http://www.thecarconnection.com/inde...&article=10647

 

It'll be dusted by an M3, but it's nice to see another player in the game. I drove the Is350 and was completely underwhelmed by it's driving dynamics. Nice car? sure. Good drivers car? no sir.

 

just wait until it comes out and you find out it only comes in Auto, the only manual comes awd, you can't shut off the DSC which kicks in very early, can only get the top performance version with evey option offered, and it glides so smoothly over bumps you can't feel them as the car practically roles sideways when you take a turn. Other then that, I'm sure it will compete with the M3...

 

I saw a TV program once (Rides?) where Rod Millen built one of these as a one off for Lexus. This program aired at least a year ago.

 

Something I find strange is they say Lexus IS500 but speculate that it may have a 4.6 liter engine. As far as I can tell all of the Lexus models have designations indicating the displacement meaning a 4.6 liter would be the IS460.

Other than that considering "some" of the cars Toyota has produced in the past I don't know if I can completely count them out when it comes to trying to battle the M3. We know they can make a powerful car (Supra) and we know they can make a great handling car (MR2). I don't know if anybody else saw any of the comparisons but the IS350 seems to be faster than anything in it's class, it just doesn't handle the best of them due to the "electronic nanny"! I'm definitely curious to see what they can come up with performance-wise!

 

is500 is the lexus version of the new supra... it was supposed 2 b a v10.. but the engine itself made the car look like crap... (just a bit bigger)... i used 2 b on the IS forums... and yeah... the IS500 should have rocked.. o well.

 

I can disable the DSC in IS350 and 250, not sure about the new one. but they should be able to do it just like other IS

 

what? wtf? supras will never be sedans.

 

Yes you can disable the DSC (if that's what they call it on the new IS), it just requires some fooling around with the brake pedals and some buttons. Saw it on BMI but couldn't remember the procedure, the car behave much differently after that as far as I can tell.

 

The car behaves like **** when DSC/TSC is off. My god, just like what BMI did. if you drive it with the control turned off. you're just asking for a crash.

Lets see if I remember correctly ...

turn the key to on, whenin the first 30 seconds, step on the pedal 3 times ? turn it to off or acc ? turn it back to on and do it for another 3 times. and press the button. and the DSC light will stay on that means your system is completely off.

 

JDM mags say that Porsche is doing the suspension and engine work... I'd reserve judgement until it actually hits the road.

 

Yeah I read about this car a few months ago. Lexus won't touch the M3 until they hire some Porsche or BMW engineers. Until then their cars will be more geared towards luxury.

 

I saw that episode. It was a 2003 IS300 and they used the V8 out of a GS430.....they called the car an IS430. That was a pretty sweet episode.

 

looks promising...

 

i'm guessing you haven't driven one since the sport suspension option on the IS makes the stock RX8 suspension feel like an oldsmobile... its pretty stiff

 

The sports suspension on the IS is garbage. It's still way to soft and underdamped. Jump in a BMW with sport suspension, then behind the IS with sports suspension and you'll be left laughing.

 

They have a push button start!

 

the IS sport suspension is being railed by all the car rags of being too harsh compared to the BMW suspension... drive one

 

it looks pretty nice and i like the rims.

 

I did. I couldn't care less about ride comfort on the way to the office in the morning. I'm talking about when you're pushing the car. It's too soft, and underdamped.

 

looks ok...

 

Should be pretty nice. The current IS350 is fast as ****, this thing should be a beast.