shoei

Uh...guys, I think I better take back my earlier negative comments about the IS and say, "WE HAVE A FIGHT ON OUR HANDS!

IS250/350 vs the WORLD (new BMW 3 series, new A4, new C-class, Cady CTS, Acura TL, up coming G35) It is a great time to be a entry level luxury sedan fan boy!

The market place and raw numbers will declare the winner in the end, but I have a feeling that the new IS is going to do well with the WASPs, fence sitters and average luxury sedan buyer. Like me!

Whether you love or hate the new IS205/350, I think WE should ALL wish the new IS good luck on its new journey! GO "IS!"

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

I fullly agree. The current IS was never really my type of car, but I like everything about this new IS. The style IMHO is much better than the new GS. I also like the interior better as well. The nav screen and radion layout remind me more of the LS430 which I like. I had always thought the new GS interior had too hard edges and lines and had wished it was smoother. The IS smoothed everything out. IMHO, the new IS is the real news from Lexus and not the GS. The only concern I might have at this point is the size of the car, but as long as it is at least the size of a BMW 3, it shouldn't be too small for my taste. Let's just hope Lexus keeps the price down and doesn't charge $50K for this car.

Rockville

www.lexus-europe.com said that the 2nd Generation IS250 is 90mm longer and 75mm wider than the 1st Gen. I like the Ferrari style outside mirrors too. That rear end has Area 51 inspiration. Dual exhaust. I can't wait to see the IS350 now.

BrickHead

That's about 3 in. wider and 3.6 in. longer then the current IS? The interior does look more roomy. This is the best design from Lexus in years IMHO. It looks better than the GS inside and out. The IS is the big news from Lexus, not the GS IMHO. I am usually into larger cars but this car looks so sporty and classy I would definiely consider it when I replace my 98 LS.

Sam Khoury

Rockvile, it appears that the IS220d (diesel) has a single exhaust and the IS250 has dual exhaust. Look at these pics from the sticky thread.

IS220d


IS250

NY SLC 93

So what's the deal? When is the 250 coming out? And the 350 (Nov. '05)? Thanks.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

i have to agree, the new IS is soooo much of an improvement to the current one, i am very very impressed!!!!!!

lexuslover

Are they all coming out at the same time - and is the 350 going to be any different from 250 other than power/engine? (like any interior changes/upgrades ?)

LexFather

When you mean world, do you mean here or "world. B/c the CTS, TL and G35 are not sold overseas like BMW, Audi, Benz and Lexus.?

All the cars are solid. There are no bad cars. THe IS will hopefully rise back up to the top of this segment.

BugattiT59

My thoughts exactly.
I have pretty much decided on a M35x AWD, as I prefer it over the GS AWD for several reasons. If the IS350 came out with AWD then I would probably switch as I love the external style. Provided the cost was nice and the drive was good. Also Assuming the extra space in the back seat is real. But with the AWD only for the IS250 it is not going to happen.

BTW, how does the space in the backseat compare between GS and IS. Do we have IS details?

Matters

The new IS looks awesome. The design is so clever: it's quite short but looks so long. I'm a bit sad to see the silver Altezza rear lights go though. But I don't think they would suit the new car.

The interior is head and shoulders above the old IS - the '06 reeks of Lexus luxury. The option list is huge as well. I haven't been excited about a car for a long time...it's nice.

I am pretty sure that this is my next car.

static808

I am in the same situation. Looking for AWD. Looked at the GS 300AWD. Its very small in the back seat. I'm 6'1". Felt a little cramped. Actually liked the Acura RL, decent legroom in the back (36.3 inches), the car is jack of all trades, master of none....so in other words, some Lexus qualities..

You can get all the specs on the GS/RL/M at Edmunds.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...8/pageId=62812

The 2006 GS has 34.3" of legroom in the rear.
The 2005 RL has 36.3" of legroom in the rear
The 2006 M35x has 37.3 of legroom in the rear.

I cannot see the IS 250/350 having more legroom than a GS300. So I believe rear legroom in the IS will be a nominal increase. I estimate Rear Legroom = 33" or something. Way to short for my taste.

Rockville

The IS350 will arrive in October '05. I like the paddle shifters too.

biker

The first CTS I ever saw was on the Autobahn in Germany and had to look again to be sure. Talk about standing out in the crowd. True, not sold as widely as the rest of the Germans, but Caddy's presence overseas is expanding. The new BTS (A Saab 9-3 in Caddy cladding) will be the Caddy's answer to the compact luxury segment for Europe. CTS is just too big.

Most of the competition in the US in the segment competes on price, not size. The Germans are the only ones that are truly compact. All the rest, CTS, TL, TSX, G35 are mid-sized cars playing in the compact segment.
Acura is a real oddball - with the shrinking of the RL, their entire sedan lineup is mid-sized.