2023* Lexus IS500 / Forget Your Expectations

The Lexus IS500 chooses a path currently ignored by every other luxury brand. As a result, it may be the best grand touring car you can buy for under 70 grand. Today, I'll explain why it deserves your attention over cars like the Audi S5, BMW 340i, Mercedes C43 AMG, BMW M3 and many more!
Thank you, Tad Petts, for helping me shoot this video!
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00:00 Intro
00:25 Exterior / Pricing
02:25 Interior
06:57 Drive
12:03 Reliability
13:23 Conclusion

[@deel.4982]

Own one.. this car is special, it’s all about the engine, comfort, quality and reliability. The engine is a split personality, soft for your daily driven and hard if you want the v8 glory. This car will be a collectible in 5 years.

[@MrDuboce]

Congrats on acquiring your IS 500. I want one.

[@bigdlife86]

Love mine so much. Actually traded my art sculpture LC500 for it…and the IS500 is a far nicer drive. Feels faultless, refined, solid as could be, and the tech is excellent in reality, and easy to use. Such a comfortable car, and I’ve had a LOT of cars… The classic ness isn’t for everyone. But if you’re a car snob that knows “feel” and quality, with an N/A V8, you’ll get it. Fabulous Lexus service? ✅ Lexus quality? ✅ Oozing refinement drive & monster relaxed 5.0L V8 underhood? ✅ Extra touch screens all over & bizarrely complicated features? Nope.

[@CapELarry]

I’m thinking of adding the IS500 to my garage to join my LC500.

[@bigdlife86]

@@CapELarry Great combo, the IS is a far plusher, smoother, easier to drive smaller but roomier functional experience. Do it!

[@spdlmt307]

I'm still waiting on my IS500 but once I saw the new updates to the LC500, I decided that will be my next car. Hopefully they still build them in the next 3-5 years.

[@bigdlife86]

@@spdlmt307 Hard to say, but used LC’s will continue to be a great deal. I dislike the 2024 screen changes inside (have the same new system on my LX600, and the IS’s previous gen touchscreen with touchpad is still better), but the new color additions are GREAT. Can’t go wrong. Enjoy either or both!

[@kawhiiee]

I own one and it’s so fun to drive. That v8 just sounds so good! Once you hit that 7100 rpm damn that shit goes!!!! I find it more responsive in sport + manual mode

[@floggyWM1]

stock exhaust quite for a v8 car

[@chriss526]

Great review. Also, it seems like you stepped up the production level a bit with this video. Nice work!

[@Realistick]

Thanks for noticing!

[@pengbrow]

Considering trading in my Mini for this, what a lovely vehicle... Filming and editing has improved drastically, keep up the good work Tyler!

[@brinsonmcbride]

Love to see the bump in quality in this video. Great work dude

[@Realistick]

Thank you! Had to take advantage of the scenery

[@gesalbte]

It's refreshing and awesome that he talk about reliability and common issues, starting 12:05

[@alengreen589]

looks and sounds good, thanks 😀

[@corollabzr]

IS 500 was Lexus North America requested vehicle, Lexus Japan never had plans for IS500 but now they are available in Japan as well. transmission again like many RCF/GSF/ISF owners will tell you Sport + and manual and above 4000rpm, chassis had been updated in 2021 w/ better welding and bonding technique plus additional strengthening even though it is last gen lexus chassis and not TNGA, also 2021 IS was first lexus/toyota product tested on their new test track in japan

[@bobbygoodman2875]

I love it, but what a shame it doesn't offer a manual transmission.

[@xoacatl]

one of my friends has an IS in stick and he's really happy with it! so is his son

[@bobbygoodman2875]

@@xoacatl I learned on a manual transmission and taught my kids to confidently drive one too. Interestingly enough, they still prefer to row the gears. Have a great day my friend!

[@xoacatl]

@@bobbygoodman2875 I learned to drive stick shift from my Dad's 1981 Datsun 200sx (right before the Nissan name change). My first 3 cars were stick 84 & 90 Nissan Sentra and 1993 Saturn SL2. Auto has it's perks but ain't nothing like that 5 or 6 speed

[@bobbygoodman2875]

@@xoacatl You're just like me my friend...a true driving enthusiast. The best way to experience the thrill of operating a vehicle is by taking full control and rowing the gears. My dream car is a '23 911 but the Toyota Supra, with the B58 and 6 speed would suit me fine. God bless "xoacatl".

[@CapELarry]

I have an LC and my buddy has the IS500. If you really want to have fun with the V8, the LC's 10 speed is much better than the 8 speed in the IS. Also, it's odd that your tester car doesn't have a power adjustable steering wheel, as that is supposed to come with the premium package, unless they've shuffled around the options.

[@Realistick]

I want to say it was a super early model and they may have been short on supplies but Lexus never responded to my questions unfortunately.

[@jolu4294]

I have that Grecian Water but the 350. I love how the side window trim is black on the 500 instead of chrome.. I'm gonna get mine wrapped in black soon, small detail that looks so much cleaner.

[@bigjdm5460]

I’ve driven PDK ‘s and M5 with DCT. The is500 once trans is warm in sport plus manual mode shifts great. Built in japan , great daily if ur just cruising . Gearbox in normal mode if not fully warm will lurch and jolt you when down shifting itself. Once it’s warm it’s smooth , refined , and quiet ride . On highway interchanges circuit like sweepers etc car is planted and never is unsettled. Great daily , also m340 is built in Mexico. I’m just saying.

[@chrisirons723]

Finally, someone who understands this transmission. I have both PDK and this and they are vastly different. The 8 speed is a jack of all trades, once you let it warm up.

[@bigjdm5460]

@@chrisirons723 PDK always leaves me shaking my head in disbelief when I’m pushing a 718 GTS or 992 911 .

[@chrisirons723]

@@bigjdm5460No doubt. We have the new Macan GTS and it’s ridiculous how good it is at high speed.

[@stuffdo_er]

I have a 2006 is350 and it will get squirly if you turn traction control off and turn ect and sport mode on. If I can find a used is500 in five years for a good price I may get one.

[@SO_L-GR]

What a car! 😍😍

[@Darthvolvo]

A dated classic, but awesome nonetheless.

[@sasothestrategizer]

Real talk. There are two in my neighborhood but a German six cylinder will smack it all over the place. Even a SUV it’s size can do it

[@Maljey]

​@sasothestrategizer yeah but this car will smack a German 6 cylinder in reliability and likely resale value as well. This is the car you buy if you're going to keep it past warranty

[@yousefal-assaf2985]

​@sasothestrategizer A German six-cylinder is turbocharged and most likely AWD, making it soulless in comparison to this V8 RWD beauty. German mid-performance cars have become numb and just chasing figures on paper... but hey, that works on people who have no connection with their cars, so they sell well.

[@sethm10]

Nice review. Hoping the 300 version will continue. I would also consider the 300h - but I think Lexus dropped that 2 yrs ago.

[@JJS432]

FYI Lexus gloss plastic is protected with a film to prevent scratches.

[@jaimerodriguez3408]

I want one!

[@UncleYohta]

in my heart of hearts, 1st gen IS300 all the way. if i had moola and selection was ample i'd probably look for a GSF over the IS500.

[@Realistick]

The IS500 won me over as a grand touring sedan but I understand the love for the GSF and the is300!

[@bigjdm5460]

GSF dimension are just really big. It’s a long car and the front spindle looks great but the new IS looks better with it. Also the IS is 100 plus pounds lighter, it rides better. The GSF has the better calipers front and rear and the trans tuning may be a little sharper. But yea is500 and is300 first gen. Easy

[@genzigzag]

I've been mulling the idea of buying an IS500 for the 'old school' NA V8 motor, I even don't mind the interior, but like just about anything where I live I need to wait nearly 18 months to take delivery if I don't want to pay a $10k markup.

[@kawhiiee]

Sorry buddy in todays economy you have to pay $10 markup

[@timw2083]

All cars are not marked up... you have to research. I bought mine without any markup in Pennsylvania

[@chrisirons723]

You will love it!

[@ARentz07]

The steering is actually fine. I definitely got the sense you just exaggeration how numb it was in order to sound clever. Have you driven a new 3-series? Its steering is far more synthetic.

[@Realistick]

I was making jokes but not exaggerations. I have only gotten to really test the a4 and a5. Those are also numb but they are more direct and less vague near center making them feel more natural. The IS500 feels extra numb because the suspension also limits most of the vibrations (a good thing for luxury folks) as it is NOT a real sports sedan. It’s a Grand Touring car and I love it for that, dead steering and all.

[@janoycresnova9156]

I wonder why they didnt give it AWD with that much power. Almost every IS has AWD.

[@Realistick]

I feel like it was more of a mechanical limitation as the awd IS has a different transmission and the 5.0L v8 hasn’t been in an awd configuration to my knowledge with any Lexus. It’s really great at putting power down without it but it would awesome for northern folks

[@truhouse2285]

I got mine at msrp.

[@poopsie117]

Definitely a driver’s car for sure. Handsome timeless exterior too. However, for a luxury brand, Lexus’ interior offerings are disappointingly about 7 years behind.

[@THEFIRE360]

and a CD player is 10/10 lol

[@deathstroke334]

I wish it had massaging seats. That's the only thing I want that it doesn't have.

[@deathstroke334]

Oh and the trackpad just needs to go for goodness sake.

[@anotheran]

Disappointed a dragy 0-60 didn’t happen. Love those numbers for consistency. You know how MT and CD adjusts those values

[@Realistick]

Me too, I couldn’t find a safe and level area to do it in. The places i tried ended up having angles that invalidated the results.

[@AllStars2525]

For that price, the interior looks 10 years old!!

[@dwindeyer]

It is actually close to 10 years old lol. The interior design came out in 2014 and has only had minor changes since then.

[@JesusIsGod222]

Yeah but the BMW's and Audis etc will be a nightmare to maintain . while the Lexus will last 200k + no problem . You buy this car for the long term . the other cars you mention are not .

[@Realistick]

Yes, that’s in the conclusion!

[@Philmoscowitz]

So many negative things to say about the IS 500, but what are you comparing it to?

[@Realistick]

Watch the end of the video to find out

[@Philmoscowitz]

@@Realistick - No way. Sorry, if you don't provide that information up front, viewers aren't going to bother watching the full video.

[@Realistick]

@@Philmoscowitz I understand what you’re saying but my viewer retention is typically strong (KZbin gives us painful amounts of analytics). If I say it looks dated on the inside or the tech is subpar. I’m comparing that relative to other luxury compacts. If I say it handles soft, again, other luxury sport compacts. At some points I name drop the S5 and the 340i to get more specific but in the end, i admit the IS500 in particular is special. It takes a grand touring car approach to the sedan so it’s hard to compare it to other luxury sport compacts.

[@dr.vinnyboombatz22]

If only they made an AWD version.

[@EugeneLopez-tp5hb]

Why do you peeps think everyone wants a POS BMW? They are junk.