IS250 - challenger?

bmwownage · 11-12-2005, 06:48 AM

Well i went and test drove a IS250 Sports Auto today... 6speed gearbox, 2.5L V6 brand new engine and the car looks great, it really does, it looks better than in the pics..
The car is ultra-quiet, engine is ultra smooth, gearbox too... the handling is very good but not as 'meaty' as the BMW (1series, haven't drove the new 3 yet), but comfort is of very high standard as well as the quality of the interior... sound system kicks ass! It has some nice gadgets too, like when you get above 5000rpm before you change gear, there is a little 'ring' of lights around the rev counter and it lights up, looks very very good!
But there are strange things about it, when using the tiptronic, it forces you to accelerate from 1st gear, i guess it is needed because the V6 needs quite a bit of revs to get going...

Well there is too much to cover, but I have to say, if this car is marketed properly, it is another major threat to the BMW 3, because it actually looks better! It is just a tad cheaper than the 325i so it has no price advantage, but of course the 3 is larger and the engine/gearbox is still much better while the handling still has a reasonable advantage... I went to the BMW dealer today and the salesman tried very hard to convince us that the IS250 is simply a 're-branded Toyota with a higher price' even though the IS250 has basically exclusive everything and nothing much from Toyota models... To get rid of this image will be difficult.

Just_me · 11-12-2005, 06:50 AM

you can also read about osna review 330 vs is350 and Mr mercedes is250 vs 320 comparisons

Yannis · 11-12-2005, 07:51 AM

IS is not a rebadged Toyota but the trim,materials,seats ect. scream Toyota. Even the design , inside and out, is typical of Japanese cars. Overall it doesn't feel like an upscale vehicle but rather as a more luxurious Toyota.

Top Secret · 11-12-2005, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yannis

IS is not a rebadged Toyota but the trim,materials,seats ect. scream Toyota. Even the design , inside and out, is typical of Japanese cars. Overall it doesn't feel like an upscale vehicle but rather as a more luxurious Toyota.

I disagree. The new IS250 is probably the biggest departure from any Toyota. Maybe the interior still has slight (and I mean, SLIGHT) associations with Toyota models - but other than that, the IS is about as different as it can be from a Toyota.

Just_me · 11-12-2005, 09:35 AM

3er vs Lexus IS350 / Osna
http://germancarzone.com/showthread.php?t=917

Mr. Mercedes · 11-12-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwownage

Well i went and test drove a IS250 Sports Auto today... 6speed gearbox, 2.5L V6 brand new engine and the car looks great, it really does, it looks better than in the pics..
The car is ultra-quiet, engine is ultra smooth, gearbox too... the handling is very good but not as 'meaty' as the BMW (1series, haven't drove the new 3 yet), but comfort is of very high standard as well as the quality of the interior... sound system kicks ass! It has some nice gadgets too, like when you get above 5000rpm before you change gear, there is a little 'ring' of lights around the rev counter and it lights up, looks very very good!
But there are strange things about it, when using the tiptronic, it forces you to accelerate from 1st gear, i guess it is needed because the V6 needs quite a bit of revs to get going...

Well there is too much to cover, but I have to say, if this car is marketed properly, it is another major threat to the BMW 3, because it actually looks better! It is just a tad cheaper than the 325i so it has no price advantage, but of course the 3 is larger and the engine/gearbox is still much better while the handling still has a reasonable advantage... I went to the BMW dealer today and the salesman tried very hard to convince us that the IS250 is simply a 're-branded Toyota with a higher price' even though the IS250 has basically exclusive everything and nothing much from Toyota models... To get rid of this image will be difficult.

Ownage, I was actually dissapointed in the Looks of the IS. From the pictures I expected so much more. The car is a huge step forward though, and here in Australia a HUGE amount cheaper than any of the Germans. So until the new C arrives, it would probably be my pick. You can read my review here:
http://www.germancarzone.com/showthread.php?t=985

11-12-2005, 06:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
bmwownage Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 147 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	IS250 - challenger? Well i went and test drove a IS250 Sports Auto today... 6speed gearbox, 2.5L V6 brand new engine and the car looks great, it really does, it looks better than in the pics.. The car is ultra-quiet, engine is ultra smooth, gearbox too... the handling is very good but not as 'meaty' as the BMW (1series, haven't drove the new 3 yet), but comfort is of very high standard as well as the quality of the interior... sound system kicks ass! It has some nice gadgets too, like when you get above 5000rpm before you change gear, there is a little 'ring' of lights around the rev counter and it lights up, looks very very good! But there are strange things about it, when using the tiptronic, it forces you to accelerate from 1st gear, i guess it is needed because the V6 needs quite a bit of revs to get going... Well there is too much to cover, but I have to say, if this car is marketed properly, it is another major threat to the BMW 3, because it actually looks better! It is just a tad cheaper than the 325i so it has no price advantage, but of course the 3 is larger and the engine/gearbox is still much better while the handling still has a reasonable advantage... I went to the BMW dealer today and the salesman tried very hard to convince us that the IS250 is simply a 're-branded Toyota with a higher price' even though the IS250 has basically exclusive everything and nothing much from Toyota models... To get rid of this image will be difficult.

11-12-2005, 06:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Just_me Expert Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 12,612 Thanks: 741 Thanked 2,035 Times in 1,028 Posts	Re: IS250 - challenger? you can also read about osna review 330 vs is350 and Mr mercedes is250 vs 320 comparisons

11-12-2005, 07:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
Yannis Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 7,198 My Mood: Thanks: 1,243 Thanked 1,231 Times in 703 Posts	Re: IS250 - challenger? IS is not a rebadged Toyota but the trim,materials,seats ect. scream Toyota. Even the design , inside and out, is typical of Japanese cars. Overall it doesn't feel like an upscale vehicle but rather as a more luxurious Toyota.

11-12-2005, 09:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
Just_me Expert Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 12,612 Thanks: 741 Thanked 2,035 Times in 1,028 Posts	Re: IS250 - challenger? 3er vs Lexus IS350 / Osna http://germancarzone.com/showthread.php?t=917

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