taste of lexus impressions
09-25-2005, 07:13 PM
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taste of lexus impressions
well, I got to drive both the IS350 and the 330i today at the taste of lexus event at FedEx Field, Md. They had 2 IS350 and 2 IS250s there, they are the very same pre production models that magazines used in their testdrives. (we wont see any IS350 in showrooms for weeks, and no MSRP is announced yet either.)
I was very impressed with the IS350 as I walked around it and checked out its sleak lines and luxurious interior. As I started the engine, i noticed the exhaust is very muted, dosnt sound even close to my g35 coupe. The interior was very nice, you just have to sit in it to appreciate the fine craftmanship and the attention to details. The dashboard is the best in the industry. I didnt like the wooden panel around the shifter though, i just dont think wood belongs in a sport sedan. Still, everything just felt very luxurious and high class. The cabin was also extremely quite, you cant hear any noise from the outside. Overall the interior is definetly better than the bmw 330i, g35 coupe and rx8.
Then I got to drive it around the course, which consisted of many technical turns and even a slalom section. The handling is not on par with the 330i, there is noticable amount of body roll, sort of like the RX8 due to a rather soft sport suspension, but its much more pronounced than in the rx8 due to its heavier weight. The 330i on the otherhand felt much more stable during cornering and more nimble, but like my g35 coupe, suffers from a stiff/harsh ride that makes you feel every bump on the road. (ok maybe not as bad as the G35 coupe, but still much harsher than the IS350). The steering response is also extremely quick in the 330i, on par with the E46 M3... Both cars had great tires that sticks extremely well during cornering, but the bmw just felt much more stable and gives you confidence when driving at the limit, the IS350 on the other hand felt nervous.
Accerlation wise, the IS350 wins hands down, but it didnt have a big punch like my g35 coupe when I floor the gas... i think thats probably due to it being automatic vs my car being manual. Its 6 speed paddle shift (manual is only available on the IS250) , but the car forces you to upshift automatically even in manual mode... I dont know whats the point of having paddle shift if its still going to shift for you... The whole quite and vibrationless cabin also made it feel kind of numb, the experience was just not as lively as in the 330i. The 330i is slower, but felt very fast and exciting... it gets its max torque around 2700rpm vs 4800 on the lexus.
Overall I just like the 330i better, because it handles better and it feels like an extention of my self as I drive it. While the IS350 is a jumble of electronic assisted features that make it feel less lively. They call it, pro-active driver assist, i call it too much electronic nannying that cant be turned off. I can see older folks who prefer the softer and more comfortable ride on the IS350.
BTW i broke one of their IS350s, after I drove it, there were soapy liquid all over the hood and engine bay of the car. They kept asking me if I hit anything and looked for dents but didnt find any. All i did was do what I was told to do.. that is driving as fast and agressively as I could around the course. I think the windshield fluid container probably broke, or the cap got unscrewed?... they took the car to the back and hopefully fixed it.
I was very impressed with the IS350 as I walked around it and checked out its sleak lines and luxurious interior. As I started the engine, i noticed the exhaust is very muted, dosnt sound even close to my g35 coupe. The interior was very nice, you just have to sit in it to appreciate the fine craftmanship and the attention to details. The dashboard is the best in the industry. I didnt like the wooden panel around the shifter though, i just dont think wood belongs in a sport sedan. Still, everything just felt very luxurious and high class. The cabin was also extremely quite, you cant hear any noise from the outside. Overall the interior is definetly better than the bmw 330i, g35 coupe and rx8.
Then I got to drive it around the course, which consisted of many technical turns and even a slalom section. The handling is not on par with the 330i, there is noticable amount of body roll, sort of like the RX8 due to a rather soft sport suspension, but its much more pronounced than in the rx8 due to its heavier weight. The 330i on the otherhand felt much more stable during cornering and more nimble, but like my g35 coupe, suffers from a stiff/harsh ride that makes you feel every bump on the road. (ok maybe not as bad as the G35 coupe, but still much harsher than the IS350). The steering response is also extremely quick in the 330i, on par with the E46 M3... Both cars had great tires that sticks extremely well during cornering, but the bmw just felt much more stable and gives you confidence when driving at the limit, the IS350 on the other hand felt nervous.
Accerlation wise, the IS350 wins hands down, but it didnt have a big punch like my g35 coupe when I floor the gas... i think thats probably due to it being automatic vs my car being manual. Its 6 speed paddle shift (manual is only available on the IS250) , but the car forces you to upshift automatically even in manual mode... I dont know whats the point of having paddle shift if its still going to shift for you... The whole quite and vibrationless cabin also made it feel kind of numb, the experience was just not as lively as in the 330i. The 330i is slower, but felt very fast and exciting... it gets its max torque around 2700rpm vs 4800 on the lexus.
Overall I just like the 330i better, because it handles better and it feels like an extention of my self as I drive it. While the IS350 is a jumble of electronic assisted features that make it feel less lively. They call it, pro-active driver assist, i call it too much electronic nannying that cant be turned off. I can see older folks who prefer the softer and more comfortable ride on the IS350.
BTW i broke one of their IS350s, after I drove it, there were soapy liquid all over the hood and engine bay of the car. They kept asking me if I hit anything and looked for dents but didnt find any. All i did was do what I was told to do.. that is driving as fast and agressively as I could around the course. I think the windshield fluid container probably broke, or the cap got unscrewed?... they took the car to the back and hopefully fixed it.
Last edited by playdoh43; 09-25-2005 at 07:27 PM.
09-25-2005, 07:33 PM
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Nice writeup on the cars. Though, I'm not following what you're talking about with pronounced body roll in the 8. The roll is far from pronounced, even if it is a bit softer sprung than its competetors. I used to own an IS300 and that had some pronounced body roll, but the ride was very soft. I'd hardly put the 8 anywhere near the same category as that.
09-25-2005, 07:37 PM
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the rx8 and is350's suspensions are not soft at all, i havnt riden in a is300 for a while, but i think the is350's suspension is stiffer than the is300's. Im speaking relative to the 330i and g35 coupe, that the is350 and rx8 suspension is softer. There wasnt an rx8 here today for me to drive, so im not sure how IS350 compare to rx8, but both cars have noticeably more body roll compared to my car, and the 330i's suspension felt a lot like my car.
btw, i actually think the rx8 handles better than the G35 coupe, even though it has more body roll, the lighter weight contributes to an overall better feel.
btw, i actually think the rx8 handles better than the G35 coupe, even though it has more body roll, the lighter weight contributes to an overall better feel.
Last edited by playdoh43; 09-25-2005 at 07:46 PM.
09-25-2005, 07:46 PM
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Ah, okay - I didn't follow that very well. I wish I could still go and offer a writeup comparing the 8 to those cars. I had to cancel though in interest of going to a meet and a party :D
09-25-2005, 07:56 PM
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8 is not a luxury sport sedan/coupe anyways. IS350 will be cross shopped with BMW 330i, Acura TL, Infiniti G35, Audi 3.2 Quatro etc. the RX8 is just a different kind of car.
09-25-2005, 08:51 PM
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I know that, but I think it would be an interesting comparo since I noticed a lot of similarities between the 8 and IS as far as certain handling dynamics and power.
09-26-2005, 06:46 PM
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These are actually the exact cars that the 8 should be compared to and not so much the Z and the S2k. The 8 kinda is a sport sedan made to fit in skin that looks like a real sports car with an extra injection of sports car fun thrown in the mix. It's a big fun compromise that is very comparable to that group in my opinion.
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