New Lexus IS-F: competition for C-AMG, M3, S/RS4
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LET C32 2002
SORRY GUYS BUT LEXUS(OR TOYOTA) IS TRYING AND IT DID PRETTY WELL SO FAR. I AM A FAN OF LEXUS AND IF THIS CAR IS PRICED RIGHT IT IMO IS BETTER THAN A C32 OR C55 OR ALOT OF CARS OUT THERE. TECHNOLOGY WISE THESE HIGHER END COSTING CARS ARE OF NO COMPARISON. ADD A SC TO THAT V8 AND U HAVE OVER 500HP ON TAP.............I AM NOT GONNA SAY ITS A BETTER LOOKER THAN ALOT OF WHAT IT COMPETES AGAINST BUT ITS A HELL MORE RELIABLE BEING A TOYOTA. YOU WANT PERFORMANCE WELL THE LEXUS SHOWS ENOUGH TO KEEP MOST HAPPY WHILE IT COVERS YOU IN COMFORTS. IF THE IS350 WAS PRICED RIGHT I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ANOTHER ONE INSTEAD OF THE C32 I HAVE NOW. I ONLY HAD THAT CAR 4 MONTHS NEW AND MISS IT STILL BUT WON'T PAY 45K FOR ONE EITHER. I WILL CONTENPLATE THE IS500 WHILE THINKING ON A USED E55 OR CLS55 WHICH ARE ABOUT 50K+ RIGHT NOW. NOT HATING ON MB BUT SHOWING PRAISE ON LEXUS. AFTER ALL ITS A LUXURY COMFORT WORLD...............I CAN TRUST THE 400HP V8 MORE ON LEXUS THEN I CAN TRUST JUST ABOUT ANY HIGH PERFOMANCE ENGINE IN AMG AND THEY ARE NOT HAND BUILT. GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. I BET ANYONE IN A C32 OR C55 WILL LOOK AT THAT CAR AS A THREAT EVEN THE AUDI AND BMW WILL. THE IS HAS A HUGE FOLLOWING WITH A TON OF AFTERMARKET ITEMS FOR IT. ITS NOT THE BEST LOOKER BUT I LIKE IT MORE IN APPEARANCE OVER A C32 C55 OR BMW OR AUDI RS ANYTHING. LEXUS/TOYOTA HAS TAKEN PLENTY OF SALES AWAY FROM HIGHER END BRANDS AND CONTINUE INOVATING WHILE MB AUDI AND BMW ARE WATCHING ONLY EACHOTHER GIVING LEXUS TIME TO CATCH UP. MAYBE IT WONT BE A COMPETETIVE AS THE NEW MB AUDI OR BMW BUT IT WILL BE THERE WITH THEM WHILE LEAVING THE OLDER VERSIONS GASPING FOR AIR UNLESS YOU ARE MODDED OF COURSE. NOT HATING LIKE I SAID JUST PRAISING WHERE ITS NEEDED.
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LET C32 2002
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
too lazy to read what everyone said above, but I actually like it. looks like they chop down the size of the hideous side mirrors too. 
btw, I drove one of my friend's IS350. the only two thing I didn't like was the minivan style steering feel/weight and the cheesy looking wood trim.
btw, I drove one of my friend's IS350. the only two thing I didn't like was the minivan style steering feel/weight and the cheesy looking wood trim.
Last edited by FrankW; Jan 9, 2007 at 02:27 AM.
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
C32 AMG - in Pewter
If the IS 350 had a normal steering (not fully electric/electronic, how dumb is that on a sporty car ???) and one could defeat the electronic stability intrusion (which is perhaps always present as the body/train is not as rigid as it should be), it should have rated higher than the 330i. That is assuming that mags were unbiased toward the bimer of course.
The latest IS models are really good achievements for Lexus...
The latest IS models are really good achievements for Lexus...
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From: san francisco
C32
If the IS 350 had a normal steering (not fully electric/electronic, how dumb is that on a sporty car ???) and one could defeat the electronic stability intrusion (which is perhaps always present as the body/train is not as rigid as it should be), it should have rated higher than the 330i. That is assuming that mags were unbiased toward the bimer of course.
The latest IS models are really good achievements for Lexus...
The latest IS models are really good achievements for Lexus...
Correct me if I am wrong but did the 07 models come with a "fully" defeatable switch? R & T also recently compared an IS against the TL Type S and G35 and mentioned that once the VDIM was switched off, they can hang the tail out. I believe this wasn't possible in the past when the system couldn't be completely turned off.
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From: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
ML63 AMG
I think the 'Toyota' comments about Lexus are now getting a little old. Let's call Bentley a Volkswagen then shall we? And what about Jaguar, that old Ford. At the end of the day, it's the model that we're judging not the parent company and management. And to Lexus, I mean TOYOTA's credit, how about the credential of soon to become the World's Number 1 Automaker, in sales and profitability! 
Onto the Lexus IS, I think I need more to finalize an opinion. I mean when I first saw the BMW 7-Series I thought it was the ugliest car in the world (including some of those Russian made cars; no offense to anyone who may/do have one). But after seeing it in person, letting myself look at car all around, I felt the design was modern, a brand new look that won't get outdated in a while and needless to say, I like it (especially the new revised one). Therefore, I think we need to see more and get more info before we can make a good judgment. Everything is quite open -- "delivering more than 400 horsepower" (Okay, but exactly how much); "quick 0-60 acceleration in less than 4.9 seconds" (like 4.8 or 4.5?).
So for me, based on that general paragraph and the photo, I can't say I'm very impressed - but - I am looking forward to hearing more about it and seeing it in person.
Tee_Tz.
Onto the Lexus IS, I think I need more to finalize an opinion. I mean when I first saw the BMW 7-Series I thought it was the ugliest car in the world (including some of those Russian made cars; no offense to anyone who may/do have one). But after seeing it in person, letting myself look at car all around, I felt the design was modern, a brand new look that won't get outdated in a while and needless to say, I like it (especially the new revised one). Therefore, I think we need to see more and get more info before we can make a good judgment. Everything is quite open -- "delivering more than 400 horsepower" (Okay, but exactly how much); "quick 0-60 acceleration in less than 4.9 seconds" (like 4.8 or 4.5?).
So for me, based on that general paragraph and the photo, I can't say I'm very impressed - but - I am looking forward to hearing more about it and seeing it in person.
Tee_Tz.
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From: Southern California
2002 C32 and 2009 Audi S5
Allow me to be a little bit more politically incorrect.
I agree with waiting to see what it looks like in person, but my God, those pictures are a testament to some serious overstyling!
It reminds me of the Flintstone's car, where this oversized hulk of a body rests on Fred and Wilma's little legs.
But hey, there may be some magic translation that occurs going from pics to reality. I can only hope (for everyone's sake, because like a good song sung by a crappy singer that will never get redone, it would suck if these decent stats were paired to an ugly stepchild).
I agree with waiting to see what it looks like in person, but my God, those pictures are a testament to some serious overstyling!
It reminds me of the Flintstone's car, where this oversized hulk of a body rests on Fred and Wilma's little legs.
But hey, there may be some magic translation that occurs going from pics to reality. I can only hope (for everyone's sake, because like a good song sung by a crappy singer that will never get redone, it would suck if these decent stats were paired to an ugly stepchild).
Last edited by ralleyone; Jan 9, 2007 at 12:21 PM. Reason: proper punctuation
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05 C55
i agree. i don’t like it when people call my car a Chrysler so this shouldn’t be any different.
looking at the pictures, the design is horrific but lets wait it out and see what actually comes of it. i am not familiar with teh current IS interior but the old IS's is fugly to say the least.
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ML63
It shouldn't be difficult to top a C32 since it will be a 6 year old model in 2008.. Same with the C55.. it will be a 3 year old model. I'm sure the next MB C class will be better than the new Lexus.. at least that is what history has shown us.. my two cents..
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Mercedes-Benz
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C32 AMG
Subaru (WRX Sti) and Mitsubishi (Evo) have been there a while. Of course, these cars are not viewed as competitive with the M3, RS4 and C55. Get them on-track and they are more than competitive!
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ML63 AMG
Tee_Tz.
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05 C55
oops, link here: http://pressroom.toyota.com/Images?criteria=08LexusISF
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C63S
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
Final opinion. That thing is a boy racer. It will draw far too much attention to itself. Cops will pull it over on principle.
Thats what I like about MB, very classy, very subtle.
Thats what I like about MB, very classy, very subtle.
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LET C32 2002
MBWorld Fanatic!
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LET C32 2002
true but the same technology would cost alot more on the MB. its hard to compare cars that are dated 2-6 years apart. one thing thou automaker like infiniti,lexus and acura are doing more to their cars then MB AUDI OR BMW. these are upscale cars but the technology in them isn't quite at par with it JAP counterparts.
