Which is better? TL or IS

Mike05 · 01-02-2009, 02:23 PM

I'm looking between the 07 or 08 TL or an 06+ IS to buy and I want the opinion from a non Acura or Lexus forum. What would you buy if you had to choose between them and is the IS350 or Type-S worth the extra money over the base models?

NewSong · 01-02-2009, 02:26 PM

IS350:
- Awesome interior (rivals BMW).
- RWD
- More sporty (IMO).

I haven't heard of any major mechanical problems with the IS350 either which should be an important factor if you're buying the car. Admittedly, I don't browse Lexus forums, and most of my info is from friends who own the car.

I think the TL from 08' looks slightly better though, but looks is more of a personal thing.

SR71M3 · 01-02-2009, 02:34 PM

IS350 FTW

CV335 · 01-02-2009, 02:35 PM

I had an '05 TSX before I got my 335, ride quality is about the same as the TL. I previously test drove both the TL and the IS350. You can't go wrong with the TL; it offers a very good ride, has nicely appointed interiors, and a very good price considering all the included options. Although it doesn't come in MT, I prefer the IS350 because its a RWD and the ride is a lot more smoother than the TL. The gear change on the Lexus' automatic trasmission is a lot better than Acura's AT. If you don't have a specific budget and don't care for MT, I'll recommend you to go with the IS350. Just test drive both and go from there

EVO_S4 · 01-02-2009, 02:45 PM

IS350 get my vote, unless you need more room in the rear

BaLLzZz · 01-02-2009, 04:03 PM

I owned both the is350 is a far better car. Both are not track worthy but the lexus has a nicer interior a better engine a better feel for the road. More luxurious. Only downfall would be the size of the backseat. Very small.

johnL · 01-02-2009, 04:23 PM

Hands down the IS. That car has a pretty sleek design and the fit and finish is better.

Year's_End · 01-02-2009, 05:29 PM

Hard choice for me...I'm not crazy about any of em...but I respect the TL-S for being an outstanding FWD performer. The IS is just a little shy of being an awesome car in my book.

Rick Hunter · 01-02-2009, 06:41 PM

On looks alone I say IS. On all other aspects, TL.

All of the IS variants I've test driven (except the IS-F) didn't "feel" very peppy, and interior room was too cramped. But I still have to praise Lexus for their awesome satnav system. Puts the European makes to shame.

Krueger///M3 · 01-02-2009, 06:47 PM

I had an '07 TL-S that I sold a few months ago. It was pretty fast and had nice interior and exterior. The IS will be faster and it is RWD, but I prefer the looks exterior/interior of the TL-S. The TL-S also has a lot more backseat interior room than the IS I believe.

PaulBailey@ltbmw · 01-02-2009, 06:50 PM

IS350 FTW
Unless you're getting the new 2009 TL-S

just4kickz · 01-02-2009, 06:53 PM

rwd.

MTV · 01-03-2009, 02:05 PM

White A-Spec TL-S, slammed to the ground, with BBS LM's. And a CAI sounds ridiculous on that thing... so one of those too, with a Comptech Exhaust.

Inspired · 01-03-2009, 02:18 PM

Lexus hands down..

Acura is made in the US
Lexus is made in Japan

RWD > FWD

Bimmer007 · 01-04-2009, 03:34 PM

i like the tl

both are great cars either way

(i don't have a tl btw)

just4kickz · 01-04-2009, 04:38 PM

i like the TL type S but FWD isn't very appealing to me

davedave · 01-04-2009, 04:42 PM

IS is very very small.. front and rear ... i'm 5'10 and 160 lbs .. i do feel the driver side is too small for me. IS is for skinny japanese

GregL · 01-04-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davedave

IS is very very small.. front and rear ... i'm 5'10 and 160 lbs .. i do feel the driver side is too small for me. IS is for skinny japanese

Agreed. I'm 5'11" and am just about touching the headliner with the driver's seat all the way down in the IS, surprisingly I find that the larger GS has even less headroom. Don't even get me started on the rear seats.

Edit: If cabin space isn't a concern though, I'd go for the IS350.

Got Rice? · 01-04-2009, 08:34 PM

IS FTW

AMJ_77 · 01-04-2009, 08:42 PM

Sat in the IS and could not believe how useless the back seats were plus it had huge blind spots! It just seems pointless to me to make a four door when the back seats are barely viable. TL type-S FTW

chrisE92 · 01-04-2009, 08:49 PM

dear god, just stay away from the redesigned TL and you're a winner

OBI_agent · 01-05-2009, 04:35 AM

Acura is ugly but practical and, IS350 is the opposite of those. I say, forget both of them and get a G35/G37 sedan

View Poll Results: Which car looks the better?
Lexus IS	38	52.05%
Acura TL Base	0	0%
Acura TL Type S	35	47.95%
Voters: 73. You may not vote on this poll

01-02-2009, 02:23 PM	#1
Mike05 Registered 3 Rep 4 Posts Drives: Acura TSX Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cali iTrader: (0)	Which is better? TL or IS I'm looking between the 07 or 08 TL or an 06+ IS to buy and I want the opinion from a non Acura or Lexus forum. What would you buy if you had to choose between them and is the IS350 or Type-S worth the extra money over the base models?
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01-02-2009, 02:26 PM	#2
NewSong Just another jerk in a hat... 117 Rep 1,462 Posts Drives: 2005 Ford Focus Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Irvine iTrader: (0)	IS350: - Awesome interior (rivals BMW). - RWD - More sporty (IMO). I haven't heard of any major mechanical problems with the IS350 either which should be an important factor if you're buying the car. Admittedly, I don't browse Lexus forums, and most of my info is from friends who own the car. I think the TL from 08' looks slightly better though, but looks is more of a personal thing. __________________ He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth.
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01-02-2009, 02:34 PM	#3
SR71M3 Black Bird 11 Rep 88 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: D.C. iTrader: (0)	IS350 FTW
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01-02-2009, 02:35 PM	#4
CV335 Major 62 Rep 1,211 Posts Drives: '06 MCS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: TX iTrader: (5)	I had an '05 TSX before I got my 335, ride quality is about the same as the TL. I previously test drove both the TL and the IS350. You can't go wrong with the TL; it offers a very good ride, has nicely appointed interiors, and a very good price considering all the included options. Although it doesn't come in MT, I prefer the IS350 because its a RWD and the ride is a lot more smoother than the TL. The gear change on the Lexus' automatic trasmission is a lot better than Acura's AT. If you don't have a specific budget and don't care for MT, I'll recommend you to go with the IS350. Just test drive both and go from there
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01-02-2009, 02:45 PM	#5
EVO_S4 Colonel 117 Rep 2,232 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: TN iTrader: (28) Garage List 2016 BMW M3 [0.00] 2009 BMW [8.24]	IS350 get my vote, unless you need more room in the rear __________________ 2016 M3 2016 Audi Q5 3.0T
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01-02-2009, 04:03 PM	#6
BaLLzZz Colonel 127 Rep 2,298 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (5)	I owned both the is350 is a far better car. Both are not track worthy but the lexus has a nicer interior a better engine a better feel for the road. More luxurious. Only downfall would be the size of the backseat. Very small. __________________ Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. - Albert Einstein 01 e46 m54 - Current : 14 f10 n26 - Boring & Gone : 15 f30 n26 - Current : 08 e92 n54 - Gone & Missed!!!
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01-02-2009, 04:23 PM	#7
johnL Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 290 Posts Drives: e46 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Hands down the IS. That car has a pretty sleek design and the fit and finish is better.
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01-02-2009, 05:29 PM	#8
Year's_End Lieutenant General 1138 Rep 12,444 Posts Drives: 2020 Shelby GT350 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Hard choice for me...I'm not crazy about any of em...but I respect the TL-S for being an outstanding FWD performer. The IS is just a little shy of being an awesome car in my book. __________________ Past: '08 E92 335i\|ZPP\|ZSP\|6AT Past: '15 Mustang GT\|401A\|PP\|6MT Current: '20 Shelby GT350\|6MT
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01-02-2009, 06:41 PM	#9
Rick Hunter Skull Squadron Leader 306 Rep 2,031 Posts Drives: '07 M Coupé & '16 435xi GCoupé Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Emerald City iTrader: (20)	On looks alone I say IS. On all other aspects, TL. All of the IS variants I've test driven (except the IS-F) didn't "feel" very peppy, and interior room was too cramped. But I still have to praise Lexus for their awesome satnav system. Puts the European makes to shame. __________________
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01-02-2009, 06:47 PM	#10
Krueger///M3 Major 122 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: 2003 HPF 2.5, 2008 M3 (Sold) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Pearl District, OR iTrader: (0) Garage List 2002 BMW ///M3 [0.00] 2008 BMW ///M3 [0.00]	I had an '07 TL-S that I sold a few months ago. It was pretty fast and had nice interior and exterior. The IS will be faster and it is RWD, but I prefer the looks exterior/interior of the TL-S. The TL-S also has a lot more backseat interior room than the IS I believe.
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01-02-2009, 06:50 PM	#11
PaulBailey@ltbmw General 663 Rep 26,878 Posts Drives: 2-325 330 2-335 2-Z4 2-135 X5d Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i E90 [7.00] 2011 BMW 335i E92 [7.96]	IS350 FTW Unless you're getting the new 2009 TL-S
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01-02-2009, 06:53 PM	#12
just4kickz boku no namae ha... 336 Rep 11,025 Posts Drives: 2006 BS 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S. Bay Area, CA + Newark, NJ + ChiCity + True Blue iTrader: (11) Garage List 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	rwd. __________________ looking for a PreLCI Black Sapphire e90 front bumper without license plate holes "Akimbo shotguns. Broken wrists anyone? And don't give me that 'it's just a game' bull**. Where the are my akimbo interventions then?! One scope on each eye mother**er!!"
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01-03-2009, 02:05 PM	#13
MTV Banned 241 Rep 1,906 Posts Drives: E60 M5, Volvo S60R Join Date: May 2007 Location: Montreal iTrader: (1)	White A-Spec TL-S, slammed to the ground, with BBS LM's. And a CAI sounds ridiculous on that thing... so one of those too, with a Comptech Exhaust.
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01-03-2009, 02:18 PM	#14
Inspired Colonel 148 Rep 2,368 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California iTrader: (2)	Lexus hands down.. Acura is made in the US Lexus is made in Japan RWD > FWD
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01-04-2009, 03:34 PM	#15
Bimmer007 Lieutenant 41 Rep 537 Posts Drives: Cars Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	i like the tl both are great cars either way (i don't have a tl btw) Attached Images Last edited by Bimmer007; 01-04-2009 at 03:59 PM..
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01-04-2009, 04:38 PM	#16
just4kickz boku no namae ha... 336 Rep 11,025 Posts Drives: 2006 BS 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S. Bay Area, CA + Newark, NJ + ChiCity + True Blue iTrader: (11) Garage List 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	i like the TL type S but FWD isn't very appealing to me __________________ looking for a PreLCI Black Sapphire e90 front bumper without license plate holes "Akimbo shotguns. Broken wrists anyone? And don't give me that 'it's just a game' bull**. Where the are my akimbo interventions then?! One scope on each eye mother**er!!"
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01-04-2009, 04:42 PM	#17
davedave Captain 40 Rep 788 Posts Drives: Godzilla Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Somewhere iTrader: (7)	IS is very very small.. front and rear ... i'm 5'10 and 160 lbs .. i do feel the driver side is too small for me. IS is for skinny japanese
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01-04-2009, 08:34 PM	#19
Got Rice? Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 263 Posts Drives: aw 335i coupe Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (3)	IS FTW
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01-04-2009, 08:42 PM	#20
AMJ_77 Captain 20 Rep 667 Posts Drives: AW E92 M3 M-DCT Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Edmonton iTrader: (2)	Sat in the IS and could not believe how useless the back seats were plus it had huge blind spots! It just seems pointless to me to make a four door when the back seats are barely viable. TL type-S FTW
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01-04-2009, 08:49 PM	#21
chrisE92 Brigadier General 245 Rep 4,494 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue E92 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: LA to HB iTrader: (21)	dear god, just stay away from the redesigned TL and you're a winner __________________ photos
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01-05-2009, 04:35 AM	#22
OBI_agent D to the X to the B! 345 Rep 2,106 Posts Drives: ABS,American bargain supercar Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dubai iTrader: (0)	Acura is ugly but practical and, IS350 is the opposite of those. I say, forget both of them and get a G35/G37 sedan __________________ 11 corvette C6
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