Slipping into the 2006 Lexus IS350, the first thing I noticed was how much different this is than the previous generation of the IS series. The last version felt very open, and spacious, almost too much. Most of the models didn’t come with an armrest in the center of the car, and it looked like Lexus was trying too hard to make the car stand out from the crowd. Not so with the new IS. This version gives you everything that you love about Lexus – attention to detail, great build quality, and luxury from top to bottom, and intelligent placement of everything you need.

                The exterior is stunning looking, with mild arguments about the lower grill not flowing well with the rest of the car. Some of us thought it looked too plastic when compared to the rest of the car.  From the new chrome grill to the lifted rear end, this car screams for you to look at it. If for nothing else, just to wonder what kind of car you are gawking at.  Driving this car around town, we couldn’t help but be the center of attention every where we went. It wasn’t as if we were driving a super-exotic, but something different enough for people to wonder. This is something every enthusiast looks for. To be able to do that is such a classy ride, makes it all that much better.

                Angel has issues with sedans. He also has issues with most coupes, wagons, convertibles, and most everything with wheels short of a large SUV, truck or van. You see Angel is 6’ 7”. This car was no exception.

Myself, and Jared (being of a more “normal” stature), loved the way the interior was laid out. Angel found it to be more difficult than most. With him in the front seat, most amputees would find the rear seat legroom limited. The cup holders, steering wheel, buttons, even the glove box was near perfectly placed for 90% of the people that will get into this car.

The IS350 did not slouch when it came to gadgets. I love gadgets, the more buttons, dials, settings, displays the better. I am probably one of the few people that actually like BMW’s I-Link. 200+ settings – bring it on. The Lexus was no where near as complicated when it came to the electronics. Navigation, Bluetooth, HVAC, and stereo all could be controlled by the touch screen in the center of the dash. BUT, there were other options. Almost all of the controls had analog knobs or buttons elsewhere on the dash if you did not want to mess with the touch screen. I am a sucker for an analog volume knob.

Performance wise, the new IS350 has not caught onto the aftermarket tuners like the last version did. This is likely due to the use of Toyota’s new V6, instead of the old I6 that was shared with the Supra. Given some more time, I am confident that parts will be readily available, although they are not needed right away. The new engine has plenty of torque, and the tranny shifts as smooth as you would expect from a Lexus. The other available engine brings more choices, including manual transmission, and AWD. In my opinion, with no snow here in Florida, give me a higher horsepower RWD car over an AWD any day. The manual transmission isn’t even needed on this engine, with a sport-shift available on the automatic; you can use the paddles, or the gear lever to make your changes. The timing takes a little getting used to as there is a slight lag in gear shifts, noticeable only to those that are used to a quicker Ferrari or Lamborghini gearbox. Upgrading from a Chevrolet or Chrysler with this option, you will feel like the gear shifts are lightning quick.

Overall, a great car. Everything you would need from a daily driver, commuter car, or cruising the streets. If the aftermarket gets their hands around this car, they can only make a great car better.