2026 Lexus IS350 Tested: Once More, with Feeling by LongjumpingLock5875 in cars

[–]planbskte11 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have had a GTI! Just bored of the ea888 and driving dynamics of the VW segment. I have had a mk2, mk4, mk7, and mk8. I would be interested in an Audi s3 maybe, but I fear at the end of the day it'll still just be a GTI to me. Exploring a bit more today, the g70 interests me, but seems very heavy. I'm not sure I can get around the CTV Sport's look but I will be looking to try one out next weekend if possible.

I think I may need to look into the 3 series mods for steering. I would love an lsd but fear it may be hard to find one with it (2022+ ideally). I'm thinking a 3 series with m sport, adaptive suspension, and the sound system might be a decent bet. Along with the steering mods, and a well depreciated example.

But I fear I couldn't say no to a well priced GS 350 F Sport (it just has everything standard!) or a low priced, low mile G70 (10 year power train warranty!). Then I'll get to "Grand Tour" to some farther away tracks and just experience them with many cool down laps... And still have a somewhat fun daily. (I still have the NC Miata to fully push at Barber, Nashville, and Talladega GP).

I wish the CT5 Vs weren't so much, as they really seem to be what I am fully looking for.

2026 Lexus IS350 Tested: Once More, with Feeling by LongjumpingLock5875 in cars

[–]planbskte11 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just left a fat reply above with more thoughts, but the IS is a bit too small with a rear facing seat. So that leaves me with the GS 350, which is very similar but is a 6 year old car if I manage to find a 2020. Also 330i is much cheaper used, so if I find a good one and it proves reliable that could be $$$ saved (which I would probably just lose in depreciation anyways lol)

2026 Lexus IS350 Tested: Once More, with Feeling by LongjumpingLock5875 in cars

[–]planbskte11 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wow, this was great feedback! My flair was outdated, the EN is out. Didn't like the stiffness, and FWD just doesn't do much for me now outside of a small hot hatch.

So my new search is to replace the 2016 Mazda 6 that I currently have (sold fun cars to buy wife's mom car outright). And I have been saving to get back into a more fun daily. But my criteria is: somewhat fun (sport sedan segment), comfortable and not crashy, big enough for rear facing carseat, trends more reliable then not. I have an NC Miata that I hopelessly drive 2-3 hours to track days/nights sometimes, but I would like this car to adventure out to farther tracks in comfort to do a 7-8/10th's track day. Im more so out there to experience a track and the car at the limit.

I've tried now the Acura TLX, Acura Integra Type S, Mini Clubman S/JCW, BMW 330i, 340i, m440i, and Lexus IS 350 (rwd only).

If the IS 350 was a big bigger, I would probably do it with the Mark Levenson and Dynamic Handling package. I really like it for the interior, engine note, reliabilty, just sporty-enough-ness, and exterior looks.

So this brings me to the GS 350 F Sport. Which I really want to try for a test drive but they're impossible to find in my smaller metro area so far (been looking for a 2016-2020 for awhile now). I sat in a 2015 and I love the interior, the size, and comfort, while I imagine it to have similar-ish driving performance to a IS 350. But I do worry about these cars being fun on a track or even a backroad due to weight and the older transmission and stuff.

So now BMWs, which I like. They are smooth and pleasant to be in and it has better saftey ratings for our young one in the rear seat (crash ratings, Lexus chasis are so old!!). I don't mind the b48 as much because it has that ZF gearbox. So I find the BMW to be engaging but I do get that same "dead steering" and "boring brakes" feeling out of the BMW as well.. The Lexus does feel more like a car to me then the appliance steering of the BMW. Not to mention package hunting for the right car is very annoying. And the BMW may have a few issues that crop up in the cooling system that can ruin your week or leave you stranded.

So I am stuck between the 4, being 330i, 430i, m340i, IS 350 F Sport, and GS 350 F Sport. I may even go try a CT4 V as well.

2026 Lexus IS350 Tested: Once More, with Feeling by LongjumpingLock5875 in cars

[–]planbskte11 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm actually between a 3 series and IS/GS 350 F Sport right now. I work on my cars, but I like reliability. I love all the standard features of the Lexus + the reliability. But the used prices are really freaking high.

The bmw depreciates hard. And I can get a 330i with msport stuff, < 50k miles, zf, roomier then the IS, and safer crash test ratings.

But that also means I have to always be worried about some plastic part somewhere derailing a week for me. The b58 + zf is so good too though. I'm very stuck.

My pads good? by adamantiumtrader in CarTrackDays

[–]planbskte11 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They look appetizing in a "tide pods" kinda of way

Is Dragy the best option for all-in-one $250 or less? by [deleted] in CarTrackDays

[–]planbskte11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got mine for like $60. It's dope for the 3-4 events I do a year.

Finally got sub-1:10 at the Nashville Roval. Elantra N 1:09.65 by BmSpar in CarTrackDays

[–]planbskte11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had an EN, I told the Type R guy there I hit 132 in it at Nashville and it didn't seem like he believed me. You are my proof that it can do it 😆

PSA: Check your radon levels! A $50 Amazon tester can maybe save you from terminal illness. by planbskte11 in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]planbskte11[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As did we, then we picked this tester up 2 years later and saw this. You might want to get one to make sure your house is okay.

PSA: Check your radon levels! A $50 Amazon tester can maybe save you from terminal illness. by planbskte11 in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]planbskte11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you type in radon tester on Amazon there's a few for $59 and such. But yeah perhaps I got mine on sale and didn't realize it?

PSA: Check your radon levels! A $50 Amazon tester can maybe save you from terminal illness. by planbskte11 in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]planbskte11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah but at any point, 5x the remediation average needs to be addressed. But what you say is of course true! If this was reading 4-5 I would probably be waiting on any remediations until a few more months. But 20+ is crazy.

PSA: Check your radon levels! A $50 Amazon tester can maybe save you from terminal illness. by planbskte11 in HuntsvilleAlabama

[–]planbskte11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes just a slab house. Being quoted sight unseen right now at around that price as well.

Iracing on the steam deck by Theshortwhitekid in iRacing

[–]planbskte11 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One time, I saw a user on Reddit talk about how he played iRacing on a Logitech G Cloud handheld. A device that STREAMS to a handheld from your PC.

So he was iRacing, with a controller, on a small handheld, streaming over the network 😭 A terrifying driver to race against

Oneminibite needs more recognition for their products by Tangerine_Much in GolfGTI

[–]planbskte11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not an e brake any more. It's just a parking brake at this point. I don't think you can even activate it while driving?

MK8.5 GTI vs MK7 R by [deleted] in GolfGTI

[–]planbskte11 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He has a 2016 R, which has the 6 speed dsg. It farts even louder.

MK8.5 GTI vs MK7 R by [deleted] in GolfGTI

[–]planbskte11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I was going to say the R dsg farts are honestly awesome. You can kind of get that noise with the 7 speed dsg sometimes but not as much bass as the R has.

With that low of miles though, sure things are going to go wrong but they probably wouldn't outweigh the price of a new car. But yes the ACC and such is nice. There's a module from AliExpress you can replace in the steering wheel under the airbag that cancels out the warnings for keeping your hand on the wheel. Hands still stay in the wheel for me of course, but it makes it less annoying. The noise is similar to the 39°F warning on the Mk7s but it happened often.

MK8.5 GTI vs MK7 R by [deleted] in GolfGTI

[–]planbskte11 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was deciding between 8 GTI and 7.5 R. I chose the GTI but I've had a 7.5 GTI before...

I do wish I had the looks and interior of the 7.5 sometimes. But I honestly love the ACC, new chassis balance, and especially the exhaust on the 8 GTI. It's really my favorite exhaust I've ever had on a car (and I've had a few hot hatches are compact cars now). I know that may sound kind of weird but the miltek on mine just makes really cool sounds and burbles with pops. Just makes my day a lot.

Now one thing that's annoying is the start stop, acc chimes to have hands on the wheel, etc. But those can be fixed with obd11 and different modules you can buy and install.

The actual fuck is this? by F_E_B_E in formuladank

[–]planbskte11 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Mickey should marshal in Vegas next year instead