Anyone own a Lexus IS-300?

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
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How are they? We test drove one today and it was VERY SMOOTH. Nice car with quick acceleration. We're debating on whether to getting that or the Toyota Highlander.
 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
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A friend mentioned it doesnt do well on slippery roads and when it hits potholes and whatnot, you're asking for it.
What he meant by it, i dont know, maybe because it's low to the ground (it appears to be).
 

iversonyin

Diamond Member
Aug 12, 2004
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Originally posted by: lilcam
A friend mentioned it doesnt do well on slippery roads and when it hits potholes and whatnot, you're asking for it.
What he meant by it, i dont know, maybe because it's low to the ground (it appears to be).

Its RWD, its not going to do well on slippery road unless you have good tires for it. You live in FL, all season tires should be fine.
 

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
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Originally posted by: lilcam
A friend mentioned it doesnt do well on slippery roads and when it hits potholes and whatnot, you're asking for it.
What he meant by it, i dont know, maybe because it's low to the ground (it appears to be).

1. If you have have good rubber, you're fine in the wet.
2. What do you mean when it hits pot holes and what not. What car would do well hitting pot holes. ?
3. It does sit low to the ground, but it's not that low.

The only issue I can see that may be problematic with the IS300 is Winter driving. But what RWD isn't ? Just get a set of Winter Tires and you'll be good. ( you're in florida from your profile so that's not a problem ).

If it does get a bit chilly down there, you have to know that the Summer tires get rock hard when it gets cold out so it's prone to slipping. You just gotta take it easy for a few minutes to warm it up a bit.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,586
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I own an IS250. Back seat is a little on the small side but it's only me, my wife and our 5 Y/O son so it fits us fine. It gets decent gas mileage, it is reasonably quick and handling/brakes are excellent.

Our roads are good here in SoCal so I don't know what your friend is getting at. On wet roads it handles as well as any car with decent tires (which is much better than any SUV or truck). If I were to drive it during the winter in a part of the country where it snows I would definitely buy a second set of wheels and mount snow tires on them.

Pic
 

fstime

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2004
4,382
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Drove the newer one (the one that came out right before they released the is350), it didn't have enough power, simply put.

The interior was good, ride, etc, but it needed more grunt.

The is350 came out not to long after and it is a BIG improvement in the performance area.
 

RichieZ

Diamond Member
Jun 1, 2000
6,551
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The old IS300 is rather loud inside and it gets horrible gas mileage while also being very slow.