C230 is the IS250's biggest competitor?
08-24-05, 11:24 AM
#1
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C230 is the IS250's biggest competitor?
Everyone likes to talk about the BMW 3 series, but I actually think that the Mercedes C230 is the IS250's biggest competitor.
The specs, power, features, pricing, driving/comfort dynamics (leaning more toward luxury than all-out sport), brand reputation (Lexus is known more as the Mercedes of Japan) are very similar.
2006 C230:
$29,975 MSRP; $35,000 well-equipped
2.5 V6 w/ 201 horsepower and 181 torque
6 speed manual
7 speed auto
2006 IS250:
$30,000 MSRP; $34,000 well-equipped (estimate)
2.5 V6 w/ 201 horsepower and 184 torque
6 speed manual
6 speed auto
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/models/C230WZ.jsp
The specs, power, features, pricing, driving/comfort dynamics (leaning more toward luxury than all-out sport), brand reputation (Lexus is known more as the Mercedes of Japan) are very similar.
2006 C230:
$29,975 MSRP; $35,000 well-equipped
2.5 V6 w/ 201 horsepower and 181 torque
6 speed manual
7 speed auto
2006 IS250:
$30,000 MSRP; $34,000 well-equipped (estimate)
2.5 V6 w/ 201 horsepower and 184 torque
6 speed manual
6 speed auto
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/models/C230WZ.jsp
08-24-05, 11:28 AM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by jrock65
2006 C230:
$29,975 MSRP; $35,000 well-equipped
2.5 V6 w/ 201 horsepower and 181 torque
$29,975 MSRP; $35,000 well-equipped
2.5 V6 w/ 201 horsepower and 181 torque
I do totally agree that the C230K is IS250's closest competitor, not the 325i, however.
EDIT: Oops sorry, you're right! For MY2006 the C240 is replaced by the 3.0L C280 and the C230 does become a 2.5L V6-powered sedan. Your point is totally valid then.
EDIT 2: I'm taking back my
too. The and will remain.
Last edited by XeroK00L; 08-24-05 at 11:37 AM.
08-24-05, 11:30 AM
#3
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Originally Posted by XeroK00L
Except that the C230's a SC'd 4-banger.
I do totally agree that the C230K is IS250's closest competitor, not the 325i, however.
I do totally agree that the C230K is IS250's closest competitor, not the 325i, however.
The 2006 C230 has a 2.5L V6 with 201 horsepower.
right back at ya ... 
EDIT: I just saw your EDIT. I take back the
. The will remain.
08-24-05, 11:34 AM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by jrock65
Err... click the link.
The 2006 C230 has a 2.5L V6 with 201 horsepower.
right back at ya ...
EDIT: I just saw your EDIT. I take back the . The will remain.
The 2006 C230 has a 2.5L V6 with 201 horsepower.
right back at ya ... EDIT: I just saw your EDIT. I take back the
. The will remain. Thanks. I now have a little more respect for MB USA since they've finally dropped the only 4-banger from their lineup.
08-24-05, 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by spwolf
biggest competitor is biggest seller - which would be 3 series, G35 and Acura's...
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08-24-05, 05:26 PM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
The C-class is nowhere on the IS radar and far from its biggest competitor. Clearly, its the 3.
So I guess I shouldn't have agreed with you completely after all, jrock65.
08-24-05, 05:45 PM
#11
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Originally Posted by XeroK00L
True. That's why in my previous post I said it's IS's "closest" competitor.
So I guess I shouldn't have agreed with you completely after all, jrock65.
So I guess I shouldn't have agreed with you completely after all, jrock65.
08-24-05, 06:39 PM
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Well, maybe I should have clarified.
I think that the 2006 C230 on its face, is most like the IS250 in terms of power, features, pricing, driving/comfort dynamics (leaning more toward luxury than all-out sport), and brand reputation (Lexus is known more as the Mercedes of Japan).
Of course, not having driven either car, it's hard to say for sure. I gotta test out the C230... that seems like a peppy car with an okay price.
And I love MB auto trannies. I gotta say that MB makes THE best auto trannies out there, and supposedly their new 7 speeds are even better.
Lexus, Infiniti and Acura are OBSESSED with BMW. Whenever they put out a new car, they always have a talking head say, "yeah, we're aiming straight at BMW with this one" (TL, RL, G, M, GS, IS . . . it's happened EVERY single time). The reality, though, is that some of these cars don't even have driving dynamics that equal Mercedes, nevermind BMW.
It's interesting that they rarely say that they're going after Mercedes.
I think that the 2006 C230 on its face, is most like the IS250 in terms of power, features, pricing, driving/comfort dynamics (leaning more toward luxury than all-out sport), and brand reputation (Lexus is known more as the Mercedes of Japan).
Of course, not having driven either car, it's hard to say for sure. I gotta test out the C230... that seems like a peppy car with an okay price.
And I love MB auto trannies. I gotta say that MB makes THE best auto trannies out there, and supposedly their new 7 speeds are even better.
Lexus, Infiniti and Acura are OBSESSED with BMW. Whenever they put out a new car, they always have a talking head say, "yeah, we're aiming straight at BMW with this one" (TL, RL, G, M, GS, IS . . . it's happened EVERY single time). The reality, though, is that some of these cars don't even have driving dynamics that equal Mercedes, nevermind BMW.
It's interesting that they rarely say that they're going after Mercedes.
08-24-05, 06:55 PM
#13
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Originally Posted by jrock65
Well, maybe I should have clarified.
I think that the 2006 C230 on its face, is most like the IS250 in terms of power, features, pricing, driving/comfort dynamics (leaning more toward luxury than all-out sport), and brand reputation (Lexus is known more as the Mercedes of Japan).
Of course, not having driven either car, it's hard to say for sure. I gotta test out the C230... that seems like a peppy car with an okay price.
And I love MB auto trannies. I gotta say that MB makes THE best auto trannies out there, and supposedly their new 7 speeds are even better.
Lexus, Infiniti and Acura are OBSESSED with BMW. Whenever they put out a new car, they always have a talking head say, "yeah, we're aiming straight at BMW with this one" (TL, RL, G, M, GS, IS . . . it's happened EVERY single time). The reality, though, is that some of these cars don't even have driving dynamics that equal Mercedes, nevermind BMW.
It's interesting that they rarely say that they're going after Mercedes.
I think that the 2006 C230 on its face, is most like the IS250 in terms of power, features, pricing, driving/comfort dynamics (leaning more toward luxury than all-out sport), and brand reputation (Lexus is known more as the Mercedes of Japan).
Of course, not having driven either car, it's hard to say for sure. I gotta test out the C230... that seems like a peppy car with an okay price.
And I love MB auto trannies. I gotta say that MB makes THE best auto trannies out there, and supposedly their new 7 speeds are even better.
Lexus, Infiniti and Acura are OBSESSED with BMW. Whenever they put out a new car, they always have a talking head say, "yeah, we're aiming straight at BMW with this one" (TL, RL, G, M, GS, IS . . . it's happened EVERY single time). The reality, though, is that some of these cars don't even have driving dynamics that equal Mercedes, nevermind BMW.
It's interesting that they rarely say that they're going after Mercedes.
The main reason is b/c the avg age of the BMW owner is lower than all other luxury brands. These people then stay loyal, buying the BMW SUVs, and move up the lineup.
Other brands want this as well. As well as the image of being sporty.
I agree with you, its out of control. Car companies need to DO THEMSELVES first.
08-25-05, 10:38 AM
#14
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Originally Posted by jrock65
Lexus, Infiniti and Acura are OBSESSED with BMW. Whenever they put out a new car, they always have a talking head say, "yeah, we're aiming straight at BMW with this one" (TL, RL, G, M, GS, IS . . . it's happened EVERY single time). The reality, though, is that some of these cars don't even have driving dynamics that equal Mercedes, nevermind BMW.
It's interesting that they rarely say that they're going after Mercedes.
It's interesting that they rarely say that they're going after Mercedes.
With the exception of the C class(which I never had enough interest to ask for a test drive), I have driven the E500 & all the Japanese cars you mentioned & I don't think the E drives better, & I don't think even the enthusiast magazines' evaluation think so neither in general.
Aiming for Mercedes in driving dynamics just doesn't sound exiting enough as for BMW .
Last edited by Gojirra99; 08-25-05 at 10:46 AM.
