Leasing IS250 or IS350

[enforcerviper]

The best 48mth lease price I can get for the IS250 is $800/mth with a $4500 MSD (returned when lease is over). (Financing is 3.1%, taxes in) This is for the top of the line with AWD and Navigation. Total cost of the car is ~$64000 after the buyout.

Good lease price?

I didn't look at the IS350 cause it's more $$$, but is it worth the extra?

[rogerrabbit168]

depends if you want AWD, if so, then 250 is your choice, they don't offer AWD in the 350

[Spray]

Get my car :P
I'm paying 500 a month to FINANCE :P

[azn_dan]

hmm well IS250 is a better choice i believe, on edmunds.com they tested both cars and noted that they would pick the IS250 over the IS350. Have you tried looking at leasebusters.com? There are a few IS250's on there, if you dont want a used one, you might as well see what they are paying.

[oscar_dog]

If you don't need NAV then I would go with IS350, just because there's a big difference in power and fuel economy isn't that big of a difference. Another suggestion would be to wait for 2008 models to come out and see if they offer better discounts then.

[azn_dan]

even though there is a difference in hp, i believe the IS250 is around 250? while the IS350 is at 306hp. Though there is the difference, the IS350 is heavier and the IS250 has better stats then its heavier counterpart.

[enforcerviper]

Were there discounts when moving the 2006 to 2007? It seems like these cars sell well, and they may not offer much, if anything.

[oscar_dog]

IS250: 204 hp, 185 lb/ft (Base curb weight: 3455 lbs)
IS350: 306 hp, 277 lb/ft (Base curb weight: 3527 lbs)

There is a big difference in performance.

With a maxed out security deposit or cash down payment (~$5000), you can get 0.9% financing, (although I was given this deal in Feb). I believe this is the only advertised discount I have seen.

Also, try APA, as they have special dealer pricing.

[azn_dan]

IS250: 204 hp, 185 lb/ft (Base curb weight: 3455 lbs)
IS350: 306 hp, 277 lb/ft (Base curb weight: 3527 lbs)

There is a big difference in performance.

With a maxed out security deposit or cash down payment (~$5000), you can get 0.9% financing, (although I was given this deal in Feb). I believe this is the only advertised discount I have seen.

Also, try APA, as they have special dealer pricing.

Here is the link on the follow up test of the IS250 2007.

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpconta...8/pageNumber=1

And i quote:

And once you toss the IS 250 into a fast corner, the sport package really shows you something. The car settles quickly on its suspension into an effective cornering attitude and the stiff-sidewall tires help the steering react to subtle inputs more responsively than you'll find in an all-wheel-drive IS 350.

In tight-radius corners, the bumps that momentarily upset the IS 350 barely faze this buttoned-down IS 250. Given that the rear-wheel-drive, 3,527-pound IS 350 and rear-wheel-drive, 3,455-pound IS 250 have the same weight distribution of 52 percent front/48 percent rear, we're surprised the IS 250 feels so different.

and

Although it's down over 100 hp on the IS 350, the IS 250 is nearly 4 mph faster through the cones with a 70.4-mph result. This is blazing speed, and it puts the IS 250 ahead of the BMW 335i, not to mention about a half dozen very capable sports cars.

The rear-wheel-drive IS 250's overall grip on the skid pad is a fraction less than that of the rear-wheel-drive IS 350, as the IS 250 manages 0.84g versus the 0.87g we recorded for an IS 350 with 18-inch wheels and tires. The two cars are also about the same in braking performance, with the IS 250 posting the shortest stop from 60 mph at 113 feet.

and

Though it's often overshadowed by the 306-hp IS 350, the IS 250 is actually Lexus' best effort at renewing some of the connection between the driver and the pavement that you expect in a sport sedan without giving up too much comfort in the process.

And i rest my case

[oscar_dog]

Here is the link on the follow up test of the IS250 2007.

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpconta...8/pageNumber=1

And i quote:



and

and



And i rest my case

Thanks for the research, but Edmunds.com is comparing a manual IS250 with sports package vs. an IS350 with no sports package (they are using stats from their 335i vs. 350 comparison).

The IS250 is a great car too, but to say it out-performs an IS350 would be a huge mistake for Lexus' marketing plan.

[new_vr]

The IS250 is a great car too, but to say it out-performs an IS350 would be a huge mistake for Lexus' marketing plan.

That might be why you don't hear it from Lexus....
It shouldn't be a surprise that a RWD car outperforms an AWD car through the cones (given it's being driven by a good driver)

[Evil Techie]

even though there is a difference in hp, i believe the IS250 is around 250? while the IS350 is at 306hp. Though there is the difference, the IS350 is heavier and the IS250 has better stats then its heavier counterpart.

you definitely lose a lot more power to the wheels with AWD on the IS250

IS350 isnt much heavier
IS250 AWD is just heavy and could feel underpowered at times

i wonder why is edmunds mentioning AWD IS350 since no such thing exists in north america

[VorteC]

The IS in general has really little room in the back seats and the IS250 feels very underpowered.

[bobbings]

save a bit of money and go for the 250. it's already a nice enough car as is. no need to pay more. have fun with it

[azn_dan]

you definitely lose a lot more power to the wheels with AWD on the IS250

IS350 isnt much heavier
IS250 AWD is just heavy and could feel underpowered at times

i wonder why is edmunds mentioning AWD IS350 since no such thing exists in north america

From the article i posted there seems to be no mention of the AWD IS350... they even mention:

In tight-radius corners, the bumps that momentarily upset the IS 350 barely faze this buttoned-down IS 250. Given that the rear-wheel-drive, 3,527-pound IS 350 and rear-wheel-drive, 3,455-pound IS 250 have the same weight distribution of 52 percent front/48 percent rear, we're surprised the IS 250 feels so different.

Pretty sure they never mentioned the IS350 as being AWD, and that is why it is odd that the IS250 beat the IS350 through the slalom