Lexus wins another major handling comparison (this time with the 3IS IS350 f sport)
05-01-13 | 11:44 PM
#121
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If Lexus is pricing to target BMW 335i, won't it be 50k rather than 60k?
Another option is the 380hp supercharged 3.5l 2GR-FSE which has been available in Japan for several years.
Another option is the 380hp supercharged 3.5l 2GR-FSE which has been available in Japan for several years.
Last edited by natnut; 05-01-13 at 11:48 PM.
05-01-13 | 11:53 PM
#122
I say, they should develop a lightweight force inducted V6. Having a chassis design with V6 in mind, if adding force induction, it will be nose heavy. That's why 335 feel like a boring boat compared to V6 NA 3IS 350.
05-02-13 | 12:32 AM
#123
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The way I see it, that both pricing and performance-wise, the 320i is now positioned against the IS250, the 328i against the IS350, and the 335i against the S4 and a hypothetic IS450h. It's hard not to be impressed by BMW's new generation of turbos, with reliability being its only possible shortcoming right now--the 335i is superior in acceleration, fuel economy and even NVH. Pretty amazing stuff.
05-02-13 | 02:11 AM
#124
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Not so amazing is the now nose-heavy nature of the TT inline 6 engine in the front engine compartment of the 3 series.
Seems like BMW designed the F30 chassis with the 4 cylinder engine of the 328i in mind. The 335i appears to be an afterthought.
Thus the F30 chassis handling is significantly impacted by the additional weight and length of the 6 cylinder engine as it was designed to be well balanced only with the lighter shorter 4 cylinder in its nose.
I echo the feelings of the C&D editors as I also felt the nose heaviness of the 335i during my test-drive. It was equipped with the Sport auto trans, M adaptive suspension and had slightly lowered springs(can't remember the correct name of that suspension package). Heck, the larger GS350 F-Sport I test-drove felt more nimble than it despite the GS being a class size larger than the 335i.
Seems like BMW designed the F30 chassis with the 4 cylinder engine of the 328i in mind. The 335i appears to be an afterthought.
Thus the F30 chassis handling is significantly impacted by the additional weight and length of the 6 cylinder engine as it was designed to be well balanced only with the lighter shorter 4 cylinder in its nose.
I echo the feelings of the C&D editors as I also felt the nose heaviness of the 335i during my test-drive. It was equipped with the Sport auto trans, M adaptive suspension and had slightly lowered springs(can't remember the correct name of that suspension package). Heck, the larger GS350 F-Sport I test-drove felt more nimble than it despite the GS being a class size larger than the 335i.
Last edited by natnut; 05-02-13 at 02:17 AM.
05-02-13 | 04:55 AM
#126
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doesnt 335i have 50:50, unlike heavier IS350 which is probably 55:45 as usual?
05-02-13 | 06:17 AM
#127
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Haha...I just spent 5 weeks with a F30 328 and it was a complete and total pos. Pure garbage that survives on the engine and badge solely. Interior quality is crap, handling is a joke, the tech is lame and it was zero fun to drive. F30 owners should be concerned that they bought their car just for the hood ornament.
Your comparison of a 335 to the IS F is laughable at best. I spent almost 4 years utterly abusing 335 badge w ***** that thought they were all that...lol.
Your comparison of a 335 to the IS F is laughable at best. I spent almost 4 years utterly abusing 335 badge w ***** that thought they were all that...lol.
My comparison of the 335i to IS-F is lame? You mean when I said the F30 335i did the lightning lap faster than the 2008 IS-F? Is it laughable that the IS-F lost? I don't know, you tell me. I love the IS-F and would take it over the 335i and M3.
05-02-13 | 06:40 AM
#128
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Not so amazing is the now nose-heavy nature of the TT inline 6 engine in the front engine compartment of the 3 series.
Seems like BMW designed the F30 chassis with the 4 cylinder engine of the 328i in mind. The 335i appears to be an afterthought.
Thus the F30 chassis handling is significantly impacted by the additional weight and length of the 6 cylinder engine as it was designed to be well balanced only with the lighter shorter 4 cylinder in its nose.
I echo the feelings of the C&D editors as I also felt the nose heaviness of the 335i during my test-drive. It was equipped with the Sport auto trans, M adaptive suspension and had slightly lowered springs(can't remember the correct name of that suspension package). Heck, the larger GS350 F-Sport I test-drove felt more nimble than it despite the GS being a class size larger than the 335i.
Seems like BMW designed the F30 chassis with the 4 cylinder engine of the 328i in mind. The 335i appears to be an afterthought.
Thus the F30 chassis handling is significantly impacted by the additional weight and length of the 6 cylinder engine as it was designed to be well balanced only with the lighter shorter 4 cylinder in its nose.
I echo the feelings of the C&D editors as I also felt the nose heaviness of the 335i during my test-drive. It was equipped with the Sport auto trans, M adaptive suspension and had slightly lowered springs(can't remember the correct name of that suspension package). Heck, the larger GS350 F-Sport I test-drove felt more nimble than it despite the GS being a class size larger than the 335i.
05-02-13 | 06:50 AM
#129
With 8200 3 Series and 5200 5 Series sold in April,it comes down to the badge.It comes down to people liking BMW over Lexus.
The slalom tests etc wins by the IS350 may take a small percentage of sales away but BMW 3 Series will still sell many more units than the IS250/IS350.
Same with GS even with road testing win over the.5 Series.People buy the badge.Benz and BMW are still considered more of a luxury line than Lexus.
The slalom tests etc wins by the IS350 may take a small percentage of sales away but BMW 3 Series will still sell many more units than the IS250/IS350.
Same with GS even with road testing win over the.5 Series.People buy the badge.Benz and BMW are still considered more of a luxury line than Lexus.
05-02-13 | 06:56 AM
#130
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Awesome.
05-02-13 | 07:52 AM
#132
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With 8200 3 Series and 5200 5 Series sold in April,it comes down to the badge.It comes down to people liking BMW over Lexus.
The slalom tests etc wins by the IS350 may take a small percentage of sales away but BMW 3 Series will still sell many more units than the IS250/IS350.
Same with GS even with road testing win over the.5 Series.People buy the badge.Benz and BMW are still considered more of a luxury line than Lexus.
The slalom tests etc wins by the IS350 may take a small percentage of sales away but BMW 3 Series will still sell many more units than the IS250/IS350.
Same with GS even with road testing win over the.5 Series.People buy the badge.Benz and BMW are still considered more of a luxury line than Lexus.
BTW, I found this MT thread. Seems to support what you are saying...
http://wot.motortrend.com/thread-of-...#axzz2S8uSGA55
Here are the five most recent comments from users:
1. Lexus is just an overpriced Toyota...Cadillac is just an overpriced Chevy....BMW is better to drive in every way.
2. The ATS 3.6 and then the 335i (the Lexus is not an option in my book).
3. lexus is overpriced toyota crap. I would rather have real luxury like bmw.
4. Lexus keeps disappointing me, this grille looks ridiculous. Overall a very ugly car. I would just buy the new Mercedes CLA, it looks so beautiful. The CLA's sporty grille with the sleek coupe styling is an amazing combo. It makes the Lexus IS look like complete crap.
5. The Lexus is too ugly for me. The grille looks terrible, and the rest of the car is too plain and frumpy. At least the Cadillac ATS and BMW 3 Series look decent. But in terms of styling I would much rather have the Mercedes C350, now that car is sexy and it packs power.
Just thought I'd share.
05-02-13 | 07:57 AM
#133
I wouldn't say it's purely badge, although that certainly comes into play. BMW has a much deeper history in performance luxury than Lexus.
BTW, I found this MT thread. Seems to support what you are saying...
http://wot.motortrend.com/thread-of-...#axzz2S8uSGA55
Here are the five most recent comments from users:
1. Lexus is just an overpriced Toyota...Cadillac is just an overpriced Chevy....BMW is better to drive in every way.
2. The ATS 3.6 and then the 335i (the Lexus is not an option in my book).
3. lexus is overpriced toyota crap. I would rather have real luxury like bmw.
4. Lexus keeps disappointing me, this grille looks ridiculous. Overall a very ugly car. I would just buy the new Mercedes CLA, it looks so beautiful. The CLA's sporty grille with the sleek coupe styling is an amazing combo. It makes the Lexus IS look like complete crap.
5. The Lexus is too ugly for me. The grille looks terrible, and the rest of the car is too plain and frumpy. At least the Cadillac ATS and BMW 3 Series look decent. But in terms of styling I would much rather have the Mercedes C350, now that car is sexy and it packs power.
Just thought I'd share.
BTW, I found this MT thread. Seems to support what you are saying...
http://wot.motortrend.com/thread-of-...#axzz2S8uSGA55
Here are the five most recent comments from users:
1. Lexus is just an overpriced Toyota...Cadillac is just an overpriced Chevy....BMW is better to drive in every way.
2. The ATS 3.6 and then the 335i (the Lexus is not an option in my book).
3. lexus is overpriced toyota crap. I would rather have real luxury like bmw.
4. Lexus keeps disappointing me, this grille looks ridiculous. Overall a very ugly car. I would just buy the new Mercedes CLA, it looks so beautiful. The CLA's sporty grille with the sleek coupe styling is an amazing combo. It makes the Lexus IS look like complete crap.
5. The Lexus is too ugly for me. The grille looks terrible, and the rest of the car is too plain and frumpy. At least the Cadillac ATS and BMW 3 Series look decent. But in terms of styling I would much rather have the Mercedes C350, now that car is sexy and it packs power.
Just thought I'd share.
That's the biggest negative with Lexus and some people.
I don't see it with Cadillac and Chevy.The Cadillac badge has been a luxury brand for so many years.
05-02-13 | 08:00 AM
#134
I wonder how many people in this thread, and anywhere else on the internet, have seen the 3IS in person. I have and it remarkably does not look as radical - or radically different from the 2IS - as it seems in pictures. The proportions and lines are very similar, just nipped, tucked and trimmed. In person, you'd have to do a double take to notice that the LEDs are disconnected from the projector and it's housing - the integration with the lines on the front of the car makes the entire design very well integrated and clean.
Much like the LS, RX, GS, LX, ES, etc, the grille looks three dimensional in person vs. flat and garish in pics.
Prior to seeing the car in person, I was not sold on the design. After seeing it in the metal, I am sold. The wheel arches are larger and more aggressive, the lines are a bit harder and more sculpted, the rear end looks taut and sporty, and the front end looks futuristic, aggressive and artfully done.
All I'm saying is that if you haven't seen the car in person, just wait. It's a looker - far better looking and more interesting than the ATS, 3 or almost any other in the class.
Much like the LS, RX, GS, LX, ES, etc, the grille looks three dimensional in person vs. flat and garish in pics.
Prior to seeing the car in person, I was not sold on the design. After seeing it in the metal, I am sold. The wheel arches are larger and more aggressive, the lines are a bit harder and more sculpted, the rear end looks taut and sporty, and the front end looks futuristic, aggressive and artfully done.
All I'm saying is that if you haven't seen the car in person, just wait. It's a looker - far better looking and more interesting than the ATS, 3 or almost any other in the class.
Last edited by MPLexus301; 05-02-13 at 08:23 AM.
05-02-13 | 08:04 AM
#135
I wonder how many people in this thread, and anywhere else on the internet, have seen the 3IS in person. I have and it remarkably does not look as radical - or radically different from the 2IS - as it seems in pictures. The proportions and lines are very similar, just nipped, tucked and trimmed. In person, you'd have to do a double take to notice that the LEDs are disconnected from the projector and it's housing - the integration with the lines on the front of the car makes the entire design very well integrated and clean.
Much like the LS, RX, GS, LX, ES, etc, the grille looks three dimensional in person vs. flat and garish in pics.
[IMGhttps://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/527714_10100817577984187_2032161687_n.jpg[/IMG]
Prior to seeing the car in person, I was not sold on the design. After seeing it in the metal, I am sold. The wheel arches are larger and more aggressive, the lines are a bit harder and more sculpted, the rear end looks taut and sporty, and the front end looks futuristic, aggressive and artfully done.
All I'm saying is that if you haven't seen the car in person, just wait. It's a looker - far better looking and more interesting than the ATS, 3 or almost any other in the class.
Much like the LS, RX, GS, LX, ES, etc, the grille looks three dimensional in person vs. flat and garish in pics.
[IMGhttps://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/527714_10100817577984187_2032161687_n.jpg[/IMG]
Prior to seeing the car in person, I was not sold on the design. After seeing it in the metal, I am sold. The wheel arches are larger and more aggressive, the lines are a bit harder and more sculpted, the rear end looks taut and sporty, and the front end looks futuristic, aggressive and artfully done.
All I'm saying is that if you haven't seen the car in person, just wait. It's a looker - far better looking and more interesting than the ATS, 3 or almost any other in the class.
I've seen it.I'm not floored by it and I don't think the 3 Series buyer would be either.Ok,maybe some.
I think the new IS will sell well the first year.
I do like the new tech it has but don't like the interior..
Last edited by Joeb427; 05-02-13 at 08:07 AM.