BMR,

I think there are two things against the IS300. One, people don't think of Lexus when they think of sport sedan. Also, its marketible numbers are well below some of the competition, notibly anything with a Nissan VQ engine. BMW can get away with lower numbers, but no one else can. The sum of problems means people are not in the show room, or test driving them.


Many people that walk into a Lexus dealership are impressed. Their service before and after the sale is the best I have delt with, although I cannot say I have a wide variety of it. Far from perfect, but the best by far. And the key to the IS300 model is the test drive. That is what sold me. That is when you throw all the numbers out the window and get the feel for the car. The Lexus IS300 is just a damn fun car to drive. So are its competition, but it was by far the most fun 2 years ago for the money. I haven't driven a G35 so cannot comment.

So, why are people not in the showroom? Marketing. Drop a bigger engine in it and it still won't sell itself. IIRC, Lexus tried to sell the IS300 the way it sold its other vehicles, by reputation. They show the car, and its numbers, all the saftey features, and state the Lexus traditions/refinement/service/quality. But they never emplhsized how much pure fun it is. Like Mazda's Zoom Zoom - one thinks fun.

Is it slow? I don't think so. It isn't a Corvette or even a WRX, but it is enoough to be dangerous in the wrong hands. A friend of mine kept his SVT Contour shortly after I bought my IS300. We raced, umm, at a track - yeh, from 65mph to double that. Dead even, although the smooth power delivery of the IS feels a little slower at times. Handling is better IMHO, but I prefer RWD. Useable dailiy driven powerband is also better. A heck of a commuter car for me, except for the miles and bad roads.

There have been a lot of rumors about the IS300 future. From using the new 3.3L V6 to the 4.3L V8, 2-door sedan and convertible. No one knows anything for certain. I have seen creditable information about a convertible model like the Audi A4, but I don't know why they would bother. 3.3L V6 would be a quick fix to get 20 more hp/lb-ft, but still well under some competition now, let alone 5 years from now. And some(how many?) people would balk about replacing the I6 with a V6. V8 would be marketed about $15k upscale. So, what it Toyota going to do? I don't know. I have heard 05 model, but I think 06 is more likely for a new chassis.

Regardless, the IS300 was the most fun car I have purchased. It was my opportunity to buy the car/market I had dreamt about for 8 years. I wish I could keep it for 10 years and rack 200k miles on it. I guess I am just getting old, finding out I cannot have it all. Changing priorities in my life. For example my neices/nephews think Uncle Aaron & Aunt Angie (my wife) are the coolest in the world. A tough act to keep up. My own kids will come before long, and a very improtant goal of mine is to purchase my parents property which is going to be a challenge. The sooner I can make that happen, the better off my parents are to not live there as they age.

I have been blessed in so many ways, and I take many of them for granted. I need to get my vehicle spending accounts in check for now. They consume the most money out of our budget.

Anyway, I love my IS300. I would have shot anyone who would have told me 2 years ago that I would be giving it up, especially for a Stratus. If things go well, I would not mind a Chrysler 300C as an mgt lease, but we'll see how things go.

Thanks, Mark. Even at the incentive levels in the last year or so, Nothing came close to this deal. BTW, nice garage. I don't know if I commented, but it is really nice inside and out.

Sorry for the ramblings. First, buy my car. Then, buy lots of new FoMoCo and DCX vehicles.

Aaron