I want an automatic (Eminent White Pearl with Chateau interior) RWD naturally aspirated v6 Lexus IS (300 or 350) because those engines are bulletproof. I know that a Lexus/Toyota V6 can last forever and I tend to hold onto my cars for a long time, just like Scotty.
The only problem is, I can only find a V6 Lexus IS 300 on the east coast - and it's AWD, not RWD. I live in Southern CA and there's no need for AWD here. And after watching Scotty's videos, I don't want the extra weight and expense of an AWD vehicle.
After some research, I discovered that Lexus didn't really distribute V6 AWD IS's on the west coast because of the increased price for an unnecessary item like AWD.
The only thing I can find in the white pearl/beige color scheme comes with a turbocharged 4 cylinder engine, which seems to be what most auto manufacturers are producing these days.
**Am I better off shipping a car from the mid-west/east coast to CA that comes with AWD and a V6? Or settling for a crappy 4 cylinder that's turbocharged? I know Scotty has mentioned in several videos that turbos go out, are expensive to replace, and they put unnecessary strain and heat on the engine, etc.
Being a car enthusiast, I am a fan of the Lexus IS 350 F-sport. However, the 350 only comes with either red or black interior, which I don't care for. Black interior heats up horribly here (I had open-heart surgery in 2018 at age 36) and red is just too much. Being that I don't have kids and a husband, I'm sure I could get used to red interior, but it's hard to find an IS 350 with that beautiful Eminent White Pearl exterior.
I'm looking at used/CPO/low mile vehicles, with less than 30k miles, preferably.
Thank you for reading!
I would stick to the NA V6 at all costs since it is true and tried and will last longer than a turbocharged engine. That being said, do you need the vehicle right away? If not, keep looking until you get the exact color schemes you want, but just be prepared to jump on it and/or pay more and it might also be across the country (which makes a good excuse for a road trip in some beautiful country). But otherwise, push comes to shove, you may have to settle for the red interior (that you mentioned) or the AWD version if you can’t find your top color schemes. If you can wait, keep looking.
Hey DayWalker, thanks so much for your comment.
I know that I will have to make some sort of compromise. I'd rather compromise on color than engine. I agree, the V6 is the better bet.
And I do kinda need the vehicle right away. Next month is my birthday but aside from that, I have a 2008 (13-year-old) BMW 328i that's running good now. It has 119,500 miles on it and I'd like to trade it in now (Car Max cash price offers are better than KBB) before my E90 starts throwing codes.
I guess I'm just anxious because I've never had a car shipped from out of state before, so this type of transaction is kinda foreign to me.
My ideal car just wasn't ever built by toyota/lexus. So I know I'll have to compromise somewhere.
My mom's Rx350 that's 10 years old is going strong at 150k miles. I know those things are tanks, and can easily go till 300k+ miles.
I would get the V6 AWD. The AWD also adds stability to those even in rain and hail and all that stuff. You might need to compromise on some stuff but a pure V6 beats a turbo 4 cylinder in my books all day long.
Hey Kerem,
Thanks for your feedback. Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too. Sure, the AWD may add a little more weight to the car, and I could potentially end up spending more on brakes and pads/sensors as well as tires if I do drive it a ton in the rain and snow, but who am I kidding? We barely get any rain as it is here in southern CA.
Last year I could take my finger and write my name in my BMW parked on the street. The wildfires were so bad that my car was covered in a blanket of ash.
Thank you for your input. V6 it is. And I'm warming up to the idea of AWD. The thought of owning a turbo just doesn't sit well with me. I'm thinking I'd like the beautiful Chateau beige interior with AWD vs that screaming red interior that comes with the F sport.
I remember those wild fires... They were even worse up here in the capital.
Glad I could help! I also personally would prefer the luxurious beige vs. the red interior which is pretending to have a sporty appeal.
I would rather have a RWD naturally aspirated V6 to avoid future AWD costs.
Hi Yaser,
Thank you for your imput. I too have my reservations about my next car being AWD. I'm used to RWD, that's for sure.
I'm going to have to do more research on more 3rd party sites, like JD Power and Consumer Reports. Some claim that the cost of ownership of an AWD car is the same, (not higher).
But if I do go with RWD, I'm not sure I'll be able to handle that bright red interior every day. It looks great in the shade. It magically transforms into a deep burgundy. But here in the California sun, it's screaming fire red, and a bit too loud for me as I'm pushing 40.
The ownership cost of AWD is always higher than RWD. Although for a low mileage Lexus, it should not be a big deal since they are well built cars and by proper maintenance, they can last a really long time. For car search, use Autotempest.com to find the one you need.
Hi Yaser,
Thank you for your reply : )
I'm definitely new to the AWD world and assume that the cost of ownership will always be higher on an AWD car vs RWD. And I will definitely check out Autotempest.com, thanks!