As a former IS300 owner, I must say that the two cars are very different and cannot be compared. When I traded my IS300 for the 330i ZHP it was an enormous change. I too attended the taste of lexus driving event in Houston and it offered a good exposure for the lexus lineup. I find it surprising that you like the hybrid SUV rx400h over the IS350 in terms of driving dynamics? It is without doubt that the the IS350 is a more capable car than the RX SUV in every way The Lexus IS sedan aims towards luxury and reliability first, and then comes performance. Yes the 300HP engine is nice but with everyone up'ing HP in sport sedans, it was a move that they had to take. Lexus can make some reliable big engines. The V8 LS430 was the world's most reliable V8. The 330i on the other hand is a very agressively tuned car, and the germans are known for that, just as the japanease as known for their reliability tanks.
What you are feeling about the IS350 is the same thing what we felt when the IS300 was launched in 2001. It is an automatic and the suspension is soft. That is why I waited until 2002, when they launched the 5 speed IS300 which has a Stiffer suspension, and a rear (LSD) limited slip differential which was a lot of fun and enhanced rotation, also used widely on the track. LSD's are in great demand and was only a $500 option on the IS300. It costs nearly 10 TIMES as much to get an LSD in a beemer, which is around 5 grand.
I would say that you will have a whole new impression of the IS350 when the 6 speed manual comes out in 2006, and the suspension will be improved too. In addition, the Lexus IS is very conservative from the factory and this is expected of a toyota. The japanease aftermarket parts market is huge and with simple bolt ons like TRD sway bars & shocks / springs, even the IS350 auto will shapen up in terms of driving dynamics.
Is there anywhere I can host videos? I would like to show you guys what my IS300 was capable of back in the day. From its stock form, I transformed it into a track monster and I must humbly admit that it took 1st place overall in the 2004 autocross season, beating even the 330ci by far. I am sure that the IS350 6 speed will be a nice car when tweaked up, but by then the E90 M3 will be out, and with the V8 in there, I just wont be able to resist so for me at least, its goodbye lexus! The beemers are just spectacular when it comes to handling but thats a whole new story...
Last edited by idnani : 13th December 2005 at 18:03.
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