s2kov

the 1st gen tsx is nice, but if you can find a manual is300 i would get it! i wish i could find a good example so i can store my s2000... both are great reliable cars.

Yep4doors

You're full of shit

No IS300 gets good gas mileage especially vs a tl or whatever Honda sorta car he's looking for.

valdaviper1

I would go with the IS300 personally. Yea the mileage is worse than the tsx, but it looks better and is more fun to drive. Always been a fan of the interior as well but manuals are pretty hard to find. Another one in that price range you might consider is the G35. The sedans have hit some low prices but if you get an 05+ they can be quicker than the coupes(lighter) and either of the cars mentioned here. VQ is a solid engine and doesn't need timing belt changes and the interiors come pretty well packed as well.

s2kov

the is300 power plant is more reliable then the vq. although the vq hr was a nice improvement. the cost of ownership is probably less on the tsx as fwd is typically cheaper then rwd. the g35s will put you in a different price point. to be honest all of these cars are difficult to find in a manual.

Yep4doors

G35 coupes are easy to find in manual and you can get one in the same price range as an Is300.

I will also infer that is300 ownership and tsx owner ship will be about the same in maintenance costs, Lexus didn't get expensive till 06'

Sun Wukong

I like both options. If you go with tsx this is my friends car and it is very well maintained. I also know the owner before him.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4796288708.html

You should look at e46 330i zhp as an option too.


Good luck

s2kov

Maintenance cost will be the same until you have to replace the engine on the g35. The is300 power plant will outlive the g35. Also rwd is more expensive. While I like the g35 the tsx and is300 will be cheaper to purchase and assuming everything is equal cheaper to maintain. I would say the tsx is the less of the two but it is close.

valdaviper1

How many G35/VQ owners do you know who have replaced engines? I sold mine with over 115k and it drove like new and I know of plenty of people with DE VQ's who made it well into the 150-200k's. It's more expensive but also quicker and the cars come well packaged plus the VQ engine can sound fantastic with a decent exhaust. TSX barely has any power IMO and looks like an expensive Honda.

BAN HAMMER

..... its an Acura... of course it looks like an expensive Honda.

ravenracer

There both good cars and reliable. IS has a slight advantage to it. Majority of my cars were lexus so it's in my favor.

I want to get a SC 400 (old gen) but those are hard to find these days.