Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Pics and Videos Pictures of SVT replacement

2002 Lexus IS300 5-speed manual
Graphite Gray Pearl
Leather/Escane (suede-like inserts) seats
Moonroof
LTD slip axle
Heated seats
Spoiler
Wheel locks

Eric S, no mods planned yet. 35% tint come spring will be the first. No rice!

Eric L, I like the blue and this gray but there are quite a few of the blues and copies of the blue on other cars. Think I like the gray a little more anyway.

Steve, I get A-Plan on Ford makes and Mercedes and Chrysler employee prices too. Guess what, they don't make anything like this car, especially, manual trans. Drove an LS 5-speed and didn't like it. I have no loyalties for buying a car I don't like, especially expensive ones. Believe me, I'd have loved to save $5-7k on a car, but I compromised last time on the SVT and it lasted me 18 months.

Antiramie, I had a blue coat on when taking the picture. I didn't even notice the reflection. The chrome ball is cool, especialy in the winter.

Hydro, For now I'm leasing until the SVT sells. Ther are no penalties for buying it out early.

Roger, what sparked my selling motivation was that a friend was selling his and I think I know what it's worth. I won't lose my ass. What put me and my wife over the edge was a poor dealer experience, twice in a row combined with rattles and loud tire and wind noise and some other nit picky things (and FWD). I'll be at the local meets still. I'm not leaving here as www.is300.net looks very immature and ignorant.

More details to come. Gotta eat dinner. Basically, everything about the SVT that I liked, this car does at least equally. Everything I hated about the SVT, this car does perfectly. Never driven an automatic IS300, but from the first 1/8 mile, I knew this was a driver's car, a perfect fit for me.

Thanks for the comps.
Aaron

Looks beatiful! Excellent choice.

Think it's time for me to go on some test drives....

John

I like it..I like it alot.. .....How fast are they??

John, you said ther was nothing on the market that really got your attention and I was beginning to worry myself. If you can find a 5-speed on the lot, take it for a spin. Will it get more power next year? Maybe and that'll be nice. But it's plenty quick already. The shifter, the smooth engine, the ride, the steering are all perfect. The interior I'm sure is less luxury that the 3-series or even the TL-S I drove. But it's still better than the SVT.

As for acceleration, it's very close to the SVT. I'm sure it'll get off the line quicker, but after that, very close. I'm sure I'll get the opportunity to compare at a local CEG meet.

i hate you
(jealousy speaking)

Aaron,

I was more or less trying to say that there isn't anything out there that 'screams my name' to go out and get. The only dislike of the IS300 are the taillights, and I wouldn't mind it having a little bit more 'oomph' for a 3.0... (As in the 330i) But with the insane aftermarket for the IS300, turbos are available... That'll fix ya right up.

But, other than that, I really like the looks, interior, (definitely like the suede) and the gauges. Shifter looks a little odd, but it'll work.

Overall, I'm liking it very much.

However, at my current point of life, I can't really afford a $33k car... Maybe in a few years.

But again, it's on my 'test drive' list, which right now is really short.

John

Well, I guess if you HAD to get rid of the CSVT, it's not a bad choice. (me pouting)

That's a really Phat car. I love the IS Lexus not to many cars come from the factory looking like those.....

Thanks Aaron, now I have something else for Gator and I to steal!

MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!