lexus is300 performance tour

[Hanyoung]

Just got back from the lexus is300 performance tour, and i have to say that they treat their customers well. we first got to see the only prototype in the us of the new lexus sports coupe (looks a little too fat and big for me, but i'm sure lot of beverly hills mamas will be driving it).

they let us test out the is 300 against bmw 328s and audi a4s. the beemers sweet, but the is300 is something else. young, refreshing, with plenty of handling power. afterwards the test drivers took us on a ride. the guy powerdrifted into a u-turn at 45 mph!!! needless to say the experience was exhilirating. i'm still questionable about the styling and lack of manual, but i gotta say, i think it's going to do very well in it's class. plus saw a fixed up trd version, and with a little help the baby lex can look and perform sweeeeet!! any opinions?

[Grizybaer]

Where is this? When are they comming to NYC?

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~Grizy
Great, so how much is shipping?

[KaPER]

Nyc is the last place the'll ever come too there gonna get beat up and robed for there cars http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[brain]

I went to the same event at Hollywood Park. Some stupid idiot spun out one of the BMWs. I talked to one of my friends that had attended the day before and he told me that some moron had flipped over the 328 convertible so the roll cage came out. I have to say that the professional drivers were very intense. We didn't reach the speeds that they had advertised (100mp/h) but it was still a great ride. Man, they went through a bunch of sets of tires on the hot laps. Anyways, I felt the IS300 was the best car of the bunch. The BMW felt too weighty and didn't handle as well as the Lexus. The Audi was just slow and bulky. Just my two cents on the matter. As soon as there is a decent room for negotiation on the IS300, I'm getting one.

[CluelessSi]

cool IS300 eh? hmm.. maybe will invest in one.. as soon as i got the money http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[spigidygak]

Although the IS300 does in fact handle better than the 328, the problem with the car is that it is not refined as well as the 328. But it looks as though the future for the IS300 is good. . . as long as the stick does come out. . .

[Apex]

I'm glad they decided to use the straight 6 in there because usually when they bring em over they simply drop the top engine (a CRAZY Yamaha built 4 is the top engine in japan, a 6 cylindar is the base). One that that makes me a bit sad is they dropped the 6 speed manual in favor of a 5. Sheesh.

[capoera12]

what the....man, sounds awesome. does anyone know where i can get more info on one of these test tours???

[Grizybaer]

turns out they already went to NY. The last stop is in Califonia. They compared it to a audi A4 2.8. How would it compare to the S4? I'm hoping to test drive this soon and if its that super, i'll get it when i grad


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~Grizy
Great, so how much is shipping?

[Grizybaer]

Is a straight 6 better than a V6? Why?

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~Grizy
Great, so how much is shipping?

[cheapo]

Whens the show coming to LA? How can I get tickets/admission to go? How much?

[Apex]

It would get slaughtered by the S4 in almost every performance yardstick. The S4 is a bit more expensive however. The IS will feel a bit better balanced in the transitions though (most rear drivers tend to). With 250hp and AWD, the S4 will smoke the IS in probably every roadcourse in existance, in any weather. The S4 also has a 6 speed manual tranny (drool).

Straight 6's tend to be better than V's because they rev better, thus making more horsepower (hp = [torque x rpm] / 5252), they respond to modifications better, and they're smoother. They make for sportier engines (trucks almost always use v6's instead of straight because they can product better low end grunt, but don't have the same fast response nor high revving capabilities). In the post above however, I was actually speaking of this specific model because the 3liter v6 is off the camry (the VG series block, about 190hp in normal trim, with F series heads...the toyota designation for fuel economy) and the 3liter straight 6 is off the normally aspirated supra (the JZ series block, about 220hp in normal trim with the G series head, toyota's performance designation). Anyhow, the i6 in this car is wonderful. It's VERY smooth (inline 6's tend to be as smooth as 60 degree V6's, which TEND to be a bit better than 90 degree V6's), and extremely stout (good for over 500hp in turbo trim without internal strengthening mods). Also, since it shares the engine of the Supra, there will definitely be more mods for it than if it shared the V6 for the Camry. I've driven many normally aspirated current generation supras and a few turbo's (in both modified and stock trim). Great powerplants.

Note: All of the above is straight from memory, and dang it, I'm getting old and forgetful. So, there may be some mistakes; don't take it as gospel.

[AJ]

is flat 6 = straight 6?

I know in my subaru SVX i have a "boxer" engine-a flat 6 (so says R&T)..is this the same thing?

[Apex]

No, the straight 6 has 6 cylindars in a row. The flat has a 180 degree V angle (and thus no angle at all) but is still 3 cylindars on one side, and 3 on the other.

[Renski]

Pictures

http://www.streetracing.org/article/altezza/Dsc00980.jpg

http://www.streetracing.org/article/altezza/Dsc00982.jpg

http://www.streetracing.org/article/altezza/Dsc00983.jpg

[pennypinch]

Does this thing look like a jetta to anyone else? I can't wait until the riceboys get a hold of this one... http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

[helius]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pennypinch:
Does this thing look like a jetta to anyone else? I can't wait until the riceboys get a hold of this one... http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The rear-end of the car sorta reminds me of Altimas (the current generation), if the angle is just-right. I saw one on the streets a week or two ago, with dealer plates and all. The clear lenses are just so... rice-y. http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/tongue.gif

[pennypinch]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by helius:
The clear lenses are just so... rice-y. http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/tongue.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
That rear decklid is just screaming for a supra wing or something http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/smile.gif

[spigidygak]

Maybe it's just me, but the car just doesn't look good or bad. Toyota got pussy and couldn't make a radical design on it. Well maybe radical is not the right word. But does anyone understand what I'm talking about? The car looks to neutral, it has no real style to it. It's like a poser car to me. "drives" like a e36 bimmer, looks like the popular jetta, has a gay ball automatic shifter obviously liffted from classic mustangs or ferrari, and what is there biggest sell on this car besides that it handles? The tachometer. . . don't get me wrong here, its a nice tach, but c'mon Toyota, you really think there are idiots out there that'll fall for your stupid chronograph tach and ball shifter? Well. . . there are some people I'm sure. . . Anyhow, this car just doesn't have any original style to me. Wait on this car 'till it gets more refined.

[spigidygak]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pennypinch:
That rear decklid is just screaming for a supra wing or something http://www.gotapex.com/ubb/smile.gif[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Heh, look at how high it is, can you imagine the awesome ground works you could put on that thing?!?! Man if I had one of those I'd slam that bitch down, get some huge-a$$ front and rear spoilers. Can't forget to make the front windshield low profile too, you just have to paint that top part. Okay sorry, getting just a leeetle OT.

[blxmjx]

That car looks sweet. I personally like the car a lot. Much better than the bmw 3 series. bmw seems to femme to me. Don't like the yellow color though.

[420racer]

I like the SC400 better..V8 baby

[brain]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 420racer:
I like the SC400 better..V8 baby<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Uh.... You should see the new SC400 replacement. They had the prototype at the Lexus Performance Drive.... MAN! That thing was freaking ugly! Key changes: SLK style automatic retractable hard top, brand new 4.3L V8 engine, and UGLY! One more thing... They also said estimated price is going to be $60k-$70K.