Lexus is 350
When Lexus had introduced the IS 350 with a totally redesigned body, a beefed-up 306 horsepower V6 engine, and striking exterior lines, it is no wonder that people 20-26 years of age have always wanted to get their hands on one of these cars. If anyone drives a Honda Civic, like I do or a Toyota Corolla and wants to step up into something…a little more practical with a bit more “oomph” coming from the engine, the IS 350 is definitely the car for him or her. Since my own car has just a 1.8-liter engine, most of the salesmen at the Lexus dealers keep telling me to get a 250 with the 2.5-liter V6 instead of a 350 because the 350 might be a bit too much “car” for me; come on, I drive pretty aggressively, and the 250 is like driving a BMW 328i. I do not ever want to become a poser; so, I would take the IS 350, thank you very much. I believe that Lexus had done an excellent job in making the IS 350 have the best of both worlds in terms of luxury and performance, as well as having a smooth ride compared to the BMW 335i and the Mercedes-Benz C350.
The Lexus IS 350 was a 100% redesign after the boring IS 300 from 2002; the front end has a really aggressive stance, and the rear end with the deck lid on the trunk is not that subtle. Unlike its brother, the IS 250, which comes with both AWD and RWD trims, the IS 350 only comes in RWD in the name of much superior performance. The IS 350 comes with a standard 3.5-liter direct-injection V6 with both block and heads made of 100% aluminum and Variable-Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), which lets the car’s intake manifold put out as much power as the driver wants it to put out, as well as improve fuel economy. The 3.5-liter V6 puts out 306 horsepower to the rear wheels at 6400 rpm, and 277 lb-ft. of torque at just 4800 rpm. Although Premium octane fuel is required for a car like this, the IS 350 is still considered an Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle according to the Department of Transportation.
As far as performance, handling, and driving dynamics go, the IS 350 sprints off the line at just 5.6 seconds; sure, the IS is not really a 335i, but the car has standard paddle-shifters, so I think people would have a better crack at 0-60 mph acceleration tests than 5.6 seconds. The ¼ mile makes the IS stomp the clock at just 13.8 seconds. Thanks to a front and rear independent suspension, with a front double-wishbone with coil springs and rear multi-link with coil springs, along with front and rear stabilizer bars, you can say that the IS can keep itself on its four wheels while hard cornering; however, I was not really that pleased with the electronic power steering. It was a bit on the soft side, and the ride was somewhat smooth, but hey, it is a Lexus; it was not really to be made to stick to the road like a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz.
Safety on a Lexus can be a bit ironic since Toyota had that recall a few months back. At least the IS did not have any issues of sticky accelerator pedals or floor mats unlike the ES. The brakes are very sensitive for a Japanese car, since it comes with four-wheel ventilated discs with ABS and four-piston calipers in the front. 13.1-inch discs in the front, and 12.2-inch discs in the rear really pay off as far as how important safety is to drivers who are both aggressive and hostile. Since the brake discs are ventilated in both the front and back, heat dissipates very easily, and they are easy to maintain. Earlier, I have mentioned that the IS 350 recommends 91 Octane for optimum performance, but fuel efficiency is still pretty good for a car like this. It gets 18 miles per gallon in city driving, and 25 miles per gallon on the highway, depending on your driving habits and weather conditions.
Inside the IS 350, Bluetooth, iPod connectivity via USB and a Mark Levinson package with navigation is all standard, but the navigation system is optional on the 250 (that is another story). As far as the trunk space is concerned, I might not be able to put in all of my computer stuff in there, but the downside to a trunk like in the IS is that the rear seats do not have a 60/40 split, unlike the other Lexus models, like the RX 350. The IS 350 only has a pass-through in the middle seat to hold a couple of golf bags, or maybe a guitar if I am lucky.
Okay, so I might not have as much performance as the beefy IS-F with the hefty 416-horsepower V8, but I think the IS 350 is somewhat up my alley. It is still quick off the line, and there are quite a few amenities in which I would want in an entry-level luxury car. But unlike the BMW 335i, the Lexus does not come with complimentary factory-scheduled maintenance for its 4-year/50,000 mile warranty. With this being the case, I think I may be having some second thoughts on this.
