'14 Q50S vs. '14 IS350 F-Sport: Motor Trend
08-29-13, 09:35 AM
#32
Lexus Test Driver
IS350 AWD is 65KG heavier than its RWD counterpart. 65kg ~ 143 lbs. Of course some extra equipment affects the weight such as moonroof (20kg) and Mark Levinson sound system (10kg for Japan-spec blu-ray equipped ML)
08-29-13, 09:38 AM
#33
Lexus Test Driver
I'm really hoping for a better engine in the refresh...car looks like a definite winner 
08-29-13, 09:52 AM
#34
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Although, Johnny thinks the IS needs another 50 HP, but the real reason behind the underwhelming acceleration number are simply Lexus dropping the ball on the gearing.
As seen from comparison of 2IS gearing and 3IS gearing, the 3IS 8 speed gearing is much taller overall than the 2IS 6 speed gearing, which results in less torque multiplication through gears despite the extra 2 cogs.
As seen from comparison of 2IS gearing and 3IS gearing, the 3IS 8 speed gearing is much taller overall than the 2IS 6 speed gearing, which results in less torque multiplication through gears despite the extra 2 cogs.
It is of course fully correct to look at the effect of gearing from the standpoint of "torque multiplication". I've encountered people who think there is something silly or contrived about the idea of multiplying torque, but I'm perfectly fine with it. That said, there is another equally valid, equally correct and proper way of looking at it, that some people think is a simpler perspective. The greater the actual power at a given instant, the greater the acceleration. An overall ratio (for 1st gear) that implies greater engine rpm also implies greater power, and therefore greater acceleration.
08-29-13, 09:58 AM
#35
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The Q50 hybrid is no doubt very impressive in acceleration. The same power train in the M hybrid, which already is fast. It stands to reason that something will be given up in handling. But is not what turns me off as much as the limited trunk space you get with any hybrid. Any hybrid would need to use the Tesla battery configuration before I would realistically consider it.
08-29-13, 10:13 AM
#36
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I drove them both back to back to back two weeks ago in Denver.
...After the last lexus ride I knew Lexus was the way to go.
My take:
...
Looks:
Winner: IS350 F Sport and IS350. The Q50 looks like a honda... with a nicer front end. Those headlights feel like an owl face staring...its weird.
...After the last lexus ride I knew Lexus was the way to go.
My take:
...
Looks:
Winner: IS350 F Sport and IS350. The Q50 looks like a honda... with a nicer front end. Those headlights feel like an owl face staring...its weird.
And regarding the headlights on the Q50. They are of course direct copies of some BMW headlights, although Infiniti has been using similar headlights on other vehicles for a few years now. I don't know whether Infiniti or BMW was first with this headlight design, but I do know that the inspiration is the eyes of certain venomous snakes, i.e., pit vipers, which include rattlesnakes and copperheads, and cottonmouths. The similarity is overt and is not a coincidence. The headlights of these cars mimic the eyes of pit vipers. Now, if people like for the headlights of their cars to mimic the eyes of pit vipers, then so be it. But when I look at the headlights of the car, all I see is an ugly snake. I don't have any fear of snakes, at all, but I just don't think that there is anything at all attractive about a snake, and personally I cannot appreciate the idea of car headlights designed to mimic the eyes of venomous snakes. I just do not get it, at all.
08-29-13, 10:14 AM
#37
Lexus Test Driver
The gear ratio comparison was posted on this board. The final drive in the 3IS is much taller than that of the 2IS (I think it was 4.1:1 for the 2IS vs 3.7:1 for the 3IS) so overall gearing actually is taller in the 3IS compared to 2IS.
Regarding "torque multiplication", that is ofcourse simple physics (I am an engineer) and the whole point of having gears in the first place and also the reason why even cars with lots of crank torque would never try to accelerate in 6th gear at 20 mph without downshifting to 3rd or 2nd.
Regarding "torque multiplication", that is ofcourse simple physics (I am an engineer) and the whole point of having gears in the first place and also the reason why even cars with lots of crank torque would never try to accelerate in 6th gear at 20 mph without downshifting to 3rd or 2nd.
Where do you find this information? If it is on Lexus' Web site, I was not able to find it. I found several different sources for the '13 IS350, and several of them agreed, however C&D had a different set of numbers. The three different sources that I found and that agreed, for the '13, say that 1st gear is 3.52 and that final is 4.08, for the AT with the 350cc engine. (Both transmissions for the 250 are evidently different.) Total ratio is 14.36. For the '14, Edmunds is the one place that I was able to find numbers, which are 4.6 for 1st and 3.13 for final; the overall is 14.4. I have no way of knowing if these numbers are correct, but if they are, the '14 has a slight advantage, and a similar advantage in 2nd. Although the difference is so slight that it is exceedingly unlikely that it could make any measurable difference in the 0-60 time.
It is of course fully correct to look at the effect of gearing from the standpoint of "torque multiplication". I've encountered people who think there is something silly or contrived about the idea of multiplying torque, but I'm perfectly fine with it. That said, there is another equally valid, equally correct and proper way of looking at it, that some people think is a simpler perspective. The greater the actual power at a given instant, the greater the acceleration. An overall ratio (for 1st gear) that implies greater engine rpm also implies greater power, and therefore greater acceleration.
It is of course fully correct to look at the effect of gearing from the standpoint of "torque multiplication". I've encountered people who think there is something silly or contrived about the idea of multiplying torque, but I'm perfectly fine with it. That said, there is another equally valid, equally correct and proper way of looking at it, that some people think is a simpler perspective. The greater the actual power at a given instant, the greater the acceleration. An overall ratio (for 1st gear) that implies greater engine rpm also implies greater power, and therefore greater acceleration.
08-29-13, 10:47 AM
#38
Lexus Fanatic
I too think the car looks great, and think it looks its best in the F Sport trim. I also really like the looks of the Q50, I think both cars' styling is appealing for different reasons. I do not like the idea of "steer by wire"...
I haven't driven a Q50 but would like to.
Originally Posted by G8rGri
I am confused every single time someone says the 3IS is "ugly". I absolutely love the styling. It's 90% of the reason I bought the car. I had little interest in Lexus prior to the debut of the 3IS.
Originally Posted by Glashub
And now they're discussing that the pre-collision system is sometimes applying the brakes for no apparent reason
08-29-13, 11:46 AM
#39
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08-29-13, 01:57 PM
#42
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Both do have carryover engines....
In tossing around its not close believe it or not, the F-sport is much more fun and balances and gives you confidence. The Q50 reminds me of my older GS 450h...sporty on a lesser scale and doesn't want to be rushed....
08-29-13, 05:24 PM
#43
this is probably the most annoying review i have ever seen... i literally feel stupid after watching it.
he is just an idiot trying to be opinionated. He should first write things down first though, as he first tells us how nobody can tell the difference between new steering and old and then after few minutes he spends a lifetime complaining how artificial new steering is.
it is as we are watching timeline of his tweets.
he is just an idiot trying to be opinionated. He should first write things down first though, as he first tells us how nobody can tell the difference between new steering and old and then after few minutes he spends a lifetime complaining how artificial new steering is.
it is as we are watching timeline of his tweets.
08-29-13, 07:44 PM
#44
Pole Position
this is probably the most annoying review i have ever seen... i literally feel stupid after watching it.
he is just an idiot trying to be opinionated. He should first write things down first though, as he first tells us how nobody can tell the difference between new steering and old and then after few minutes he spends a lifetime complaining how artificial new steering is.
it is as we are watching timeline of his tweets.
he is just an idiot trying to be opinionated. He should first write things down first though, as he first tells us how nobody can tell the difference between new steering and old and then after few minutes he spends a lifetime complaining how artificial new steering is.
it is as we are watching timeline of his tweets.
Even though the IS won, I feel like he didn't give both cars enough justice but fixated on one aspect of each car at the expense of a comprehensive review of each car's features. I much prefer Carlos Lagos.
08-29-13, 07:51 PM
#45
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The review was fine for what it is. He said within the first 2 minutes it was going to be about how the cars drive, and that's precisely what he focused on. If you were looking for a comprehensive review, that should have been your queue right there. He briefly touched on a couple other aspects but focused on exactly what he said the review would be focused on.