Is it just me, or is the IS 300 pretty dinky? Almost too dinky to be called a Lexus. The doors are SOOO thin and light.....the engine has no guts, the example I'm driving has 10k miles, and already has rattles. These cars aren't selling too well, right? Hrmph... wonder why.

 

Black RX-7.
I agree with you about the IS300, it is not as well built as I thought it would be. I was very interested in one, even put a deposit on one and walked away from it after I drove the SC. I originally ordered a blue IS with every option, including navigation and the same day I went to pick it up, I saw an SC on the used lot and just took it for a spin to kill time because my salesperson was helping another customer. After I got out of the SC I wanted it and walked away from the IS and my $500 deposit.

 

The IS3 is truly a starter Lexus as the G20, C-class hatch back, and the old 318ti...

The IS3 should have been the $25K car they said it was going to be, then it would be a great value...

I don't see along life unless it gets the hp it needs and reduces in price.. The end is near.. The G35 is on the way!!!:eek:

 

Yeah, for the price range it is in, you could get and Acura TL-Type S for the same price! I might be partial, but I think those a pretty nice cars.

 

yeah, 35 grand is just too much for an IS. I personally think it should have been a Toyota model, as the Altezza, and should have come in n/a and turbo trim for the truly insane. The handling is ok, the power is lacking. When it's upgraded it's a fun car but that's a few thou down the line AFTER the heavy sticker price. I wonder if they ever sold any of their "ricer" edition IS300's with rims, bodykit and shocks for a shocking 48000 dollars.

 

IS's are $29k base MSRP... the 5-speeds are anyway


Ikon I have to agree... once the G35 comes out, Infiniti will rule all!
RWD and 3200lb curb weight and 280hp and 6-speed and 4doors and awsome looks and... and... and...

 

I can't help but wonder if Nissan will drown itself by putting VQ 3.5s in such a large number of cars. Especially with a rear drive platform.. it'll change around the perception of cars like the Z because it won't be much more than a 2 door version of the new inifiniti s or a couple of nissans getting the same motor. I can see a lot of overlap... it'll be fun to see what they can do though, maybe a skyline motor will get put in the Z or something really looney

 

Dunno, I like the IS...but is it "truly" a Lexus? Well maybe not in the old sense, but remember, Lexus is trying for a new customer base...

I think Lexus's price point is OK, but the FULLY LOADED "L-Tuned" model (which is what, a body kit and some wheels?) should be $35K with Nav, etc...

I think the prices are getting out of hand...

 

Hrm....280hp, and its an N/A engine, right? Great. Just what the world needs. It'll be another torqueless all-aluminium wonder with a power peak right at redline. As far as I'm concerned, engines with a huge power peak and waaaay less torque are utterly useless in everyday driving. Sounds good on paper and ad campaigns, **** poor in practice.

 

thats funny coming from an RX-7 owner

you realize that 280hp isn't even STRETCHING the limits of the 3.5L V6 right?

the car will make more torque than your SC400 I guarentee, and it will be right around 3500rpms like it should be...

I'm sure you've seen the results of the Altima and new Maxima right? low 14s at 100mph traps? Yeah, make those RWD with MORE hp...

yup 13s in a 4door that will cost $35k... and don't forget the VQ35 will also have Twinturbos on the Skyline GTR that is slated to come over here... a relatively easy engine swap is in order for the new Z or the G35

back to my original statement... Nissan will rule all!

 

Actually it will probably have decent low end power. The other Nissan VQ V6's have good low rpm power. I don't see how this 280hp version could be too much different.

 

My RX-7 has adequate torque given the weight of the chassis. Nothing monstrous, but adequate. All the small-ish N/A variable valve timing/lift engined cars I've driven, OTOH, don't have adequate torque.

You guarantee Nissan's new 3.5l will put out 300+ lb-ft of torque at 3500 RPM? Right.....only if its turbo'd or supercharged. In its current state of tune, with all sorts of doo-hickeys to optimize flow at various RPM levels its only putting out 255hp and 246 lb-ft. In high hp output N/A engines, torque is always lower than hp...the more hp you squeeze out, the less torque you have. So what's so revolutionary about this engine which will allow it to belt out all that torque and 280hp?

 

Oh no....not another G35 debate. I think we had to lock the G35 thread in the lobby...LOL

Instead lets talk about how all the G35 owners are gonna buy what they think is the fasest car out there...and get smoked by all the 4000lb turbo SC's

SR