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POLL: Has the 2006 Lexus IS-series taken the leadership position over the BMW 3-series?
Cast your vote now!


Has the 2006 Lexus IS-series taken the leadership position over the BMW 3-series?
Yes, your day in the sun is over Mister 3-series
No, not in this century
Too close to call
  



Comments:

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Matthew1Matthew1 - 2/2/2006 3:53:59 AM
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BMW will always have the edge in terms of design, powerplant, and handling/dynamics/balance, but Lexus has the edge when it comes to attracting those whose only ambition in life is to own a Toyota.

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haigaz3haigaz3 - 2/2/2006 4:25:05 AM
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everyone talks about the is350 and its power and i will give it that it has great strait line acceleration but when it comes to handling around a track the 330i has it locked. Once the 335i arrives it will match or beat the is350 strait line accleration, then all the talk will be over. Thank God

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haigaz3haigaz3 - 2/2/2006 4:42:26 AM
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IT seems the bmw is the sales champ and continues to be going strong.

Looks like the E90 sold 8500 units in Jan 06.

Lexus IS series sold ~4000 units
MB C class sold ~3000 units

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rackrack - 2/2/2006 9:18:50 AM
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"There IS NO
Way in Hell Toyota can build 550 000 to 600 000 IS units to outsell the 3 series (GLOBALY)."

You underestimate the best manufacturing company in the world. Most other large companies look up to toyota in terms of manufacturing. GE used to educate their employees toyota's efficient manufacturing methods.

This is where we stand now. The IS is cheaper, faster, and better looking. The BMW is slower more expensive, but has better "dynamics". Bmw will more than likely respond with a larger engine but will probably end up breaking the $50k mark with the new model. They are not however going to change the design, so the Lexus still may gain in market share.


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HantraHantra - 2/2/2006 11:42:26 AMView My AgentSpace
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[i]image: BMW well known, Lexus little known/unknown (mostly perceived as the fancy Toyota for those who cannot aford the real deal)[/i]

This is true only of the "car guys" out here. I'd be willing to bet a lot of money that a majority of Lexus owners don't even know that they are driving a Toyota.

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atomicbriatomicbri - 2/2/2006 12:13:36 PMView My AgentSpace
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I think these cars are both excellent automobiles that will appeal to different types of buyers. People who like Lexus like the reliability and great dealership experiences that Lexus offers. The car has inviting style as well as decent handling. The BMW appeals to those who love to drive, like heritage in an automobile and like the German feel of a sports sedan. To argue which one is better is just a matter of taste. Both cars perform great, I have sampled a test drive of both (my local BMW and Lexus dealer are a block apart) so I was pretty much able to drive 'em back to back. The Lexus did not handle as well I think as the Bimmer, but it had a more luxurious feel inside somehow and was quite quick. I tested autos in each of them... The Bimmer really took the corners and was actually a lot more fun to drive I feel. Felt less like you were cornering with an extra set of doors behind you. Argue what you all will, the decision on which to choose is a tough call and all has to go with what type of car you are looking for.

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JUGNUJUGNU - 2/2/2006 1:59:55 PMView My AgentSpace
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Don't repeate this IS and 3 series argument anymore.

If atall Spies is not refraining from this old topic ,u guys are intelligent just leave it.just leave this IS, 3 series discussions.
I am fed up and so r many.

Finally just give the answer to Spies Question in YES OR NO.

I say YES,IS HAS TAKEN THE LEAD.

JUGNU

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JUGNUJUGNU - 2/2/2006 1:59:55 PMView My AgentSpace
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Don't repeate this IS and 3 series argument anymore.

If atall Spies is not refraining from this old topic ,u guys are intelligent just leave it.just leave this IS, 3 series discussions.
I am fed up and so r many.

Finally just give the answer to Spies Question in YES OR NO.

I say YES,IS HAS TAKEN THE LEAD.

JUGNU

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vdivvdiv - 2/2/2006 2:32:10 PM
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Does the IS 350 come with a six-speed stick?

No?

Oh, me disapointed. I guess I am stuck with a 3 series then ;)

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whoadizwhoadiz - 2/2/2006 6:33:56 PM
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Yes the BMW is beating the IS in sales, but for a company that's old and mature it is expected that the BMW is doing better than a young company such as Lexus. With Lexus being a young company that's working its way into the luxury market, it's doing a pretty damn good job for a second generation car to be drawing this much attention from the "ultimate driving machine". Give Lexus some time, with the rate that they are going, they'll soon tend to everyone's needs; Luxury AND Performance. They have already established themselves as a luxury automobile brand, and with the IS350 they've shown to the world that they are ready to advance further into the market.

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ChipChip - 2/2/2006 8:20:28 PM
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That pretty much sums it up.

Do you like to drive or not?

Everything else is blah blah blah.

A great response to this ongoing bullshit created by Autospies.

Sales aside, well see just where the IS stands in a couple years.

If anyone even remembers this car in 2 years.

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Matthew1Matthew1 - 2/2/2006 10:48:15 PM
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Smart comment there, Bill!

Your logic is right on the money. I'd like to hear how the latest 3-Series shares any parts from a 1950's bubble car!

Once you get your car-impaired brain out of your arse, let me know!

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MarkMark - 2/3/2006 8:45:20 AM
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001....you all must sit around a table and say to yourselves "It's been a while since we've gotten everyone wound up, lets have some fun and put an article about the IS and the 3-Series."

All I hear reading posts like this is Charlie Brown's teacher... Wawawa wa wawawaw waw waw wawawa waw wawawawa wa.

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rackrack - 2/3/2006 9:15:25 AM
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If bmw hass better dynamics then why does motor trand say that its 3 seconds faster in the 600 ft slalom. It is also 3.4 seconds faster in the 0-100. 1.1 seconds faster in the 0-60.


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zsz1zsz1 - 2/3/2006 10:30:42 AM
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I vote "no" - but without the "not in this century." How can I (or anyone short of an indoctrinated follower) predict what is going to happen in the next 94 years? How about a simple yes/no/close?

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lewissalemlewissalem - 2/3/2006 1:20:12 PM
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..I usually agree with you. But I don't think that the IS is a 3-series beater. It may end up selling more, but Toyota sells more camrys than 3-series anyways.

Until I can drive the new IS350 with a left pedal, I will not purchase.

I agree, great car. Very sharp. Slushbox.

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mpwrmpwr - 2/3/2006 1:23:37 PM
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Just a couple of observations,

1- Not that I'm sure that this blog is necessarily about cars all the time, but when did it turn into a business sight. This question has nothing and everything to do with how many units are sold or what their market share is. Firstly to drivers even mentioning these economic statistics disqualifies the offenders opinion because it has nothing to do with really driving the car. However as highlighted by a previous blogger most of the units sold of any of these vehicles are family cars driven by women and with automatics. So most users then would not match the very essence of what most BMW supporters are highlighting as this cars advantage, and Lexus knows this.

2- I am a physician and in the drug industry when there is a new class of medicine developed usually shortly after that many "me to" drugs are made by competitors. This of course happens with many products. Back in the days prior to the Japanese manufacturers entering this segment of the market it was more or less completely dominated by European manufactures. BMW it seems early in its philosophy was engineering its vehicles for drivers. If you compare contemporaries 20 years ago you could feel this difference say to a Mercedes or Jaguar. So many BMW drivers would have the same argument then as today, we like our car better because its built for drivers. BMW over the generations of this car has lead the way and defined what this segment is. I'm afraid that just on historical grounds the Lexus becomes a "me to", but maybe a better comparison would be to a Mercedes

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Spoonie_GSpoonie_G - 2/3/2006 5:35:27 PM
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You Lexus fanboys sound like a bunch of insecure teenage adolescents. And why is it so important for Lexus to “pass BMW”? Apparently they haven’t yet. As nice as the IS350 is, how come it hasn’t won any comparison test against the E90. Fast living rooms on wheels aren’t enough to beat a true sport sedan in a sports sedan comparison. The fan boys don’t see that. All they see are better HP and acceleration numbers and then they run with it.

I’ll never purchase an IS350 because I do not want to be associated with the clueless, non-enthusiasts who somehow feel that thier choice in a vehicle is the best choice. You Lexus Lovers don’t know enough about cars and driving to have any type of credible opinion when it comes to sport sedans.

- Maybe it's me but the IS350 is getting its butt kicked by the 330i in comparison tests. Its like 6 out of 6 comparos that I’ve read all have the BMW ahead. Just like the is300 before it, the is350 fails to create the driving excitement of the 3-series. The Lexus is a nice, fast, decent handling, comfortable car. Lexus should bill it as such, instead of billing it as a BMW beater, which has been proven time and time again not to be the case. Lexus should be honest with their customers. That way you wouldn’t have the Lexus Fanboys hi-jacking every post claiming that the IS350 is the second coming of Christ!


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vdivvdiv - 2/3/2006 5:56:43 PM
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The point about the stick shift was to illustrate that the BMW 3 is a driver's car, Lexus is not. If the IS350 had a stick I still wouldn't drive it, I hate Toyota to the bottom of my guts.

As for the sexist comment, I would not date a chick that doesn't prefer a stick, is this better? ;)

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vdivvdiv - 2/3/2006 10:47:52 PM
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Well, BMW doesn't make manual transmissions either. They use a French one called Getrag, I think. The US driving automatics and being the primary market is most likely the reason why the IS350 doesn't have one, which brings me to another point. Toyota is all about the bottom line -- they count peanuts. As long as they do that their cars will be a one big compromise.

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