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Acura TL vs Lexus IS 350

447 messages,  Last post on May 30, 2007 at 10:42 AM

You are in the Lexus IS Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura TL, Lexus IS, Lexus IS 350, Sedan

Messages Page 45 of 46

#433 of 447 Re: 07 Manual transmission [trackstarr] by ggesq

May 28, 2007 (2:53 pm)

Replying to: trackstarr (May 28, 2007 2:34 pm)
Don't get me wrong. The IS 350 is one sweet little ride. It has made with superb interior materials, has a well laid out cockpit and design, gobs of hp and backed w/ legendary Toyota reliability.
 
That being said, the IS was marketed specifically to take on the 3er PERFORMANCE wise and it failed miserably. Driver feedback, driving dynamics, & road feel to name a few are some of the areas where the IS is subpar compared to the 3er. Heck, the FWD TL gives more feedback than an IS does and it comes w/ a manual tranny.
Obvioualy, the IS is one little pocket rocket but I don't live my life driving from one stop light to another.
 
I would be hard pressed to call an owner of a TL or an IS a enthusiast.
 
It's a little unrealistic if you think the IS does not compete w/ the TL or G.

#434 of 447 Re: 07 Manual transmission [trackstarr] by ggesq

May 28, 2007 (2:59 pm)

Replying to: trackstarr (May 28, 2007 2:44 pm)
"Your 1st, 2nd, 3rd place is based off of who can go around a track the quickest. And based on how close those times are, it is down to the skill of the driver."
 
Yes, it was based on who got around the track the quickest? So what? Kinda impressive for a FWD TL hanging w/ its RWD counterparts heh?
Two seconds quicker is huge my friend!! By the way, it was the same driver for all 3 vehicles.
 
The TL's at the end of its cycle. The IS came out in 06. The 330i came out in 06 and the new G just came out this year. Let's at least wait until the next generation TL comes out before throwing stones?

#435 of 447 Re: 07 Manual transmission [trackstarr] by fedlawman

May 28, 2007 (5:57 pm)

Replying to: trackstarr (May 28, 2007 2:44 pm)
"In the realworld out on the streets, the TL "Type-S" will lose everytime."
 
In the real world, do you really thinnk you can detect a 20 HP difference in a 3500# car? Sure the IS may be a couple 10ths of a second faster in the 1/4 mile, but that difference is all nut undetectable.
 
Steering feel, chassis dynamics, and driveline response is much more noticeable (and enjoyable) in the real world, and the TL-S has the IS beat in all 3 areas.

#436 of 447 Re: 07 Manual transmission [fedlawman] by louiswei

May 29, 2007 (4:44 am)

Replying to: fedlawman (May 28, 2007 5:57 pm)
Steering feel, chassis dynamics, and driveline response is much more noticeable (and enjoyable) in the real world, and the TL-S has the IS beat in all 3 areas.
 
Steering feel - Yes, TL-S has the IS beat, hands down.
 
chassis dynamics - Try it again with VDIM off. Easy to do with the 07' and also do-able with the 06'.
 
driveline response - Apparently you haven't experience the IS350 with ECT power mode on. Trust me, the throttle behaves totally different with a push of that magic button.

#437 of 447 Re: 07 Manual transmission [louiswei] by fedlawman

May 29, 2007 (5:55 am)

Replying to: louiswei (May 29, 2007 4:44 am)
By chassis dynamics, I was referring to body roll, turn-in sharpness, and general sporty reflexes. The IS, with it's somewhat numb steering and body roll feels less like a sports car than the TL-S to me.
 
By driveline response, I was mostly thinking of the very slick, effortless 6-speed manual of the Acura - a prerequisite for a sports car that is not available on the Lexus.
 
The TL-S is a FWD sport sedan than even an enthusiast can enjoy. I think the IS350, with a manual tranny and a small amount of suspension tuning, could be made into a real 3-series alternative.

#438 of 447 Re: 07 Manual transmission [habitat1] by trackstarr

May 29, 2007 (8:59 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (May 28, 2007 2:48 pm)
Why am I even wasting my time responding to people that talk based off opinion rather than real-world facts.
 
By the way, I own a '05 M3 (stick) and a 997 Carrera S as well so nice try there with the "lexus customer thing".
 
Anyways to prove my point, my friend owns a large BMW dealer in Florida and tells me the IS is eating away at 3 series marketshare.
 
If car enthusiast's just drive manuals, than why DOES BMW make an automatic for the 335i, E46 M3 (yes SMG at its heart is not an all-out stick shift with a clutch), and M5????
 
Who is gonna take their $40k car plus and say "lets see if you can go around a slalom 2mph faster". I'll take a bit less driving dynamics anyday if it means having more luxury.

#439 of 447 Re: 07 Manual transmission [ggesq] by trackstarr

May 29, 2007 (9:16 am)

Replying to: ggesq (May 28, 2007 2:53 pm)
Nobody is saying all owners of TL's, or IS's are enthusiasts.
 
How unrealistic can it be that it's a fact that the IS does not take the TL or G seriously. Again, I have many friends in the luxury car business and one of them with BMW.
 
On paper, he shows the stats. The TL or G are not making a big enough dent in the IS sales. The '05 and below IS300 was such a joke for Lexus that they went back "licked their wounds" and did their homework so they don't come back out and get embarrased again.

#440 of 447 Re: 07 Manual transmission [trackstarr] by ggesq

May 29, 2007 (10:28 am)

Replying to: trackstarr (May 29, 2007 9:16 am)
"The '05 and below IS300 was such a joke for Lexus that they went back "licked their wounds" and did their homework so they don't come back out and get embarrased again."
 
Maybe they should have done a little extra credit huh?
 
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=120903?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..3.*

#441 of 447 Re: 07 Manual transmission [trackstarr] by ggesq

May 29, 2007 (10:34 am)

Replying to: trackstarr (May 29, 2007 8:59 am)
"I'll take a bit less driving dynamics anyday if it means having more luxury."
 
If this doesn't further substantiate habitat's premise that you are a perfect customer for Lexus, I don't know what is.
 
"If car enthusiast's just drive manuals, than why DOES BMW make an automatic for the 335i, E46 M3 (yes SMG at its heart is not an all-out stick shift with a clutch), and M5????"
The point is and somebody correct me if I'm wrong- they are all available w/ a manual tranny. Period.

#442 of 447 Re: 07 Manual transmission [ggesq] by louiswei

May 29, 2007 (10:38 am)

Replying to: ggesq (May 29, 2007 10:28 am)
Well, the 05' and older IS300 might be a better car for the enthusiasts and a more credible 3er fighter but one can't deny that the new IS totally trump the older one in sales.
 
The new IS, IMO, is how Lexus defines Entry-Level Luxury Performance Sedan rather than just making another 3-series with the Lexus badge. Lexus will leave that task to Infiniti.

Messages Page 45 of 46

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