I drove one at the Taste of Lexus event--I did a little review over on my website
http://slabs.wreckfastclub.net ; its the best car Lexus has and I can't stand Lexus. Lexus are very boring derivative cars--this new IS however is smokin though. I hate that the 350 doesn't come with a manual, but its a quick car. I'd get it over anything else in this class.

 

Meh. I hear they eliminated any element of fun that was left over from the IS300. Sounds to me like they just shoved a big engine under the hood and decided to make that its marketing strategy.

In that segment, assuming you want anything that resembles RX-8 driving fun:

BMW>Infiniti>Audi>Lexus=MB

The whole product is sometimes less than the sum of its parts.

 

i was at a taste of lexus too.

overall, i can say a liked the car. it's very livable and the interior is definitely a strong suit for lexus. I like it better than the 330 they had on hand for comparison. As for performance driving...well....i'd choose other cars.

the 350 definitely had the grunt of a v8...but for a v8 it wasn't even THAT impressive. I think I was expecting more. the car felt pretty heavy. I had much more fun in the lower power, but also lower weight 250. It was a bit more nimble around the course. in both cars, steering feedback was way to numb for my taste. felt like i was playing a video game. no steering feel whatsoever. just my two cents.

 

its a 3.5 liter quad cam V6, very similar to nissan's vq35 in design but with better compression ratios and newer technology.

i agree with you on the steering feedback, the bmw 330i they had for comparison handled much better.

 

Lexus should have made
2.5V6 manual only
3.0V6 (from GS) rear drive auto only
3.5V6 all wheel drive auto.
The 3.0 V6 has more power than BMW's N52 engine at all engine speeds until 6200 rpm.
All though that will go down if BMW adopts electric power steering. (as in new Z4 coupe)

GS should be
3.0V6 manual rear drive only
3.5V6 automatic rear drive
4.0V6 automatic all wheel drive
Skip the V8 until they don't suck

 

bring me 330i, i'll take it over is350 anyday.

 

IS250 comes with manual transmission but lacking 100 hp

 

I can't even develop a passing interest in the cars.

 

IS350 seems like one of the best cars in its class.

 

i test drove the 350 (as i am considering this car for my wife).. i actually liked it. Given that it only came in the auto, it pulled hard and handled well--and it didn't even have the Sport package. Definitely considering it. Getting one with all the specs you want--well, at least right now--would take a while though

 

*sigh* just give us an IS300 engine with a Beam emgine and 6 speed tranny please.

 

I dunno... I was checking one out at the motorshow and it didn'T impress me. I expected more. And the lack of a stick on the 350, plus alot of electronic "help" means I'd liekly never busy one. A little TCS and DCS are good...like when it rains. When it become intrusive is when it royally sucks.