What to buy??? IS350, Mark X 350S or Aurion?

[Crampy]

Hi folks.
Verrrrry long time, no posting.
It's come time to retire the mighty Aristo and thinking about what to get next.

My short list consists of:

Lexus IS350, around the 2005-2006 era
Mark X 350S, 2010 new shape jobbie.
Aurion SX6 (2010ish) as a last minute throw in.
Looking at 20g give or take.

I really like the IS350, but for the same money I could get a 5 year younger Mark X or Aurion.
The Aurion is FWD, so prefer the other two to be perfectly honest.

All these have the 2GR, with the IS and Mark X getting the later and more powerful FSE version. All 6 speed auto, which is what I'm after.

Any thoughts or comments etc greatly appreciated.

[edwagon]

Aurions are junk I reckon - Avoid! - modern day land crab - fleet car interior, mediocre fit and finish and totally numb to drive, but do have plenty of performance thanks to the 2gr

I vote IS350

[Crampy]

Yeah I was getting that impression of them from doing a bit of research.
I looked into Commodores and Falcons and felt really un-inspired. They just don't do it for me. I'd take and Aurion over a Falcon or Commodore.

I really do like the IS350, but they're older and more expensive. The Mark X doesn't have the visual appeal I get from the IS though.
I hate getting cars with Japanese writing on all the menus etc too, but think I'll have to live with that as I've heard Lexus NZ are tits for helping getting GPS changed to NZ maps etc. I'd imagine the Mark X will be in the same boat.

My Missus is really sold on getting a Mazda CX-5 for her, so I don't need a big car anymore. I did think about getting a Blade Master G, but don't know about getting another hatch. I think the Lexus IS350 will handle and hold the road so much better than a Blade.

So +1 for the IS350. Thanks for your thoughts.
It will be sad to get rid of the Aristo, but time for a change I think. We'll see though.... Could just sink 10-20g into that... hmmmm.

[tiny2009]

You should get an IS350. But then i would say that. Buy mine so i can buy nappies and get some cancer cut out of my face (old man problems).

http://www.trademe.co.nz/904900545

[Crampy]

You should get an IS350. But then i would say that. Buy mine so i can buy nappies and get some cancer cut out of my face (old man problems).

http://www.trademe.co.nz/904900545

Want!!!

Your car is the reason I started looking more seriously into the IS350.
I've asked a question recently on your auction too. About fuel economy.

Don't suppose you want my Aristo?

[tiny2009]

Hell yes. Aristo has always been on my shortlist of cars to own. PM me some details?

[~SlideWays~]

I really like the Mark X 350S, totally want one. If I sold my Chaser I'd be looking at that. I wonder if they can be privately imported?

Useful post is useful

[2jayzgte]

Man I'm in the same boat.

I'm looking to move out of my Supra into a 4 door and was looking at the IS-F 2010 with the LSD.

I was hoping to get more insight but the Lexus track day got canned because of the weather 2 weeks ago and that would have given me a clearer picture as we were to test drive pretty much every Lexus in the range.

So I'm still in a quandry which way to go.

[Crampy]

I love the look of the Lexus IS350, but like the fact the Mark X is way newer. It's essentially the same car driveline-wise.
I'd imagine the Lexus would handle better. Having said that, I'd say the Mark X wouldn't be a slug either.

I might just end up saying "f*ck it!" and just buy a nice ISF when I win Big Wednesday tonight ($6 million would sit very nicely in my bank account).
I would love to have an ISF!!!
I have seen some online comments of the LSF feeling heavy and not a nimble as the IS350. The IS350 does a good job of 0-100, due to a nice short 1st gear (well 1st the the final drive being short) getting it moving along nicely.
The ISF's 8 speed sounds like a damn good bit of kit, not to mention the sound the engine makes when it's on song.

All will be sorted after tonights big win... but in the off chance I dont win, I'm still torn between the IS350 and Mark X.

[2jayzgte]

Man I think you maybe surprised.

I think the arse will drop out of those IS-F's and winning lotto may actually not be needed to afford one of these cars in the near future.I see the LSD-less versions 2008-09ish are now in $40 K territory and are dropping like a stone.

[e30-323ti]

My vote is for the IS350 if you are keeping it in the Toyota family.

Otherwise Skyline 370GT would be worth a look I think.

[Dell'Orto]

There is an IS-F that lives in my suburb, I followed him onto the motorway the other morning....my god that noise! Amazing.
Cheapest I've seen is a blue '08 IS-F with moderate k's for $35k a while back . I am surprised they offered them without an LSD though!

[2jayzgte]

I've had an actual decent drive in one and there are a few things you can do to get a little more juice and emotion out of them.More grip and widen the track are the first 2 things I'd do.Go to a Michelin Pilot sport 2 tyre 275 out the back 255 up front.A Set of PPE extractors and a Joe Z exhaust system seem to be pretty popular in the US and releases a few more horse's also.

My first impression driving the IS-F was they felt a bit floaty and I thought they needed more grip.They seem a little flat to me lower in the rev range but getting them up over that 4.5-5 k area they seem to come alive not rip your head off like the turbo I'm used to driving but a very linear continual push.You can feel the weight though when you ask it to make multiple quick changes of direction hence why I thought it needed more grip.Getting it more pointy in the front I think allows you to drive the car more on the throttleof which I personally like.

[Crampy]

I've seen some American forums where IS350 owners have taken a IS-F for a drive and were underwelmed. Granted it's got more power, but the extra weight hurt it for handling. The IS350 seemed better balanced and poised. The IS-F does 0-100 in 4.5 seconds give or take and the IS350 does it in 5 flat or even better(some have reported), although offical numbers are more like 5.5seconds.

The new IS350's now also have the same sweet 8 speed the IS-F has.

[blackmk3]

We were in a similar position. The Mrs was getting sick of her MK4 supra, 2doors were getting average and the car was getting old and having old car issues. So we decided on a mark X. Admittedly it is a 2004 GRX120 (or whatever it is) as we didn't quite have the budget you guys have.
and its a bloody nice car! its the sport package 3 liter version the 3GR? test drove the 2.5 and way to gutless.
full service history in Japan, 26,000kms! we paid $14k
This is the only pic i have giving it a squirt at the drag strip!

[Crampy]

Looking good. What times were you running?

My Sister has a 2004 250G Mark X and they love it. It has pretty impressive fuel economy on long trips, but aorund town it drops quite a lot (understandable really).
They think it has plenty of power, but they both had 20V cars prior with Sis having a Silvertop AE101 FXGT and her hubby having a AE111 Levin Blacktop. I'd imagine the lazy torque of a V6 is rather more impressive than a smokey Blacktop with over 200,000km on the clock.

The 3 litre version (GRX121) did grab my attention. With a quoted 188kw and 314NM no doubt it has some good stonk to it too. I love the fact all these cars have 6 speed autos in them too.

[blackmk3]

That's exactly what ours is, it does make a very nice amount of torque and loves to rev as far as you take it. For a big car it gets its move along. No times for the strip it was just a fun day, Supra wasn't running so i thought id take the X for a squirt, I was more interested to test the handling on the circuit on the way back to the drag strip again after a run

Electric seats, GPS with reversing camera, Road following HID headlights, 18s, sport kit,6speed auto (like you say), Electronic suspension, LED interior lights, keyless entry, push start, all the safety stuff traction control, electronic stability, a airbag every ware even for your knees! and it has all the mounting points and clips etc for child seats when one day that comes along but its pretty much a Mercedes with a everyday mans price tag.

Like you say the economy does drop alot around town, but more than makes up for it on a long trip 1800rpms at 100kph.
The only downfalls it has is that our one dosent have cruise control (you miss it in a car like this) it makes good torque even at that low rpms its very easy to creep over 110kph on a trip. And i haven't figured out how to get connectivity into the stereo it has Bluetooth calling but not for media playing and no USB or AUX just a good old CD

[Grrrrrrr!]

What sort of economy are these getting on the open road. Might need to upgrade to something that can tow a trailer at some point and not really keen on a Falcodore, but don't want to be registering and WOFing three cars.

[Crampy]

I've been looking into this and it seems the IS350 gets 28-30MPG highway and 20-22MPG city. That works out to be 11.9-12.75 km/l highway, 8.5-9.35 km/l city.
They seem to average out at 10km/l combined.

[blackmk3]

Pretty spot on for what we get out of ours, running on BP 98