Fast, corners great...nice design...

Can't change center arm rest for newer version...no conversion kit yet... Noise levels, less space than ES300 (It needs to be a little bit wider-3-4 inches.), and the cheap dashboard.

I love my IS300. My hubby owns an ES300, which we bought preowned with 16K miles. Their service was GREAT! They loan you a car for even the slightest noises or problems. He is approaching 100K miles on his car. My car has 41K and it is still running great! I love driving it. I wish that the interior was not so cheap looking and also the noise level is high on the highway. I have to turn up the radio to hear. There are also some noises in the dash, which can't be identified.

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ES300

good power excellent handling EXTREMELY reliable great sound system (for stock car) cool sporty interior (comfty for a sport compact) EXCELLENT lighting 2JZ-GE SUPRA MOTOR!

I said 'good' power, could use some more (is it ever enough!)

Without a dought the best car I have ever owned. Best combo of power, handling and overall performance; all with toyota/Lexus legendary reliability. A head turner. Sporty interior motif and great sound system too. A lot of potential for after market performance (2JZ-GE SUPRA MOTOR...'nough said).

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1999 bmw 325i 2000 audi a4 (big mistake) the 'lex' I am keeping for a while

Powerful engine,styling,comfort and handling

Noisy tires, some interior pieces cheap looking and scratch easily

Awesome car! The styling is so different from other Lexus cars. Definitely the sportiest model. There is not much to say bad about this car. The handling and performance are great. About the only beef I have is with the tires. The radio barely drounds the the drone. The wind noise is pretty bad too. I had a 2003 ES300 loaner car and that car was whisper quiet even at 90. Overall this may be the most fun to drive car I've ever owned.

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1990 Acura Integra 1997 Honda Accord

Power Warranty Loaner Car

Dont know if what I think is a problem is actually normal. I hope someone can help me.

I just bought a Solar Yellow 2002 IS300 yesterday with nearly 22,000 miles on it. I have noticed a couple things and if anyone else is having the same problem please let me know. I want to know if this is normal before I take it into the dealership but it is a MANUAL transmission and Reverse gear is a little hard to get into. Is this a safety precaution so that it isnt shifted into Reverse by accident or is it supposed to slide is easily like all the other gears do? Email me please: GopeddingNick@lycos.com I have only put 200 miles on the car but it is definitely solid. Another thing, when I pull out of my driveway, something always makes a quick "click" noise. Don't know if thats normal either. The Idiots @ Lexus armor-alled my engined before it was given to me and got some on the belt so for the next week I have to listen to the squeaky belt. Sounds bad. Does anyone know of a great sounding exhaust system for this car? The Solar Yellow color draws all sorts of attention. Its great. The inline 6 has a LOT of power. Feels much more powerful than a BMW 325i. I would reccommend buying this vehicle but I will post another report of it after I drive it more. Xenons light up the road very well at night.

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2001 Dodge Durango-Piece of CRAP 2003 Lexus ES300 1999 Honda Passport

Toyota/Lexus quality!!! Good sound system Nice escaine/leather seats Exterior design

I don't like the Stock "Fast and Furious" spoiler/wing. Anybody wanna trade for a trunk woth no wing??? E-mail me! Tire/Rim size. Stock is 17" with 215/45/17 Tires. It needs to have at least 225/45/17's on the froont and 245/40/17's on the back. Stupid "Fast and Furious" chrome shift knob. Lexus definately lost some class with the decision to go that route.

I bought the Graphite IS300 used with only 10k on it. I was originaly looking at 1999/2000 GS300's but for the same price I decided to go with the 02 IS300. I love the handeling, but a little more horsepower (Like at least 50) wouldn't hurt. Overall I love the car; nice clean lines, comfortable ride for a sports sedan, great sound system.

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None

too many to list

absolutely nothing, I LOVE IT

I love this car, it is the best ive ever driven. Again, I love it!

THE AERODYNAMICS,THE SYSTEM IS THE BEST STOCK SYSTEM I HAVE HEARD, RACING PEDALS AND DOOR TRIM IS TIGHT, OVERALL AN AWESOME PIECE OF MACHINERY.

NONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I BOUGHT MY LEX A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. IT IS GRAPHITE GRAY WITH THE LEATHER ESCAINE PACKAGE. I AM 20 YEARS OLD AND THE GIRLS MY AGE ARE IN LOVE WITH THE LEX. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR I HAVE PUT A TRD CARBON FIBER GRILLE, TRD SHIFTER, BODY KIT, AND SOME SICK LOOKING 19" INCH RACING RIMS. I ALSO GOT PERSONALIZED PLATES THAT SAY ROLNLEX. THIS CAR IS THE BEST OUT THERE. IT IS A REAL HEAD TURNER!!!

Handling, accelleration, smooth ride, quite engine, great sound system.

Can't think of any!

I am leasing a 5-speed. Have had it for 9 months. I look forward to every opportunity I have to drive this car; it is that fun. I'm excited to hear they may make a V8 (IS400?), but if they don't, I'll be happy to buy this car at lease end. The stock sound system sounds great. My two kids (ages 14, 11) fit comfortably in the back seats. This is really the first performance car I've owned (age 47) and it is an absolute riot to drive. I live on edge of city... country roads are right out my back door and this car loves to cruise them. The dealer told me I'd need to get winter tires so I did... Blizzaks on a different set of wheels. Last winter they performed quite well in numerous snowy commutes, but the rear wheel drive still makes it a bit slippery. Just take it easy in these conditions and you'll be fine. The rear wheel drive feels fantastic in the other 3 seasons. Fun to sit at stoplights and have young guys with their souped-up Civics looking at my car wishing they had something that nice. I program computers and could afford more car but I just like the looks of this car, so I got it. Another nice thing about this car is that at least in Madison WI, there aren't many of them. Only other car I would want would be IS400 (if ever made) or BMW M3 but that is quite pricey. Finally, I got the leather/escaine interior. Escaine is stickier than leather so you stay put in the seat when taking 90 degree corners at 40mph. It's very comfortable too and not as hot as leather. I got heated power seats and sunroof, but no navigation system because I like reading maps.

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None

nice exterior, 17 rims,sporty, fast, fun ride (not a real family sedan) steady, aggressive look, stylish, 6 cd changer, chronograph dashboard, e-shift, quiet, good sound system, youthful for those 21-35 age group that dont feel like drivin daddy's ride

limited space, costly to maintain, need ALL SEASON TIRES the low factory profiles wont keep up wit winter snow not even wit the trac and snow control, u will slip n slide, seats in rear are not meant for anyone taller than 5'6 its very limited (thats why its a compact sport sedan not a family car)

The car is definitely sporty, fast, aggressive, nice exterior, and its 4 door (though its a lil tight in the rear)i drive it as much as i can, i wanted this car since it was known as Altezza in Japan, still have it and still love it, sports cars are meant to be driven fast (but wit nyc roads alignment will be needed later on)not much aftermarket products for it though unlike ma other cars (honda's and acuras) i was able to take it to any mechanic for oil change or just simple maintenance but wit the is300 i have to take it to the dealer due to the type of oil it consumes wit this car it has cost me more in maintaining it (gas, oil, brakes, etc..) if u plan on purchasing this car u must change the tires (the low profile factory ones keep for the summer and buy u winter tires ) to ALL SEASON tires i urge u all due to many accidents occured that is somthin they never will tell u for those purchasing the vehicle.

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acuras, hondas, and infinitis

Second to none Lexus service and quality. Formula one handling. Impressive audio system. Very low road noise. Nice engine layout and servicability. Excellent brakes, suspension and steering. High output headlamps and many safety features.

Cheap looking dash. Poor shift response in the E Shift mode with automatic transmission. Poor 0-60 and top end performance. Chrome shift ball is as cheap and ugly as it gets.

In November of 2002 I purchased a Lexus IS300 with an E shift automatic transmission, full leather package, rear deck spoiler and just about every option other then navigation. Please consider that I have only driven the car less the 350 miles and therefore can not state that the car is fully broken in. I also own a 1999 Lexus GS400 and a 2003 GS300, all purchased brand new. The first thing that attracted me to the Lexus IS300 was its impecable styling. This is the first Lexus I have ever seen that I could sincerely aver that I like the looks of the car. I have owned many Mercedes Benz and BMW sport sedans and coupes and really like the european styled automobiles. The Lexus IS300 reminds me a lot of a BMW M3, especially when driving it. If handling is a big concern of yours, the IS300 handles like a formula one race car but yet the ride is extremely smoother then most of its competition. The inline six cylinder engine produces 215-220 horsepower at the crank and in my opinion loses a good 40+ horse power getting it to the rear wheels. 0-60mph and top end performance is very disappointing with the IS300. I have not driven the five speed version and imagine that a five speed would help out quite a bit. Comparing the E shift transmission of the IS300 versus the GS300 and GS400, a big difference is noticed. In that the GS300 and GS400 have a very smooth and prompt respsonse when shifting up and down through the gears where the IS300 is slow and leaves you with the impression that the transmission is slipping. In the regular drive mode, shifting is smooth, precise and quiet; very much like an LS400, SC300 and SC400 if you were to compare the three cars. Engine and road noise are relatively low and attest to the quality that Lexus builds in to each and every car they manufacture. Steering is very precise and responsive. One of the cars best attributes is it handling and responsiveness. The braking system is more then adequate and will stop the car from 70mph in a very short distance. Interior features are sparce. The upper dash looks cheap and resembles a cheaper Honda or Toyota design. Definitely ugly. The shifter knob is an ugly chrome ball that went in the trash can the first day I owned the car. Ferrari style? I don't get it! The sound system now built my Samsung is definitely impressive for a stock radio. I have read reviews complaining about the back speakers but wonder if who ever made such a comment is tone death. Believe me the Mark Levinson I have in the new GS300 and the Nakamachi I have in the GS400, will not out class the stock radio in the IS300. The IS300 offers a very sporty looking set of full instrumention but is hard to see durring the day. Overall, if Lexus was to redesign the upper dash and fit the car with a leather or wood shift knob, the overall appearance of the interior would not disappoint many when you consider the car sells for 30k or less. Consider the second to none service of Lexus and this car will make many BMW and Mercedes owners take a very hard look at Lexus. A BMW killer, no. The 330 will out run this car and stay with it in the corners but for 10,000 dollars less the IS300 is definitely a very close second. You have to laud Lexus for ease of owner servicing of the vehicle and for its many safety features. In a nutt shell, for 30k dollars there is nothing on the market that will out handle this car or beat its quality. If you can live with a little less luxury then you would be use to in most Lexus and German manufactured vehicles, the IS300 is an excellent choice.

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GS300, GS400, LS400, LS430, SC300, SC400, BMW M3, BMW 330, BMW 540, MB SL500, MB SLK320.