I am looking for honest first hand experience/opinions on IS300 with manual ? How is the engine, suspention and overall quality and fun factor of that car ?

I like how it looks from the front and the fact that I can get it in manual and its rwd. I have not test driven it yet though. Thinking about replacing 1.8T Gti with IS300 next year or so.

on the way to laguna seca. early in the morning.

 

Daily driver, then hell yea. Very nice car, built well, handles like a dream, and smooth ride (get the auto if you want a daily...the manual isnt 100%there yet)

If you have some extra time and money, wait for the IS430. Either way, nice ride!

 

Will IS300 still be in production in the next year or two , or will it get replaced with another model ? You said 5spd isn't there yet, what do you mean ?

 

for the price, the is300 manual is fine. but if can spare a couple extra thousands and don't mind having 2 doors, i'd opt for the g35 coupe.

btw, i here rumor that there will be a new alteza in japan either 2004 or 2005, so maybe a year or or two after its introduction in japan, the IS will also be redesigned using the same design.

 

By "isnt there yet" means the tranny is not that great....not crisp shifts......I dont like it that much, but I pretty much hate all shifters after my s2000.

 

Wait for new 3-series which about to come out next year.

I would rather get a BMW than a, well, Toyota...

 

I can't stand the way new BMWs look, and the only 3 series worth getting IMHO is m3.

 

Ill take a lexus over any german any day

 

the car is great as a daily driver but if you think it can perform like an S2k, its no where close but it handles pretty well though. The manual is pretty smooth but not as great as the S2k. The only thing that actually broke down is the Cd changer but everything esle works like a dream.

i think best part about the having the IS300 is the service you get from lexus. the car is well built just like any other german.

 

I heard about IS430 suppose to have LS430 motor. I saw a photo of it doing a test run on the Nurburg track. It was had mega wide fender flare like the M3. Just get a G35 4 door.