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Lexus IS 350 and IS 250

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What is this discussion about? Lexus IS 250, Lexus IS 350, Sedan

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#51 of 6956 Re: Weight is the Enemy [riez #48] by sunilb Jun 08, 2004 (4:36 pm)
Replying to: riez (Jun 08, 2004 2:50 pm) agreed... weight does affect those items adversely... at the same time, this is a Lexus so it's not like it is going to be that light no matter what.   The question, in my mind, is the additional weight on the margin . If I could get better power, with fewer emissions at the same weight I would opt for that (i.e., instead of the big 3.5L engine that they are planning on how about sticking with the nice inline-6 they currently have + a hybrid motor).   As you might surmise... I'm hoping that at least one version of the next IS will put the S4 in it's place
#52 of 6956 hybrid would be an option, not the only IS by wco81 Jun 09, 2004 (9:54 am)
So there would be regular IS models and hybrid models for people willing to pay for them.   If Lexus demonstrates a clear performance benefit as it's claiming for its upcoming RX400H SUV, then I don't see why it wouldn't be viable, even in a performance segment.   LS and GS are nice but because of the price, the market would be more limited. Maybe if they added it to the ES, which seems likely since a Camry Hybrid is widely expected.
#53 of 6956 by pzev Jun 14, 2004 (8:05 am)
I would like to see Lexus go easy on the options to keep the base price down. Let the low end version have the "weaker" engine, no HID, no sunroof, etc. to give people a choice to save some money who don't care about those things. Although I would like to see leather standard I can understand there being some demand for a cloth version especially if you're going to make a bare bones version anyway. If I can afford it when the time comes (assuming the car would even be worth buying) I would like a leather version with no sunroof or HID and things like that.   People are going crazy over adding a $3,000 supercharger to the tC when it weighs over 2900 pounds and adds fancy sunroofs that add weight. People in here want the weight in check yet want a heavier 8-cyl, added weight of sunroof, etc. You need to tell Lexus what you care more about. Added weight on the roof of the car (worst possible place for more weight since you want a low center of gravity) and heavier engines and heavier AWD or do you care more about having a nimble tossable car?
#54 of 6956 Engines and Mods by riez Jun 14, 2004 (9:36 am)
pzev... Is a crying shame that TRD does not offer a supercharger for the current IS300 platform.   Is also too bad Lexus never offered a low or no optioned IS200. The Toyota Altezza is sold elsewhere in an additional 2 liter engine with manual transmission.   I'd love to see a future IS200 with standard 6-speed manual, LSD, VSC, HID, cloth seats and no sunroof. No options. Would keep price and weight down and appeal to an interesting target demographic.
#55 of 6956 by wale_bate1 Jun 14, 2004 (10:14 am)
I don't see it. I mean, I understand what you're saying, but it doesn't fit with Toyota's Lexus marketing plan, IMO. They said it themselves, "no plans to take the model further down-market".   Part of the gig has always been to draw as clear a line as possible (in this country) between Toyota and Lexus, or rather to maintain the Lexus image. Unfortunately, we Americans have a nasty trend toward brand-conciousness!   I think in the UK and other markets where 2.0L plants are much more to trend in more upscale offerings, the IS200 is a no-brainer (you'd have to offer it for economic purposes in an entry lux), but here anything that isn't directly comparable to the benchmark 325, or better, in displacement and performance would be considered just another economy car.   It always amazed me that so many people insist on the distinction between Lexus and Toyota. Then, after buying one and explaining to people what it is (SportCross is still a relative unknown out there), I find more often than not that John Q. doesn't really get that Lexus is Toyota!   Oy!   If they'd brought it as an Altezza, I'da sure bought it as an Altezza!
#56 of 6956 IS and Segmentation by riez Jun 14, 2004 (2:37 pm)
wale_bate1... Think Lexus can't afford to use "used" or "CPO" cars to compete in the $23-30,000 range. This is where the TSX is doing so well. Base Saab 9-3, MB C-class Sport Coupe, and others there. The IS200 would nicely cover that segment as well as appeal to a younger and sporty-minded segment.   Too bad Lexus has focused so much on SUVs. Lexus' primary focus the past 3 years has been on the RX330, GX470, and LX470. That is where the sales and profits have been.   If gasoline stays at or near $2.00 a gallon, a car like the IS200 might also be useful to appeal to environmentalists and to protect the marque from being viewed as loaded with big gas guzzlers.   Lexus needs to be a bit more like Audi, MB, and BMW. You can appeal to buyers who like luxury and those who like performance. Is easier to do the former than the latter, but doing the latter well is a true sign of design, marketing, and sales success. Just think of Cadillac and Lincoln. They focused entirely on luxury. Can only take you so far for so long.
#57 of 6956 by wale_bate1 Jun 15, 2004 (8:09 am)
The OPP for a TSX is $27K+ for a 2.5L FWD. As it is, you can spend two grand more for a current base IS and get better dynamics and RWD to boot.   I don't have great hopes for the new platform personally, but if the performance is upped, the amenities slightly refined and the press receptive, $2K won't amount to squat!   I don't disagree that the option of the 200 would be a nice to have, I just don't see it making enough impact in this country to warrant the expense of offering it.
#58 of 6956 Actual Dealer Prices by riez Jun 15, 2004 (9:52 am)
wale_bate1... Having bought 3 ISs off dealer lots and having walked some other Lexus dealers, I have yet to find an IS on a dealer lot with an MSRP under $33,000. My wife's SportCross was $34,035. My manual transmission one was around $33,500.   All the dealer cars are here seem to have LSD, VSC, heated seats, misc pkg (floor mats, trunk net, etc.), and one of the leather or escaine value packages. That adds about $2-3,000 in options on top of the base price and destination. The invoices on these cars are pushing $30,000.   My local Lexus dealer is now advertising a CPO '02 IS300 automatic (optioned as above) with 29,500 miles for about $29,500. Will be interesting to see how they price my wife's '03 IS300 sedan with 12,000 miles.
#59 of 6956 by wale_bate1 Jun 15, 2004 (10:13 am)
If a base IS is what someone wants, they can always order a base IS!   Doesn't really matter dollars to donuts, nobody's interested much in the outgoing model now anyway. I have very significant doubts that a 2.0L option would have brought them into the showrooms in any significant numbers. At 9.5 seconds to 60 for the manual, and 11.2 for the auto (still the overwhelming choice here), even with a price difference of 7-8 grand, a Corolla S could 'bout kick its butt and that won't bring 'em running!
#60 of 6956 Ordering by riez Jun 15, 2004 (4:04 pm)
Anyone ordered an IS from scratch? Will the average dealer do it? Bet they do anything to sell from stock or do an inter-dealer trade. If anyone has ordered from factory, how long did it take to arrive?   BMW, MB, and Audi are set up in Europe for majority factory ordering. BMW also does a lot of ordering for USA. Only way to get some special options (e.g., cloth seats or Sport seats without the Sport Pkg). Lexus should do this. I'd love to have cloth seats!   Some marques (like BMW, MB, and Saab) encourage Euro-delivery. Not aware of any Japanese marques that do this. Too bad.   Never heard Lexus dealers in USA do much ordering. Can't say I've read anyone on a Lexus board here who ordered. No dealer discussed that with me, though I didn't ask.

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