 to 6 months to get it anyway. Do you just call dealers until you get the answer you were looking for? Is it really a good idea to spread rumors on a message board? I'm not sure. I think I'll hang up on this thread. Good luck.

Weird! Mellow down, this is hardly a serious discussion!

Sorry if this chit chat seems to offend you? Perhaps there are one too many dealers frequenting this forum. If so, perhaps you dealers should understand that a customer's concerns are a priority, not your desire to get him into any car you can. Twisting the truth to your own ends may work on some customers, but it can backfire if you come across as disingenuous. Those are the only dealers I give up on. There's one I am talking to right now who is worlds above the others in knowledge honesty and all-around just being a nice person. He's going to get 100% of my business, and I think I'm going to have to pay almost retail too (though I'll try to at least squeeze something extra out of the deal).

Yes it can take 3 months to get a car by order (not 6 from what I'm told) but if the config I'm looking for isn't available, I have no choice but to wait longer. One odd thing a dealer told me was that if I order now, I'll probably get a 2010, but then he started saying since he doesn't have the new pricing he didn't know if that was possible.

When a product is much loved and anticipated, you will find many rumors regarding it! I love this car! :D

It's as serious as we the moderators and management want it to be young man. We will be the ones to decide that. If you want to dealer bash, go ahead if justified, but mod bashing is frowned upon on this forum. Now you chill before your mouth gets you off to a bad start on LOC.

Bartkat,

Just to make sure "my mouth" doesn't get me into more "trouble," could you please point out where I was "mod bashing." Just want to make sure I understand what you define as mod bashing and/or unacceptable/disruptive behavior. I agree that mod bashing (and member bashing for that matter) is not conducive to anyone. Sorry you took it that way, but looking over my reply to you, I think it was appropriate considering your comments to me.

This a car lovers forum... I cannot think of another place that is meant to be more relaxing and cool, in other words, one place where you dont have to be so serious! You're giving me a rather cold reception as a mod.

Chill out and go for a nice drive. Turn up the radio and don't sweat the small stuff.

Can you please create either a new C group (like the separate IS-F group) or a new sub group under IS250/350 group?? Otherwise where can I go brag and extol the virtues of this amazing car I just bought. I got the first IS-350 in California in Red/Black ext/int. Amazing car!

I have the IS 250C in Red/Black. Had it just over a month and only drive 6 miles to work. Don't know how I managed to get 2300 miles on it!

I just hit the 1000 mile mark on my 350, the service manual doesn't ask for an oil change but is it required/recommended?

Also what type of Motor Oil is preferred?

The manual recommends changing the oil at 5k miles. The first oil change is free from the dealer according to what I was told.

Since they will be changing the oil, I am sure they will put in the right one.

I am anxiously awaiting the chance to become a part of the Lexus community... after a broad search of the various sport sedans out there. I decided the Lexus IS 350 is the best for my needs. I've decided to wait for the 2010 models to become available but I just can't get a peep out of anyone or even find a blurb about what to expect in the new models or even when to expect them. (One dealer had the audacity to tell me it might not come out until december 09, I hung up on him).

So to kill time, I thought, why not start a rumor mill.

Here's what I have gathered.

1. Release date will be near the end of August.

2. I might have to wait until August before I am able to custom order. Why custom order? Because apparently, the rumor is the the Mark Levinson systems will not be equipped in most shipped models... they will have a "premium" audio system but not true ML unless special ordered.

3. There will be some minor changes to the grill, so the exterior will change slightly.

4. Nav will be hard drive and incorporate XM traffic.

If anyone can confirm these rumors or add to them, you will aid in my misery of waiting. How miserable am I? I'm driving a 2000 Accord that is falling apart.

If you have any rumors/info about changes to the F-sport line or accessories, that would be of interest as well. The setup I'm looking for is 2010 IS 350, Starfire pearl, Lux package + Nav + ML, 18" G-spider rims, F-sport exhaust, ground kit.

Wow - A dealer had the "audacity" to give his opinion about when the vehicle will be coming out and you hung up on him? A little harsh don't you think? Usually in America we can express our opinions.

While not what I was hoping to hear, I do appreciate your response. Just today I was at a Lexus dealership in Beverly Hills, and they were "positive" that the 2010 IS was going to have the new generation 6 nav. I left there, feeling really excited---but because of your response, I will temper that excitement WAY down. Probably a good thing!

Thanks for your response,

Jeff

My new 2010 IS 250C has the latestest gen 6 nav. It isn't DVD based, it's Hard Drive based along with the RX 450h. I still haven't mastered the voice commands yet but I will.

Gary

Hey guys/gals.

Some of you might think this is a pointless post, but i just thought i'd share something i felt tonight that really got me thinking, that really made me appreciate my family's health and to be grateful for the simple things in life we often take for granted.

This evening i took my girlfriend out to dinner and to see a movie, this particular movie, "My Sister's Keeper". For those of you who haven't seen or heard of it, it's based on a book written a few years ago (sadly the only novel i've ever read beginning to end...) about a family who must deal with their daughter's cancer. I won't get into details in case any of you would like to go see it, but it's easily the most touching movie i have ever seen. It shows the struggles the family goes through and how the illness affects every member in the family in a special way...

Health is something i- like many other's i'm sure, often take for granted, but after seeing this film it really made me appreciate the little things. I could never imagine what it must feel like to have a family member go through something so horrible like this, i just thought i'd take the time to share my "thoughts" so we could all take a minute to appreciate life and the fact that we're all here and have the greatest gift of all, our health!

So cheers to our health

I went to work today and was looking for a co-worker because I had to install some software on his PC. I aksed where Charles was and the guy in the next cube said that he died yesterday. I read your post and it really rings true. We take life for granted and it could be gone in an instant.

I think I'll cut out the hamburgers and fries and stick with Chicken and Vegetables.

Thanks very much for your post.

Just purchased a new IS 250 C on June 24th and as of tonight, July 6th, I have 907 miles on the car (Picked up the car with 10 miles). I was wondering how many miles you put on your new car during the first couple of weeks!

Thanks,

Gary

Honestly the salesmen at the dealership don't know jack about the cars they sale. I can tell you that the new ISC does have the hard drive based nav system. But you are going to have to go test drive it and figure out all these questions yourself to see if you can operate while driving. But honestly I doubt they have changed anything with the nav system in which you can operate alot of items while driving without the voice commands. I have been following other car forums and NJ is working on a bill to ban the use of nav systems while driving. Kind of like the ticket you can get for using a cell phone without a hands free device in California. So I think the block while driving is here to stay.

We just got our new 2010 ISC250 w/ nav and you cant use it while underway. Only thing is the speed dial for the phone

John

WOW - Another new 2010 IS 250C owner. Congratulations. I have had my car now 11 days here in Los Angeles and so far I haven't seen another IS 250C on the road. Maybe we are the only ones!!!

Gary

i just traded my08 335 vert for an 10259 vert and couldn't be happier with it . i do miss the extra 100hp a little bit but don't miss going to the gas station 2 or 3 times a week.it's only been a few days but i'd switch again in a second love the is vert

Sorry to sound uninformed but what is an 08 335 vert and a 10259 vert?

I'm having an issue that the Lexus dealership simply cannot track down and find the cause. Essentially, I will be driving along and without any warning, the check engine light starts flashing and the traction control light stays on with the message Check VSC. I also feel a loss of power, presumably because one of the cylinders is misfiring.

The dealership can't pinpoint the problem because when they go to pull the error codes from my car's computer, there's nothing there - it's blank. The car doesn't register any error codes. I'm assuming this happens because when I turn the vehicle off and back on again, the warning lights go off and the car is operating normally.

This problem occurs maybe once every 3-4 weeks and usually while driving on the highway. I will be driving along at a reasonable speed and then I may give it a bit of gas and then boom, it happens.

Anyone have any suggestions? I really need to track this down because I believe the warranty on my car is good for 60,000km's and it currently has 45,000km's. I also plan on keeping the vehicle after my lease is up.

Thanks

PJStyles

Humm...that happened to me once. I was driving the car hard on an exit ramp - shifting down and then bang the same thing happened. That was about three weeks ago. I am going in for an oil change in a fe weeks and was going to see if it had registered a code I was told anytime the check engine light came on it registered a code... I too turned off the car shortly after the lights came on hoping to "reboot" which it did. I'll let ou know what happens to me. In 2 years a 60,000 miles that is the first mechanical issue to ever happen. .. I recently bought the 7 yr/100000 mile extended warranty for $1005 US so I am not as worried about it...

I see you have the IS 250 and you just got the 7/100k warranty for $1005? I just purchased an IS 250C and bought the same warranty for $1365. Where did you get your warranty?

Thanks,

Gary

I just picked up my new IS 250C yesterday and it's beautiful. Red with black interior and really nice to drive. On the way home I got on the freeway and one of the first things I noticed was when I got near an on ramp or off ramp, the NAV system said "Calculating" and a display of the EXIT appeared on the right. That is where the display froze. No data appeared when the word "Calculating" was on the screen. Also, when I touched the MAP, CLIMATE, INFO, AUDIO buttons, nothing worked. I couldn't change the radio station.

Once I got off the freeway, everything went back to normal. I only have 67 miles on the car! I guess it's a trip to the Lexus dealer later today or tomorrow.

That sucks!

UPDATE - I made an appointment to get the car checked on Friday 6-26 but in the morning when driving to work, the system corrected itself. No more freezing up. The dealer suggested bringing in the car because they spoke with the Lexus GODs and thought the computer needed to reboot. I did bring in the car and they disconnected the battery for 5 minutes. After connecting the battery back, the hard drive rebooted when the car was started. No personal settings were lost.

Everything is working great now. It should - It's a LEXUS! Just love the car.

We've been seriously considering trading for a new 350 convertible, but I've visited three dealers and have yet to get a straight answer about the navi in this car. There's nearly nothing online, so I am hoping someone here has a reliable source of info.

The 2010 has hard drive based nav, I think. Is it possible to operate by means other than voice commands while the vehicle is in motion? Does it still have the region-based maps of previous generations? Is there any user-accessible space on the hard drive, as there is in the BMW 3 series?

My wife much prefers the IS350 over the BMW 335Ci (which I really like), but after the unpleasant experience we've had with our RX350 nav, I'm having a difficult time convincing myself that the IS will be any better.

Thanks for any input.

Just saw your thread and yes, the IS350 has a hard drive based nav. The region based maps are the same as previous generations and I haven't played around with the voice commands yet. I am having way to much fun driving the car!

I don't thin there is any user accessible space on the drive. So far it's just for internal Lexus programs. I hear that the IS350C should be coming out within a couple of months.

Good luck.

Probably just a load glitch with the Nav disc. Did you and the salesperson sit in the parking lot and hit a bunch of buttons and settings and menus options together first?

I was under the impression that there is no nav disc in the 2010 model. I thought it is now hard drive driven. I'll find out later today at the dealership. I went over all the functions with the salesman yesterday and in the lot, everything worked perfect (isn't that always the case?)

I just picked up my new IS 250C yesterday and it's beautiful. Red with black interior and really nice to drive. On the way home I got on the freeway and one of the first things I noticed was when I got near an on ramp or off ramp, the NAV system said "Calculating" and a display of the EXIT appeared on the right. That is where the display froze. No data appeared when the word "Calculating" was on the screen. Also, when I touched the MAP, CLIMATE, INFO, AUDIO buttons, nothing worked. I couldn't change the radio station.

Once I got off the freeway, everything went back to normal. I only have 67 miles on the car! I guess it's a trip to the Lexus dealer later today or tomorrow.

That sucks!

I should be getting my new IS 250 C on Thursday and I ordered the car with the stock rims. I think I want custom rims but the dealer wants Mega-Bucks. They have add-on rims for $2500 to $5000. OUCH!. I was looking online and was wondering if it would be better to purchase rims for a fraction of the cost and then have them installed by Big-O or a local tire company.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,

Gary

If you have them change out the rims on a car before delivery they should credit you something for the existing new rims. also. Also which Lexus rims (upgrade) are you looking at. I would shop the rim you are looking for on the web with different dealers/suppliers, which may get you a better price to then go back to your dealer and negotiate. They make their money on these extras, but there is alot of "play" in the price - so don't just roll over. Hindsight is 20/20, but next time negotiate the price of the vehicle with the rims ( and all the options) you want, rather then making the deal and then adding on. Just my 2 cents.

I went to the dealer to pick up the car yesterday and I am happy with the rims that came with the car. You are right about negotiating before the deal rather than after the deal but I wasn't thinking about different rims until my daughter suggested it.

Which rims come stock on the C? Are they the Lobster Claw rims? I'm assuming they are the same that come on the 250's and 350's.

To answer your question, I'd have to know why you want to change the rims out. If it's for a better rim pattern alone, then yeah, the off the rack aftermarket rims will do ok. I would stick with popular names like Enkie, BBS, ASA, etc etc. But you should know that when it comes to rims, there are reasons why those expensive rims are expensive, and why cheap rims are not expensive. So keep in mind that with these selections, your actually giving up a better set of rims for better looking rims. Which is kind of why I think if your going to change out the rims, you should trade up. Rims are expensive. You pay at the door, or go home and no show for you.

I don't know how to answer that question except to look at the pics on the lexus site. By the way, I did pick up the car yesterday and have decided not to get aftermarket rims. Stock rims look nice and I saved a bunch of cash!

I should be getting my new IS 250 C on Thursday and I ordered the car with the stock rims. I think I want custom rims but the dealer wants Mega-Bucks. They have add-on rims for $2500 to $5000. OUCH!. I was looking online and was wondering if it would be better to purchase rims for a fraction of the cost and then have them installed by Big-O or a local tire company.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,

Gary

Jainla. Three suggestions:

1. Costco auto buying program

2. Sam's Club auto buying program

3. call any dealer and ask for the fleet department

All will give you a better price.

Tom

I checked Costco on a price of the Lexus RX400h a few years ago and they were giving a $2500 discount. Then I checked www.carsdirect.com, and their price was about $3100 off of sticker. I took that number to a few dealers and received the $3100 discount.

So I went shopping with a couple friends of mine today for an SUV. It looks like the choice may be between a GL320 Bluetec and an RX450h.

The Lexus dealer quoted us $5000 over sticker for the RX and said that basically because it's brand new there was no room to maneuver and it was take it or leave it. Whereas if we wanted an RX400h off the pre-owned lot he could negotiate.

I was wondering if anybody else had been quoted such a high markup? I know that they are brand new but the market for SUVs, even luxury hybrid SUVs is still pretty soft right now.

I would never purchase a car that adds a "dealer markup" to a vehicle. Looks like you live in Santa Monica. Go to Longo Lexus in El Monte, CA as they are the number one dealer in the US. They never add markups. At least give them a call.

I had a Sirius S50 portable unit with a car adapter that I wanted to install in my RX400h (too cheap to pay Lexus for a new unit). I used the Sirius FM Direct Adapter to wire it into the back of the RX400h's radio unit. It connects to the antenna input of the radio and plays on an FM channel (very good sound quality). It is about a 20 min job pulling the dash apart to get at the back of the radio (the directions are on this web site as I recall). I mounted the Sirius unit in the glove compartment and control it with the remote control.

It is not perfect. It doesn't work with the screen. It plays Sirius radio though and it didn't cost me $800. I am content with it.

I didn't want to pay Lexus $800 either for Sirius so I went to a local Stereo shop here in Southern California and for $300, they installed a tuner that hooks up to the Lexus radio and I can control everything right through the radio. Works great.

First I'm 6'4" and drive mostly solo so less back seat room is ok with me as well as smaller trunk room. Any advantages for the newer IS 350? I only have 45,000 miles on the LS and it is almost perfect in every way.

Thanks in advance.

I am 6' and I just got rid of my Infiniti M35 for the 2010 IS 250 C. I ordered it from the dealer and it should be here next week. After test driving the car, I was hooked. I am 54 years also and have wanted a convertible for a few years now. When Lexus finally came out with the C, I didn't wait.

This is NOT a decision that you need to make now. You have until 4 years/49,999 to make that decision. Secondly shop it around. The Genuine Lexus Platinum Warranty for 7yrs/100,000 miles w/ $0 deductible is about $1415 and 7 yr/75,000 mile is $1130.00. But I shopped it around and called a guy who is recommended in one the the links on this site:

Troy Dietrich

Toyota of Greenfield

12 Olive Street

Greenfield, MA 01301

413.772.0989

In my case I drive 25 K a year (and I was up to 49,500 on the odometer) and he offered me 5 yr/100000 with $0 Deduct for $1070.00. This is the real deal not a third party warranty

I then went back to my dealer who has serviced the car for two year religiously and spoke with their finance dept. (they sell the thing). She wanted $1650. I told her of the offer I got for $1070 and would prefer to spend my dollars with them. She called me back later in the day and meet that price.

So shop it around, don't pay retail on this and you have time. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info. I wonder if I can cancel the policy and then call your guy in MA?

So I've just moved back to Cali. on the 9th & a few days later my father asked me if I wanted to take over the payments of his 06 "Fully Loaded" IS250 AWD. Being that it would be my first car, I don't really know what I should do. Before that I was planning to get something cheaper to start out with but when you got an IS that could be yours staring at you from the driveway, one forgets about "cheaper" alternatives... If I where to take the offer I would have to pay $700.00 a month for the last two years. The payments end July 2011, so I'm looking at 25 month, $17,500.00 total. I'm going working & starting college soon so I'll be needing a car ASAP.

He told me all I had to do is to pay the $700 a month... thats it!

He'll cover the insurance and everything.

The car will be under he's name until it's payed off and after July 2011, he'll transfer it to me & it'll be all mine! :D

Over all I know that the car has been well cared for and its been accident free and taken in for the regular 5000 mile oil change.

The only thing is that his job needs him to drive back and forth from Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley & because of this the 250 has about 65,000 miles on it. (20k a year!)

Also, he hasn't taken the car in to get the recalls fixed either, but said he'll get them before giving it to me.

but other than that it's in good condition inside and out.

Another option that I was offered, was to get into paying $500 a month and help him pay for a new BENZ. Not sure but he's thinking of getting a CLK 550 or something, and we'll "Share & Switch" between the IS and CLK. (Knowing my dad he'll end up deciding who gets what every day...) both cars will be in his names. don't know when the payments going to end ( It'll be longer than the 2 years the IS go left.) and if he'll give me the title to the IS once its payed for...so IDK.

What do you think I should do?

P.S. thank you in advance for the help!

What you could do if the payments are to high, you could get a five year loan for the same amount $16,800 at 6% and your payment will be $338.32. Pay off your dad right away and you will be able to afford the car and have more money in your pocket. The beauty of this is if you want, you can make extra principal payments to help lower the balance if you have the money and pay it off sooner. If you become strapped for cash, revert back to the $338.32 a month.