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German awards: 25 auto experts prefer Lexus IS over BMW or Audi

MercBasher submitted on 11/10/2006 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 11:08 AM
from: www.bild.t-online.de

[36] user comments | category: Report Cards

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Tags: Volvo, VW, Mercedes, Mini, Lexus

Tag Links: Volvo, VW, Mercedes, Mini, Lexus

German awards: 25 auto experts prefer Lexus IS over BMW or Audi

German publication "BILD AM SONNTAG" gets 25 auto experts from several countries to choose six vehicles for its "Golden Steering Wheel" prizes. This year is a shocker because no Audi vehicles and only Mini from BMW make the list.

The winners include an RV I've never heard of, and five cars. The winners are -
Coupe: Mercedes CL
Small car: Mini
Middle and luxury: Lexus IS
Compact wagon: Volvo C30
Convertible: VW Eos

Absolutely incredible that there aren't any Audi or BMW brand products on a list of winners from a German publication!

Please note John Neff has a similar posting on www.autoblog.com Read Article

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Bill - 11/10/2006 11:34:30 AM

+2 Boost

Maybe the IS won because of better value and equipment levels???

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2JZSoarer - 11/10/2006 10:17:39 PM

+1 Boost

Foolish comment!The 3 series and the IS350 are about the same price range,don't take the Lexus IS350's credit for what they have won away,they just plain and simply beat the Germans!!!!

BMW_DRVR - 11/10/2006 11:42:16 AM

+1 Boost

This is BS. The 3 series, A4 and C Class are all better than the IS if you consider everything. The only department that the IS would win to me is design.

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EL34 - 11/10/2006 12:07:46 PM

0 Boost

You see with me I don't care for the wedge styling of the IS and tail lights look like those of the BMW 5 Series only cut in half.

I'm sure the motor is a good one and the profile looks nice.

2JZSoarer - 11/10/2006 10:21:53 PM

+2 Boost

Blah,Blah,Blah thats all I hear from you german car freaks!!The expert have spoken,so except that the Lexus IS350 is better!!

audiot - 11/10/2006 11:45:44 AM

0 Boost

Every nameplate gets its day. If you're stoked to be in the same conversation with VW and Volvo... congrats.

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audiot - 11/10/2006 2:07:49 PM

+1 Boost

You are absolutely right! Point taken.

BMW530i - 11/10/2006 11:50:10 AM

+1 Boost

Any German posters on Autospies? I seem to recall that Bild am Sontag is a tabloid related to the Bild newspaper - a very contraversial newspaper. They usually publish garbage like "Cure for Aids found" or something along those lines. So when they mention "25 automotive experts", I wonder who these people are.

Every car on the list deserves credit though, so congrats.

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99gs400 - 11/10/2006 12:07:46 PM

0 Boost

smart auto experts who pick the IS , i would like to meet them in person and buy them lunch.

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Bill - 11/10/2006 12:34:00 PM

+1 Boost

From a German national on Car and Driver:

"Seriously - Bild am Sonntag is like People Magazine.

Just because it was published by Germans doesn't mean its worth paying attention to."

reply to this comment

audiot - 11/10/2006 2:12:54 PM

+3 Boost

I guess the news here, that Germans did not pick Audi or BMW, is news partly because people very much believe that Germans know their cars. So, in a way, it is an admission of our respect for the Germans. This group picked a Lexus, and if you're happy about that, it's partly because you know the Germans make great cars and know their cars, even enough to give props to a challenger brand like Lexus. Every nameplate gets its day, depending on the criteria.

audiot - 11/10/2006 2:15:29 PM

+1 Boost

I don't read German. Did they pick the IS 350 or the IS in general? Do you feel the IS 250 stacks up against the BMW 328i in engine power (a large component of the sport sedan category, 30 hp difference now). Or do you feel the IS 350 is really the car to talk about when talking about the IS.

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audiot - 11/10/2006 4:15:18 PM

+4 Boost

It gets better and better. I agree definitely.

It used to be, you might have bought a 3-series style car because you possibly couldn't afford more power, etc. Now with the 3, IS, etc. you can get as much power as you want, up to 300+, in a smaller body style. The added HP and technology enhancements make this segment much more interesting.

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Rupert - 11/10/2006 7:13:18 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

we don't get the IS 350, and about 500 people in the whole of germnay will buy the 250, they all buy the 220d. (i'm only exaggurating a little bit)

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AUDBMLEXMRC - 11/11/2006 6:46:20 AM

+1 Boost

Wilco
From where have you these infrmation about IS? Are you sure about that?

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Carboy - 11/10/2006 5:32:38 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

HAHAHAHAHA. BMW AND AUDI LOSE TO LEXUS. THAT REDICULOUS

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huu76 - 11/10/2006 9:34:16 PM

+2 Boost

The only one I have a problem with is the EOS. It's overpriced and the more I see its picture, the uglier it gets.

reply to this comment

S4cabriofox - 11/10/2006 11:29:34 PM

+2 Boost

I think it's quite nice-looking.

See one on the road, see for yourself.

Like the Q7, it's not photogenic at all. I haven't seen one Q7 picture I truly like, but it's sleek, almost beautiful, on the road (I would never call an SUV beautiful).

MunichRob - 11/11/2006 5:20:54 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

"2JZSoarer" One group of experts spoke their opinions...It doesn't mean that the IS is now for sure better than the competition! Believe it or not the majority of the expert reviews on the IS and the 3-series have the Bimmer come up the winner.

Now those reviews were done with the 330i now replaced by the 335i...So it's starting to look like the Lexus is even farther behind the 3-series than it was just a year ago.

Lexus is not a benchmark company! Like their hard-core fans they can't truly understand the meaning of enthusiast, when their vehicles are so incredibly sterile to drive.

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S4cabriofox - 11/11/2006 5:37:03 PM

+2 Boost

"Lexus is not a benchmark company! Like their hard-core fans they can't truly understand the meaning of enthusiast, when their vehicles are so incredibly sterile to drive."

That's them in a nutshell. Some people can't seem to grasp that fact. Lexus cars are Mercedes's for people who don't enjoy driving. They're going to use the reliabiity card on me, but... it just doesn't work. I haven't had any problems with my German cars of late.

S4cabriofox - 11/11/2006 5:37:39 PM

+1 Boost

Oh, and, I hate 2JZSoarer. What an idiot. He's the "logical" of Lexus fans.

MunichRob - 11/11/2006 6:53:08 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

^^ ^^
I didn't forget anything...Just because you can now finnally turn of the traction control in the 07' Lex models, doesn't mean it's going to perform any better! Most definitly will be more fun to drive, but still not up to par with the German standards of performance.

Just go and compare the IS 350's performance specs to BMW's 750i or Audi's S8 (fullsize luxury saloons that should by no means be dynamically matching, or bettering that of a luxury sport sedan), & you might be surprised to learn how much catching up is in store for Lexus.

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MunichRob - 11/11/2006 8:56:00 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Regardless of wether or not I've actually driven an IS with the VDIM off (I did test drive an IS 350 back when they came out with the VDIM on), it's a fact that a car's not going to perform any better dynamically with the electronic stabalizers off!

Either way the IS is pretty much isn't even relevant anymore with the release of the new G35 & 335i...Everyone knows it was really only a class leader in the horsepower department...Not anymore!

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chewy - 11/11/2006 10:27:54 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Shows that Germans aren't biased, and also I think no new German cars came out in those categories.

reply to this comment

moto - 10/26/2007 7:23:46 PM

+1 Boost

This is late news for an old conversation, but i finally had the opportunity to spend some seat time in an IS350. Very impressive overall. Still, i developed a longer list of gripes than I expected. There seems to be a group of people who think Lexus is on par with Audi/BMW/Mercedes, and they point to reliability reports, on-track test results, and American reviews to prove their point. Well taken, the IS350 is indeed a fine car overall. If we agree that it is significantly better on all those accounts, then allow me to state why i would buy one of the German rwd/awd sedans (if i were in the market for a new vehicle, probably an Ausi S5 coupe, actually) over a Lexus IS:

1) manumatic transmission is not my cup of tea. A crisp 6-speed manual is just better for the driving that I do. I don't know why, but the IS didn't engage me enough as a driver. Personal taste, I guess. I also dislike Tiptronic, but at least Germans offer some excellent manual transmissions.

2) The IS is too small for me, and i am only 1.85m tall (that's about 6'1").

3) The IS navigation system is more annoying than helpful.

4) The seats of the IS are not particularly good. I can't get completely comfortable, and there isn't nearly enough lateral support.

5) The IS is a sedan with no rear seat room - what's the point? It should be a 2-door. Clearly it wasn't designed for 4 adults.

6) The brake feel is good, but there is noticeable fade. That's unacceptable for a car of this caliber.

7) It's not very practical for driving in snow and rain. In the IS, you NEED the traction control, which is ridiculous. One should be able to drive a 300hp rwd car without Big Brother, but it's not worth the effort. Why can't the chassis handle 300 horsepower without losing its composure in everything but perfect smooth dry tarmac?

8) Styling -- which i add to the bottom of the list because it truly is the least important and most personal (and therefore juvanilistic argument in general) -- is nothing to brag about. While some may like the IS, it's actually quite easy to lose this one in a parking lot and never find it again amongst the Honda Civics.

So there you have it - let's get beyond the blind badge worship and discuss details of why one car suits us better than another model. PLEASE, don't bother replying until you have actually driven the car.

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