NovaIS350

The engine in the IS is probably one of the smoothest v6's I've ever felt. The engine closet to that is the 3.2 litre inline six from Mercedes Benz...that thing was real smooth.

Belmont

If that were actually true, I wouldn't have an issue with it.

You're just creating opinions based on nothing. Your argument about the engine being rough is a perfect example, and your reasoning for why it's rough is not applicable.

Prove to me that the engine is not smooth.

"OMG it's falling apart at the seams!!!" is a troll. Present some factual data to back that up, because you seem to be the only one to arrive at that conclusion.

MLevinson

I bring this up because there is not much out there in this class other then the 335i that even compares to engine smoothness IMO; and I was wondering what your litmus is to gauge this engine "rough".

Not trying to add fuel-to-this-fire - just curious.

insider

I agree. I drove both a is350 and gs300 and I did notice the engine roughness. Definitely not as smooth as the BMW inline six. Most people won't notice, but a true car enthusiast will.

al503

Having owned 2 G's, there is no comparison in terms of NVH. When sitting at a stoplight in the G, the v6's inherently unbalanced nature comes through. You can feel the engine move the entire car somewhat like an old big block in a 60's muscle car (but not to that extent, of course.) In the IS, no reverberations and it is silky.

I also don't understand your 'coming apart at the seams' comment. Regardless, if you noticed this during your test drive as you claim, why did you buy the car?

al503

Nothing is going to be as smooth as a inline 6 (or a v12) as they inherently balanced designs. However, as v6's go, the one in the IS is very smooth.

ff_

There's no way that I can "prove" my experiences with engine smoothness, so I'll throw the ball right back into your court, and say prove that it is smooth.
Go drive a BMW inline 6. Put it through some rev cycles. Compare that to an IS250 under the same conditions. The 330i's engine has a more raw edge to it, but it keeps its composure very well all the way to redline. It's very well balanced, and smooth.

I'm comparing it to similar 6 cylinder cars I've owned or driven for a reasonable length of time. The Accord V6 was smoother, as was the 330i.

Again, I'll make the point that there is a difference between being isolated from external inputs, and an engine that's actually smooth. As soon as I rev my IS250's engine (and the ES330's, which is even worse) beyond 3000 RPM, it emits crude, but muted sensations all the way to redline ,which indicate that the engine is not very well balanced.

The S2000's engine is very loud and raw in comparison, but it's also smoother (flame suit on). That engine will scream all the way past the 8000 RPM redline without the crude sensations that I get in the IS250 from 3000 on up.

insider

Of coures, if you really want to experience a smooth engine, you need to take the Mazda RX-8 for a test drive. Nothing beats a rotary for smoothness. The engine is like butter.

STIG

LOL!!!!! The last line just killed me.

I cant speak for all the BMW in line 6 but I drove 330i when I was shopping for my IS350. I found BMW engine more responsive to the driver input, but in terms of smoothness, it comes no where close to 2GR-FSE motor you find on IS350.

ff_

Yup. Helps prove my point very well. The engine may be raw and noisy, but it's smooooooooth.

Nothing unreasonable about his statement. Most (all?) non-enthusiasts will not notice, and will mistake "isolated" for "smooth". I think you did the same thing. I highly doubt that the IS350's V6 is going to be more balanced/smoother than the BMW inline 6. I've never driven a 350, but I'll bet that I'm right.

STIG

How fast are we talking about? 150fast?

for normal driving, I find my IS350 very stable compare to other car I have driven including 330i.

ff_

Honestly, anything over 70 MPH, and the car comes unglued. I attribute the problem to baby-soft suspension bushings, coupled with tires that tramline pretty severely. It's a full time job keeping my car pointed in a straight line.

STIG

compare to IS250 vs 325/328i, yes. BMW in line 6 has more linear acceleration through out the power band.

If you havent driven IS350, I suggest you go drive one.

ff_

I really should. It's just a matter of finding the appropriate time to do so, when it's a car that I wouldn't consider in the first place anyhow (no stick = no deal).

The Chad

And you read a later post, I agree entirely. I would want the car to stay in the gear that I want it to be in. No question, no doubt, that is why a manual transmission is superior in that respect.

But "insider" didn't argue that, he said...

The highlighted portion of his quote (post #122 of this thread) was the reason for my comment. It wasn't, "I'm driving along in 6th gear in ECT power mode and as soon as I let off of the throttle it kicks down to 5th gear," or "I enter a turn in 3rd gear and the car shifts into 4th in the turn, so when I apply throttle after the apex it has to again downshift into 3rd," or "Dammit, it doesn't stay in the gear I put it in."

I just don't understand why if you press the foot all the way to the floor why you wouldn't want maximum acceleration. There is no other way to interpret WOT. The transmission may be "dumb" or "too intelligent for it's own good", which I would agree with, but how does it downshifting misrepresent the desired actions of the driver when his foot is pressed all the way to the floor?

Bichon, I agree with you, but that wasn't his argument. To me and others, it looks like he was upset that the car was doing basically what he told the car to do.