Corolla XRS or IS300

5698 Views 31 Replies 20 Participants Last post by KoboChan, Oct 16, 2004

kasimmmmm

Discussion Starter · Jul 16, 2004 (Edited)

Ok, a really good friend of mine needs to buy a car and has 2 choices. She doesn't know much about cars so i'm helping her out.
-Brand new Corolla XRS
or...
-Used IS300 (60 000Km)

A NEW Corolla XRS comes to $30,000
The USED lexus comes to $34,000

I know it seems obvious to go with the XRS because its new, but the IS300 was more impressive. So gimmie some opinions.

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

Piddy

· #2 · Jul 16, 2004

Uhhh..... obvious to go with the XRS???.... i dunno about that.

I would take an IS over 3-XRS's..... just a personal preference though.

FWD vs RWD
4cyl vs 6cyl
Toyota vs Lexus

It is just no contest.... gotta have a clutch though

stock93cam

· #3 · Jul 16, 2004

go with the is300...he will get so many more chicks in an is300 than any corolla

CDub LXi

· #4 · Jul 16, 2004

IS300... luxury, sportiness, lexus badge... it's a no brainer.

mistamatrix

· #5 · Jul 17, 2004

I'd do the IS only if it's a 5speed. When's the first year the 5spds came out, 2002?

I'd have more fun driving the XRS vs. a slushbox IS300.

Talisman

· #6 · Jul 17, 2004

Easy, IS300. for all the above reasons and more.

silver04rollas

· #7 · Jul 17, 2004

If you were in Alberta, you would have every reason to buy a new Corolla XRS since the MSRP is $24K and taxes are lower. Anyway, Corolla XRS is just as fast as the IS300 (if not faster), but IS300 is more luxurious as well as it has rear wheel drive train and it is really torquey. Although, personally I am planning on trading my 04 Corolla S with a Corolla XRS.

kasimmmmm

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 17, 2004

silver04rollas said:
If you were in Alberta, you would have every reason to buy a new Corolla XRS since the MSRP is $24K and taxes are lower. Anyway, Corolla XRS is just as fast as the IS300 (if not faster), but IS300 is more luxurious as well as it has rear wheel drive train and it is really torquey. Although, personally I am planning on trading my 04 Corolla S with a Corolla XRS.

I would too! I test drove that car and it handles like a toy! I loved it. If you test drive it... you'll fall in love.

I hate Toyota Corp :(

· #9 · Jul 17, 2004

I live in Calgary, and the Corolla XRS is around $27,000 with all the taxes in. I rather get a used 5speed IS300

.tony. .riot.

· #10 · Jul 17, 2004

Maybe it's me, but I would never take a Corolla over a Lexus.

Number Eight

· #11 · Jul 17, 2004

Take the IS.

silver04rollas

· #12 · Jul 17, 2004

You have to remember you get 6 speed manual in the XRS while you have 5 speed manual in IS. IS300 and XRS both require premium gas, but XRS averages 30 mpg in mixed city/highway driving whereas IS300 gets 16 mpg. IS300 has a very classy luxurious look with that wide bold stance. It also depends on if you like torquey engines or high revving engines. I think the engine sound of XRS revving at 8000 RPM what really sounds sweet to me.

silver04rollas

· #13 · Jul 17, 2004

Lexus is planning to introduce an all-new a lot more powerful IS300 in 2006 so if you plan to keep the car long then the current IS300 would look outdated in a year.

JSVH

· #14 · Jul 17, 2004

Go with a new Scion tC.

:

Save yourself a few thousand. Get a new car that is as fast as the IS300 (See August C&D). Yes, the XRS is faster, but only if pushed HARD. Besides the tC feels more like a Lexus then the Corolla.

But I am guessing you narrowed it down to those two already (possibly because you are in Canada and the tC is not). I would say the XRS b/c I am a fan of buying a new car. I think how a car is broken in and treated over the first few years greatly effects the car. I still think the IS300 is a great car though. Either way, happy car hunting.

silver04rollas

· #15 · Jul 17, 2004

First of all, Scions are not offered in Canada. Scion TCs have a very good aftermarket support with a supercharger available, but the news is that TRD is working on a supercharger for the 2ZZ as well. Secondly stock on stock, XRS beats the TC hands down in every way. It handles better, it is more athletic and agile with a sport tuned suspension. Car and driver tests of both cars showed that the XRS had 0.83 lateral g''s on a 300 foot skid pad wheras TC had 0.81. Besides, TC is as heavy as a Toyota Camry with a curb weight of 3100 lbs Corolla XRS has a curb weight of 2670 lbs ( change to light weight alloy rims and you will shave off 40 lbs right there). Corolla XRS will have a much better resale as well and reliability of Scions are very low. J D powers and associates ranked Scion one of the lowest cars in per 100 vehicle problems. Scion is two door coupe and Corolla XRS is a 4 door sport sedan. My insurance company quoted me with the same insurance for an XRS that I have on my 04 S - $110 ( I am 26). Need I say more???

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Piddy

· #16 · Jul 17, 2004

Screw both of those ideas..... get a damn NSX.

.tony. .riot.

· #17 · Jul 17, 2004

IT'S A FUCKING LEXUS IS300 AGAINST A TOYOTA COROLLA.

Talisman

· #18 · Jul 17, 2004

silver04rollas said:
First of all, Scions are not offered in Canada. Scion TCs have a very good aftermarket support with a supercharger available, but the news is that TRD is working on a supercharger for the 2ZZ as well. Secondly stock on stock, XRS beats the TC hands down in every way. It handles better, it is more athletic and agile with a sport tuned suspension. Car and driver tests of both cars showed that the XRS had 0.83 lateral g''s on a 300 foot skid pad wheras TC had 0.81. Besides, TC is as heavy as a Toyota Camry with a curb weight of 3100 lbs Corolla XRS has a curb weight of 2670 lbs ( change to light weight alloy rims and you will shave off 40 lbs right there). Corolla XRS will have a much better resale as well and reliability of Scions are very low. J D powers and associates ranked Scion one of the lowest cars in per 100 vehicle problems. Scion is two door coupe and Corolla XRS is a 4 door sport sedan. My insurance company quoted me with the same insurance for an XRS that I have on my 04 S - $110 ( I am 26). Need I say more???

Well really, you didn't need to say anything more than Scion isn't available in Canada. Why did you even bother with the rest

silver04rollas

· #19 · Jul 17, 2004

NSX is the biggest scam in automotive history. That car is complete junk for the price they charge for it ($140,000 Canadian) and it is slower than a 350 Z that is 1/5th it''s price. Get the ''Real Deal". The undisputed king of drag racing. The heavy weight chaaaaaampion of the woooooooooorlddddd - TOYOTA SUPRA MK4!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D

thespud

· #20 · Jul 17, 2004

It's really a matter of personal choice... Put it this way, Lexus is Toyota, Toyota is Lexus. You probably all know that, in fact, i was having a good look at my mate's Roarer (imported Soarer w/V8TT) and it is actually made at the same plant (M15) as my Levin half-cut was. Anyway, thats not really the point.

My point is, if you want a tourqey engine and rear wheel drive, go with the lexus. If you want a high-reving engine, go with the XRS. RWD, Lexus, FWD, XRS etc. Just depends what you really want in a car. Personally at the moment, i would probably go the XRS, only for the fact that it is more economical in an already expensive gas market, you get the new car waranty, and you know you are getting the same safety and reliability as you would in the Lexus.

Lexus does have a reputation for being safe, reliable and prestigious, but the only thing Toyota's are lacking is the prestige, and even that is slowly catching up. But then, like i said, its all about personal choice and what is important at the time.

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