Wow, this is actually my delimma right now... to decide between a RWD semi-luxo car, or an AWD rally bred turbo car.
I've had all three types of cars (FWD turbo probe a long time ago, AWD Eagle Talons, AWD Stealth RT/TT, and RWD 240 and 280z's (datsun's for you younger folks
. Gotta love those straight 6 and RWD cars, but then again, the 4cyl AWD cars have way more power due to turbo's... arghh!
I much prefer the AWD for rain and snow (chicago), and over all launches from streetlight to streetlight (kills most anything on the road, especially my late 400+hp stealth).
RWD is way better than FWD in any case, and yes, the Lexus does have that "it's a lexus you dumba$$, not a civic with altezza tails!" quality to it. A little upscale... But RWD really sucks in the snow, and the TRAC is useless (I can cut power and control the car better IMO myself, rather than have a computer screw up my intentional do-nuts, or was that do-nots?
I've test driven both extensively, and I would say the IS is more tossable, but also more sensitive. The WRX is very solidly built, even more so with the current model, and *IMO* The IS and WRX actually look similar parked next to each other. I don't care for the front of either really, the WRX just a tad uglier. The IS HID lights look killer though!
My friend works for Lexus/Toyota, and lives right next door... he actually had the m/t RED IS300 prototype with the million spoke 18" wheels on a trailer here about 3+months ago. There was no VIN number on the car, so we couldn't have much fun with it.
The WRX is 5speed, the 5speed IS is still hard to get from what I hear. Then there is the 10,000$ price difference, I would probably not want to spend the extra 10k just to have a lexus badge on my car even though it was designed as a Toyota... however, Lexus service and dealerships seem to be a cut above the rest, and the old adage, you get what you pay for comes to mind.
Warranties are about the same, reliability for subaru is usually very high, and you really cannot forget the fact that it is AWD, something you can never easily add to the IS.
So... I'm still stuck. I have the ability to buy a demo with ~6000 miles on it for around 25k (it had been stolen too, so that really unnerves me), or just wait for the 2nd year of the WRX, and buy that (I would not want to buy a first model year car of any type, from past experiences.).
The WRX is just as much but brand new, and I think a tad more comfortable. The Boxer engine is low and flat, which helps the car handle really well, with very little body roll, even though it rides higher than the IS (stock). I bet it has a lower center of gravity. I do like the double wish-bone on the IS, but the WRX is simpler.
To turbocharge a non-turbo, high-compression engine, you need to do a lot of work, and cannot run a lot of boost unless you use different pistons at least to lower compression. Then you gotta realize you will have traction issues due to only having RWD, and worse, sometimes no LSD rear end!
Stock for stock, the WRX will win every time, and the WRX can get a larger turbo easily (it uses a single mitsubishi turbo similar to the ones found on european 3000gt TT VR4's (aka GTO's).
I truly think, any car has potential... the more money you throw at it, but you mentioned "bang for the buck". The WRX does have the most bang for the buck (10,000$ less, and already more power and traction than the IS, and similar handling and dimensions)
I'm really glad someone brought this comparision up, because at first thought, you would think there is no comparision. Glad to know most IS owners aren't snooty like some of the other ahem.. luxo-car owners.
Right now, I think I'm leaning towards the WRX, but that could always change.
OH, as a side note, I think my friend told me that there is a prototype IS with a 4 or 4.3l v8 engine stuffed in there, at some training/tech center... if it had that, ther
