Road&Track:1. IS 350 2. TL Type-S 3. G35 Sport (merged threads)
12-25-06, 10:47 AM
#62
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Actually it's not a big deal. People already know what they like. There has been some disussion at forums like Freshalloy about the real value of comparisions like these. And this in the wake of a recent Car&Driver comaro which put the 07 base Altima in second place in a field which saw the new Camry land in next to last (perennial C&D favorite Honda Accord won by 4 points over the Altima).
One question is how some magazines can place a car at the top of the heap (Camry being MT's Car of the Year) while another one places it mid pack. In fact, sometimes the same magazine can rate the same car differently in separate issues. Why? Different editors, test driver and apparently, different tastes, and criteria.
It's a dilemma which comes up no matter which car company you favor. It doesn't matter whether you're a Toyota/Lexus fan or a Nissan/Infiniti fan, you're going to ride the same rollercoaster from one magazine to the next. Sometimes it happens that there is unanimous agreement between all the journals (as in the case of the BMW 3) but generally these tests depend on who's doing them and the results can vary dramatically.
For every test the G35 may lose there is another in which it comes out the shining victor (C&D 10 best, Automobile 07 All Star, Forbes, ect). So who do you trust? Yourself. Go see, feel and drive these machines and decide which is best for YOU. Fact is that there are now so many great cars the difference between them is often a matter of personal taste and that is what is showing among the writers of the automotive press.
At the end of the day car reviews are about as valuable as movie reviews. They can give you some impression of the movie but to really know what you've got you need to go see the movie and judge for yourself. The same goes for cars.
One question is how some magazines can place a car at the top of the heap (Camry being MT's Car of the Year) while another one places it mid pack. In fact, sometimes the same magazine can rate the same car differently in separate issues. Why? Different editors, test driver and apparently, different tastes, and criteria.
It's a dilemma which comes up no matter which car company you favor. It doesn't matter whether you're a Toyota/Lexus fan or a Nissan/Infiniti fan, you're going to ride the same rollercoaster from one magazine to the next. Sometimes it happens that there is unanimous agreement between all the journals (as in the case of the BMW 3) but generally these tests depend on who's doing them and the results can vary dramatically.
For every test the G35 may lose there is another in which it comes out the shining victor (C&D 10 best, Automobile 07 All Star, Forbes, ect). So who do you trust? Yourself. Go see, feel and drive these machines and decide which is best for YOU. Fact is that there are now so many great cars the difference between them is often a matter of personal taste and that is what is showing among the writers of the automotive press.
At the end of the day car reviews are about as valuable as movie reviews. They can give you some impression of the movie but to really know what you've got you need to go see the movie and judge for yourself. The same goes for cars.
The amazing thing is 10 years ago, there was always a winner and the rest of the cars pretty much sucked.
Today, there is really 3 winners. I mean, you just cannot go wrong in either car or most cars in most all comparisons.
12-25-06, 10:53 AM
#63
Super Moderator
And you have to be pretty ignorant to make a statement like that. There are IS350 owners on this forum, that have gotten 1/4 mile runs at 13.5 - 13.7 sec, and 0 - 60 runs at 5.1 - 4.9 sec with the car being bone stock. There are also owners that with minor tuning have gotten 1/4 mile runs at 13.3 and 13.2. And the owners have the time slips to prove it.
He wasn't able to defend it then, and I'm sure he won't be able to defend it now.
12-25-06, 01:19 PM
#68
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Dear Editor:
I was pleased to see the favorable review you gave the 2007 Lexus IS 350
in the video entitled "Japanese sports sedan trifecta" recently posted
on the Road and web site. As an IS 350 owner, I certainly agree with
your positive comments regarding the car's acceleration, interior
design, exterior appearance, and performance characteristics.
However, towards the end of the review, Jim Hall states "The navigation
system can only be purchased with the upgrade audio system, making for a
hefty $4,000 add-on." This is stated to be a "drawback" of the IS 350.
I am writing to let you know that this is quite simply not true. While
you can purchase the navigation system with the Mark Levinson premium
audio system for $3,990, it is also possible to purchase the navigation
system as a stand-alone option for $2,550. This option includes a
backup camera and Bluetooth radio in addition to the navigation system,
but does not include an upgraded audio system. Further information on
options packages for the IS is available on Lexus's web site:
http://www.lexus.com/models/IS/features/pricing.html.
I hope you will be able to correct this inaccuracy before the February
2007 issue of your magazine is published. Thank you for your time, and
I look forward to reading the article when it is published!
I was pleased to see the favorable review you gave the 2007 Lexus IS 350
in the video entitled "Japanese sports sedan trifecta" recently posted
on the Road and web site. As an IS 350 owner, I certainly agree with
your positive comments regarding the car's acceleration, interior
design, exterior appearance, and performance characteristics.
However, towards the end of the review, Jim Hall states "The navigation
system can only be purchased with the upgrade audio system, making for a
hefty $4,000 add-on." This is stated to be a "drawback" of the IS 350.
I am writing to let you know that this is quite simply not true. While
you can purchase the navigation system with the Mark Levinson premium
audio system for $3,990, it is also possible to purchase the navigation
system as a stand-alone option for $2,550. This option includes a
backup camera and Bluetooth radio in addition to the navigation system,
but does not include an upgraded audio system. Further information on
options packages for the IS is available on Lexus's web site:
http://www.lexus.com/models/IS/features/pricing.html.
I hope you will be able to correct this inaccuracy before the February
2007 issue of your magazine is published. Thank you for your time, and
I look forward to reading the article when it is published!
12-25-06, 01:22 PM
#69
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12-25-06, 03:57 PM
#70
Lexus Test Driver
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Interesting that they may have intended that comment for the G35, not the IS...
12-25-06, 05:51 PM
#71
Lexus Test Driver
still hittin 60 below 5 seconds, even if it 4.9 seconds is no joke, and its a Lexus. hot much was the quarter mile times again? couldnt view the entire video in one piece, kept freezin, anyone have that good of a memory to refresh mines?
12-25-06, 09:09 PM
#75
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Great win for the IS! 
Only problem I can see is the MISSING elephant from the room. Why make it a 'Japanese' comparo? Where ARE the A4 and 335i? 
Only problem I can see is the MISSING elephant from the room.
Why make it a 'Japanese' comparo? Where ARE the A4 and 335i?