2010 Lexus IS 250C - Review

By Tim Healey

Tim Healey

Contributing Writer BIO

Tim Healey was formerly an associate editor at Consumer Guide Automotive in Chicago. Before that he worked in the automotive industry as a service... More

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2010 Lexus IS C

Toyota often takes a lot of guff for producing vehicles that don't exactly have the spice that enthusiasts look for. While the company would deny that charge, and present the new Lexus LF-A supercar as Exhibit A of its evidence, the fact is that most folks will never even lay eyes on that car, let alone drive it. For us mere mortals, Lexus also offers the IS line of sports sedans. Enthusiasts will gravitate to the king of the castle, the IS F, but most Lexus buyers who want some sport without stretching the wallet too far will probably gravitate to the IS 250 and IS 350.

Sports sedans are fun, and sports sedans that have the ability to go topless offer even more fun, or so the thinking goes, and so it is that Lexus offers convertible versions of the IS 250 and IS 350, dubbed IS 250C and IS 350C, appropriately. Sadly, no IS F convertible exists.

An IS 250C recently showed up at my door, complete with the 2.5-liter 204-horsepower V-6 that gives it the 250 moniker, a 6-speed automatic transmission, ABS, an antiskid system, traction control, a tool kit, a first-aid kit, a power-retracting convertible top, a foldable rear headrest, keyless entry, push-button start, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a rearview mirror with a compass, fog lamps (charmingly called "puddle lamps" by Lexus), a wireless cell phone link, a USB port, satellite radio, a driver's information center with a trip computer, cruise control, a power tilt/telescope steering wheel, Lexus personalized settings (allows owners to program certain default settings to their liking), one-touch up/down front and rear windows, a rear console with cupholders, and carpeted floor mats. Base price? $39,660.

That doesn't include the options. My car replaced standard 17-inch wheels with 18-inchers mounted with all-season tires ($720). It also had the $3,055 Luxury Package (bi-xenon HID headlamps with adaptive lighting, heated and cooled front seats, wood trim, leather seats, memory seats for the passenger and driver, one-touch front-seat fold and slide activation (Toyota's words), scuff plates with illumination, and rain-sensing wipers). Rounding out the list was the navigation system and Mark Levinson premium audio system with 12 speakers, 270 watts,  a DVD/CD-changer, 5.1 channel architecture, and DVD audio and video, all for $3,890.