Detrich

The new IS sounds like a lot of fun, though I haven't test driven it yet. I tend to agree w/ the writer that most German car owners (such as myself) probably won't be easily swayed though- 'cuz we love the unique personality & driving experience of our cars- despite the often negative stigma that is attached to them. (The term "M3 *****" comes to mind. <cough>)

Still, 0-60 in 5.3 seconds...

Anyone test drive one yet, and how'd you like it compared to the 8? Please share...

http://www.latimes.com/classified/au...-home-highway1

hemanrulez

I think the new IS looks great. Now if only Lexus made cars that were not all show and no go (SC430 anyone?)

NomisR

That car's no fun at all. Driven it.. it's not all that.

The car's specs looks really good on paper but it's just that, on paper. Considering that Lexus is touting the car is sporty, it's really not. It accelerates fast but that's where the excitement ends. Sloppy floaty handling, overly light steering wheel, disconnected feeling from the road, over understeer.. it's anything but sporty.

Basically, the new IS is a RWD Camry. It's the type of car you'll find people that are thinking about something else, and generally being a menace to the public on the road. You're so disconnected from the road that you don't know what your limits are and is scary to push anywhere near the limits. Not my type of car..

Damien019

I haven't driven one yet, but it used to be on my list of possible cars. It has a fast 0-60 (the 350 anyway) looks good, 4 doors. The only problem I've heard is that it's Stability Contraol and Traction Control are VERY intrusive. Also they can't be turned off at all, this alone took it off my list immediately.

mikeb

I have not drove one but I like the looks of it

Christianv

I agree. The biggest contender for a replacement of our current 3'er is the RX-8. That's more fun than anything German I've ever driven, including BMW M cars. The minimalistic mass approach to sport cars definitely has my attention.

BTW, fix your sig dude. The 3'er has an I6.

Glyphon

that's only for the is350. the is250 is 7.9s 0-60.

therm8

I drove one Tuesday. IS350. Very nice car, but not "sporty" at all. At least no more than my previous Volvo C70 (fwd btw). Hell, I think the fwd Volvo handled better, but it's hard to say as mine had suspension upgrades for the last year I owned it. Zee Germans wouldn't have to worry, except for the average, idiot, American, luxury car buyer who thinks Lexus competes with BMW. A for luxury, C- for performance. I prefer the IS300. But it's a Toyota, so 5 years from now you could pass down the underperforming performance sedan to someone else, so they can drive it for 5 years.

rodrigo67

Somthing everyone's missing...

I went down to the dealer because my wife is looking at the IS and a 3 series. The IS looks great, smaller inside but comes nicely equip., and has a longer warrenty then the BMW. Prices favor the IS but when you add the options we want on both car, the price is within 1K of the other. The bimmer comes pretty much loaded as standard. The only options we would add would be the sports package ( upgraded sports seats, bigger tires/rims, and upgrade sport suspension).


Since she's looking at a sports sedan she wants the 6 sp manual, and thats where the problem comes in. The IS is only available with the manual in the IS250 and not the IS350. The difference is going from 300hp in the 350 down to 204 in the 250. Big difference now because the Bimmer already has the edge in room, feel of the road, and handling, and with the IS running 204 hp, the BMW is quicker also. Making this a very easy choice.

Another thing, talking to the dealer at lexus, he stated that lexus will mainly be producing the high end cars with the high options and he expected very few manual 250 to even come in. He didn't even have a single 250, manual or auto , on the lot. He told us it would be a 6 month wait if we wanted to order one, and thats without ever testing the manual, cause he doesn't have one and doesn't expect one. He did offer to take us on a test drive in a AWD manual 250...when he gets one.

The bimmer had many manuals on the lot and several with the exact options we wanted. No waiting at all.

The IS is not going to be the car lexus hopes it will be. It will never compete with the 3 series. Lexus makes a lux car thats sporty, while BMW makes a sports car that lux...

m477

The IS might not be as sporty as the 3-series, but 95% of BMW owners probably just bought it for the badge anyway.

There's a radio commercial for a local BMW dealership that goes something like: "Come check out the new 3-series. It has all the features you expect in a BMW such as: automatic transimssion, leather seats, etc..."

I think the new IS is just another example of Toyota's knack for engineering just what the majority of car buyers want and nothing more.

spork

OMG thank you. For a while there I started to think everyone on this forum was living in a La-La land.

If you ask me it's not being realistic to think that
1) Only IDIOTS (not my words) will buy the IS over the 3 series.
2) Everyone who buys the 3 series buys it because they're going to be racing around corners really fast.
3) Everyone who buys the 3 series cares about how connected they feel to the road.
4) BMW is completely unworried about a car company with a great reputation, better reliability and satisfaction rates is starting to move in on their territory.

Most people I know w/ Bimmers get it for the badge.

hemanrulez

the same can be said for Lexus too. So while the M series may target a youger audience, the Lexus is targetting the "mid-life-crisis" market.

If you want a sports car that drives well, buy the RX-8 goddamn it!!

MikeW

What is with the differential diameter wheels 225/45 17 & 245/45 17. They serve no purpose, other than stying, and take away utility-What size spare wheel? Same problem as the 350Z.
7.9 is for the IS250 stick. ~8.5 for auto ~9 for awd.
IS250 awd has 225/45 17 all around, does that get different rear wheel openings? or does it have an extra 1" of gap (1/2" smaller diameter wheels + taller springs for the same ground clearance)


I hope next year IS250 rear drive manual, IS300 rear drive auto, IS350 awd auto.


Valvetronic is so nice.

playdoh43

1) C&D known for getting the fastest mag times got 0-60 in 5.1 sec for the IS350, pretty close to the E46 M3, but probably involved very skillful launch.

2) It easily out handles IS300, but isnt as nimble as the bmw 330i, id say its 330i>G35>Is350>is300, not great, but not a dog in handling either.

3) the pricing part is actually opposite of what was said earlier, it comes standard with more stuff than the 330i, the 330i dosnt come with much standard at all.

4) according to to Lexus, they expect bulk of the sales to come from the IS250 model, not the 350, this was reported by autoweek a couple of weeks ago.

5) interior is way nicer and more luxurious than the BMW 3 series.

6) ladies in bmw3 series are sexy and thats a fact, get the wife the 3 series.

playdoh43

btw the annoying VSC/electric nanying can be swtiched off in lexus cars, for anyone interested heres the directions:

1. Make sure the car is in Park and the parking brake is disengaged before you start the car.
2. Start the engine.
3. Engage the parking brake.
4. Fully depress the brake pedal and then release.
5. Fully depress the brake pedal and then release.
6. Disengage the parking brake.
7. Fully depress and hold down the brake pedal.
8. Engage the parking brake, then disengage it (while holding down the brake pedal).
9. Engage the parking brake, then disengage it (while holding down the brake pedal).
10. Release the brake pedal.
11. Engage the parking brake.
12. Fully depress the brake pedal and then release.
13. Fully depress the brake pedal and then release.


this must be repeated everytime you want it turned off :p

therm8

I only know one thing...

Most Lexus vehicles are rebadged Toyotas. Therefore Most people who buy a Lexus, do so for the badge.

Sephiroth

Im just surprised Toyota is able to produce as good-looking a car as the IS350. That in itself speaks wonders of how far they've come.