Definitely my favorite car, I’d take the old over new. I have 270k on my 01 IS300 and she has another 270k in her for sure. Only have had to replace cam seals on it . But have definitely done clean up and small upgrades
This is so cool man. I had a 2001 Toyota Altezza (atomic silver) while I was stationed in Japan and I loved that car. I currently have a 2021 IS350 (grecian water blue) and I was like I would love to see them together, 20 years of changes.
I've had a 2016 IS 300 AWD and now own a 2021 IS 350 RWD (both F Sport), and I agree, the suspension on the 2021+ models is great. It rides noticeably better than my 2016 did, but I think it handles better, too. The way it settles into a corner makes it easy to drive fast. Sure, the straight-line speed is not amazing, but I do like the naturally-aspirated engine for its smoothness and sound (at least compared to the turbo four-cylinders you get in other cars in this class that cost the same). If you keep it above about 4000 RPM it pulls nicely, but I find it's still torquey enough for "normal" driving at least. Mine looks pretty much identical to the one in the video except for it being RWD, and I really dig the Iridium silver paint, which has a ton of metallic flake in it. Overall, this is a fantastic car. I need to get behind the wheel of a first-gen car some time. There are a few in the local Lexus meetup, so maybe it'll happen.
Easy fix for the sticky dash, clean the off the sticky gunk on the smooth sections (not the textured upper airbag etc area) with armor all cleaning wipes or similar (mask the airbag and pillars off). It will reveal some ok looking smooth plastic. Then apply aerospace protectant liberally to the whole dash. It will end up looking totally fine, the smooth areas will be not sticky at all and the airbag area will be much less sticky. Can be done in an hour or two and maybe 3 containers of wipes.
I bought one of the very first 2001 IS300s in Canada - Solar Yellow, black leather/escaine (aka alcantara), moonroof, Torsen, heated seats, and 17" wheels with summer tires - from the Lexus showroom podium. It was an amazing car at the time, I preferred it to the BMW 325i ZSP (the 330i ZSP was almost 20% more expensive similarly equipped). The straight six (also used in the Supra) was a beautiful engine, and the speed of the manual shifting using the steering wheel buttons was at the time second only to the Porsche Tiptronic in my 2001 Boxster, (although both were horribly slow by today's standards). Lexus service was incredible, with complimentary courtesy loaners and a decent detailing provided even with oil changes. When some cosmetic bubbling emerged on the some of factory Bridgestone tires , they offered ALL owners free replacements - this was after ~4 years, even for tires that were completely bald. The very early 2001 production cars were slightly lower and stiffer than later production; combined with a very aggressive traction/stability control (pretty much unusable in winter weather) it was handful to drive in the snow and ice even with the latest 16" winter tires. As such, after the first year I bought an old Pathfinder and the IS became a summer-only car. I kept the car for almost 7 years, which was a first for me - I only sold it because I moved to a smaller Prairie city where the yellow Lexus stood out like a sore thumb, and I really needed a truck to get around between rural locations.
These are fine cars and certainly the most sensible option in their class. Too bad the interiors are so tiny. When did the IS AWD upgrade to the 300+ hp V6? It had been using a mysteriously de-tuned (260 hp) V6 for years. 🤔
I owned a 2016 IS 300 AWD, and honestly, you wouldn't know it's detuned unless you knew exactly what to look for. There's a bit of a torque dip around 4500 or so RPM - that's where the detuning happens. Around town, it will feel identical to a 350 AWD. Having said that, nowadays you need to get the 350 if you want F Sport, which I think is worth it for the seats and styling changes alone.
@@ARentz07 Yes, I simply never heard an adequate explanation for the dip in power that brought hp to a level lower than a Camry V6. If I am not mistaken, the mystery was deepened by the recommendation for Premium fuel.
Lexus hasn't come a long way. Yours is way better... as in WAY better. Personally I would love one and you American's were very lucky to have a manual option. Whoa!
Would have been nice to see IS300 vs IS 300 not the 350. New IS300 comes in RWD I4 or AWD with same V6 we see here just slightly detuned. Either way very cool to see side by side. Awesome job!
The part you mentioned Lexus/Toyota sometimes being a bit behind on the entertainment technology because they take their time (and because of old people..) bit me in the ass when I bought my 01 is300 not long ago. I didn't look too closely at the stock stereo and I was like ah I might buy a cassette to aux adapter to play my tunes for now, ripped open the packaging and went to put it in the stereo and realised it's a *mini disc player* 😂 Maybe in a way they thought they were being ahead of the times...but actually the gamble did not pay off 😂
Gen1 IS by far. Lighter, more nimble, better looking and splendid I6 motor. Never liked the later iterations. Plus, no manual trans is a deal killer for me.
I have an IS300 and IS500. Both are fun. I said the IS300 is more analog and i appreciate that feel. The V8 is a great evolution. What size BBS are those?
@WilliemTheLuminary definitely the SportCross. It's a very rare car. I've added coilovers, replaced upper/lower control arms, and bushings. The IS300 is so much more responsive now.
I have a 2018 IS 300 AWD FSPORT. Best car I’ve had. My car GPS unit is flushed into the dashboard which I like over the float design in the 2021 up. Once you go Lexus, everyday is Christmas.
The return of Pontiac will include a straight six stay tuned that's really funny I can imagine a Pontiac with a straight 6 for 4 L twin turbo it's Mad Max I like the first generation 2 can't afford to 2024 watch out for deer
The cloth condom for the stick shift killed me. 😂😂
Definitely my favorite car, I’d take the old over new. I have 270k on my 01 IS300 and she has another 270k in her for sure. Only have had to replace cam seals on it . But have definitely done clean up and small upgrades
Ur delusional if u pick the old one
Hell no, you’re car Isn’t going to be able to double in mileage from here. At 270k miles it’s already a tired drivetrain
change timing belt pls
@@videogazer801transmission is reliable
This is so cool man. I had a 2001 Toyota Altezza (atomic silver) while I was stationed in Japan and I loved that car. I currently have a 2021 IS350 (grecian water blue) and I was like I would love to see them together, 20 years of changes.
1st gen is300
Iv had my baby for 12 years now. Still drives like a beast.
I've had a 2016 IS 300 AWD and now own a 2021 IS 350 RWD (both F Sport), and I agree, the suspension on the 2021+ models is great. It rides noticeably better than my 2016 did, but I think it handles better, too. The way it settles into a corner makes it easy to drive fast. Sure, the straight-line speed is not amazing, but I do like the naturally-aspirated engine for its smoothness and sound (at least compared to the turbo four-cylinders you get in other cars in this class that cost the same). If you keep it above about 4000 RPM it pulls nicely, but I find it's still torquey enough for "normal" driving at least. Mine looks pretty much identical to the one in the video except for it being RWD, and I really dig the Iridium silver paint, which has a ton of metallic flake in it. Overall, this is a fantastic car. I need to get behind the wheel of a first-gen car some time. There are a few in the local Lexus meetup, so maybe it'll happen.
The front has similarities. You can almost see the spindle grill shape in the old one's upper and lower grille.
Easy fix for the sticky dash, clean the off the sticky gunk on the smooth sections (not the textured upper airbag etc area) with armor all cleaning wipes or similar (mask the airbag and pillars off). It will reveal some ok looking smooth plastic. Then apply aerospace protectant liberally to the whole dash.
It will end up looking totally fine, the smooth areas will be not sticky at all and the airbag area will be much less sticky. Can be done in an hour or two and maybe 3 containers of wipes.
Funny you post this been looking for a 2011/12 is350 😂😂 but used car prices are crazy still
I have sportcross and it is just so beautifull
I just bought one and love it already
My favorite gen is the 2nd because of the styling. I would get the ISF.
Great job with the comparison!
I bought one of the very first 2001 IS300s in Canada - Solar Yellow, black leather/escaine (aka alcantara), moonroof, Torsen, heated seats, and 17" wheels with summer tires - from the Lexus showroom podium. It was an amazing car at the time, I preferred it to the BMW 325i ZSP (the 330i ZSP was almost 20% more expensive similarly equipped). The straight six (also used in the Supra) was a beautiful engine, and the speed of the manual shifting using the steering wheel buttons was at the time second only to the Porsche Tiptronic in my 2001 Boxster, (although both were horribly slow by today's standards). Lexus service was incredible, with complimentary courtesy loaners and a decent detailing provided even with oil changes. When some cosmetic bubbling emerged on the some of factory Bridgestone tires , they offered ALL owners free replacements - this was after ~4 years, even for tires that were completely bald.
The very early 2001 production cars were slightly lower and stiffer than later production; combined with a very aggressive traction/stability control (pretty much unusable in winter weather) it was handful to drive in the snow and ice even with the latest 16" winter tires. As such, after the first year I bought an old Pathfinder and the IS became a summer-only car. I kept the car for almost 7 years, which was a first for me - I only sold it because I moved to a smaller Prairie city where the yellow Lexus stood out like a sore thumb, and I really needed a truck to get around between rural locations.
These are fine cars and certainly the most sensible option in their class. Too bad the interiors are so tiny. When did the IS AWD upgrade to the 300+ hp V6? It had been using a mysteriously
de-tuned (260 hp) V6 for years. 🤔
I think the 350 awd uses a 6 speed instead of the 8 speed in the rwd model.
@@theyadmire511 awd 6 speed, rwd 8 speed.
I owned a 2016 IS 300 AWD, and honestly, you wouldn't know it's detuned unless you knew exactly what to look for. There's a bit of a torque dip around 4500 or so RPM - that's where the detuning happens. Around town, it will feel identical to a 350 AWD. Having said that, nowadays you need to get the 350 if you want F Sport, which I think is worth it for the seats and styling changes alone.
@@ARentz07 Yes, I simply never heard an adequate explanation for the dip in power that brought hp to a level lower than a Camry V6. If I am not mistaken, the mystery was deepened by the recommendation for Premium fuel.
oh shit its mini topher. loved the pov drives of your IS. just did an frs diff swap on my '03 5spd
I love my '03 is300. 116k miles and many more to come
I have a IS300 hybrid, it has great fuel consumption and it drives like a dream. However, I'm jealous of that 2JZ tho
Lexus hasn't come a long way. Yours is way better... as in WAY better. Personally I would love one and you American's were very lucky to have a manual option. Whoa!
Would have been nice to see IS300 vs IS 300 not the 350. New IS300 comes in RWD I4 or AWD with same V6 we see here just slightly detuned. Either way very cool to see side by side. Awesome job!
The part you mentioned Lexus/Toyota sometimes being a bit behind on the entertainment technology because they take their time (and because of old people..) bit me in the ass when I bought my 01 is300 not long ago.
I didn't look too closely at the stock stereo and I was like ah I might buy a cassette to aux adapter to play my tunes for now, ripped open the packaging and went to put it in the stereo and realised it's a *mini disc player* 😂
Maybe in a way they thought they were being ahead of the times...but actually the gamble did not pay off 😂
why does your 300 sound so good? no way you got stock exhaust setup still right?
great video btw
Agree gen 1 is the right size, which is why I always loved the gen 1 and finally got one.
The OG lexus
Hmm I would think this is still a 2nd gen from 2013 with a facelift.
The 3rd gen started in 2013 (that's the 2014 model year ).
@@ARentz07 yes, I'm aware of that. I was just making a point to say that it's not really a 3rd gen. It's just a 2nd gen with a facelift.
Pretty much. If you did a bumper conversion from 2nd gen people would think it a 2021 Lexus .
I just bought an 01 IS300 too
Gen1 IS by far. Lighter, more nimble, better looking and splendid I6 motor. Never liked the later iterations. Plus, no manual trans is a deal killer for me.
Great video !
Glad you enjoyed it
I have an IS300 and IS500. Both are fun. I said the IS300 is more analog and i appreciate that feel. The V8 is a great evolution.
What size BBS are those?
17", 5x114.3 pattern
He can't remember for sure, but maybe 17x7
@@DailyMotor thanks, I recently bought a SportCross
Which do you find yourself driving more often? The newer of the two?
@WilliemTheLuminary definitely the SportCross. It's a very rare car. I've added coilovers, replaced upper/lower control arms, and bushings. The IS300 is so much more responsive now.
Can we also buy the old Lexus IS300 in 2022?
original is300 will outlive the new one.... 2jzzzzzzz
I have a 2018 IS 300 AWD FSPORT. Best car I’ve had. My car GPS unit is flushed into the dashboard which I like over the float design in the 2021 up. Once you go Lexus, everyday is Christmas.
The return of Pontiac will include a straight six stay tuned that's really funny I can imagine a Pontiac with a straight 6 for 4 L twin turbo it's Mad Max I like the first generation 2 can't afford to 2024 watch out for deer
Really shaky camera.
That plastic piece on the bottom of steering wheel is very annoying though.
It’s a 4th gen but good comparison
Incorrect. This is still the third generation IS, however, it was given a facelift.
@@ZalkDrives didn’t know, thanks
1st Gen all the way
nice
What’s color is that on the new gen?
It looks like Atomic Silver
2005 is300 turn it to a drift car its a perfect starter over the bmw
This is a fourth gen
What years do you consider for each gen?
@@DailyMotor first gen was early 2000s 2nd gen was mid 2000s 2012 redesign3rd gen and now 2021 is 4th
@@chrxae2320 Wikipedia considers this to be part of the 3rd gen. Not sure what Toyota would say.
I think its still 3rd Gen as it's on the 3rd Gen platform still , This car never made it to the tnga platform yet.
Hi