328 loaded to my 350 options is actually MORE expensive

 

Absolutely. That's one of the reasons I have an IS350.

My point is that an IS200T will probably perform similarly to a 328i which performs similarly to a 350.

Therefore a 200T will be close enough in performance to a current 350 to steal sales.

 

What kind of performance are we talking about?

If straight HP, there's about 60+ difference between the current 328 and 350. The IS350 is more similar to a 335 than a 328.

 

+1 You can't compare an IS350 to a 328. It's not apples to apples! 350 is equivalent or competitor to 335!

 

In a straight line acceleration 328i (0-60 5.8 sec) is closer to IS350 (0-60 5.6 sec) than to IS250 (0-60 7.7sec).

No question that 350 competes with 335i
And 250 competes with 328i.

azfsport ment only the performancewise and he is right.

 

I'm sure if they do launch the IS200t Lexus will not just leave the IS350 as is. That would be a big mistake on their part. One even ignorant Lexus cannot ignore. I'm sure the 350 will get a liter bump from 350 to 370 (so something similiar). Like when the GS when from the 330 to the 350. So all the 350 owners need not fret.

 

Although I do agree with you that Lexus definitely should and probably would bump up power on IS350 when IS200t comes out but I really hope that they don't just increase 2GR-FSE's displacement and stop there. I really really really hope that Lexus develops an engine similar to BMW and Audi's 3.0T with around 300-350hp and 300-350 ft-lb, with max torque available at 2K RPM. I would choose IS over anything on the market if that would be the case. This new engine would get rid of the current engine's annoying whine. I want to hear this nice deep engine roar not this metallic whine.

COME ON TOYOTA/LEXUS GERMANS DID IT WHY CANT YOU DO IT?!!!!! It is ok to take the risk, better late than never!

 

Yes. I agree. That would be totally awesome but based on Lexus' history, extremely unlikely. I'm sure they will figure out a way to give a NA engine a liter size increase for that extra 20-40 hp without a turbo. Toyota doesn't seem to like turbos. And speaking of whine, what do you think a turbo engine is going to sound like? Lol.

 

335i's engine sounds ok too me. Yeah, I dont get super duper excited from that sound but at least it doesn't annoy me. 2GR-FSE's whine annoys crap out of me!
I still don't get it why in this world toyota allowed this engine to sound like this??? Why???? I really dont get! Is it so heard to get rid of it?

 

I believe a majority of the issues found in the original N54 engine were due to a fuel pump that couldn't handle the excessive heat and volume that occurs during track and flat-out driving. I had a friend that brought his to the track and he had to pit it after about 3 laps because the engine was overheating and he later found out that it was due to an improperly sized fuel pump that would overheat due to the extreme temperatures under the hood caused by the turbo.

 

True story - when I was cross shopping the 3er against the 350 F-Sport, the Lexus MSRP was $48K versus around $49K for a 328 M-Sport with the tech package, moonroof, smartkey, etc. and for some reason the lease on that specific car was $500/month with $5K down versus the $350/month I am paying for the IS.