RE: Shed of the Week: Lexus IS200 SportCross
Discussion
BFleming said:
So, an insurance write-off Merc 190, followed by a poverty spec E39 OR a well worn 166, followed by an IS200 that's even less appealing than a regular IS (which in Japan was a Toyota Altezza). The engine light wouldn't get through an MOT, so SOTW is officially unroadworthy. Come on Mr Shed, spend the new budget & wow us.
EML would not fail a mot. Would get an advisory nothing more.Edited by BFleming on Friday 25th August 16:37
I never quite understood these - if E46 3 Series owners were your target market why would you make a 2 litre straight 6 with "only " 155bhp when that generation of 320i (albeit a 2.2 straight 6) had 170 bhp?
But BMW also offered the 325i with 192bhp and the 330i with 231bhp, and all with auto or manual options in saloon, coupe, touring and convertible options! (Plus the best of all, the 325ti Compact)!
Then the IS300 was created, but AFAIK an auto. only - WHY?
But BMW also offered the 325i with 192bhp and the 330i with 231bhp, and all with auto or manual options in saloon, coupe, touring and convertible options! (Plus the best of all, the 325ti Compact)!
Then the IS300 was created, but AFAIK an auto. only - WHY?
I've gravitated away from older Mercs as the hipsters have moved in and pushed the prices to silly levels over the last few years (5k for a 2.0 190? f
k off!) and have found myself in the plush arms of various Lexus from about 1998 to the 02' RX300 I have now. They are superb. On the current car, everything, every toy, works perfectly. Also, I rang up Lexus Hatfield, who had done loads of work on the car under the last owner, to check on a service item and they were monumentally pleasant and helpful. As were Lexus Reading. They even went as far as giving me the number of a decent Toyota specialist to look at it for me. Mercedes would have just been moody s.
This would be a good buy. The dealer would take less, a lot less, because of the EML light. You could just ignore it.
Superb cars. I used to deliver them back in the day. They go well. The IS300 is one of the most sideways cars I've driven. Crazy thing.
k off!) and have found myself in the plush arms of various Lexus from about 1998 to the 02' RX300 I have now. They are superb. On the current car, everything, every toy, works perfectly. Also, I rang up Lexus Hatfield, who had done loads of work on the car under the last owner, to check on a service item and they were monumentally pleasant and helpful. As were Lexus Reading. They even went as far as giving me the number of a decent Toyota specialist to look at it for me. Mercedes would have just been moody s. This would be a good buy. The dealer would take less, a lot less, because of the EML light. You could just ignore it.
Superb cars. I used to deliver them back in the day. They go well. The IS300 is one of the most sideways cars I've driven. Crazy thing.
Mr Tidy said:
I never quite understood these - if E46 3 Series owners were your target market why would you make a 2 litre straight 6 with "only " 155bhp when that generation of 320i (albeit a 2.2 straight 6) had 170 bhp?
But BMW also offered the 325i with 192bhp and the 330i with 231bhp, and all with auto or manual options in saloon, coupe, touring and convertible options! (Plus the best of all, the 325ti Compact)!
Then the IS300 was created, but AFAIK an auto. only - WHY?
Despite the visual cues, the IS200 isn't a sports saloon. A small six without much low-down torque means down-changes, high revs and a heavy foot are required for half decent progress.But BMW also offered the 325i with 192bhp and the 330i with 231bhp, and all with auto or manual options in saloon, coupe, touring and convertible options! (Plus the best of all, the 325ti Compact)!
Then the IS300 was created, but AFAIK an auto. only - WHY?
If the Lexus IS200 range had an entry level four-cylinder engine and a true flagship performance version, the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Audi would be very scared...maybe.
soad said:
Despite the visual cues, the IS200 isn't a sports saloon. A small six without much low-down torque means down-changes, high revs and a heavy foot are required for half decent progress.
If the Lexus IS200 range had an entry level four-cylinder engine and a true flagship performance version, the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Audi would be very scared...maybe.
Well that's what I'm getting at really - why didn't they? (And surely limited torque, a need for down-changes and high revs are exactly what you would expect for a sports saloon)?If the Lexus IS200 range had an entry level four-cylinder engine and a true flagship performance version, the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Audi would be very scared...maybe.
E46 BMWs came with 6 petrol engines, 3 diesels and 5 body-styles but Lexus had 2 body-styles and only 2 petrol engine options - surely that is a bit like taking a knife to a gun-fight!
But they didn't seem to learn anything from that experience because the next generation IS only had 1 body-style and 2 engine options - IS250 or IS220d, both painfully expensive for RFL purposes.
It's almost like they pretended to compete but their heart wasn't really in it!
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