m-benzw203

i checked the IS 350 and they were starting at 40k before tax. this car is bad buttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt, i still thing the c320 is better looking overall. the IS350 has more hp and has some different features, but i think yes the c320 can take it i do not think they r not to far apart from each other. Benz all the way

nlpamg

The IS350 is sure nice, I love the F-1 paddles and the power and amenities, but in terms of sheer looks, I'd still take the facelifted w203's anyday. If the C350 came out last year, I would have most likey purchased that. But, the w204 will hold something new for MB. I'd expect the same engine that's in the current C350 to be transplanted into the w204, but I'm hoping that they do a good job on it. Otherwise, the IS will be a bigger contender than the nasty e90...

BTW, what the hell is Lexus thinking? The IS is now cutting right into their GS segment. The IS350 has more power than BOTH the GS300 and their v8 GS430.

It looks very similar and it has a lot of the same features and more... What are they doing? When are they coming out with more powerful GS's? When are they bumping the power on the rest of their cars for that matter?

And Ricky, the Z4 looks like ****. I don't care if it's an ///M, the Z4 is just ugly as hell.

GMW

The IS350 looks good from some angles and horrible from others. In my opinion the 203 looks better balanced! just throwing in my 2 cents!

benzmodz

That is the new W204. I saw one in Sydney about one month ago and my friend saw it on another road.

Wait till you see the back it .... looks like a GM car.

BTW ... the grille is not the one they will be using. The production grille I saw was the new AMG and it was meant to remind you of the SLK nose.

W0n6_3d4n

Jap car lacks 'personality'. It's dead silent and comfy but it stop there.

ruykava

well, those headlights r frm the B-class. i guess it's the new Merc look - not quite as startling as the A-class but more safe and elegant although with a bit of emotion. sure looks much better than original sketches and i guess it'll age well =)

pokerFACE

OGGLE,

how is the driving "feel"? I havent driven the new IS yet, but magazines all say that it handles just as good or better than the Germans, but there is no "feel" (whatever that means)

If I were in the market now, I'd probably be looking at the IS250..

oggle

It felt sporty, but I didn't really have a chance to do much. It was a Friday afternoon and there was a crapload of traffic, so I couldn't really push it that hard in the test drive.

230Kompressor

That would be pretty sad if it comes out looking like a GM, it'll make it that much harder to make me want to buy this car.

CitronC230K_03

i liek the look of the Z4M over the Z4.

MBFanatic4Life

So, you're saying you saw it undisguised???...completely? HOW???

Guest0001

I Got drive an IS350 as well. I thought it was comparable to the C320 that I owned. More luxury than sport. Super quiet ride, immaculate interior materials, awesome engine. I think the IS350 is a mix of the current ES330 and last generation IS300.

Outland

What magazine said that? Every review Ive read concluded it was more sofa than slalom. In fact, many of them said the IS's version of ESP was even more maddening than the soft suspension.

Outland

New Z4, well refreshed, comes out in January. Some of what's on the M carries over to the production car. Ive always like the looks of that car. BTW, theyve finally dumped the crappy SMG.

Guest0001

Yeah, they have this thing called VDIM on the IS350. There is also no way to disable it. However its not on the IS250 which is nice(IS250 only has VSC, less intrusive) but who wants to buy an IS250? Torqueless 8 second car. Anyways I can't stand this stance they have on "safety". The obtrusive traction control and not having the ability to use the navigation or power seats when the car is in motion.

AMG_55

dont ever again compare a toyota to a benz
no matter how good the toyota is, its just a toyota

pokerFACE

VSC is not that great to begin with either. We have VSC on our Toyota Highlander, and there is NO way to disable it (ie., you can't power your way out of a rut..), and if you trigger VSC during midturn, it's entirely possible for it to completely kill your momentum. Pretty obtrusive.. Not sure how much worse VDIM would get!

Guest0001

We have VSC on our GS300 as well. I always press the VSC off button whenever I am driving the car but as you know it doesnt FULLY disable it. Which sucks. But I think VSC is pretty tame (Either on or off) compared to ESP or VDIM. I drove pretty aggresively on the GS and it seems to not turn on that often, unless the car is really out of control. ESP on the other hand turns on the slightest wheel skid. If you think VSC is bad, than think VSC times 3 for VDIM. Its pretty bad.

Here is my rating for the 3. Based on LEAST intrusive.

VSC= 7/10
ESP= 4/10
VDIM= 2/10

Sauceboy01

Alright guys.. post all the projected w204 pics that you've seen.

Outland

Um, why not start a new thread?

sdsilverm3

Sorry to say but if I didn't have my C55 I would buy the IS350 in a heart beat. I went car shopping with my sister when she got her IS250 and it wasn't that much more for the IS350, only a much longer wait for the color she wanted. Lexus has MB beat in every way this time around. You guys can debate all you guys want but it is pretty obvious right when you step into the car. When I step into a C class anything, including the almighty $60k C55, it doesn't exactly scream luxury. New BMW E90? No thanks. Ugly as hell. In summary I'm just trying to say I was really impressed by what Lexus put out with the latest IS. Just my opinion. :p

And our MB's are just Chrysler's right?

WyattEarp

First hello all it's been a while.

I drove the IS 250 automatic and the 2006 C230 Manual back to back 1 week ago. By no "feel" I think they mean what I felt (didn't feel), while the IS removed you from the driving experience the Benz engulfed you in it. I love the technology, the blue tooth, the interior and the ****pit of the IS and I am irrationally attached to it. Benz technology looks and feels ancient in comparison. The sound system in the IS is far superior even to the HK. However the drive has made me doubt it all.

oggle

I heard from a friend who test drove it at a Lexus event, that the BMW 330 handles much better. There was a C class there too, but he didn't mention it.

Thai

There is a way to turn OFF VDIM:

http://clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187987

brianhn1

Hmm, I might go test drive one this weekend.