OK - I finally decided on a car. Anyone have this one? Feedback? PICS
 

I am very precise when it comes to making decisions on what to get in big purchase items. I have been looking at cars for an eternity it seems, but i jsut couldn't commit. The one that I have decided fits me and my personality the best is:

Lexus IS 300

Not too much bling, but still classy and solid.

I'm small, so a smaller semi - luxury sedan is ideal.

http://car-reviews.automobile.com/im...9548/alt03.jpg


http://car-reviews.automobile.com/im.../inline_07.jpg


If It Aint Broke...

Dont be too surprised to find a mountaineer or two on the Lexus engineering payroll. For in pursuit of the "light-is-right" ethos embraced by high-altitude climbers, designers of the uptown Japanese marque have gone to great lengths to keep the pounds off.

Consider this item taken from the IS 300 press kit: "A tiny sliver of steel has been scooped from the head of every bolt on every Lexus to reduce overall weight by twenty pounds."

Such high levels of attention to detail have come to define Lexus vehicles over the years, and judging from the 2004 IS 300 sport sedan, the brands well-earned reputation for well-built, well thought out cars will continue long into the future.

Simply put, the 2004 IS 300 is all any self respecting enthusiast could ever want in a sports sedan. Its nimble, yet roomy. Its quick, yet silky smooth. And its loaded with features and style, yet at a very competitive price.

To say not much has changed on the 04 model over last years is no understatement. All thats changed are new 11-spoke 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, optional, plus smoked gray surrounds for the headlights, fog lights, and tail lights are added, along with drivers seat memory and bright silver interior trim. Meaning, Lexus engineers approached the new model with either a "How can we improve on perfection" attitude, or a "Were far too busy with the new RX 330 and mid-cycle LS 430 upgrade to even think about the IS 300" mindset. Either way, few can quibble with the final line on list: "The base IS300 with manual transmission retails for an MSRP of $29,435."

Of course, load up the already well stocked base model and itll be pushing the $38,000 mark. Still, given the price of the German, Japanese and, to some extent, Swedish competition, the Lexus sport sedan offers much of the bang for fewer bucks.

Unlike the illogical evolution of so-called sport-utility vehicles (the looks like a truck, drives like a sports car idiocy that compels even dedicated sports car companies -- hello, Porsche -- to enter the market), a sports sedan is a natural fit. Essentially a four-door, four-seat sports car, the sport sedan species is ideal for the driver who wants that sports car experience -- but also needs to strap a childs car seat in the back.

The IS 300 is just such a vehicle. The performance of the rear-wheel-drive sedan rivals that of a Porsche Boxster (zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds), but with the headroom and rear seat room of a Ford Taurus (though the rear seats are a little snug if traveling with four adults).

Featuring a 3.0-liter in-line six cylinder engine pumping out 215 horses, the sedan accelerates and handles like a dream, with a solid and safe feeling in most driving conditions. I especially liked the steering-wheel mounted gear shift buttons on the standard five-speed automatic tranny (a 5-speed manual is also available) and the standard power assisted ABS system. A host of standard suspension and mechanical systems give the IS 300 such solid footing, from electronic traction control to a double-wishbone suspension to gas shock absorbers to something called anti-dive and anti-squat geometry.




So, whatcha think?

Very nice airek!

nice! go with a white one. The white ones look fucking SLICK when you put gun metal gray rims on'em

Nice ride, I would also recommend you check out the new Infiniti G35.

DH

Lexus is by far the best car on the market for almost every class. Especially if you want customer service. I have owned Lexus, MBZ, BMW, etc. Lexus has proven to be the best by far. ( BMW dead last - we'll never buy one ever again )

I would pick the G35X over any sedan any day of the week

but nonetheless a nice choice airek

Very good choice, cant go wrong with Lexus.
Incredible reliability and customer service.

i am lookin at the infinity now DH. may be a little too big for me. i look funny driving bigger cars becasuse i am super skinny and not so tall.

:)

ice you're funny.

lol

This is what I drive.

http://www.pedalcarplace.com/images/pink-trike-big.jpg

lol. i can picture that. pulling chio on a little red wagon. :1orglaugh :thumbsup


this is the infiniti, sharp ass car, maybe a little too much for me.

http://images.webmakerx.net/Edmunds/...4.action-E.jpg

its nice if you are like over 50! come on its boring you need something completely impractical with two seats that goes a lot faster a lot lower to the ground!

if you can't live without seats and practical things get an M3!

the IS300 is a solid car. spritian got one :)

Infiniti will be releaseing a new G35 sedan (i believe later this year) so they have insane specials on the current one. sprtitian has one of those as well so talk to him.

Good luck buying your next car.

good car :) fun to drive

oh thats right, i forgot about that. i rode in it. lol.

i am gonna get a 2006 thoug i believe he has a 2005 which was brand new at the time.

I would buy Infiniti G35 6MT or acura tl 6 MT for about the same price...

Go with the Lexus. You'll dig it.

i like this too, for sporty, but i dont like pontiac that much


http://www.pontiac.com/images/gmbp/1...g/288_8624.jpg

yah thats more like it but make sure you go for the turbo one :o))

i hear they have some pretty crazy incentives right now as well

I dont like Pontiac either but if youre considering something like this, Saturn has their own version of it which is 100 times nicer....

Saturn Sky

http://www.saturn.com/saturn/showroo...KY_scenic2.jpg

http://www.dieselstation.com/wallpap...oncept-007.jpg

http://forum.avtoindex.com/foto/data...turn_sky_1.jpg

Only 25k

one more...


http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-20...r-1024x768.jpg


:pimp :pimp

holy shit, that saturn is phat!!!!!!!!

Cute. I think, that could be a perfect gift for Tassy. :)

260BHP GXP Solstice is definitely interesting but the non-turbo is not fast enough!!

350z? http://www.nissanusa.com/z/

s2000? http://automobiles.honda.com/models/...odelName=S2000

ELISE!? http://www.lotuscars.com/

dooood, only 25k! If you lease it, your payments are going to be so fuckin low. Probably the best car Saturns ever made :upsidedow

The IS300 is definitely a good choice :thumbsup

Toyota makes good shit.

its phat and fast i bet too. it weighs nothing.

i'd be in jail in two weeks with that car.

:1orglaugh

lol dont worry, i got a cousin that does bail bonds

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

The thing looks like a piece of shit. It has no class whatsoever. Looks like a shitty Toyota. Save your money.

Get yourself a small but powerfull car ;) (tho your choice is nice, its overkill if you don't have a family)

Seriously I just fell in love with this baby (and not to ricy compared to the rest), don't think it will be sold in the US tho...

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/images/...S3_2_560px.jpg

Yuuckk ;)

http://carpw.com/pictures/audi/TT_2007_1.jpg

http://forum.avtoindex.com/foto/data..._tt_2007_1.jpg

or a
Porsche Cayman

http://www.motormobiles2.de/autoberi...050923_39b.jpg

or BMW Z4 Coupe

http://news.caradisiac.com/IMG/jpg/BMW-Z4-Coupe-3.jpg

...if your car budget allows it tho ;)

Any of these is in a total different league from the Pontiac/Saturn :thumbsup

my budget will allow it, but whats practical to me i guess. i am not all flashy with cars to get girls or anything, so just something nice, practical and solid is great with me. the bmw is hot, but i'm old enough now that i want something a little more roomy to haul friends and stuff around in too.

i am also considering the bmw 535i too.

Nice ride, but the wheels suck

it beats my chevy cobalt any day :P

http://chevrolet.jbcarpages.com/Coba...t%20right2.jpg

I like it, and you can't go wrong with a lexus

I'm doing just fine with mine. Even carry extra horse power.
http://www.jansbox.com/pics/funny/ferrari.jpg

Since when thats the only reason to get one of these cars.

Then again it seems you don't seem to love driving (no offense ;) ) and dont look it more as hobby rather then a duty :p

I've gotta tell ya A1R3K, I would go with Infinity or Acura over Lexus any day....



.

Any particular reason besides the fact you just fell like it ;)

Infiniti is so great they aren't even in Europe and been planning their Euro-approach for years (competitive market can be a bitch) :p

Audi has really come up lately too. they have some pretty dope rides, and VW has kicked in the hyper marketing to younger people with some nice rides.

Congrats for you decision! Hope you enjoy your new car!

You said you were moving to Costa rica right? Have you checked to see how much it would cost to ship it there? I'm moving to another island next year and I see that there is no purpose in buying a car here in puerto rico because there is a 40% duty put on the value of any car brought in to the new place i'm going.

I had a customized version but it's almost the same

http://futureisbeta.free.fr/Trabant-bigwheel.png

If you move to Costa Rica you better get some all terrain 4wd vehicle. I wouldn't
drive anything new/expensive over there coz it ain't worth it. :2 cents:

It is a nice Car Eric. You made a good choice.

I wouldn't have guessed that that's a Lexus w/oo the logo.

the new IS is sexy, but kinda small

That's hilarious!

it is a nice car A1R3K but please do something about those rims they are just a bit to boring to my taste. But then again you are the one driving it.

good luck man.