[Kolyan2k]

Picking a new car for my wife and went with those 2....I must say that Infiniti was a huge disappointment when it comes to luxury and quality. Where Lexus felt like luxury sedan, Infiniti was more like upscale Nissan.

Going to test drive RWD Lexus tomorrow and see if that's any good.....

Also test drove 2012 ISF for myself, but condition of the car was horrible so I had to pass. Other then that it's an excellent car with V8 power.

[Bushum]

What year IS350? I had a 2011 for a bit. If the back seats will be used make sure you really test them out and make sure they work for you. It is very small back there.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Bushum

What year IS350? I had a 2011 for a bit. If the back seats will be used make sure you really test them out and make sure they work for you. It is very small back there.

We test drove 2011 with 38k and going to look at 2010 with 50k tomorrow

Backs seats might be used for future kid wife wanted a couple at first

[Bushum]

That will be fine. Just don't expect adults to sit back there for long and not complain.

[Alfisti]

Make sure a forward facing safety seat fits chief, you'll be cursing if it doesn't.

I drove the little Infinity SUV EX35 or whatever it was, hate dit. Looked nice inside but noisy and unrefined, engine had to be flogged to make power.

[neliconcept]

I didn't think they made an AWD version of the IS350 before 2014..?

[Pheonix]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Make sure a forward facing safety seat fits chief, you'll be cursing if it doesn't.

I drove the little Infinity SUV EX35 or whatever it was, hate dit. Looked nice inside but noisy and unrefined, engine had to be flogged to make power.

My DD is an IS350. The back seats are pretty much useless. I have to drop my 2 years old son off at daycare sometime and it is almost impossible to fit a Britax Convertible carseat rear facing. I have to install the seat forward facing and have to move the passenger seat way forward. Definitely not a kid friendly car!
Check out ClubLexus, there are some good information there. Also, make sure to have PPI done prior to close the deal (especially if the car is out of warranty). There are some expensive issues to deal with such as water pump and timing chain leakage.

[SunnyD]

I had an ISF prior to my m3. Amazing car, great power with tons of torque and actually handled pretty well (I had a 2011). I'd say look at another one in better condition and keep that under consideration.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by neliconcept

I didn't think they made an AWD version of the IS350 before 2014..?

AWD is since 2011

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Pheonix

My DD is an IS350. The back seats are pretty much useless. I have to drop my 2 years old son off at daycare sometime and it is almost impossible to fit a Britax Convertible carseat rear facing. I have to install the seat forward facing and have to move the passenger seat way forward. Definitely not a kid friendly car!
Check out ClubLexus, there are some good information there. Also, make sure to have PPI done prior to close the deal (especially if the car is out of warranty). There are some expensive issues to deal with such as water pump and timing chain leakage.

Thanks. It does have powertrain warranty, even the cheaper one which is 2010. I think engine leaks and water pump should be covered under that....correct me if I am wrong

I am not a fan of PPI, but I am very picky about previous maintenance. All cars I look at have been serviced by Lexus all the time

[Kolyan2k]

Bought it and very happy....wife is super excited coming from Civic lol. Car is not for me though, too much body roll in stock form

Meanwhile price on ISF I was looking at dropped to crazy $35k....looks like no one is interested in buying it....It was 37k then they increased to 40k and now its 35k. I know its a great car but I just dont see myself spending extra $15k to get ISF vs IS350. Plus for that money you can (or soon will be able too) pick 2014+ IS350. What do you guys think ? Is it worth spending 15-20k extra for ISF when you can get a nice IS350 for around $20k ? Lexus enthusiasts certainly think so....

[Bushum]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Car is not for me though, too much body roll in stock form

Get the F-Sport sway bar set. I think it's a couple hundred dollars and will nearly eliminate body roll.

[Nkc]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

We test drove 2011 with 38k and going to look at 2010 with 50k tomorrow

Backs seats might be used for future kid wife wanted a couple at first

Both will not fit a future kid. Don't forget babies take up significantly more space than a toddler and so on. The younger they are, the more rear car space they need. For me, the 1M and the mother in law's F30 works but its a big hassle and will greatly diminish front seat legroom. If you want to be future proof, then get something with 4 doors and is slightly bigger than the current 3er or X1.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Bushum

Get the F-Sport sway bar set. I think it's a couple hundred dollars and will nearly eliminate body roll.

Yeah, I read about it...wife doesnt need them. but if i find a good deal, i might get myself is350 as well then front and rear sway bars would be a must, maybe coilovers too

[Kolyan2k]

Well I found a nice 2-gen IS350 F-sport for myself, a bit overpriced due to the fact that it's almost impossible to find F-sport around here but its very nice and low miles. If we agree on price, might pick it up soon and sell my S2000 that I've been driving for 5 years now.

It's not ISF that I wanted, but its $10k cheaper and rare, less maintaince too. For some reason German cars don't attract me any more due to reliability I guess. I can easily pick up another 335i or maybe even e92 M3......I don't know, something just don't feel right maybe its my age.

I would say F-sport + summer tires + sway bars should take care of most body roll / floating of my wife's IS

[lens]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Well I found a nice 2-gen IS350 F-sport for myself, a bit overpriced due to the fact that it's almost impossible to find F-sport around here but its very nice and low miles. If we agree on price, might pick it up soon and sell my S2000 that I've been driving for 5 years now.

It's not ISF that I wanted, but its $10k cheaper and rare, less maintaince too. For some reason German cars don't attract me any more due to reliability I guess. I can easily pick up another 335i or maybe even e92 M3......I don't know, something just don't feel right maybe its my age.

No, it's the probably the reliability, I'm having the same thoughts as well as I'm debating whether I should keep going german after my 335i or grab a japanese vehicle next.

Not to mention the stereotyping when it comes to BMW owners.

I was debating on either the new C63s coupe if I stay german, or the Lexus RC-F if I went Japanese, and demote my 335i as a winter beater.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by chaungo

No, it's the probably the reliability, I'm having the same thoughts as well as I'm debating whether I should keep going german after my 335i or grab a japanese vehicle next.

Not to mention the stereotyping when it comes to BMW owners.

I was debating on either the new C63s coupe if I stay german, or the Lexus RC-F if I went Japanese, and demote my 335i as a winter beater.

Probably... I feel like my S2000 can be driven at 8000 rpms daily and yet cross 300k miles without issues, it just feels bullet proof and its a good feeling lol


Can even buy Cayman S that I always wanted .......but weirdly dont want it anymore, no chicks to pick up....wife at home

[atxgt3]

That's interesting, I had a 2008 G35S that I loved, put almost 80k miles on it without a single issue. Looked great, drove great, interior was nice.

I then bought a 2008 IS350 as a dependable daily driver and I realized quickly that I didn't like it much. The interior felt cheaper than the Infinity, it was less fun to drive, it felt more fragile, the technology was completely outdated even compared to contemporary cars. It was also tiny, although I could fit two kids with big Britax seats in the back so it is possible.

But for me having owned both, the clear winner in my book was the Infiniti. The Lexus really felt cheap to me.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by atxgt3

That's interesting, I had a 2008 G35S that I loved, put almost 80k miles on it without a single issue. Looked great, drove great, interior was nice.

I then bought a 2008 IS350 as a dependable daily driver and I realized quickly that I didn't like it much. The interior felt cheaper than the Infinity, it was less fun to drive, it felt more fragile, the technology was completely outdated even compared to contemporary cars. It was also tiny, although I could fit two kids with big Britax seats in the back so it is possible.

But for me having owned both, the clear winner in my book was the Infiniti. The Lexus really felt cheap to me.

Yeah I went to Infiniti 3 times. When I bought M3, I looked at G35S (I think thats what it was back then), M3 won me over by a mile oubviously. Then again looked at A4, G37S, and 335i, neither me or my wife liked G37S out of those 3 (bought A4 and then 335i). And I gave it last chance 6 month ago, same thing.....everything is cheaply made, cheap plastic, cheap leather with wear marks as early as 20k miles...As far as drivability and reliability, well Infinity has some more perforamnce over Lexus (unless you get F-sport), and I did read some horror stories with G37 reliability....maybe early models, have no clue

Most people agree that Lexus quality even beats BMW as well.

[atxgt3]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Yeah I went to Infiniti 3 times. When I bought M3, I looked at G35S (I think thats what it was back then), M3 won me over by a mile oubviously. Then again looked at A4, G37S, and 335i, neither me or my wife liked G37S out of those 3 (bought A4 and then 335i). And I gave it last chance 6 month ago, same thing.....everything is cheaply made, cheap plastic, cheap leather with wear marks as early as 20k miles...As far as drivability and reliability, well Infinity has some more perforamnce over Lexus (unless you get F-sport), and I did read some horror stories with G37 reliability....maybe early models, have no clue

Most people agree that Lexus quality even beats BMW as well.

Very interesting and definitely goes to show how subjective it is! You have to get what appeals to you, that's the most important thing. My G35S was a great performer until the day I traded it in, interior didn't show any sign of wear except for some of the rubber (?) coated plastic pieces where the rubber started peeling off.

I'm surprised you don't have the same complaints with the Lexus interior, the hard plastics and cheap feeling interior was my biggest complaint about the car. I didn't feel the same way in the G35S. I actually chose the G35S over a 335i back then because I felt like it was better value for money and also more fun, the BMW felt too civilized. Couldn't afford an M3 back then, lol.

[g2BMW]

Originally Posted by atxgt3

Very interesting and definitely goes to show how subjective it is! You have to get what appeals to you, that's the most important thing. My G35S was a great performer until the day I traded it in, interior didn't show any sign of wear except for some of the rubber (?) coated plastic pieces where the rubber started peeling off.

I'm surprised you don't have the same complaints with the Lexus interior, the hard plastics and cheap feeling interior was my biggest complaint about the car. I didn't feel the same way in the G35S. I actually chose the G35S over a 335i back then because I felt like it was better value for money and also more fun, the BMW felt too civilized. Couldn't afford an M3 back then, lol.

+11 ^

Except for the ISF, rest of the IS line up are boring, interior is not bad but too soft. And the rear seat, dunno why they have it.
G37 has good engine, fun to drive and reliable even early models, so it should be good. Thing is the G cars are detuned a little from the factory, especially the throttle, so you need to floor it to get the fun factor out. The back seat has enough room for a rear facing baby seat. Get the RWD, its about 250 lbs lighter than AWD.

335i has a good torquey engine but mundane interior. And back seat is ok but not that roomy. Reliability is not the greatest.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by atxgt3

Very interesting and definitely goes to show how subjective it is!

+1. I don't find Infinity interior cheap at all, different look to it for sure, but fit and finish is fantastic, at least last generation before they switched to Q, I haven't seen those yet.

Had a chance to drive my co-workers G37s several times, manual, RWD, going on 6+ years now. It's a great car, looks and feels as good as the day he bought it, and it's actually quite fun to drive - zero issues with it so far.