BTW, the V-8 vs I-6 in the IS 300/430, was only 2 lbs heavier

 

Unless the dude ripped a bunch of crap out during the engine conversion (like, rear seats, A/C, insulation), I find that hard to believe. A V8 weighs more than 2 lbs more than an I6, even, I believe, if it were partly aluminum...

 

Interestingly enough while I keep hearing NSX owners saying they want the NSX-R brought to the US, I bet very few people will actuallu buy them. The NSX-R really is only good for the track. That car is all that it is because of its weight reduction primerily. We already can get the full NA2 NSX-R suspension through various NSX vendors here in the states, we can already get the NSX-R specific gearing. so pretty much the rest comes from the weight reduction and aside from the great carbon fiber and suede seats, nobody will drive around with no radio, and even AC I think is an option. What they should have done was bring in more Zanardi like Coupes. The Zanardi is the same Type-S version in Japan, but with the Zanardi you only can get it in red and they only made 10 of them 1 which went to Alex Zanardi himself.

 

I'm not sure about only 2 lbs, but the Lexus/Toyota I6 was pretty heavy since it was cast iron. I highly doubt the V8 uses titanium crankshafts and such, so while I know it is lighter, 2 lbs is hard to believe. To tell you the truth, if we are talking about the Rod Millen IS430, I'm not sure what they took out. It is possible they didn't use the AC. Also, I'm not sure when the weighed cars as the rims were different after the conversion if I recall. Maybe over all they only gained 2 lbs after it was all said and done.

 

Dude, its 2 lbs heavier according the the weight taken engine for engine. The 2JZ is so strong b/c its overbuilt for turbos. The V-8 is aluminum, much lighter.

Did we have this pic?

 

about the engine weight, just take my words for it, that the i6 and the v8 are virtually the same weight. the i6 is cast iron and the v8 is aluminum block

 

Good points

 

I'll trade in my S-class and two LSes if the IS460 has a full manual transmission. 5-sp or 6-sp, I don't care, although a 6-sp is preferred. It has to be a manual in the hand, not some sissy manumatic button pressing like the GS. And the handling has to be like the current IS or better. The current IS is underpowered, but due to its small size and weight, it is nimble. The V8 must be equally nimble. I have waited 12 long years for a Lexus V8 mated to a manual, and if this happens to be the first one, I'll be first in line.

 

IS460 with 6MT . . . sigh . . .

 

so not even smg, which is a true manual tranny but computer controlled clutch?

 

That would be second best, but I still want to feel like I'm in control of everything & not the computer.
I still haven't driven a SMG yet, may be I will change my mind after I have & accept it as equally desirable.

 

dream on brother!

 

dont' get me wrong, i would want a 6 speed full stick over smg any day too. i can care less about that extra 0.5 second at the track

 

Nope, only a stick in the hand and a clutch pedal under the left foot will suffice.

 

It will be impossible to resist comparisons. I could just see the MotorTrend article: "Battle of the Continents" M3 VS IS460!