Mazdaspeed vs Lexus IS 300

[oliver2000]

Ok here is my dilema...I have been waiting for my orange mazdaspeed since last april.

Today I took the lexus for a ride....was a nice ride but the clutch with the traction control was kinda odd to use.

They have a special edition model with LSD, 17 Wheels and a spoiler for 40 K cdn vs 26 K for the mazdaspeed.

Which one would you get...the extra 10-12 K for the lexus is not a problem.

 

[slseale]

I also compared the IS to other cars before learning about the MSP. I ended up buying the MSP, and I think I have made a good choice. Down here in Florida almost everyone has the IS but only a handfully own the MSP. I like being orginal and hey the extra money saved, in my opion a better car, is like putting icing on an already sweet deal. To each their own. Hope this helps .

 

[Adam3482P]

I'd go for the mazdaspeed. Just personal preference. Thats probably because i would rather spend the extra money fixing up the Protege then spending it on the IS300 and keeping it stock. Plus correct if I'm wrong but the Mazdaspeed will kill the IS300 in performance (I think?).

 

[Sloop]

Well,

I have owned both and the MSP is way more fun. Go back and test drive the car with the Traction control off and you may be surprised. The lexus has it's perks. The service is the best in the automotive industry but the costs are amazing and vary. They cover everything under warranty. Lights burning out, and other stuff is covered. They are tough when you mod the car (depending on the dealer). I will own an is300 again when they make it more fun like stuffing a certain Twin Turbo engine into the bay or making it AWD. It is a little boring in its current state. They are having some manual transmission problems as well according to my dealer.

 

[oliver2000]

Thanks for the replies...

It was raining and close to freezing today so the sales guy was a bit paranoid....I am going back next week to take one for a spin without the traction control etc.

As far as performance goes, I could not really test it much and have never driven a MSP ( we own a MP3 so we have some base ). The IS 300 has 220 HP but is heavy 3200 + lbs and does 0-60 in 6.8 with a mnaul transmision. The dealership is very nice but I do not want to pay for the fancy dealership with nice furniture.

They REALLY want to sell you a car, our guy said that since we are paying cash he can give the car away as they want the service....out the door for 43 K cdn vs 32 K for the MSP.

 

[slug420]

this question was asked a cple times a few months ago
and I replied "what are you nuts? IS300!!!!"

but I took delivery of my MSP on the 31st of january, and was losing faith in the mazdaspeed for having made me wait so long and had been considering a used IS300 for 4000 more (USD)

I picked up my MSP and loved it but was thinking to ymself "man, if my friend ends up getting that is300, im gonna be jealous, and i dont wanna be jealous of someone else after having bought my brand new baby!"

well my friend DID buy the car. And i drove it back , the 1.5 hours from the dealership. I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo glad i stuck with my MSP. IS300 is a nice car, smooth ride, love the seats, wish my MSP had leather and a sunroof, and the lexus logo never hurts when tryin to show off. But I found the interior on it to be kinda low rent looking in my opinon, tons of amber light coming from the enormous variety of controls ont he center console. I like the feeling of a quick 4banger over a V6 ANY day. I had thought this from driving a tahoe/f-150/bonneville/i30 and confirmed it while driving the is300. MSP feels like a go-cart, corners like its on rails, accelerates quickly, has the turbo boost at 3500+ to jump through holes in traffic, and in my opinion is not far off from a dead tie with the is300 for looks. all that and the MSPs handling helps it to DEVASTATE the is300 in the fun to drive dept.

also worth noting I believe, the is300 is 215hp rwd, and can beat the MSP in the 1/4 i believe, but the MSP is quicker in the 0-60.

 

[Limited Edition]

oilver2000, what do you mean by this special edition IS300? Are you talking about the L-tuned version?
If so, there's no doubt in my mind that, that's a much better looking car and better car in every way over our MSP.

The L-tuned version is much more than $43K CAN, so, i don't know what special edition model you are talking about. But anyway, Lexus is a much higher grade than a Mazda is. There's almost no comparision. There's a lot of goodies and luxuries you'd get in the IS where you can't even opt for in a Protege. Keep in mind the MAZDASPEED is still only a Protege.

Although the fun factor would probably go the the MAZDASPEED Protege.

Depends on what you like, my break down
IS300 ----> for - luxury, sunrof, heated seats/mirrors, auto dimming mirrors w/ compass. leather, mark levinson stereo etc....
Rwd fun with traction control, smooth inline 6 engine with 215hp.
lows - Expensive after lots of options.

MSP ----> for - limited production, sparkling 'head turner' Orange, Complete suspension w/ RH 17" wheels. Awesome stereo (probably better than the mark levinson) turbocharged (lots of modifiction possibility) good looking seats and accesories. Good value!
lows - Sometimes i wish i had a sunroof and where the heck is the heated mirrors?

It comes down the $$$, if i had $43K to blow, i wouldn't be looking at the MAZDASPEED or for that matter, purchase one. But then again, it would be too much for me at my current age.

hope this helped.

 

[Dave_13_2002]

The IS300 is a great car, if you plan to leave it stock. Runs low 15's high 14's in the new 5spd version with a semi good driver. But if you are going to mod it at all look to spend upwords of 8k for supercharger, 9k+ for turbo, exhaust is around 700, and then you have suspension ?K....

VS

The MSP, kind of fast car from the start (compaired to the IS300, as it is a little slower) Runs ~mid-low 15's. No as for mods if you spend the same amount on the MSP you will have a lot more all around car. For example, you could get exhaust, intake, intercooler, S-AFC, Boost controller, better pipping, plug and wires, fuel pump and rail for around the same price as the supercharger or turbo for the is300. But here you might(taking in that noone has actually did all this) run low14's high13's in the 1/4. but this is all an estimant(mspb)

 

[oliver2000]

Thank you all for your comments...still pondering

The special edition model is 39,053 MRSP ( cdn ) and is basically the base model with the 17 wheels, LSD and spoiler. Was released at the auto show.

There are three packages available in the sedan ( other than the special edition )

Base model $ 37,775
16 " wheels, cloth interior

Appearance package $ 41,720
17" wheels, moonroof, fogs and power seats

Premium $ 44,470

LSD, compass, heated seat and everything from premuim package

Good deal on the special edition I think although only available in grey, black or white.

 

[slug420]

my friend's is300 even with traction control and i think there is a "snow" mode????? on says its really really bad in snow

i suppose the MSP isnt much better tho


and for the record, while I think I enjoy the kenwood mp3 playing stereo with a 8" sub more than the mark levinson system. I do believe that in any kind of comparison (by audio enthusiasts or stereo magazines or whatever) between the two, the mark levinson would win hands down

 

[oliver2000]

yes this car had a snow mode...

 

[Limited Edition]

slug420..
you are probably right on the stereo system.
I think Lexus and mark levinson has put a lot of thought and technology into their systems. I know that the SC430 is suppose to come with one hell of a system.
I guess i have to listen to actually judge...

 

[AGR]

Apples and Oranges......

In all fairness, you cannot compare these two cars. $20,500 versus $32,000+. I have always loved the looks of the IS300. If I were going to spend $32,000+, but not over $40,000, I would most likely choose the IS300 or an Audi. The IS400 is such a great look; I really like the design. It has a few nice features that the MAZDASPEED doesn't have, which is commonplace for Lexus - so what! Those items aren't important to me, personally.

The MAZDASPEED is more purpose built. If it takes $10,000+ more to better the MAZDASPEED for performance, then so be it. Our MAZDASPEEDs are more rare, have damn near the same performance numbers, an excellent Sound system (although it's not Levinson - you pay for that!!), and an equally unique, great look.

Case in point - in the wet........

 

[Daemos]

I'd go for the IS300.

Why? It's a whole diffrent class, a much higher class than the MSP.

Yes, it costs more, performance wise, yes it'll kick the crap outta the MSP.

If you're planning to mod, I'd rather mod a RWD car than a FWD, it also already has quite an aftermarket.

Is the price diffrence worth it? That's debatable.

The MSP you get alot for what you pay for.

But all cars are the same. With the IS300, you get RWD, Lexus quality (mazda quality can't touch lexus quality sorry), a more luxerious ride, better seats, defentaly, I've heard too many complaints, and I've seen picture of the MSP's seats being flat...and they are...I thought my seats were bad...heh

You also get more safety features.

Obviously the IS300 is the MUCH better buy. I'd go for that, if you don't mind spending the extra cash.

In the long run, it'll probally last longer, keep a better resale value, and be better to mod.

Also, with FWD cars, if you get too much power, you gotta deal with torque steer. Also I don't know what you want to do...but maybe this won't help, but I'd much rather have a G35 Coupe than an IS300 But then again, the G35 is more expensive than the IS300...

but all and all I'd still go for the IS300...

because...let me ask you this...could you ever possibly drift in an MSP? When you're with a girl, could you whip open the sunroof on a beautiful day?

whoo, the MSP may got a nice sound system...but over the IS300..that's all it could offer, for the price the MSP is good...but the IS300 is just a totally different league.

 

[rowan]

The guys from Wheels.ca took the Mazdaspeed Protege and the L-Tune IS300 to Shannonville track for a day, and they liked the Protege more .. for what that's worth.

The IS300 is kinda piggy compared to the original RS200 ( I think ) from Japan. I like it too but there are too many stupid "luxury" add ons that you can't get rid of.

 

[APEXistud]

I'd go for the IS in a heart beat. If you were to turbo the thing, you'd be beating the s*** out of everyone.

 

[tttP5]

fwd vs rwd...
which do you think is more fun???

 

[LinuxRacr]

Well,

I have owned both and the MSP is way more fun. Go back and test drive the car with the Traction control off and you may be surprised. The lexus has it's perks. The service is the best in the automotive industry but the costs are amazing and vary. They cover everything under warranty. Lights burning out, and other stuff is covered. They are tough when you mod the car (depending on the dealer). I will own an is300 again when they make it more fun like stuffing a certain Twin Turbo engine into the bay or making it AWD. It is a little boring in its current state. They are having some manual transmission problems as well according to my dealer.

You should look into the new IS430 coming out.

 

[oliver2000]

Thank you everyone for your opinions...

The lexus has loads of " features " some of which I do not car about...like how many times do you need to adjust your seat to warrant electronic seats.

As far a modding goes I would leave the lexus stock on the MSP add a intake maybe.

I thought the stereo was just OK and not close to the MP3 stereo but I was focused on the road and the car.

Lots of neat other features, like your gas usage as you drive ( another feature that is debatable ).

Drive wise this sits on the same tires as the MSP, but it was wet and cold so I did not want to push it...maybe next week.

Fit and finish wise nice

 

[Sloop]

A couple of comments. The IS300 is not available with the Mark Levinson sound system and I have found out to my dismay the IS300 has bad resale value. The word "bad" is always objectionable as I believe a BMW or Mercedes would always sell at a premium over the IS300. You really need to pick the right color combination for the car to get some interest out of people. I dunno but I think the MSP will hold it's value if Mazda doesn't flood the market with them. About tuning the IS300, you will need to get an intake with a retuned ecu or youwill have the fantastic check engine light on all the time. Swift Racing Technologies or Area 51 are the top IS300 tuners. I just sold my IS300 for the MSP. I am going to wait 2 years for the WRX STI.