Taste of Lexus - Look out G35 here comes the IS350

[gto2050]

I went to the Taste of Lexus today at Belmont Park. I know some of you G owners were there too cuz there was a bunch in the parking lot. Back to topic:
My gf and I went this morning at 10AM. We drove the IS250AWD, BMW330i, IS350, GS430, RX400h, and the GS300AWD. That IS350 is a very quick car. (So is the GS430). They were quoting 5.5 0-60MPH and I don't doubt it. It's quick. I could never get the hang of the paddle shifter though, it would shift without my intervention even in manual status. However, these were pre-production protos so who knows what the final product will be like.

They had 5 1/2 mile road courses set out in a big parking lot at Belmont Racepark in Elmont NY. This was across the street from the horse track. They let you drive without chaperones. My gf and I went together at first then realized that you can't switch without standing in line again so we started each driving one. The instructions were if you go off the course or knocked over a cone you would get a warning. If you did it again, you were asked to leave. Excessive tire squealing was also frowned upon.

I really rang out the IS250, IS350, GS430 and BMW 330i. The IS250 was wonderfully balanced and I believe is the same power as the outgoing IS300. It was AWD so it was really tight in the corners. They had one long steetch at the beginning for a little romp wide open.

The IS350 could easily overpower the track. There was so much power on tap that the rear could be rotated with ease. It was a hoot. The IS350 is faster than my 6MT. Not by much but definitely faster. I only wish they had had a G35 Coupe to compare.

The GS430 was pretty good too but the nannies were always present. I lifted in a turn to see what would happen and I got 3 electronic beeps and the car tucked back in very nicely. I could not rotate the rear.

The BMW 330i still was the champ in handling but the BMW rolled more than the IS. That surprised me. All the Lexi (except the RX) were flat in the turns. I do not like the new 330i styling but from inside, you don't see it and it handles like a BMW.

The RX400h is a hoot to drive. It is also fairly quick with the 3.0 liter V6 coupled with an electric motor. Pretty heavy though. I drove it much quicker than I would drive my 96 Exploder though. Would not buy one.

The event was first class, the lines were relatively short (30 mins max), the gifts were a 2005 Zagat's Restaurant Guide, the newest Paul McCartney CD (oh joy!), and some other stuff. There was a beautiful red G35 Coupe with a body kit, nice wheels, lip spoiler and some other trick stuff.

I go to as many driving clinics as I can just for the fun of driving a competitive car quickly. I did this with BMW a few months ago but they had an instructor with you. I could not believe that Lexus put you out with NO supervision. Next up is the Mazda Zoom-Zoom event at Englishtown on Nov 5. Sign up and come meet me.

PS - I took pix but have not uploaded them yet.

[Gee Im Fast]

Nice...

[limeg35]

Again...its going depends on how Lexus pricing the IS350, some said it will be at 42K without Navi and M/L sound, and some said it will be at around 37K, if former is true? then IS350 is way out of G35's price range which is at 35K with PkgC and you still can get 6MT on G35!

[BG35]

the exterior of the old IS350 looks better.

[SWAT311]

Originally Posted by BG35

the exterior of the old IS350 looks better.

Do you mean the IS300? I'm not aware of an older IS 350...

[brittain]

I really like the new IS350. I test drove the IS300 the day I bought my G, and it was definitely a more luxuriou car, just didnt have nearly as much performance as the G. If the rumors are true and they do come out with an IS350 coupe in a couple years, I might get one- especially if they actually produce the retractable hardtop people are talking about. Failing that, the new C55 (or C63 depending on the rumors) will be my next car.

[ipse dixit]

Originally Posted by gto2050

I went to the Taste of Lexus today at Belmont Park. I know some of you G owners were there too cuz there was a bunch in the parking lot. Back to topic:
My gf and I went this morning at 10AM. We drove the IS250AWD, BMW330i, IS350, GS430, RX400h, and the GS300AWD. That IS350 is a very quick car. (So is the GS430). They were quoting 5.5 0-60MPH and I don't doubt it. It's quick. I could never get the hang of the paddle shifter though, it would shift without my intervention even in manual status. However, these were pre-production protos so who knows what the final product will be like.

They had 5 1/2 mile road courses set out in a big parking lot at Belmont Racepark in Elmont NY. This was across the street from the horse track. They let you drive without chaperones. My gf and I went together at first then realized that you can't switch without standing in line again so we started each driving one. The instructions were if you go off the course or knocked over a cone you would get a warning. If you did it again, you were asked to leave. Excessive tire squealing was also frowned upon.

I really rang out the IS250, IS350, GS430 and BMW 330i. The IS250 was wonderfully balanced and I believe is the same power as the outgoing IS300. It was AWD so it was really tight in the corners. They had one long steetch at the beginning for a little romp wide open.

The IS350 could easily overpower the track. There was so much power on tap that the rear could be rotated with ease. It was a hoot. The IS350 is faster than my 6MT. Not by much but definitely faster. I only wish they had had a G35 Coupe to compare.

The GS430 was pretty good too but the nannies were always present. I lifted in a turn to see what would happen and I got 3 electronic beeps and the car tucked back in very nicely. I could not rotate the rear.

The BMW 330i still was the champ in handling but the BMW rolled more than the IS. That surprised me. All the Lexi (except the RX) were flat in the turns. I do not like the new 330i styling but from inside, you don't see it and it handles like a BMW.

The RX400h is a hoot to drive. It is also fairly quick with the 3.0 liter V6 coupled with an electric motor. Pretty heavy though. I drove it much quicker than I would drive my 96 Exploder though. Would not buy one.

The event was first class, the lines were relatively short (30 mins max), the gifts were a 2005 Zagat's Restaurant Guide, the newest Paul McCartney CD (oh joy!), and some other stuff. There was a beautiful red G35 Coupe with a body kit, nice wheels, lip spoiler and some other trick stuff.

I go to as many driving clinics as I can just for the fun of driving a competitive car quickly. I did this with BMW a few months ago but they had an instructor with you. I could not believe that Lexus put you out with NO supervision. Next up is the Mazda Zoom-Zoom event at Englishtown on Nov 5. Sign up and come meet me.

PS - I took pix but have not uploaded them yet.

Great write-up. Thanks.

As always, competition is a good thing. Can't wait until the next Skyline GT350, NSX, etc....

[mrjonang]

i want to see whats the base price for one of these

[gto2050]

Originally Posted by brittain

I really like the new IS350. I test drove the IS300 the day I bought my G, and it was definitely a more luxuriou car, just didnt have nearly as much performance as the G. If the rumors are true and they do come out with an IS350 coupe in a couple years, I might get one- especially if they actually produce the retractable hardtop people are talking about. Failing that, the new C55 (or C63 depending on the rumors) will be my next car.

The IS350 will be here in the next month or so. Do you mean the IS430 that was rumored a few months ago? The old IS300 was great when it came out in 2001. I test drove it and bought an Acura CL-S because the CL could run rings around it (in a straight line). Then when the G35C came out, I dumped the Acura for it. I haven't seen anything to make me dump the G yet. I will say that the new IS350 has a better exhaust note and a little more "soul" than any previous Lexus but still too quiet for me. There is a snarl similar to the BMW330i which is a lot more quiet than the G.

On another note, my sister has an E55 and it is a holy terror!

[NY350GT]

gto2050,

Went to Taste of Lexus last week and wanted to compare some notes:
1. What did you think of IS350's steering feel as compared to the G and E90?
2. Are you sure the bimmer rolled more? It seemed to me like it felt materially more composed and rolled less. Did they have the same pair of 330i with 18" wheels and what looked like a sports package?

As for excessive wheel squeeling being frowned upon - on the IS350 I think I oversteered my way through most of the corners and nobody said a word. They did though when I torque-braked off the start.

[gto2050]

Originally Posted by NY350GT

gto2050,

Went to Taste of Lexus last week and wanted to compare some notes:
1. What did you think of IS350's steering feel as compared to the G and E90?
2. Are you sure the bimmer rolled more? It seemed to me like it felt materially more composed and rolled less. Did they have the same pair of 330i with 18" wheels and what looked like a sports package?

As for excessive wheel squeeling being frowned upon - on the IS350 I think I oversteered my way through most of the corners and nobody said a word. They did though when I torque-braked off the start.

I thought the E90 was quite precise and I don't thin this one had the variable electronic steering. Ihave driven one of those and I hate it! I thought the Lexus handled pretty nicely and I did as you. No one said a word to me except one person who said, you got some pretty good speed out there. However, the Lexus had all the nanny stuff on there. I took my G35 to Skip Barber last year with my son and we both got to wring it out on the short track they have. It did quite nicely. The instructor said it was well balanced when he drove it.

I believe it would be the same bimmer. A black one and a silver one. Here's the black one:


I wish I could have driven the G and then the BMW and then the IS. I drove the 250 first and rang it out pretty good. It is pretty much equal to the IS300 IMO. The BMW rolled more though and in the 530 they had, it rolled a ton more than the GS300 AWD.

[JEVERYDAY]

Theres a HUMONGOUS price difference though

[9cobra3]

Originally Posted by gto2050

I went to the Taste of Lexus today at Belmont Park. I know some of you G owners were there too cuz there was a bunch in the parking lot. Back to topic:
My gf and I went this morning at 10AM. We drove the IS250AWD, BMW330i, IS350, GS430, RX400h, and the GS300AWD. That IS350 is a very quick car. (So is the GS430). They were quoting 5.5 0-60MPH and I don't doubt it. It's quick.

Thats nice. But it will always seem faster when your racing by yourself. Not everybody bought there G for speed or quickness. Some of us have a 748rwhp weekend car for that purpose . I bought my G for looks and luxury. DIfferent strokes for different folks. thx for the headsup though.

[gto2050]

There is a Mazda Zoom Zoom event coming up in Nov (5) at Englishtown for more driving fun. I know that Englishtown as completed their road course now. Maybe we'll get to use some of it.