Will Lexus ever make a manual IS350?
12-18-08, 08:38 AM
#46
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Sorry, the Lexus ISF has an 8speed DST. Either way, its superior to the IS350 Max Gear selector.
1) If they were targetting the 3 series BMW market(which they obviously were)... then they are making a mistake by accepting this as a truth.
2) I have not driven any Lexus with MT, so no comment.
3) There are many cars which get the same or better fuel efficiency with a Manual Transmission
I realize that the door is shut this gen for an MT IS350... but I dont see how their "Wasnt a Market for MT IS350s" when there was enough of a supposed market for the IS250 MT. The IS250 MT doesnt even make sense.
BMW has enough of a market to pair MTs with most of their vehicles.
Acura has announced an AWD MT TL for 2010
Infiniti has MT editions of their G37 vehicles....etc.
1) If they were targetting the 3 series BMW market(which they obviously were)... then they are making a mistake by accepting this as a truth.
2) I have not driven any Lexus with MT, so no comment.
3) There are many cars which get the same or better fuel efficiency with a Manual Transmission
I realize that the door is shut this gen for an MT IS350... but I dont see how their "Wasnt a Market for MT IS350s" when there was enough of a supposed market for the IS250 MT. The IS250 MT doesnt even make sense.
BMW has enough of a market to pair MTs with most of their vehicles.
Acura has announced an AWD MT TL for 2010
Infiniti has MT editions of their G37 vehicles....etc.
Good post. Understand the manual is simply dying. With autos getting better and less people knowing how to drive a manaul.
Porsche has stated they want their new PDK to seel 60/40% here in America, like its sold in Europe. You would never figure in Europe they buy more automatic Porsches than manuals
BMW has said SMG is the future. They didn't even make a manual M5 until Americans bished about it. You still cannot deactivate the TC though!
I think Lexus is doing LEXUS in this market. THey know they will not beat the 3 in sport head to head. They also know a very limited number of BMWs are manuals. Lexus is luxury/sporty and the IS does this very well.
I've driven the 3/IS many times and its the STEERING that sets them apart. Lexus steering is better but still very much so for the American market, where it clealry sells well.
Lexus manuals are pretty blah. I own one and its blah. I've driven EVERY Lexus manual, its blah. Only a Supra swap manual in an IS 300 was to my tastes. In comparsion though, Honda could teach Toyota a thing or 12 about manuals.
12-18-08, 09:14 AM
#47
I wouldnt complain if we had a paddle SMG transmission. I just want control over the gear selection. I dont think I am asking too much
But the IS350s "Max Gear Selector" is a gimmick. It doesnt offer any control and the car still shifts up and down as it pleases. The car should stay in the gear I select and only down shift when I am below 1000RPMs to avoid chocking.
But the IS350s "Max Gear Selector" is a gimmick. It doesnt offer any control and the car still shifts up and down as it pleases. The car should stay in the gear I select and only down shift when I am below 1000RPMs to avoid chocking.
Last edited by tqlla3k; 12-18-08 at 09:19 AM.
06-18-10, 06:35 PM
#48
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i bet more people would buy them if lexus was more upfront about the IS paddle shifters and what there true function is and that they are not like the IS-F paddles......... and bring the price down on the 350 about 4k .... it would be a hell of a car if it didnt have so many damn electronics ..... make like a spec version ........
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