I was kinda bored (and i read every current thread in our site) so i went to IS300.net and searched for acura cl...man, those guys are on some serious drugs...they bash our car sooo much over there....you should hear the excuses!!

-horrible styling
-outdated styling
-bad handling
-bad seats
-bad "fit and finish"
-cheesy interior
-too much engine noise
-too big
-unbearable torque steer
-bland exterior
-accord rip off


and those are just some of the things they say....i mean come on....IS300???? 215 hp??? i mean, yeah, to each his own, but lets get real here...anyone who thinks the IS300 has a better interior is totally insane....and as far as styling....IS300 screams BOY RACER. i dunno, ill admit, i was SERIOUSLY looking at the IS300..but that was before i even knew the CL-S existed...so i test drove the IS300....liked it...then i test drove a CL-S....and i realized HOW MUCH better the CL-S is in every way over the IS300...and the price on those things?? my god!! is lexus insane?? 34k-35k fully loaded?? thats just insane...i think some of those guys have a complex of trying to make themselves feel better about their purchase because they spent so much money....and of course, the ultimate IS300 owners excuse "well the CL-S handles like shit and its not RWD" well, lets see, spend less than 1000 and CL-S handles pretty damn good!!! (springs, sways, strut bar, new shocks) and as far as torque steer....is it really that bad?? personally i hardly ever notice it when i drive hard..i dunno, i think its an issue but not nearly as other vehicle owners make it out to be...i just had to vent a little, its really disturbing to see how some of those guys praise their cars so much and bash a superior car (CL-S) for no apparent reason.

 

I don't know... I think the IS is a cool car.... just WAAAYYYY underpowered from the factory. I think it's also overpriced for what you get on it..... People are just hung up on the big "L" on the hood

 

I like the car. Don't care for the interior or the rear end. As Dom said it's underpowered but a turbo can fix that...but the same $$ I'd buy an 03 M3 first.

 

yeah, thats their other excuse "wellll, just wait till i get a turbo!!" and its like...sure ok pal, you spent 35000 on your car and now you want a turbo, to the tune of another 3-5 thousand dollars..so basically its easily a 40,000 dollar car now with NOOO warranty.....whippty doooo....its definately time toyota/lexus ditch that 3.0 inline bitch for a decent v6 or TUNE the shit out of it or turbo it from the factory....

 

Hahahha, I wonder if they know that they paid 30K for a glorified Corolla

 

It's a boring small cheesy "4 DOOR SEDAN" WANNA BE ! I'll take my sleek, sexy black CLS ANYDAY including the FABULOUS seats AND armrest AND the loud GROWL !!!!!

Thank you !

 

we should go over and start some shit >;]

 

Let's see what's better Accord rip off (which looks nothing like an Accord) OR a corolla rip off (which looks exactly like a corolla), hmm. They should be competing with Civics (same size and similar performance) , not CL's.

It's kinda sad that a 2.0 liter 4 cyl. Honda engine is more powerful than their 3.0 V6. :flamer:

 

Where are you guys getting this Corolla stuff from? The IS is no Corolla, and except for some standard Toyota parts bin stuff, share no common platform or parts.

The same is not true of the CL/TL and Accord.

 

from what i undestand, the IS300 is built on the same platform / chassis as the corolla...no?

 

go get em

 

I've also test drove a couple IS300 including 5speed... Before decided on my CL.

Likes:
a. Lexus reliability & service
b. tons of aftermarket support & bodykits
c. nice exterior design
d. handling/cornering better than our CL boat

Dislikes:
a. Tons of boy racers, high school kids, teenagers have them
b. gawdy interior & gauges
c. fawking ugly Altezza rear lights
d. fully loaded = $34-35K U're crazy Lexus !
e. 100mph+, it gets a tad twitchy & nervous (couple of car reviews also confirmed this also).

CLs may not have aftermarket support, but I only see mostly middle class professionals driving CLs in my Dallas area.
Classy interior & gauges, fully loaded for about $5K less.
Very stable on high speed.

Love my CL period...

 

The only torque steer I can remember is after catching some air at the railroad elevated crossing down the street. I'd characterize it as thrilling rather than a problem though. Yahoo.

 

Well, since you don't see any threads labeled "BLEW THE DOORS OFF OF A CL TODAY!!!!", all they can do over there is bitch about the CL!!!!!

I like the car, I think it is a nice car.
But when you compare the cars at the same price point, a fully loaded CL-S and a fully IS300, the CL-S is WAY MORE CAR!!!!

As Charles said, the IS has TONS of aftermarket support, but I will take my CL-S over an IS300 ANY and EVERY day of the week!!!

 

Contrary to people who must be morons to think a 35k RWD car is somehow based on a 12k FWD car, the IS shares nothing with the Corolla.

If you go to any car forum and seach Acura, naturally the comments will be negative since it's not an Acura forum. Same if I search Lexus in a BMW forum or even here. Nothing new bub.

 

the is300 is a good car...there's a reason it was voted car of the yr 2 yrs in a row in japan (altho i think it was the turbo 4banger version over there, not sure)

if it was 20-25K and had a T on the grill instead of an L, then i'd defintely get it...

 

Well if they brought the 2.0 liter 6-speed Altezza, it could be in that price range. But Lexus has never sold any 4-cylinder car here so that was a no go.

 

LOL. I once did a fly-bye-bye on a GS400 and IS300 on the hi-way. The IS gave-up after 125+.

I couldn't shake the GS, but he couldn't overtake me either.

 

Hey hey hey, c'mon, no need for name calling here....

All I meant was that the IS300's design took its styling cues from the Corolla. I did not mention anything about its engine or drivetrain.

So, easy there MR Lex

 

U're pretty correct on that issue. No need to bash other people's cars, everyone has many diff. reasons for deciding on a car he/she buys.

Very funny thread I read on the IS300 forum regarding IS300 towing a disabled 02 M3 to the dealer

Love Lexus reliability

 

You must have a supercharger?
The IS 300 was a tricky propsition here. They were first with the clear tailamps but the knock-offs were on every Civic and Accord before the car got here, that sure did not help the image. The interior is very un-lexus like, but the design team wanted the car to stray as far away from the ES 300 as possible, since they now have 2 cars at the same price range.

The IS kinda reminds me of the 1st gen GS series (not a total success), I think the next gen will be awesome.

 

WE have a noisy engine??? Shit... When I was in the market for a new car, I went and drove the IS300. I thought that focker was soooo much louder than the CL-S.

I'm just waiting to run into an IS300 owner and walk all over their ass.

 

I would have maybe considered the IS....if it was a 2 door

 

No.

We were on a the hi-way with rolling hills. Neither of us could get over 145 that day. I gave him the peace sign and slowed down before i lose my license.

 

I am awaiting/anticipating on the new 04-05' re-design IS3x0 (330) ? w/ M3-esque front bumper & more fluid exterior. New aluminum V6 ? more hp, and as always lots of aftermarket
support

 

Does anyone have any spy shots or concept drawings of the new IS??? I'd like to see what they have in store for the new Lexus lineups.

 

link to next gen. IS300

 

The IS is decent, but definitely NO MATCH for our cars, in ANY category.

 

I really liked the IS.

My friend and I used to carpool 22 miles each way. He had a yellow IS and let me drive it a couple times, To me it felt torquey, fun and tight, even if it wasn't really that fast. Also, it had a buttery transmission. Honestly, I feel as if the trannie in our CLS is kinda rough between gears sometimes, and I have a new/replaced trannie.

The main reason I didn't get the IS, besides overall perceived value, was that it is so damn small. I could barely fit in that car. Now, I'm a big guy, (6'-4", 240lbs) but I'm not a fatass or something. The seats in that car squeezed my butt like a vice grip!! :P Not to mention that my hair would brush the headliner, and my knees would be touching against the dash board, with the seat all the way back and down, even on the passenger's side.

Tiny car for tiny little boy racer people. I still like 'em though, they're just not for me. Now, as for the latest ES? F-U-G-L-Y!!

 

Here is the one I agree from IS300.net.. "Yes, stock for stock the CL-S will smoke the IS300 at straight line race but some twisties they will get owned". I think I agree.

 

I dont know if anyone can have a better debate with this topic than myself. My roomate and I started looking at cars at about the same time a year ago this month. I chose Acura: larger trunk, 2 dr and more horsepower. he chose the Lexus Is300. he has made several extrerior additions including:body kit, eyevrow and and rear light covers. He has headers and plans on getting intake...His car handles better, has the 5spd and has turbo and supercharger options while we are left with nothing. In addition he has RWD. Well i beat his ass everytime but, his car looks sharp ($34K w/tax). Now he plans on selling the IS300 and getting the new IS300 with the Turbo in 2004....surely then CL-S will not be able to fight against the iS300.

 

Damn, is it me or does the new IS look like the new corolla?:P What's wrong with car companies these days, making low end cars look like their expensive cars. Whatever happened to having an identity nowadays.

 

Just to add insult, my wife just slapped down, two days ago, an IS300 in her E46 328I. And this was through a decent turn near Kennesaw College (I mean University)..:rolleye

Those Lexus folks can't play... Just kidn' 1SICKLEX

 

is300 suck. way over rated.

 

This thread is much like the IS300 thread, in that we tend to bash them just as much. Although the CLS raw performance is superior, many people prefer the handling of the IS300, which is, by all accounts, better (meaning closer to the BMW 3 series). Price aside, it is again a matter of taste.

However, if you were to compare the new 2003 CLS 6spd with a manual IS300, the IS300 will have a tough time competing. You have to corner with the new LSD of the CLS to understand what Acura has achieved. For a big, FWD car it is nothing short of outstanding. Hell, the new CLS has less body roll than the 330ci, according to Car&Driver. Too bad the tires are not helping Acura, but that is how you win in the price wars!

Anyway, I would not feel cheated to own an IS300. Lexus makes excellent cars. But even if the IS300 would make a coupe, it would be hard to justify purchasing it over the 2003 CLS 6spd (IMHO, of course).

 

Stop talking about your family members (J/K)...Hey, I agree. Now this is what gets me. Japanese companies used to make ALL their cars look different, no 2 cars looked alike, and all LUXO CARS (GERMANS) looked the same.

Now, I have the FOGGIEST idea why Japanes companies are making all their cars look the same, and now Germans are trying to make all their cars look different.

I liked it the first way. Why a Corolla even resembles a Camry, Avalon, ES 300 is beyond me......

 

i dont' know anything about IS being a corolla rip off, but alot of ppl say the new corolla kinda looks like the IS300... and it kinda does... TRD also came out with the exact same kit that the blue IS300 has, but for the new corolla. I think IS300 is an overated car... ppl here in my area think they are the fastest car on the road... i had one by 2 cars length for 2-3 blocks from a rolling start on D5... when i signal for win.. he just did one of those fly bys.....

 

Hey, I'm not too into racing, but how do you "signal for a win"?

...just curious.

 

haha i don't even know what its called but i think its called caution light?.. the red triangle...

 

lol...it's called the "hazard lights".