IS300 or WRX

Did a search on these 2 and haven't found much on them together here...what do people think? I know, IS300 is more luxury, WRX is more racy...anything else? I wanted to test drive them but neither was available (Lexus 2003's are out next month, WRXs are out but no test driver yet). In Canada here they are less than 3G's apart, so I'm considering both of them as possibly my next car.
Thanx for any feedback :)

you'll pick up more chicks in a IS and you feel a class higher driving the car. both of my friends got those cars. the wrx is fast. the IS is slower then its suppose to be. but in a car that looks that like do you really care? the feel better on the REX. the IS's dash looks nice with its chronograph dash. the WRX's interior's fit and finish is very fine for a sports car. sooo its totally up to you on what your lookin for. do you want to look fast or do you want to go fast?

I would say go for a decked out WRX...w/the aeropackage, the BBS wheels, the STi exhaust, and the STi suspension.

That will look good and get you chicks...any chicks on the FIA World Rally circuit.

:D :D :D

WRX, cause there is more in the aftermarket :finger:

Hey, FIA rally chicks are hot:cool:

Anyway, I would take the WRX. I am in love with rally Subbies since I got hooked on rally a few years ago. Those BBS wheels are pricey, so I would go for the aftermarket for all my mods. If you are mechanically inclined/have the tools, you can add them yourself, and get that 'special' feeling inside.
Also, if you get the Lex, get the manual. Now that I am finally able to drive alone, I have a special hatred for automatics. I just want to speed up, not downshift! Twice!. And they take a while to shift, too. Maddening!


Also, with the WRX, it is VERY easy to up the power, anyone can do it. Get 300 hp with bolt-ons.

I love the WRX, but I gotta say 6 cyl > 4 cyl. Get the IS300 5spd. :coolguy:

Jay...

But you do know that the WRX is still faster despite the fact that it is only a 4 cylinder...due to two things...AWD Launches and TURBO!

I know. But IS300 motor + turbo ~> Supra motor. :cool:

Thanx for all the feedback, it's appreciated as I continue to try and choose! :confused:

Anyway, my friends have suggested that there's too many issues with the WRX in terms of reliability and long-term care - in particular, that it's a turbo, and maybe even more importantly, the problems that many are reporting with the transmissions in the WRX, especially the manual.
As far as I know, Lexus has a pretty good name when it comes to reliability and customer satisfaction...

Think the WRX's issues are enough of a concern to swing it to the IS300? I still can't decide :p

Again, any feedback is great!! :)

I have also heard reports that the transmission in the WRX is the weakest link. Perhaps coincidently, the STi uses a completely different 6 speed tranny.
And the fact that its a turbo doesn't mean it won't be reliable.
Basically, you will save some money by buying the WRX, so if it does need fixing, you still have that left over.

I say the WRX is your best bet because
1) all auto makers with terbos keep factory psi. way lower than the engine can handle.
2) about 90% of trany problems are from heat , just get a trany oil cooler(I got one for my girls mazda 626lx that are know to have trany problems and have not had a problem since)
3) if I read wright you live in canada , so you definitly want the 4 wheel drive WRX and not the rear wheel drive IS300.

I hope I was usfull.:sun: :) :licker:

just cause the wrx is faster doesn't make it a better choice..
the is300 can sit 4 people a lot better than the wrx, a hell of a lot more luxurious.. they both are diff.. but if it's speed he's going for i'd get the is300 and drop the turbo in that.. ..as jay said..

the interior is plush but IS300+terbo=big snow blower add all wheel drive and you mite go some place. even if your not just trying to get out of your drive way, in the dry 4 wheels grip better than 2. also the WRX already has a terbo, what could he do with that IS300 terbo money on the WRX.
:) :) :) :) :)

El Diablo,

Yup you're right, I'm from Canada, but it's not really that cold or icy here on the west coast :D
Though it can be slippery with all that rain :(

So yup, 4WD is a definite advantage of the WRX.
Anyway just keep the responses coming...would like the car soon but not in such a rush that I don't have time to think it all through..

I vote the IS300. More luxurious, looks better(my opinion), and has reliability from a Toyota. And on top of that I just really dislike the WRX. heheheh:p


Originally posted by Chris

Also, with the WRX, it is VERY easy to up the power, anyone can do it. Get 300 hp with bolt-ons.

Which bolt ons are required for that? Because from my friends with WRX's(Well.. 2 people) tell me that free flow intake and a cat back exhaust equates to about nothing.. Well perhaps 4 or 5 hp... But the gains should be A LOT higher with a turbo'ed car... So what does this tell me? Correct me if I'm wrong, but Subaru's 227hp motor is not so restricted. I mean.. practically every other car in the world will experience some gains with a free flow intake and a cat back exhsaust.. and not to mention the WRX is turbo'ed and gains almost nothign with the basic i/e.

Yes, I know the WRX has a few cats... 3 of them right? Which is somewhat restrictive.. But its impractical to run without cat's.. at least here in CA where Smog laws are pretty tight.

All in all, the hp gains don't even start becoming noticeable untill you modify the ecu. Not that I've done that much research, but the last ecu mod I came upon costs about 600 US bones.

And when you do get 300 hp, your transmission will fall out(most likely not literally). A fix for the trans problem is to get something those subi guys call a dogbox.... With that you can launch at redline all day long and not have a worry in the world about your transmission... butt then of course, the cost on that dog box is about 11 large...

so IS300, it is. :D

WRX in Car & Driver's Ten Best 2 years in a row...I dont think I see the IS300 in the ranks...

:flipa:

Well, no one ever said bolt-ons were cheap (the ECU), but its still a bolt on. And yes, you need one in order to give the engine more gas to go along with more air. Also, you want to modify the blow-off valve. This will make it so the turbo produces more peak boost. This will make the power curve more erratic, but you do get more power, and dont lose any.

And yes, some types of exhaust and cold air intakes will not greatly increase power, in some cases, they lower it. But in conjunction with other modifications, they give a large performance increase. And yes, removing some of the cats will yield a healthy performance increase. I would especially recommend removing the cat that comes before the turbo, as this will decrease turbo lag significantly.

i'm a big is300 fan...

it wouldn't be hard to but a 2jz into it... or turbo what it's got.

since when was rwd horrible ?

just b/c it's rwd doesn't mean it isn't going to get traction.

it would be so nice too, b/c no one expects it, b/c it's all the richy people in em... sleeper

peter farrell makes a turbo for it, there's a nice aftermarket for it both in japan and here...



and on the "it's cheaper" note... just b/c the wrx costs less... doesn't mean you have more money left over...

unless you have 60k in your pocket to buy a car.

most of us don't and we'll have to finance a car. so the "extra" cash doesn't exist...

please don't use that argument...

people use that with a civic... in the vette vs. civic debate...
civic costs less so you can spend the extra to mod it and beat the vette...

but the whole reason you didn't get the vette was b/c you couldn't afford it... the extra money doesn't exist...

at least in most cases... i know it can happen, but it's so unlikely and a lame defense.

and if you wanna talk about service, lexus has some of the best service in the auto industry today...
if your sube breaks down, will they come get you in a new one and loan it to you until your car is done? will they bring your car back to you and take the other one back? doubt it

lexus is300...that is the nicest car.....i would take the rumored is400 over the m3 i have always wanted....:D the wrx but as an all around car i'd take the is just b/c you have speed and style that will cater to everyone and people will always see the wrx as a nice looking rally car

Originally posted by Chris
Well, no one ever said bolt-ons were cheap (the ECU), but its still a bolt on. And yes, you need one in order to give the engine more gas to go along with more air. Also, you want to modify the blow-off valve. This will make it so the turbo produces more peak boost. This will make the power curve more erratic, but you do get more power, and dont lose any.

And yes, some types of exhaust and cold air intakes will not greatly increase power, in some cases, they lower it. But in conjunction with other modifications, they give a large performance increase. And yes, removing some of the cats will yield a healthy performance increase. I would especially recommend removing the cat that comes before the turbo, as this will decrease turbo lag significantly.



One reason for me to explain that the WRX is still quite pricey to mod is that other folks were using price as an argument.... But whooooo... once you get that ECU mod, that engine is finally somewhat responsive to mods.

You say that "some" intakes and exahusts don't result in a gain.... I agree with you when referring to cars in general, but my friend had and AEM CAI along with a Borla catback.. both big name companies.. So thats just to say that the engine isn't so responsive to bolt ons with out the ecu mod.. unlike most turbo cars. Just the replacement of the cat before the turbo will cost a few hundred bucks... unless you custom fabricate piping yourself.


And I also do believe that the Warrantee on the Subi sucks. My friend brought the WRX to the dealer with an AEM CAI, and they threatened to void the warrantee. Then he brought it again, but this time he also had a turbo timer... A turbo timer!!! One that intrigues longer engine life! And he had to beg to not void the warrantee... In my current state of mind, buying a brand new car and having no warrantee because of a few light bolt ons isn't worth it.

Well, the warranty is a big issue for almost all new cars. The dealer is just looking for a way to get out of work. The sad part is, most of the time, they are able to get away with it. But the turbo timer is absolutely ridiculous.
And I never claimed that bolt-ons were cheap. Whenever buying a performance car, i feel that money should be set aside for performance mods. But, i you were to remove one or two of the cats. with a borla exhaust, high flow cold air intake, new ECU, essentially completely changed getting the air in and out, you would realize some real performance increases. I also consider an intercooler bolt-on, and a big front mount intercooler gives excellent performance increases.

It'd be awesome to have 20g's left over after purchasing the WRX. First mod: DOGBOX...... Redline clutch dumps all day... worry free:p


Butt if not.. IS300 it is.. hahaha

that's my point...

you won't have the 20gs in reality...

sube's warranty states that if you have any aftermarket parts on the car, it's pretty much voided.

even their parts, like they're exh and what not will void it...

If you wanna drive a car with a cheap interior and lousy stereo go for the WRX. Nothing wrong with the build quality, but the design is atrocious. It'll go faster than the IS, but its twice as ugly inside and out. Dont get me wrong, looks arent all that matter. But if youre willing to sacrifice some performance for a better looking and luxurious car, go for the IS. Otherwise, umm... don't

Twice as ugly inside and out? I don't think so at all. The LEx is a bit nice, on the outside at least, never sat in one, and the WRX is nice outside and the interior isn't bad. Going by performance, the WRX is better than the Lexus by a lot. But when it comes down to buying a car, you look at price, warrenty, etc., and you gotta take it for a test drive.

Hey man, its just my opinion, i think the WRX looks tacky. Allowed an opinion arent i? :) Im not even a huge fan of the IS series, but i'd be more likely to go for that type of car than a WRX... unless a mint Integrale was in the mix!