The brake rotors warped at less than 10 thousand miles, resulting in uncomfortable braking maneuvers.
The sunroof failed for any number of reasons, yet was repaired under warranty.
Switches get nicked up easily, and the entire dashboard somehow looks and feels tired after three years of gentle use.
The car failed to start at least four times a year, even on days with pleasant weather.
A good performer, the IS300 handled and took off well, yet brakes were unpredictable; sensitive one minute, squishy the next.
Leaving the transmission in full automatic mode, while driving in a spirited manner, produced some sort of burning smell. Unsettling at first, my fears were abated when nothing came of it. I feel hard times are in store for the next owner, however.
The dealer experience is great; they treat you nicely as they pick your pockets.
The back seat is vestigial, yet the fronts are supportive and comfortable. The leather with mouse-hair inserts is a touch tacky, however.
The interior styling and sculpting of the dashboard look as if they came from any number of cars. There is absolutely no harmony within this car.
The large trunk is disappointed by a small opening.
The exterior styling never became clear or grew on me. Especially in its watery silver paint finish.
The Cadillac STS is indeed a very reliable car as a wheelie bin.
I really question the validity of the original review since the Cadillac and the Lexus are NOT in the same class. One is a compact and one is a mid-size. The poster should never have bought this car since he is more interesting in a gas guzzling large American car and therefore would have hated the Lexus even if it was 100% perfect.
And I fail to see how the lexus dealers "picked his pockets" when the car was under warranty the whole lease. If the maintenance costs were out of line he should have done what most logical people do - find a trusted independent mechanic.
Good thing GM dealers never pick their customers pockets...
A Warranty does not mean no expenses at all.
I believe this is not a valid review. But a fake one posted by a GM-Cadillac dealer or sales person. He lists that his previous car was a Caddy Catera, a well known auto-disaster made in Germany (This car is so bad, that you can see these for sale at ridiculously low prices. And with severe mechanical issues). I simply do not see how stepping up from the ultra low quality of the Catera to the well appointed and well put together lexus make him feel that Caddys are better. It doesn't make sense what he writes about the dash board or the brakes. Any way, the reader has last-word.
I've owned my IS300 for over a year. Driven the car from CA to Ohio, from Ohio to MN. No problems.
I've had to replace the brakes and do a oil change every 3,000 miles.
The author seems ambiguous when it comes to stating what problems he encountered with his car. Smelt a funny smell? OK... NO mechanical problems. Replaced brakes??? OK... you have to do that with most cars.
He dislikes the exterior and interior looks. Why did he buy the car???
After owning BMWs, Audis, Saabs, Hondas, etc... my only problem with the IS300 is that it handles poorly in the winter. Any other time it behaves properly. Very quick, great handling car, with very few mechanical issues (typical Toyota).
Lexus is the most reliable car for 15 years, Cadi is garbage. I have IS300 02, it runs like a dream and looks good too. Cadi is just a waste of metal and plastic. This is reality, just accept it and face it. If you can't learn to live with the fact that American cars suck no matter how hard they try. How the hell can you compare IS300 with Cadi? The IS300 is a sports car and a Cadi is luxury sedan (or luxury wannabe sedan). Drive a GS300 or LS600H and you will see what Lexus is.
Keep dreaming in your Cadi, it might make it more powerful.
Lexus and Cadi are like "Tropicana 100% pure and PC from concentrate orange juice" Both are orange juice, both are drinkable. The difference is one is better quality, pure and tastes good, and the other is just wannabe orange juice.
Guess which one is Cadi? Yes you are right, "from concentrate".
Easy.
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