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My buddy just picked up a new 5-speed Intenza Blue Pearl IS300 this weekend and drove it up from NYC. Since I just got my car a month ago, I wanted to go for a ride then drive his car to see how it felt/handled.
These are my first impressions of the car.
1. Shifting: The cars clutch is much more springy then the 330, by that I mean that it takes much more effort to depress the clutch and it feels like its spring loaded. The pedals are aluminum and rather small.
The shifter is relatively easy to engage gears and but there is more of a clunk as you move the shifter thru its gears. The car comes standard with an aluminum billet ball for the shift knob.
2. Handling and Steering Feel: Well the Japanese still have nothing on the Germans. There was a considerable amount of free play in the steering (I could move the wheel about 1.5 inches in each direction from center without the car even reacting). Once you get past this dead zone, the car reacts pretty abruptly.
The steering is also no where near as tight. There is more body roll than our cars but the car still handles well, just not as well as the 330. My friend has 17" 215/45 at all four corners on his car. The car handles bumps nicely and doesn't feel as sporty as our suspension. It tends to "float" more.
The car accelerates smoothly and has plenty of torque (219 ft/lbs). It just wants to be revved. With the traction control off, you can easily chirp the tires from 1st to 2nd.
3. Fit/Finish/Comfort: The chronograph type gauge takes a little getting used. The problem with it is that its so busy that its almost a distraction.
The interior is nice and clean but both looks and feels cheaper. There is a much greater use of plastics in this car. A nice touch is the aluminum rings on many of the dials and around the speakers.
I have the sport seats in my car so I'm very biased. Every other car I get in just doesn't do it for me. The seats in the IS are comfortable but they don't really have as much lateral support for your back or the seat. There isn't any lumbar support so the seats a little flat. Don't get me wrong, the seats aren't uncomfortable, just not as comfortable as the 330Ci.
The cabin is quiet and so is the car. At first I thought the car had a four-cylinder in it b/c it was so quiet when I was standing outside of it.
4. Stereo: I had to talk about this b/c I am such a nut when it comes to systems. The stereo in this car is pretty amazing for a stock unit. It kills the HK 10 speaker setup in both clarity and range of frequencies. I noticed in the HK, there wasn't as much highs as I would like and the bass just wasn't really there. Lexus seems to make some of the best stock stereos in the auto industry.
Overall, I did like the IS 300. I wouldn't ever give up my BMW nor would I buy a Lexus, but it is a nice car for the price. I think the sticker on his car was $33,300.
There were a lot of things I didn't get a chance to check out in the car, b/c the drive only lasted about 20 minutes. I will get to drive the car more this weekend, and I will be taking it on a road that I first took my 330Ci to test it out a little more.
These are my first impressions of the car.
1. Shifting: The cars clutch is much more springy then the 330, by that I mean that it takes much more effort to depress the clutch and it feels like its spring loaded. The pedals are aluminum and rather small.
The shifter is relatively easy to engage gears and but there is more of a clunk as you move the shifter thru its gears. The car comes standard with an aluminum billet ball for the shift knob.
2. Handling and Steering Feel: Well the Japanese still have nothing on the Germans. There was a considerable amount of free play in the steering (I could move the wheel about 1.5 inches in each direction from center without the car even reacting). Once you get past this dead zone, the car reacts pretty abruptly.
The steering is also no where near as tight. There is more body roll than our cars but the car still handles well, just not as well as the 330. My friend has 17" 215/45 at all four corners on his car. The car handles bumps nicely and doesn't feel as sporty as our suspension. It tends to "float" more.
The car accelerates smoothly and has plenty of torque (219 ft/lbs). It just wants to be revved. With the traction control off, you can easily chirp the tires from 1st to 2nd.
3. Fit/Finish/Comfort: The chronograph type gauge takes a little getting used. The problem with it is that its so busy that its almost a distraction.
The interior is nice and clean but both looks and feels cheaper. There is a much greater use of plastics in this car. A nice touch is the aluminum rings on many of the dials and around the speakers.
I have the sport seats in my car so I'm very biased. Every other car I get in just doesn't do it for me. The seats in the IS are comfortable but they don't really have as much lateral support for your back or the seat. There isn't any lumbar support so the seats a little flat. Don't get me wrong, the seats aren't uncomfortable, just not as comfortable as the 330Ci.
The cabin is quiet and so is the car. At first I thought the car had a four-cylinder in it b/c it was so quiet when I was standing outside of it.
4. Stereo: I had to talk about this b/c I am such a nut when it comes to systems. The stereo in this car is pretty amazing for a stock unit. It kills the HK 10 speaker setup in both clarity and range of frequencies. I noticed in the HK, there wasn't as much highs as I would like and the bass just wasn't really there. Lexus seems to make some of the best stock stereos in the auto industry.
Overall, I did like the IS 300. I wouldn't ever give up my BMW nor would I buy a Lexus, but it is a nice car for the price. I think the sticker on his car was $33,300.
There were a lot of things I didn't get a chance to check out in the car, b/c the drive only lasted about 20 minutes. I will get to drive the car more this weekend, and I will be taking it on a road that I first took my 330Ci to test it out a little more.