Neighbor got a new 05 6MT coupe with 19" rims and fully loaded with nav couple month ago for $36K.

 

that's g35 right? that's not too far away from the 45k tag on the is350 then

 

I think you can get more off MSRP for the G35 than the new IS350 at this time though . . .

 

yup, definitely, but the keyword is at this time.

it could be me but i wouldn't compare cars like this, one that's in the market for a while already with bigger discount where one is super hot at msrp. that's not "fair". since we don't know how "cheap" the is350 will get, that's why i used msrp for comparisons

 

I said any car that could run with an M There are a few.

 

Originally, Lexus never set their goals to completed with the Infinity from the get go. They designed the IS to complete with the 3 series, MB and Jag.

 

THANK YOU VVTi. Lexus is LEXUS now. They didn't put the Nissan Skyline on the damn radar, its not a global brand, its barely a player.

Lexus is in fierce competiton with BMW and Benz. This is COMMON knowledge. There are other players (Acura, Lincoln, Caddy, Ifniniti, Audi, Jaguar, etc) but they are NOT on Lexus radar.

You shoot for the BEST and try to beat THE BEST, BMW and Benz. Notice how Lexus continues to go UPMARKET, not downmarket.

For Gods sakes, the IS has 2 engines here and will offer a diesal in Europe. Its been sold in Europe since its inception in 1997. How can this car shoot for anything OTHER than the 3?

 

3 Series has coupe, sedan, wagon, convertible, several engine variants, and the hot (M) version.

New IS is a really good start but it's got a long way to go to change the minds of many buyers planning to buy a 3 series.

 

...and everytime I see one in a car magazine it's broken

 

I've heard a lot of excitement over the IS 350! The 350 is the hottest Lexus on the market!

But is it comparable to the SC 430? (Tough question)

 

I live in LA all my life. I drove on the 405, 105, 91, 57, 10, 60, 134, 5, 105, 15 and 710.

On the drive, I sometimes see a few BWMs on the side of the road and their owners scratching their heads with that funny look on their face.

 

I'm not 100 percent in agreement with your perspective. From my point of view, Lexus exceeds BWM's standards of automotive excellence.

 

104mph traps is pretty close I think... and 99% of people pushing the car wouldnt perform any better in the M3 in handling.

Like who actually takes their luxury car to the track? All the yahoos I see owning M3s that brag about the handling cant outdrive me in my SC... they murder me in the straight... but then I rush back on them in high speed turns and pass them....

Infiniti isnt considered competition for Lexus and neither does Lexus consider them competition... they have a different goal and market in mind.

 

Sig, look below

 

one more just for good measure