Lexus IS500 -- Future Aspiration (maybe 2030?)

CAR NOTES — FUTURE GARAGE

The Case for a V8 Lexus: Why the IS500 Is on My Five-Year List

A naturally aspirated V8 in a Lexus body might be the last of its kind, and that's exactly the point.

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2016 RX350

Current Car

2025 IS500

Target Car

5.0L V8

Engine

Table of Contents

1. ①What the RX350 Taught Me
2. ②Why Not the IS350, Why the IS500
3. ③A Compromise, Not a Sports Car
4. ④The Long Game

Section I

What the RX350 Taught Me

Picking up the 2016 RX350 did something I didn't expect: it restored my faith in Lexus. After the maintenance headaches of my 2007 IS250 — which I've come to chalk up to the inherent costs of direct injection — a fully equipped, well-sorted V6 SUV felt like a return to what the brand is supposed to be.

It also reminded me how much fun a slightly more powerful engine can add to otherwise ordinary driving. The 3.5L V6 has real character on the highway, more than the Camry or my old Highlander ever offered. But it also has a ceiling, and that ceiling is what got me thinking about what comes next.

Section II

Why Not the IS350, Why the IS500

The IS350 seemed like the obvious next step — same brand, same platform philosophy, more power than the sedan I'd expect to daily drive. But the RX350 experience talked me out of it. If a 3.5L V6 leaves me wanting more, another 3.5L V6 in a smaller body isn't the answer.

That leaves the IS500 and its 5.0L V8, the 2UR-GSE. I've always liked the sound and feel of a naturally aspirated V8 — there's an honesty to displacement doing the work instead of a turbo spooling it up for you. Forced induction has its place, but for everyday driving I'd rather have the simpler, more linear relationship between pedal and power.

Section III

A Compromise, Not a Sports Car

I'm not chasing a Shelby GT350 or some exotic with a 6-speed and a V8 hanging over the rear axle. Those cars will always be more fun to drive, full stop.

What I want is the reliability and build quality of a Toyota/Lexus platform wrapped around something with real character — enough power to feel spirited on the open road without turning ownership into a project. The IS500 reads like that compromise: V8 sound and feel, Toyota dependability, everyday usability intact.

THE LINEUP

Four Cylinders, Four Cars

The long-term plan, one powertrain and drivetrain layout at a time.

Specification	Camry	RX350	GLE450	IS500
	4-cyl, FWD	V6, AWD	I6 turbo	V8, RWD
Cylinders	4	6	6	8 ↑
Induction	Natural	Natural	Turbo	Natural ↑
Drivetrain	FWD	AWD	AWD	RWD ↑
Role	Daily commuter	Family/utility	Refined cruiser	Spirited driver

Section IV

The Long Game

Zoom out and this isn't really about one car. I'm slowly building toward a small collection that covers the major powertrain and drivetrain combinations: a 4-cylinder FWD (Camry), a V6 AWD (RX350), a turbo inline-6 AWD (GLE450), and eventually a V8 RWD (IS500).

As EVs take over, I suspect the big naturally aspirated engines — starting with V8s like this one — will be the first casualties. That's part of the appeal now. I'm not in a hurry; a good pre-owned IS500 a few years down the road, probably after 2030, is the plan.

This also ensures I don't waste money trying to 'upgrade' the Camry or RX350.  They are fine as-is for their intended purpose.  The Camry is my everyday task car, the RX350 is for more utility and road trips and the IS500 is where I can have some fun.