I just drove a Lexus IS300 stick shift, Solar Yellow, and it is a very tasty vehicle. No price posted as yet and there was a lot of traffic (freeway was very heavy so we stayed on surface streets in Westminster, CA) but I think there is a lot to be said of this automobile. Marginal differences for the interior compared to the auto but, to me, positive ones. It sure turned heads. The salesman took off in it when I left. Smart man!

 

sounds like the battle is on...bimmer, IS300, and CL-S...all stick, all the time

 

If Acura can get their heads out of their asses, we can start spanking these cars. Not that we can't now. But a manual would just make it all that more fun.

[ 08-07-2001: Message edited by: cl-driver ]

 

let's just wait and see what the CL-S will be like

 

Ys btu the Lexus is still a little car and it is ricey. Class and luxury wise it isn't in the same league as a 330i, C-70(noone talks about it here), and the Clk 320.
IS300 cant get past the ricey look with the rear taillights.(Neither can a new Lightning)
Just my "too scents"

 

I thought the IS300 drove/handled great but the exterior looks like a Corolla and I hated the "Swiss Watch" look of the gages.

 

swiss watch? more like timex.

 

The base price for the manual IS is less then the automatic.

It starts at about $29,900 i think. Check lexus.com.

 

3.2CL TypeStick.

 

The only way the CL-S will ever compete with the 3 series and IS is if it loses some weight. Cause even with suspension mods, the thing is still a heavy car.

 

I'll add, "and gets rear-wheel drive" to that.