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Comments
2nd- S6
3rd- M5
Regardless it will be a great BMW 335i beater but I predict the M3 to walk all over it. I really would like to see a 08' M3 Sedan photo's.
Rocky
I'd love to see pics of the new M3, especially the sedan.
Rocky
P.S. 390 hp. is a Lexus isn't the same as 390-400 in a BMW. You know that as well. 0-60 times with 400 hp M3 is likely low 4's. My buddy's 240 hp M3 Sedan would do it in 5.4-5.6 range and add another 160 hp with new engine technology you can easily take a second to almost a second and half off that.
I think if you go to German car fan, and then click BMW, they have some photos, and artist renderings
Here's a good pic.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=34&article_id=3765
Rocky
The M3 handled much better than the IS350, though I'm hoping the IS-F will handle better than my old M3. I agree, the new M3 will be faster and handle better than the IS-F, but I'm going to have a hell of a great time with it.
If it wasn't for the damn I-drive, and the fact the M3 would probably cost 20k more (fully loaded) I would LOVE to get it.
Dave
BMW's are fantastic... I've had 2. I'll still take the Lexus, only because it's almost as good handling-wise, but comfortwise it wins... at least from a HP/Price/features perspective, and of course in my opinion, FWIW, probably not much.
Rocky
Rocky
Audi RS4 to A4 is like the M3 to 3-series.
Does that make any sense?
How did you order it yet? There is no ETA or pricing yet??
Rocky
Where did you hear that ? Most publication I have read said anywhere between 400 to 450 Hp. Considering that the smaller engine in the Lexus LS460 produce 380 hp, the 5.0 liter engine in the IS-F could easily produce 450 hp without much of a sweat.
Rocky
Rocky
Got some pictures .......
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-2008-Lexus-IS-F.htm
I will post any information as it comes available.......
Oh yea and lastly the boy's from Lexus said it would be around $60 to $64K +TTP to take one of these home.......
Stay tuned and I'll post whatever information I can when I recieve it.
Sorry, the 2008 IS 250 will still be offered as a AWD Model.
So now it looks as if your choice is: do you want a "Mid Mounted Engine" and AWD or do you go for the true Performance vehicle and stick with the rear wheel drive. Anybody care to discuss Apples to Apples????
Just my $0.02........
1. 911 is rear engine mount
2. Boxster & Cayman are mid engine mount
3. Porsche does offer an AWD 911 version. Targa(?)
1. M3 isn't AWD
2. C63 AMG won't be AWD
3. The only reason why the RS4 is AWD is because Audi is specialized in AWD and they don't have a dedicated RWD platform.
Adding an AWD system that only puts a small percentage of the traction to the front wheels still allows that much of a percentage of additional HP to be available towards getting traction.
Adding HP is just a matter of adding a larger more efficent Engine! What your talking about with traction addition is Torque ( the force that get's the vehicle moving)and this requires Structural and Pitch and roll supports to ensure that the vehicle doesn't tear itself apart over the years. The more weight you add the less Torque you can produce...... hence the less PERFORMANCE the vehicle is allowed to exert on you and your driving experience. AWD adds stability and some Torque at the expense of performance. SEE???
How is this an embarrassment, the lexus produces 370lbs of torque, the M3 does'nt even have 300.. the lexus also has a faster 0-60 time 4.2vs the M3 4.6..
The Lincoln was designed with a compass and a straightedge. Their over-the-hill designers can put their pencils away already. "No more graph paper for you." I would be insulted if Lincoln tried to sell me their interior as entry-level luxury. Just look at that get-up.
The BMW's redesign took the car from the 80's to the 90's. The orange backlighting looks cheap, and the over-simplistic dash has no character. BMW's are beautiful on the outside, but they make me frown when I get inside, like a VW bag lady wrapped in a fur coat.
The empty chrome space on the Infiniti dash, combined with the cutouts and small climate controls, are disproportionate, the same problem you'd have putting 14" wheels on one of these cars. They took some cues from the Infiniti M, but did not execute it as well. What's up with those vertical vents? Looking at the car on the showroom floor, the exterior of the Infiniti G is more power than luxury. If you want luxury, keep moving.
The Acura is nice (I actually preferred the TSX interior to the TL, since I liked the wood trim strip arcing across the mid-dash). I almost bought the TSX. It's nice that their cars come loaded, with NAV as the only option, which works for me. The blue/white backlighting is beautiful. The TSX is the best bang-for-the-buck.
The Lexus is the best of the lot. My IS250 AWD is on special order for the Mark Levinson audio option. The car will come with every bell and whistle except NAV, which isn't worth $3K, but I'll miss the touch-screen climate controls--pure eye candy. All other entry-level luxury cars (and many more expensive cars) seemed to be missing items I'd want in my car for the next 10 years: hands-free entry (no keys or fob button pushing), pushbutton start, multi-level heated and cooled seats, HID/adaptive lights, electrochromatic rear/side mirrors, real wood trim, AWD--you know, the little things that help boost my carbon score. Even the steering wheel automatically raises/lowers for easy access. Lexus does have the best leather seats, and I can't wait to get my hands around that leather-wrapped steering wheel -- pure happiness. I'm also getting a clear bra and tint, dealer-installed, everything for $35K plus 6% tax. My only quibble with their layout is that the speedometer should be on the right side where it belongs. The only car I'd replace it with in the next few years would be an IS convertible.
Lexus has more luxury prestige (for me) than any of the cars in this group. From day one, Lexus earned their luxury reputation at a value price over the Euro luxury brands. I would be concerned about owning a MB past the initial warranty, and the trips to the shop for days/weeks would be unacceptable anyway. The price of adding every separate option to get all the bells and whistles puts their cheaper cars into the $50K+ range. I prefer Japanese reliability and price-points. I want trouble-free luxury.
I never made it to Audi, Saab or Volvo--maybe next time, maybe not. Those guys have always been collected together (in my mind) as faceless, boring, fringe, "rumoured" automakers to anyone from the States. However, the A4 (or A6) I recently saw was sweet as it drove by. But I had already finished my search before seeing it. They probably need more dealerships and should have been making more-noticeable cars all along.
I'm a retired and disabled Army Sergeant Major that simply refuses to die, on that happy note...
I have the misfortune (for the moment) of living in the Northern Virginia/DC area and the uber-rich kids at Yahoo have no problem spending an additional $899 for pin striping and a tank of gas.
Can anyone recommend a dealership North or South of Virginia by, let's say, one state?
Lastly, are they taking deposits on the Evos yet?
Many thanks & Happy Holidays,
Mike Maggio
Powertrains are generally engineered to last into the 150k miles range so a vehicle with 132k under its belt is left with one or 2 years of 'quasi' dependable service.
The 'quasi' is there to flag that any aged vehicle, even those aged well as in dealer serviced (if you believe that the 2 go hand in hand), is an unknown when it comes to the maintenance/repairs cost.
To be sure Mercedes was known to build some of the cars with great longevity, but that was decades ago and I would not expect a vehicle like the one you are eyeing to come without long...costly....strings attached....plus you would be set back 10 years when it comes to safety related technologies sitting in an already stressed chassis.