carmudgeons.com  

Go Back   carmudgeons.com > Automotive Forums > Car Talk > Perseverators Anonymous

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-10-2021, 06:40 PM   #1
robg
Carmudgeon
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,225
IS500 reviews are starting to come out

I have no good excuse for why I wouldn't buy this car; in many ways its everything I want in a 4 door car....but I probably won't. Although the styling is kinda fussy I think I prefer it to anything the big 3 Germans are doing currently. It's kind of a Dodge Charger but well built.

TL;DR
-Starts in the low 60s (340 competitor not M3)
-Looks bad on paper compared to German competition; purely an "emotional" choice.
-Great sound; driftability
-Good ride/handling balance; not too soft or stiff (comes std w/ adaptive dampers as well)
-Old lexus infotainment system but atleast it now has a carplay and a touchscreen ( so you dont have to rely on the terrible trackpad thing)
-Transmission is a mixed bag; needs to be left in sport or sport plus to shift crisply. In manual mode can feel jerky.

Here's a pretty detailed one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3b8gwp8fQI&t=9s
robg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2021, 06:54 PM   #2
Jeff_DML
Old Fart
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: T4R,GTI
Location: San Diego
Posts: 8,547
Put the video on my queue and glanced over the autoblog review. V8 seems nice but soft sounding with no stick doesn't interest me much. Probably rather spend the extra money and get the blackwing since V8 and stick.
Jeff_DML is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2021, 07:34 PM   #3
Theo
Crazy Old Man
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: M2C Stick
Posts: 6,021
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff_DML View Post
Put the video on my queue and glanced over the autoblog review. V8 seems nice but soft sounding with no stick doesn't interest me much. Probably rather spend the extra money and get the blackwing since V8 and stick.
Almost two IS500’s if loaded up.

I mean I want to like it also but after almost 12y with a big 4door I’m on a smaller car swing and oh yeah, as Jeff says, there is the manual thing.
__________________
Searching
Theo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2021, 04:20 PM   #4
robg
Carmudgeon
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,225
IS500 reviews are starting to come out

Quote:
Originally Posted by Theo View Post
Almost two IS500’s if loaded up.

I mean I want to like it also but after almost 12y with a big 4door I’m on a smaller car swing and oh yeah, as Jeff says, there is the manual thing.


Yep. I think the appeal of this car is as a relaxing yet fun daily driver. I’m kind of over wanting a stick in my everyday car. You could enjoy the v8 sound at any speed or road condition. Being a Lexus, it should also be pretty trouble free/ something you don’t have to worry about. My only objection is that ideally I want my daily driver to have a hatch of some type. But still it’s very tempting. I certainly can’t see choosing a regular 3 series or a4 over this


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
robg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2021, 04:46 PM   #5
lemming
Western Anomaly
 
lemming's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca
Posts: 16,583
I agree. A manual is a luxury but a potential pain in the ass for commuting that most of us do.
__________________


lemming is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2021, 06:34 PM   #6
JST
195
 
JST's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 24,593
The review I read suggests that the engine likes to rev, which is sort of a weird fit for a car like that.

I’m happy it exists and I can see the appeal, in a wow that’s goofy kind of way. And I’m glad for any power train that isn’t a 2 liter turbo four. But there’s never really been a Lexus that appeals to me, and this doesn’t change that.
JST is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2021, 07:18 PM   #7
Jeff_DML
Old Fart
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: T4R,GTI
Location: San Diego
Posts: 8,547
Quote:
Originally Posted by lemming View Post
I agree. A manual is a luxury but a potential pain in the ass for commuting that most of us do.
I just drove from Orange County to San Diego with a stick so don’t bring it up
Jeff_DML is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2021, 11:54 PM   #8
lemming
Western Anomaly
 
lemming's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca
Posts: 16,583
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff_DML View Post
I just drove from Orange County to San Diego with a stick so don’t bring it up
It can be miserable, that drive.
__________________


lemming is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2021, 05:38 PM   #9
Terri Kennedy
There and back again
 
Terri Kennedy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: 2003 BMW 325xiT; looking for a new fun car
Location: New York
Posts: 2,939
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff_DML View Post
I just drove from Orange County to San Diego with a stick so don’t bring it up
I can top that - 405 during rush hour in an Atom with a clutch that didn't work.
Terri Kennedy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2021, 11:19 PM   #10
Theo
Crazy Old Man
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: M2C Stick
Posts: 6,021
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff_DML View Post
I just drove from Orange County to San Diego with a stick so don’t bring it up
The opposite for me on the 101 from Marin To San Diego. Soooo cool.

At least part way.
__________________
Searching
Theo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
CTS reviews are in..... Sharp11 Car Talk 4 08-15-2007 03:20 PM
Lexus IS500 ff Car Talk 6 07-17-2006 04:44 PM
Edmunds.com reviews the X3: they said it... lemming Car Talk 11 05-03-2004 04:57 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Forums © 2003-2008, 'Mudgeon Enterprises - Site hosting by AYN & Associates, LLC