motor

exhausted mules · 11-18-2005, 05:22 PM

Toyota vehicles being a life long passion of mine, I was pleasently surprised to see them come out with a IS for 2006.

front engine, rear wheel. 306 horsepower...

Legendary Toyata fit, finish and quality.

There's something about a Toyota that rivals BMW's allure and Porches soul... i dont know what it is but no other car manufacturer has it. That why the new IS must be something out of the ordinary. a car to be experienced and remembered. A drive you can long for and sense of exhileration you can only have...

in a toyota.

I was curious if any of you have driven or seen one up close. (Are they delivered yet?)

This is (so far) my dream vehicle (within normal everyday driving of course).

Tell me...

for those who have had the chance to experience this...

what's it all about?

Roadster44 · 11-18-2005, 05:24 PM

this belongs in the car chat forum.. not general chat

exhausted mules · 11-18-2005, 05:50 PM

thanks

dutchmasterflex · 11-18-2005, 06:57 PM

I was born into a Toyota family.. all my parents cars, with exception to my dad's mid life car purchase (mercedes C240 sport) have all been toyotas..

I've read one review on he IS350 and basically its a great car.. if it had a manual transmission.. the IS250 comes with a manual but it lacks the power that the 350 has over the 330i..

exhausted mules · 11-18-2005, 07:26 PM

yeah. that's what i was thinking.

they have a six speed sequential... but no real manual.

dutchmasterflex · 11-18-2005, 09:00 PM

It's a regular Automatic transmission with shift up and down paddles mounted on the stearing wheel , not a sequential manual like BMW, Ferrari, etc..

911GT1 · 11-19-2005, 06:29 AM

I rather have any Infinitis than Lexus. They have more character IMO. Not to say that the IS is bad, but it's a bit bland. Plus it's too similar to the toyota lineup. I wish Toyota have more initative and make the Lexuses not too similar with their lineup. At the very least it justifies the extra price.

About the question of the IS350, it's a novel idea... and on paper it looks better than the 330 figures, but figures dont tell the complete story. The new 330 is a way better drive than the Lexus. I havent drive the 350 yet but i have drove the 250 and it going to take more than than an engine to compete with the 330 driving experience.

exhausted mules · 11-19-2005, 03:16 PM

by the 330 you mean a infinity right?

i dont know about you but everytime i sit in almost, ALMOST any nissan it feels like theres areas lacking in the overall idea of the car.

i like the idea of the toyota where you look at it outside and it seems like just another sport luxury sedan but once you sit in the drivers seat. its seems to make the rest of the car disapear and connect you with your tires-brakes and engine.... seamlessly.

like the car was built around you originating out from your finger tips of balls of your feet.

eh.

maybe its just me?

i have yet to experience that in any nissan built vehicle. honda comes close but their builds all seem too general in a sense.

ae86_16v · 11-19-2005, 06:12 PM

I went to a Lexus event the other day and they have a couple of those cars there. Unfortunately the wait list was too long and I decided on passing to drive it. I saw the car up close and must say it looks better in person than in the pictures, likewise for the GS430/300. The new L Finesse design theme is working pretty well. Styling is very aggressive. In my opinion it looks better than the E90 3-Series. Although I think the E46 looks the best.

You can't really beat 305hp. I mean that is really creeping up on M3 terrority right there. But to answer your question about "soul", hard to say w/o driving it.

911GT1 · 11-21-2005, 09:38 PM

by 330 i mean the E60 330. You somehow implied that all BMW got going for it is the badge. I think that BMWs are better to drive than any lexus by a long shot. On infinitis, if you read most car coparison on the web and magazines, you'll see most of them prefer Infinitis rather than lexus. M rather than the GS, Q rather than the LS, FX rather than the RX (but the QX and the G are just bad IMO). But I would say the reason it may appel to you is that most lexus are sportier by design than Infinitis. That does not necessarily makes it a better car (okay Toyota built quality too is better than Nissan I agree). But of course i recognize that is your personal opinion.
IMO hondas are better built than Lexus, it's just that their cars are generally not as varied or as good as Toyotas. Take a ride in the new Legend and I dare say that you'll find out thats it's even better than the GS. Heck, I think the 2004 Accord EuroR is a better car than the new IS it's just Hondas stance in FWD makes me me choose the IS over it on anyday.

ae86_16v · 11-22-2005, 01:57 AM

^ You mean the E90 330i. Too bad it is butt ugly. Great engine though!

I don't know about in Europe, but Lexus quality here in the US is by far one of the best brands. Their fit and finish definitely is on the top of many Luxury brands. In most cases, for their entry level it surpasses those offered by Mercedes and BMW. Definitely better than Infinite. Acura (Honda's luxury division) has steped up their game too.

911GT1 · 11-22-2005, 05:09 AM

Heh, 6 and 9 are side by side on the keypad.... There's no denying that Lexus built quality is one of the best if not the best in the world. The new 3... is okay unless you look it from behind. But i seem to think the BMW design nowdays kinda grows on you. But I'm not talking from built quality, fit nd finish POV. I'm talking which is the better car? It's very subjective I know, some ppl think the best car means best material, best built quality, best engine performance and so on... But IMO the best car is the car that makes you feel good, the best example that I can cite is the Alfas. Alfa romeos and unbelieveble to drive, it's like Ferrari on a budget but with the experience (or 'evo'ness) retained. When Alfa Romeo finally hits the US market in 2 years time, you see what I mean.