[NaTuReB0Y]

If Lexus would have designed the second portion of the car as nice as the front end.......
I would have bought that car over my E90 any day of the week.

It's all about personal preference....and my E90 happens to look a lot nicer on the exterior.....and that's about it that it has over the Lexus IS350....

Everything else being equal.....I don't think my E90 is
comparable to the Lexus IS350 for what it's worth......
quality to reliabilty to interior design..... to the IS350!

[deutschmann59]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

Everything else being equal.....I don't think my E90 is comparable to the Lexus IS350 for what it's worth......
quality to reliabilty to interior design..... to the IS350!

You're 100% right abou that. I was speaking in terms of exterior styling ONLY. But it's a known fact that most car companies simply can't compete with Lexus reliablilty or build quality. Practically every single car reviewer like JD power et al puts Toyota and Lexus at the top of the list.

The IS is a good car, but in terms of seeing a sort of "generational transition", I was left disappointed.

[Oz]

I have seen pictures on the net and didn't really like the new IS but I haven't seen any on the road yet (at NJ)

[JamieA]

I have seen one on the road and personally don't like the styling. I see Lexus more as an MB competitor because it really occupies a different segment of this market - older drivers into comfort and reliability. BMW is more edgy and hi-tech.

I loved the old IS, its lines were gorgeous in the flesh and in dark metalic colours. L-Finesse design theme is a radical departure, and they would have done better to re-interpret the old IS with L-Finesse, just as BMW reinterpreted the E46 with Flame Surface design language to end up with the E90 which is still identifiable as a BMW 3, but also clearly belongs in the new stable of vehicles.

The comments about the Hyundai mainly are about those long, thin angular tail lights, which are the greatest visual offence on the car in my book, though the Hyundai seems to have that aspect of its design better resolved. I also think from a side view, the rear looks weak, it seems to disappear into nothing and does not make good on the promise of the excellent, dramatic front end proportions... This in my mind does not make the car look masculine enough.

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by sharp1183

..but not now. I absolutely hate the way the windows are so small and the doors are so high. What's with that look? I think Chrysler's doing it, too. Looks horrible! I've heard it looks like either a mini GS or a bigger tC.
...

This is a rip-off of Audi design language. Small glass house proportions, an interplay of (largely) flat surfaces to reflect light at different angles from metalic paint, and incredibly tight panel gaps. The problem is, only Audi seems to know how to do this small glass-house theme and still make it look good, the others are too heavy handed.

Audi is much more subtle - first rule of design: When you emphasise everything, you emphasise nothing.

[M 3Rilla]

Originally Posted by Papa13

i dont know man.... I cant get past the side view mirrors being twice the size as my head!!

The mirrors are huge, kinda like Dumbo

[yujini]

Originally Posted by JamieA

I have seen one on the road and personally don't like the styling. I see Lexus more as an MB competitor because it really occupies a different segment of this market - older drivers into comfort and reliability. BMW is more edgy and hi-tech.

I loved the old IS, its lines were gorgeous in the flesh and in dark metalic colours. L-Finesse design theme is a radical departure, and they would have done better to re-interpret the old IS with L-Finesse, just as BMW reinterpreted the E46 with Flame Surface design language to end up with the E90 which is still identifiable as a BMW 3, but also clearly belongs in the new stable of vehicles.

The comments about the Hyundai mainly are about those long, thin angular tail lights, which are the greatest visual offence on the car in my book, though the Hyundai seems to have that aspect of its design better resolved. I also think from a side view, the rear looks weak, it seems to disappear into nothing and does not make good on the promise of the excellent, dramatic front end proportions... This in my mind does not make the car look masculine enough.

Totally agree. Great post

[Hunter399]

You really can't compare a Toyota to a BMW...

[pharding]

Originally Posted by MIKEYMIKE

Look at the rear door line at the c-pillar as it rises and returns horizontal to the window trim. That is the sloppiest detail in the automotive world. It is horrible. A German automaker would never tolerate that kind of gross sloppiness.

[radionomad]

How do you put your arm on the door with the window down while driving ? (put the seat up high and duck your head) ?

[Yaajer]

The IS is a nice car. Not my styling, but nice nonetheless.

IMO, most IS buyers would compare their cars to the 3er, and most 3er owners do not compare their cars to any other in its class at all.

[NaTuReB0Y]

Originally Posted by hunter399@mac.com

You really can't compare a Toyota to a BMW...

You can't compare BMW to Toyota...not even by a longshot........in 10-15 years, Toyota will be the world's biggest automobile production company in the world......the number one reason is because their product has legendary quality and reliability,which is #1 in the auto industry.....and that is the MAIN reason why most people in general will buy a Toyota.....every year, Toyota, which also includes Scion and Lexus, has like almost every car/suv in the top 20 automobiles to buy.......and the top 20 automobiles to avoid are mostly German(mostly Mercedes, Volkswagon, and BMW) and American cars(enough said!). You and I buy our BMW for the performance and handling.....but most people buy automobiles for quality and reliability....and I don't think BMW is there with Toyota yet....that's why they offered free maintenance.....

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

You can't compare BMW to Toyota...not even by a longshot........in 10-15 years, Toyota will be the world's biggest automobile production company in the world......the number one reason is because their product has legendary quality and reliability,which is #1 in the auto industry.....and that is the MAIN reason why most people in general will buy a Toyota.....every year, Toyota, which also includes Scion and Lexus, has like almost every car/suv in the top 20 automobiles to buy.......and the top 20 automobiles to avoid are mostly German(mostly Mercedes, Volkswagon, and BMW) and American cars(enough said!). You and I buy our BMW for the performance and handling.....but most people buy automobiles for quality and reliability....and I don't think BMW is there with Toyota yet....that's why they offered free maintenance.....

True that. And that's the reason that pushed me over the fence. I wouldnt buy a BMW if it wasnt for the free maintenance. If i keep my car for more than 50k miles, I will buy the extended warranty. I love German cars, just scared of their mechanical & electronic probs.

[Nikki]

The IS would be a great car if it were priced slightly under the 3 series.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by Nikki

The IS would be a great car if it were priced slightly under the 3 series.

I still hate the styling. It's fast and well-built. But the side view and back view are nasty...

[NaTuReB0Y]

Originally Posted by Nikki

The IS would be a great car if it were priced slightly under the 3 series.

Nikki are you from Mars...the IS350 is priced slightly less than the 330i......$35,440 to $36,600....

and the IS250 is also priced slightly less than the 325i.......$29,990 to $30,900.....

Quit living in one dimension.....your analytical reasoning is

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

Nikki are you from Mars...the IS350 is priced slightly less than the 330i......$35,440 to $36,600....

and the IS250 is also priced slightly less than the 325i.......$29,990 to $30,900.....

Quit living in one dimension.....your analytical reasoning is

well I priced out an IS350 with my options and it was more than my 330i.