NEED your OPINION !!! (IS 350)
07-24-08, 12:40 AM
#31
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The order should be:
BMW 3 series coupe > BMW 3 series Sedan > IS 350 > G35 preferably or G37 > Acura TL-S > Acura TL.
Ideally, the 3 series is the king, but IS 350 is not far behind in handling. Overall, IS 350 is a better deal because of it's reliability, refinement and luxury but not a better driver's car. So if you want a smooth luxury quiet car with a sporty feel, which is not what a true enthusiast would want, but still acceptable then go with the IS series. If you want a growly-smooth car with the best handling but not so great luxury, go with the BMW or G37.
At the end, you have to do a trade-off between true sporty handling vs. luxury sporty handling.
BMW 3 series coupe > BMW 3 series Sedan > IS 350 > G35 preferably or G37 > Acura TL-S > Acura TL.
Ideally, the 3 series is the king, but IS 350 is not far behind in handling. Overall, IS 350 is a better deal because of it's reliability, refinement and luxury but not a better driver's car. So if you want a smooth luxury quiet car with a sporty feel, which is not what a true enthusiast would want, but still acceptable then go with the IS series. If you want a growly-smooth car with the best handling but not so great luxury, go with the BMW or G37.
At the end, you have to do a trade-off between true sporty handling vs. luxury sporty handling.
07-24-08, 05:57 AM
#32
Edmunds managed the following on an '07 G35 Sport 6MT:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do.../pageId=101742
Slalom (mph): 67.10
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): .85
The IS350 at Road&Track got 66.70 mph Slalom and .84 g on the skidpad @ 200ft. As I knew, there's not much difference in overall handling.. Some magazine reviews will have more bias on one car over the other, it will also depend on the driver. Especially the old reviews on the IS350 when it first came out didn't manage good numbers. That is probably because they don't know how to push the car to the limit. They also forgot to completely disable the VSC/ Traction Control. Launching technique was probably crap too. I am not making big deal on the handling anyways... I do not expect the IS350 to be superb like BMW M3. But the IS350 can certainly put some good number on the track. One of the examples would be Willow Springs International Raceway where Tsuchiya managed better times on the IS350 Sport than the '07 G35S 6MT...
1. TL-S 6MT - 1:36:67 sec
2. IS350 - 1:38:24
3. G35 6MT - 1:38:67
What I do consider seriously is the acceleration differences between the two car. There are many people on this board and many other owners who have managed at least 13.5 sec or better in the quarter mile. 0-60 in 4.9 sec or better. This is nothing new. It's been going on for a long time............ The IS being about 0.5 sec+ better in the quarter mile is a huge difference. By average the IS350 is clearly faster car. No contest.........
And I said this before.... the G35 has much longer wheelbase. This does not help cornering in the tracks. The G35 has the tendency to swing its rear sideways like there is no tomorrow.... When you keep drifting like that you lose lap times. Long wheelbase = Not good. Hell... even the TL/TL Type-S has much shorter wheelbase than the G35.
.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do.../pageId=101742
Slalom (mph): 67.10
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): .85
The IS350 at Road&Track got 66.70 mph Slalom and .84 g on the skidpad @ 200ft. As I knew, there's not much difference in overall handling.. Some magazine reviews will have more bias on one car over the other, it will also depend on the driver. Especially the old reviews on the IS350 when it first came out didn't manage good numbers. That is probably because they don't know how to push the car to the limit. They also forgot to completely disable the VSC/ Traction Control. Launching technique was probably crap too. I am not making big deal on the handling anyways... I do not expect the IS350 to be superb like BMW M3. But the IS350 can certainly put some good number on the track. One of the examples would be Willow Springs International Raceway where Tsuchiya managed better times on the IS350 Sport than the '07 G35S 6MT...
1. TL-S 6MT - 1:36:67 sec
2. IS350 - 1:38:24
3. G35 6MT - 1:38:67
What I do consider seriously is the acceleration differences between the two car. There are many people on this board and many other owners who have managed at least 13.5 sec or better in the quarter mile. 0-60 in 4.9 sec or better. This is nothing new. It's been going on for a long time............ The IS being about 0.5 sec+ better in the quarter mile is a huge difference. By average the IS350 is clearly faster car. No contest.........
And I said this before.... the G35 has much longer wheelbase. This does not help cornering in the tracks. The G35 has the tendency to swing its rear sideways like there is no tomorrow.... When you keep drifting like that you lose lap times. Long wheelbase = Not good. Hell... even the TL/TL Type-S has much shorter wheelbase than the G35.
.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=120445
.90 skidpad
69.5 mph slalom
On the G35
Both significantly better than their IS350 numbers.
Like I said, performance is close enough as to come down to who is doing the test, which is close enough to not really matter.
There's plenty of -other- things that differentiate the vehicles.... the IS gets significantly better mileage, and the interior/materials are significantly nicer.... the throttle response is normal driving is jerky on the G35, and smooth on the IS... Back on the other side the G has a much better technology package/optioning thereof, and a little bigger rear seat. Lexus certainly has better quality rankings.
So plenty to distinguish the cars.... but significant raw performance differences really aren't one of those things. The IS is marginally quicker in a straight line, the G handles marginally better... both within the margin of error and who is doing the test though.
07-24-08, 09:57 AM
#35
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Looks can be subjective. And this is a Lexus forum so everyone is going to give a biased opinion on exterior design. I have seen people who don't like the IS design as well. Everyone has there own taste. It is fair to say based on driving dynamics that the BMW and G are better cars. Driving is not just about going straight line, but a balance of handling, speed, torque/acceleration, mileage and HP. It's the overall experience.
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