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Author Topic: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport  (Read 5887 times)

Offline Autos_Editor

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Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« on: October 11, 2013, 06:31:06 am »


Rain interrupts the blossoming of Paul Williams' fall romance with a Lexus IS 350 AWD.

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Online OliverD

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2013, 08:58:12 am »
At its $44k base price the IS350 AWD is really well equipped, though I doubt they will sell many of those. The $46,800 Premium package car seems to be the sweet spot of the lineup, adding things like 18" wheels, a heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, backup camera, folding rear seats (these should be standard), rear side airbags, and a power moonroof. That's a lot of kit for $2800.
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Offline Ace

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2013, 09:25:31 am »
The styling turns me off completely, especially the busy front end and fugly grill.
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Offline redman

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2013, 09:51:10 am »
Styling is in the eye of the beholder. I like the changes to the new 2014 IS350. See one regularly in the neighborhood and also in the same metallic grey as the car shown here.
« Last Edit: October 11, 2013, 10:19:12 am by redman »
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Offline evil_twin

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2013, 10:06:01 am »
Saw my first one of these in the flesh earlier this week.  IS350 in the same colour as the test car.

I really like the looks.  It does seem like a very solid value in this segment relative to the BMW and Audi offerings.  Oh how I wish they offered it with a manual!!  Would definitely near the top of my list for a future WRX replacement.

Great package.
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Offline johngenx

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2013, 10:24:52 am »
Even BMW is moving away from offering manuals.  People just aren't buying them.  I'd love the 350 with a six speed DIY-shifter, but it's just not economically sensible for Toyota to build it for so few buyers.
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Offline Noto

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2013, 10:29:12 am »
My thoughts mirror the author's...

Quote
Lexus says the IS (it stands for Innovative Sedan, in case you were wondering)
I thought it stood for Intelligent Sport (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_IS; http://m.lexus.com.au/range/is; http://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-second-generation/627570-grand-sport-vs-intelligent-sport.html)

I guess they redesigned the acronym when they redesigned the car... :rofl:

I, too, love the exterior in all its glory.  I think the drivetrain is average, but amazing for its smoothness (I don't really see any benefit of this powertrain over Infiniti's or BMW's, though I do like it better than Merc's or Audi's in 2.0T trim - but the 3.0T (mechanical turbocharger, aka supercharger) is a gem.  I would rate them as:  S4>335>Q50/G37>IS350>C350.

The interior is beautiful looking, but I'm not a fan of the temp control (makes small changes very, very difficult to perform), the Lexus 'touch' interface is time consuming to use, and the lack of permanent customization would :censor: me off too.

Lexus is 'almost' there with making an exceptional vehicle - as it is, it's just 'pretty good'.  With that being said, I don't think it'd take much to make it truly amazing.
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Offline evil_twin

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2013, 10:33:11 am »
Quote from: johngenx on October 11, 2013, 10:24:52 am
Even BMW is moving away from offering manuals.  People just aren't buying them.  I'd love the 350 with a six speed DIY-shifter, but it's just not economically sensible for Toyota to build it for so few buyers.

Totally agree.  I'm just saying, for now at least, a manual would be important enough for me to shop only those cars that still offered one: lightly used S4, 335i, or even the TL Tech pack with the sweet Honda 6sp as a wildcard choice.

My tune would likely change if there simply wasn't a comparable vehicle in the class offering one.
 
I certainly don't fault the car companies for moving in this direction though...
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Offline Sammy70

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2013, 10:46:38 am »
Quote from: Ace on October 11, 2013, 09:25:31 am
The styling turns me off completely, especially the busy front end and fugly grill.

Me too! This new grill that Lexus is festooning on their redesigned vehicles is probably an attempt to give their cars a stronger character, but the end result is ungainly and weird, imo. Their previous IS was one of the more elegant designs in its segment and they should've evolved that design instead of replacing it with this cartoonish rendition. It's a great car, but if I consider it at all, it'll have to be in black to minimize the jarring visual of that new grill.
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Offline bombastic

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2013, 02:40:21 pm »
For the price the car is quite good. The design is questionable at best. Some like it some not. I like the exterior styling but the interior is amateurish. The engine is the same old. Smooth but soulless.
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Offline johngenx

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2013, 03:01:57 pm »
Quote from: Cadure on October 11, 2013, 02:49:32 pm
What confuses me is why the AWD version of this car does not have the 8 speed transmission?  Anyone know?

Completely different housings and the 8-speed can't fit the transfer case.
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Offline nlm

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #11 on: October 11, 2013, 03:18:51 pm »
With the Q50 tested not too many days ago could a comparo have been done between these two? Or is the Long-Term test too different logistically to set up than the Q50 (I forget if that was a First-Look or not)?
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Offline wing

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #12 on: October 11, 2013, 05:42:38 pm »
The IS is in Ottawa, G in Toronto.
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Offline Frontier1

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #13 on: October 11, 2013, 05:49:27 pm »
The instrument panel is a mess compared to the Acura and Infiniti seen here this week.
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Offline Black Hatch

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #14 on: October 11, 2013, 09:12:56 pm »
Quote from: wing on October 11, 2013, 05:42:38 pm
The IS is in Ottawa, G in Toronto.

Thats just a stone's throw away.  :P
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Offline jyarkony

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #15 on: October 11, 2013, 09:22:57 pm »
Quote from: wing on October 11, 2013, 05:42:38 pm
The IS is in Ottawa, G in Toronto.

There's just a Santa Fe XL in Toronto... But you should check with Infiniti if they can send you a Q50 for a Comparo.

The previous Q50 story was in Ottawa, but it was simply a launch event.
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Offline phazotron

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Re: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2014 Lexus IS 350 AWD F Sport
« Reply #16 on: October 12, 2013, 09:30:47 pm »
Quote from: Sammy70 on October 11, 2013, 10:46:38 am
Quote from: Ace on October 11, 2013, 09:25:31 am
The styling turns me off completely, especially the busy front end and fugly grill.

Me too! This new grill that Lexus is festooning on their redesigned vehicles is probably an attempt to give their cars a stronger character, but the end result is ungainly and weird, imo. Their previous IS was one of the more elegant designs in its segment and they should've evolved that design instead of replacing it with this cartoonish rendition. It's a great car, but if I consider it at all, it'll have to be in black to minimize the jarring visual of that new grill.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My eye agrees with your grill assessment. I get the impression that the middle portion of the grill sucked a lemon. If you are looking for ugly though, it won't surpass my  minivan....
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