- sedan 122,549
- 12,995 high price
- Abingdon, VA
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- autoshopper.com
2006 lexus is 250 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. New models aim for ultimate driving machine. introductionthe completely new lexus is 250 and is 350 models are so full of technology that it might be easy to overlook how well they function as fun-to-drive sports sedans. lexus is eager to bust out of its role as a maker of luxurious but conservative automobiles. They want to make performance and style as much a part of the marque's appeal as finely tailored cabins and cutting-edge amenities. Therefore, the target for the new is models is no less than the bmw 3 series. They look sporty, with bulging muscles and a purposeful stance. Their looks are backed up with genuine sports sedan attributes: rear-wheel drive and handling and performance aspirations tuned more for driving than, say, the softer, front-drive lexus es 330. For the most part, the new is models deliver on the promise. We enjoyed driving them, particularly the more powerful is 350. It's fast, it sticks in corners and it stops with authority. The is 350's vdim electronic stability control steps in very early to keep the driver out of trouble. The is 250 awd model's all-wheel drive makes it a good sports sedan for the snow belt. lineupthree models are available for 2006. The lexus is 250 29,990) is powered by a new 2. 5-liter v6, which sends 204 horsepower to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. The rear-drive is 250 is also available with a newly developed, formula 1-inspired six-speed automatic 31,160). The all-wheel-drive is 250 awd 34,285) comes standard with the six-speed automatic. At the top of the range is the is 350 35,440) with a new 3. 5-liter 306-horsepower v6 coupled to the paddle-shifted automatic. leather is now standard on the is 250 and is 350; and the is 250 awd comes with perforated leather-trim with bird's eye maple accents. All models come loaded with standard features: dual-zone climate control, smartaccess keyless entry with pushbutton engine start, and a 194-watt 13-speaker stereo with a six-disc in-dash cd changer; the audio system features digital signal processing, an electronic crossover network and built-in theft deterrence. Augmenting the big brakes are abs, electronic brake-force distribution, and brake assist. Vehicle stability control and traction control (trac) comes with every is 250, while the is 350 gets trac as well as the more sophisticated vehicle dynamics integrated management (vdim). standard exterior items are fog lamps, projector beam headlamps, puddle lamps on the underside of the outside rearview mirrors (which are also heated), dual polished stainless steel exhaust pipes, infrared and ultraviolet reducing glass on all the windows, and a color-coordinated front airdam. the standard running gear is 17-inch aluminum five-spoke wheels fitted with low-profile high-performance radials. The is 250 and is 350 come standard with 225/45r17 tires in front and wider 245/45r17s in the rear, a staggered setup to increase grip under acceleration. Optional 18-inch wheels are available for the is 250 and is 350, fitted with 225/40r18 tires in front and 255/40r18s in the rear. options include a sports suspension, two different styles of 18-inch wheels, summer performance tires, high-intensity discharge headlamps with afs (that automatically swivel to light up corners when the steering wheel is turned), rain-sensing wipers, sport pedals, metal scuff plates, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel with memory, 10-way power seats, heated/ventilated seats, driver and front-passenger seat memory, leather console, rear armrest storage, wood interior trim, perforated leather trim, an auto-dimming memory reverse tilt-down mirror, and other features. The mark levinson audio/navigation system adds an additional speaker, advanced discrete amplifier technology with 300 watts and 7. 1 channel speaker architecture. Other options include the navigation system, which features voice activation, a rear backup camera (a great safety feature); bluetooth; park assist; pre-collision system with dynamic radar cruise control; headlamp washers; power moonroof. Accessories include a high-performance exhaust system and a body kit and rear spoiler. walkaroundlexus calls its new direction in design 'l-finesse,' which the company says is defined by 'simple yet elegant' forms and a muscular exterior that is 'sporty yet sophisticated.' we'll leave those descriptions to the eyes of the beholders, but there's no question the new is looks sporty, carrying forward the themes first seen in recent lexus concept cars and in the production gs models. Its stance is purposeful, with hips elevated like a sprinter in the blocks, muscles tensed, ready to spring. The nose presents the fierce glare of a car that wants to be first in line. The steeply angled hood, made of weight-saving aluminum, is framed by the determined glower of projector beam headlamps and a deep front spoiler and large intake. It's unmistakably lexus but visually fresh. despite being 3. 5 inches longer, 3. 0 inches wider and with 2. 4 more inches of wheelbase and 1. 9 inches of rear track, the additional size was used to good effect, allowing extra interior room as well as a more substantial platform on which to integrate the complex suspension and numerous subsystems. long sessions in the wind tunnel ensure the is slips through the air with quiet stability. In addition to the distinct aerodynamic wedge of the overall shape, a number of small details contribute to the exceptional coefficient of drag (0. 28). A front underbody structure creates downforce between the front wheels, a small air kicker integrated in the taillamps helps separate turbulence from the rear corners and reduces drag, and a small trunklid spoiler increases rear downforce. interiorlush with creature comfort, trimmed with upscale materials, and crackling with electronic wizardry, the interior environment of the new is models is pure lexus. Nothing escaped notice in the totally new environment. Even the front sunvisors were redesigned to help absorb noise. the new keyless entry and pushbutton ignition is so handy we wish this system were standard on every car. It also removes a potential safety hazard, a dangling set of keys, from the steering column and eliminates one of the most abused components from any future repair orders. a bit roomier than the outgoing model, the cabin is still more sports car than family sedan. A prominent central console clearly establishes the driver and front-passenger zones. The controls wrap around the driver with every gauge and switch within easy scrutiny or close reach. The new optitron gauges are larger and easier to read than the previous cluster, and their light-saber indicator needles, 'ignition on' meter movement and dynamic redline indication are cool modern. leather upholstery comes standard on the is 250 and is 350 with metallic accents appropriately placed around the cabin. Each piece is hewn from a single chunk of wood to ensure a perfect match from panel to panel. the heated and ventilated front seats are a must have. They come standard on is 250 awd and are available on the other models. It wasn't a case of inferior design or materials, but the cockpit seemed to lack a signature element, such as volvo's floating center console, that could have made the is cockpit as distinctive to sit in as it is to watch race off into the distance. driving impressiononce underway, there's little to criticize. The new lexus is, in both rear- and all-wheel-drive forms, can do everything the safe and sane driver might ask of it. The awd model is heavier than the is 350, but it hauled us over the san gabriel mountains on fabled angeles crest highway without exposing any dire penalties due to its weight. on a racing circuit, the is 350 is the way to go. Cruise Control✔ Climate Control✔ Power Seats✔ CD Changer✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Backup Camera✔ Navigation System✔ Bluetooth
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