my newfound appreciation for Lexus (long post)

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Koing
Thanks for the write up and the pics.

Your GTi looks nice

Koing

thanks. and you're welcome. it was a fun day. if you werent living across the pond, id tell you to go check it out

Originally posted by: Muadib
What year TL does your friend have?

2005. the latest generation. 270 hp one

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: I Saw OJ

Originally posted by: Aharami
And this is coming from a guy who drives a German car...

After seeing your sig, that comment made me laugh a little...


Seth

:roll: typical blind ATOT VW hate
what would you call a Volkswagen? Lemme guess...a mexican car? It matters not where a car is assembled...it matters where a car is engineered...and VWs are engineered in Germany. Lots of accords are assembled in US...but you dont call them american cars, do ya?

I think GTi's are still built in Germany. Or maybe that's just the VR6 ones. I *KNOW* the R32's are.

IIRC most Golfs/Jettas/and GTIs sold in the US are built in Mexico or Brazil. My VR6 was made in Brazil. R32's are made in Germany. This is the reason why Golf/Jettas are plagued with electrical problems and the R32s arent. Luckily mine has been problem free except that one time when my car was stuttering. Got the throttle body replaced for free under warranty

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Bullhonkie
Doh! I remember reading about this event over a month ago in Hot Deals but completely forgot about it until I saw this thread. Now all of the date/times are filled for the SF event. On the waiting list now but definitely not holding my breath considering how many people live around here.

hold your breath. something might open up. It did for my gf

Originally posted by: rh71
we've been booked for next Saturday at Belmont Park also. Can't wait. Nice pics. How was the free food they promised ?

food was really good. they had constant supply of bottled water and soda cans all across the tent and the food was really delicious. But the portions were extremely small. Had to keep on going back to fill up, I dont think they ran out of food though

Originally posted by: freesia39
argh i just tried to register for LA and they're booked also.

sorry bud. but get on the waiting list. lots of people sign up and dont go. We almost didnt because we were so tired that morning.

 

[freebee]

OK, recap on my lexus experience. Went Sunday morning, packed with people. Lines were 30-40 minutes minimum to drive anything. The only thing that made it bearable were the large amount of attractive females.

Food was horrible, they had these wraps with meat/vegtables, plus various snacks, fruits, etc. I did get a few bottles of fiji water which I stashed in the bag they give you. I was trying to get another leather binder with the zagat survey, but got caught. But I did nab a bunch of lexus pens.

I didn't get into the spa thing, and don't know how to play golf for the golf lessons.

As far as driving, I wasn't really impressed with any of the cars. For the record, I still like the 3 series over the IS. Came close to crashing the IS, stability control beeping like crazy, and scared everyone in the line with my crazy driving...which they let me know about once I exited the car. I hurried home shortly after that.

 

[rh71]

well we just came back from it and OMG did the IS350 impress me. I drove the BMW 330i first and the IS350 was head and shoulders above it. Acceleration was not delayed like it was with the 330i... at all... I mean when I floored it off the line, it went and still felt like it wanted more by the time I came to the first turn... absolutely unreal. To be fair though, I've never driven a real sports sedan (other than the 330i just before it - my mom's Talon doesn't really count)... the IS350 handled the turns with very little roll and the brakes were even better than the 330i. After I was done with the IS350, my mind was saying WOW. Not the same story with the RX400h (felt like a minivan) nor the GS430 (which felt too big/bulky for its own good). As for the IS250, I don't know what that was doing there on that track, it couldn't handle the hard acceleration - something on the dash flashed with the RPM and I was unfamiliar with it... just felt like I killed it though it was still going on the course and I drove normal the rest of the way. Terrible substitute for the IS350... don't even think about it.

Anyway, back to my comfy SUV... I still like them better for everyday, non-race-course driving...

 

[Minjin]

Sounds like fun. I wish one was near me...

<= veteran autoxer

Mark

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: Koing
Thanks for the write up and the pics.

Your GTi looks nice

Koing

thanks. and you're welcome. it was a fun day. if you werent living across the pond, id tell you to go check it out

Originally posted by: Muadib
What year TL does your friend have?

2005. the latest generation. 270 hp one

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: I Saw OJ

Originally posted by: Aharami
And this is coming from a guy who drives a German car...

After seeing your sig, that comment made me laugh a little...


Seth

:roll: typical blind ATOT VW hate
what would you call a Volkswagen? Lemme guess...a mexican car? It matters not where a car is assembled...it matters where a car is engineered...and VWs are engineered in Germany. Lots of accords are assembled in US...but you dont call them american cars, do ya?

I think GTi's are still built in Germany. Or maybe that's just the VR6 ones. I *KNOW* the R32's are.

IIRC most Golfs/Jettas/and GTIs sold in the US are built in Mexico or Brazil. My VR6 was made in Brazil. R32's are made in Germany. This is the reason why Golf/Jettas are plagued with electrical problems and the R32s arent. Luckily mine has been problem free except that one time when my car was stuttering. Got the throttle body replaced for free under warranty

If the VIN starts with W it's made in germany.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: rh71
well we just came back from it and OMG did the IS350 impress me. I drove the BMW 330i first and the IS350 was head and shoulders above it. Acceleration was not delayed like it was with the 330i... at all... I mean when I floored it off the line, it went and still felt like it wanted more by the time I came to the first turn... absolutely unreal. To be fair though, I've never driven a real sports sedan (other than the 330i just before it - my mom's Talon doesn't really count)... the IS350 handled the turns with very little roll and the brakes were even better than the 330i. After I was done with the IS350, my mind was saying WOW. Not the same story with the RX400h (felt like a minivan) nor the GS430 (which felt too big/bulky for its own good). As for the IS250, I don't know what that was doing there on that track, it couldn't handle the hard acceleration - something on the dash flashed with the RPM and I was unfamiliar with it... just felt like I killed it though it was still going on the course and I drove normal the rest of the way. Terrible substitute for the IS350... don't even think about it.

Anyway, back to my comfy SUV... I still like them better for everyday, non-race-course driving...

exactly my thoughts as well. after every curve, when I floored it, the 330i needed a little breather before taking off. the IS350 on the other hand was always ready to pounce whenever i hit the gas.

the bimmer had better brakes though

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Colt45

If the VIN starts with W it's made in germany.

mine starts with a WVW. i guess mine's made in germany. maybe thats why I havent had much problems with it

 

[johnjbruin]

Awesome - I am signed up for the one in November in LA.

Nobody has compared the g35 to this yet - i wonder how that comparison will go?

 

[FeuerFrei]

Originally posted by: johnjbruin
Awesome - I am signed up for the one in November in LA.

Nobody has compared the g35 to this yet - i wonder how that comparison will go?

C & D ran a $35K sports sedan comparison last month.

Slotted the IS 350 ahead of the G35 and a hair under the Bimmer 330i.

 

[maddogchen]

Isn't the BMW 330i cheaper than a Lexus IS350 now? I think the IS350 comes out to around 42k.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: maddogchen
Isn't the BMW 330i cheaper than a Lexus IS350 now? I think the IS350 comes out to around 42k.

IS350 starts at 36K
330i is a tad higher