pbm317

330i will only come close to 45 if you load it with everything possible like nav etc. and if you want to equip your M3 with the same stuff, then it's closer to $58k, so it's not super close... plus without nav, etc. you can still get a 330i, sport package, leather, manual transmission, for closer to 40K.

IS350 will be a nice car, and a nice Lexus. But I don't believe it will be a match for the 330i w/Sport Package. I'll wait for final judgement until I can drive the car.

rai

+1



Also what's with $2550 for nav? The civic (reported) will have voice activated nav for around $1500. $2550 has got to be the biggest rip-off unless it includes other features. I like Nav, but at this time anything over $2k is too much IMO.


Also the 3-series should be better than the IS in rear seat room. Not that the 3 is so huge, but word is the rear seat in the IS is a joke. My friend went to a Lexus drive event, he said the IS with seat moved back for his comfort had only about a 2" gap from the seat back to the rear seat.

Over all the price of IS250 and IS350 seem good. they are priced very close to 325i/330i. There's no way I'd touch a 05 IS300 at this time, the new car looks to be so much better.

IMO the IS good/great. But if you want a MT with the bigger engine or if you want a coupe there's no choice at Lexus, it's BMW all the way in that case.

iatacs19

I agree with above poster about nav pricing. If Civics offer navigation, that means it is becoming commoditized albeit slowly, but nonetheless. Lexus should be charging much less for their nav... oh well.

But overall I think the pricing is what many had been expecting since few months back. Not bad, but I guess we should wait until 2nd or even 3rd year to get the goodies, according to Lexus they will release updated engines throughout the life of the car.

rai

Plus the 3.0L (from the GS) )should be on the IS-awd NOW not next year. And the 3.5L should be the GS-awd now not next year. IMO

S2000bobster

I was thinkin to get a GS or a BMW series, but now that the IS350 is out I am going to test one and see I like it. Are they at the dealerships now?

mav

Good pricing but no 6-speed manual, at least not yet. Blah!

QUIKAG

I may very well get an IS350 in a few years and trade-in my fiance's IS300. six-speed paddle shift and a 300+hp V6 sounds pretty sweet to me.

Not to mention the overall build quality, attention to detail, and reliablity of the Lexus marque makes it a more appealing alternative to the 3 series.

As much as I like the driving feel of the 3 series, I don't want to lay down $40k and have to take the darn thing in the shop every other week. Too many of my friends and co-workers have been sucked into that BMW black hole. Funny thing is, most still LOVE their cars. The problems must give it some character.

PLYRS 3

embellishing a bit, quik?

rai

Hmm, if Toyota/Honda could decode the driving experience of BMW I'd never buy anything but.

I'd like to see a Supra with this platform 6-speed MT 300+hp etc..

Christople

Sounds like a Winner! If people buy it, Infiniti is in trouble and now they got BMW in their target