Yes and traditionally 'verts have better resale value than coupes too.

 

Very interesting... the is250 barely makes it in the sedan...Lexus should go 4cylnder turbo or at least a larger engine. $47K for a car that does 0-60 in 8.5 seconds? You'd think we were also talking about a car that did 40mpg...The Camry V6 is almost half the price, and much quicker. Doesn't help the ISc's case that it is right behind the TL for most bizarre Japanese design of the year.

 

Would you like me to price overpriced German cars that cost the same if not more we don't get? Looking at its COMPETITION, it seems to be priced right. We all know the IS 250 is no drag strip burner. Most cars are not. Is it not much power for the price? Well to us it might not make much sense. That is why you can jump to the IS 350. If 85% of the damn sales are the IS 250 CLEARLY Lexus is doing something right.

We can list a bunch of cars for less that are quicker. That is not what people want from an IS 250 (again they can jump to the 350).

The IS-C may have a big bum but its not close to being as much of a complete disgustingly ugly metal turd the TL is. We don't have dealers painting IS grills so people will actually not be scared to look at them head on.

 

well i think it's pretty logical that we see more is250 on the road, just like a lot more 328 and c300 compared to 335 and c350

a lot of people want the cars just for their "brand tag", not a lot look at the performance

 

Yes and offering the choices (2 engines) is a good thing for the different buyers.

 

Exactly..
Lower insurance
No need for speed
Affordability
Doesn't see the value in having more power
etc etc

I mean BMW sold a 184 hp 525 a few years ago, I didn't see German fanbois ripping that car up. Guess what it sold over 1500 units EVERY month. People loved it. Even today it has "only" 215hp and people still buy them in droves. They don't want a 535 let alone the 550. Good for them.

 

Wow, so would you rather stick to cars being sold in 2009 (you know, like the newly released IS-C) or resort to vehicles not sold anymore? The simply fact is the IS250 is underpowered in the sedan; it's even more bogged down in the hardtop. You can make all the excuses you want, put words in others mouths to try and prove points, but the fact is I never liked the 525i. But even if I did, guess what- it's a flippin' 5-Series... it's much larger than the tiny IS. So what are you comparing here? Facts are facts - a 1998 Honda Accord V6 3.0VTEC does 0-60 in 7.6 seconds. So we are here what, more than a decade later, and Lexus is charging $47,000 for their supposed "BMW 3 Killer" IS convertible that gets to 60mph in a slow 8.5 seconds? You make a lot out of Acura, but how about we start being fair and realistic for once? This car so underpowered it's almost sad.

I would like to you start listing German cars that compete with the IS250 that do 0-60 in 8.5 seconds and net 21/29mpg since, according to you, "there are like, so many". Come on, back this up, I am waiting. You can't use the Audi A4, which comes with a much better base engine...quicker, more torque, more sophisticated, better MPG...how about the 328i? What about the C300? Just admit the obvious already - you're skating on ice.

 

friend has a new 528 and while on paper it might not be a rocket it's not a slow car and the ride/engine is awesome.

 

Seriously what is your problem? Why are you in here crapping on the IS 250 when NO ONE is here defending its low HP rating. The facts speak for themselves, Lexus is claiming sales are brisk, they are speeding up production and 85% are IS 250s. Even IS 250 owners on here say "hey its not very quick but I love it, I didn't buy it for that".

So no matter WHAT YOU THINK, BUYERS like all 204 of its hp. Did Lexus EVER advertise this as a BMW killer? I didn't even read that in magazines. So stop making things up and trying to start a BMW/Lexus fire. Lexus has a IS 300 in the middle east with 240hp. Clearly people here are happy with 204hp.

I don't like showing off my automobile knowledge but in times like this I have to.

Here is a short list of all cars offered comparable to an IS 250
IS 250-204hp
TSX-201hp
Audi TT roadster-200hp and FWD
Benz C 300- 228 hp (but the C350 is totally outgunned by the IS/3 etc)
BMW 128-230hp
BMW 328-230hp
Audi A4-(funny this car is FWD and had 150hp only a few years ago , well most sold are STILL FWD)- 211 hp
VW CC-200hp
VW Passat-200hp
VW EOS- (possibly the lamest convert in recent memory)

WHAT is more sophisticated about the A4 outside of making things up? The A4 is a great car and just b/c you want to badger the IS won't make me or us not like Audi or the A4. So now you need a 1SICKFACTSLAP.

Now to school your ***..........
2007
BMW 318 SE convert is a 150hp 6 cylinder we don't get here
BMW 320 SE convert is a 170hp 6 cylinder we don't get here.
2009
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/11/2...ries-unveiled/
All available as a convertible.
BMW 318i
143 hp@ 6,000rpm


BMW 320i
170 hp @ 6,700 rpm


BMW 325i
218 hp @ 6,100rpm

So I look up Audi A4, you know the so sophisticated car we can't compare it to the IS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_A4

118, 158, 177...

Thats not the model number. Thats how much horsepower each entry level engine offers.
So you can comprehend
Audi A4 with 118hp and FWD
Audi A4 with 158hp and FWD
Audi A4 with 177 hp and FWD


I'm not here to knock them at all. I think its great they offer so many engines, from small to big. Clearly consumers want them or they wouldn't offer them. Why don't we in America get those small engines from Audi, BMW, etc? Its so people LIKE YOU can act all high and mighty in America that they are "sophisticated"

My track record speaks for itself, I know cars.

 

Exactly. I think most of us here would say BMWs have "strong" ponies. They feed their horses wheaties. However FKL here is stuck with "HP" ratings and thats all that matters.

 

And if anyone read EVO, CAR, Top Gear etc, you will see a vast part of the magazines dedicated to fun low hp cars. We simply don't get them here.

 

lol. well fwiw its pretty hard to option an IS250C to 47K+. Only way to do that is to check off every option box.

 

Just goes to show you, all the research in the world cannot perdict what will sell. Who would have thought you can just cut the top off from an under performing sedan like the IS250 and create a high demand for the car. This is where Lexus really shines, they might have pull another rabbit out of the hat. I bet BMW, MB, Audi and Infinity are all scratching head right about now trying to figure out where they went wrong?

 

I think what we are forgetting here is that underpowered is a personal opinion. For the average car buff, 204 hp might be a little underpowered. Yet when "malibu barbie" and "grandma" go to try out an IS 250, it has plenty of power for them and they still think of it as fast. We all know Lexus does not make very many cars for the enthusiast, they make cars for the average, "well-off" American; that is why they sell SO many.

Whenever I get a loaner IS250, I absolutely love it. It is fast enough to be fun but not fast enough to get out of hand so you can really have a good time.

For many the 250 is perfect and for those who it isn't they can get the 350.

 

You think Lexus did not do market research before they decided to make an "underpowered" IS250C ?? They know things from their research that most of us don't know ...