TED_FR

When I bought my first Lexus (IS200) 3 years ago, my brother asked me "How did you know that this brand did exist?" Since then things have changed, and more and more people know that Lexus is the luxury brand of Toyota.
Since Toyota dealers are not allowed to sell Lexus cars, to buy one you have first to find a Lexus dealer... and that is not easy.
The most popular model over here is the RX300, while they may sell 10 SC or LS a year.

That is the reason why Lexus desperately needed diesel engines to start selling cars and that is why the new Is shown at Geneva was an IS220D.

Gojirra99

I actually saw a black SC430 on Champs Elysee when I was there almost 3 years ago & that's the only Lexus I saw in my 4 days stay in Paris, 4 months later I got my own, that must be a rare car there eh ?

LexFather

Gotcha. I buy EVO, CAR and Top Gear over here so it helps me understand the Euro market and Lexus over there (though Lexus is rarely mentioned outside of quality).

Could you check this thread out and help if you can? Thanks
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=france

TED_FR

I posted some infos regarding this problem.

TED_FR

You are a lucky man.
Living in Paris area, so far I've seen 2 SC total, that is it. That is what you could call RARE!

TED_FR

I am amazed by the price differences between Europe and the US.
An SC430 tagged 90,000 $ in France is priced 65,000 $ over there.
I just can't figure out why.

LexFather

The Euro is worth maybe 70 cents on the dollar. A pound is about 52 cents on the dollar. And our dollar is weakening. Not good.

Thanks for the help in the other thread.

Incendiary

I'd say some of it is to price the car proportionately to its competitors. Also, maybe this isn't the case anymore, but I know the EU had pretty high tariffs on Japanese imports (and maybe other foreign makes) for a while, which was part of the reason Toyota had a difficult time establishing itself in Europe. I think the tariffs have gone away thanks to some lobbying by the Japanese brands, and Toyota is now establishing quite a foothold over there. My friend actually bought stock in Toyota because he's pretty sure its future in Europe is nothing but rosy. I think he's right, and European perception of Toyota as a reliable brand will soon rival American perception of it as such here.

LexFather

This thread is about RWD, V-6 cars I split all the TSX talk to another thread

flipside909

I guess you can count out the whole Honda and Acura passenger car line up. LOL

LexFather

C&D 2006 330 stats

0-60 5.6 sec
Qtr Mile 14.3 sec at 98 mph
Top speed 155 limited
Curb Weight 3450 lbs
Turn Circle 36.1 ft
255bhp at 6600/220 ft lbs at 2750
7000 rpm redline
70-0 at 168 feet
21/31 mpg

TED_FR

BMW set the target :
For the IS 220D -->
BMW 320D
163 PS
340 Nm @ 2000
0-100 km/h (62 mph): 8.3 sec
225 km/h (141 mph)

For the IS250-->
BMW325i
218 PS
250 Nm @2750
0-100 km/h : 7.0 sec
245 km/h (153 mph)

For the IS350-->
BMW 330i
258 PS
300 Nm @ 2500
0-100 km/h : 6.3 sec
250 km/h (limited)

BMW engines are known to be very good, but I really think that except for the IS250 Lexus could be quite a tough challenger. However, I am still surprise of the performances achieved by BMW engines when compared to other manufacturers. How can a 218 PS 325i reach 153 Mph and achieve 0-100 in 7.0 sec when the current 215 PS IS300 hardly reach 143 Mph ans sprints from 0-100 in more than 8 sec. One of the two brands has to be wrong somewhere.

LexFather

BMWs HP has always been very strong. Lexus always has been conservative with initial figures and their cars outside the GS 400/430.

BrickHead

According to Liz (info from the GS forum) the US spec IS250 will have 220HP and the IS350 will have at least 325 HP. Both figures are higher than those of the 3 series.

biker

The problem is that the 220HP in the IS250 probably won't produce any better performance that the 218HP in the 325.