My Lexus

[Jed]

I personally think the Gs are great looking cars but, sorry, a manual trans does not make it a sports car. Every time your pushing your sporty pedal that luxury slush box IS is making lightning fast precision shifts and pulling on you.

Koz

Spoken like a true slushbox guy. First of all, to the purist, a manual trans is a 'must have' in a sporty car. Anything less is boring and inconsequential. To me, driving is more than just straight line acceleration. As much as I like blasting down the straights, I love driving on a twisty mountain road with full manual control of the car....not some paddle-wacky pretender transmission that doesn't offer nearly the level of satisfaction.

Secondly, I've been racing manual transmission street cars for more than 20 years now. Trust me when I say that I can powershift a manual trans car as fast or faster than a conventional automatic transmission car, plus benefit from the RPMs rising rather than falling between shifts. Sadly, this is becoming a lost art today, but there are still people who truly know how to extract maximum performance out of a manual trans car.

 

[Jed]

I ran a 13.3 with a axle back exhaust (with 4 cats) and a smooth replacement intake tube and stock air filter. I did take out the spare/jack and only had a 1/4 tank of gas. The IS without a tune (It is impossible to hack the IS engine mgmt ECM) and similar mods (bypass pipe) can run high 12s (The driver doesn't have to be that good, it is a luxury car).

Koz

That's not a bad time and it seems a bit quicker than typical from what I've seen. But still, the video I posted doesn't lie....drop-in filters and HFC and 13.3 is right there for you. With a tune, we're talking high 12's. And that is not unusual for the newer G coupes. The 370Z is actually a bit quicker still, mostly due to a lower curb weight.

A lot of people don't realize that the newer G coupes have much more HP (330) than the original G35 coupe (280).

 

[Koz]

The fact that the IS has chrome badges on the rear make it real easy to see if it's a 250 or a 350. The IS250 really has no balls at all and wouldn't even be a challenge....I wouldn't even waste my time.

Too bad you're not closer because I'd love to meet up with you for a little stoplight challenge. With your mods, it might be close.

The 250 was a reply to you thinking I can't tell the difference between a 35 and a 37. The FACT is the STOCK IS is a consistent mid 13 car and the G37 is a consistent high 13 car. Honestly I think the there is very little difference in performance between 6MT coupe G35 and the G37.

How far are you, I would love to play!

Koz

 

[Jed]

The 250 was a reply to you thinking I can't tell the difference between a 35 and a 37. The FACT is the STOCK IS is a consistent mid 13 car and the G37 is a consistent high 13 car. Honestly I think the there is very little difference in performance between 6MT coupe G35 and the G37.

How far are you, I would love to play!

Koz

There's a huge difference between a 280 HP G and a 330 HP G, especially considering that the curb weight is nearly identical between to the two cars. If you don't think 50 HP makes a difference, I don't know what to tell you!

And please don't be a magazine racer....because if you're going to do that, then you'll have to admit that the IS350 is not a consistent mid-13 second car, at least according to the numbers in many road test magazines. Stock for stock, I think the IS350 is a low 14-second car. Didn't Road & Track get a 14.5 quarter mile out of it? Yeah, magazine racing is fun.

I'm in NY, but I like to race at Englishtown in NJ.

 

[Koz]

Spoken like a true slushbox guy. First of all, to the purist, a manual trans is a 'must have' in a sporty car. Anything less is boring and inconsequential. To me, driving is more than just straight line acceleration. As much as I like blasting down the straights, I love driving on a twisty mountain road with full manual control of the car....not some paddle-wacky pretender transmission that doesn't offer nearly the level of satisfaction.

Secondly, I've been racing manual transmission street cars for more than 20 years now. Trust me when I say that I can powershift a manual trans car as fast or faster than a conventional automatic transmission car, plus benefit from the RPMs rising rather than falling between shifts. Sadly, this is becoming a lost art today, but there are still people who truly know how to extract maximum performance out of a manual trans car.

I too was a (So called) purist and only considered a manual until I was forced to get an auto. As you are aware, the 350 only comes with one. I will admit, I wanted a manual but I also reached a time in my life where I started to dislike having to shift all the time. I have no regrets about getting the auto and if I had the choice for the manual now, I would get the auto. Also I race a motorcycle (low 9s) and I get my fix of purism every time I ride it.

What I can tell you from this experience is the modern slush boxes are not what they used to be. The 6speed auto in IS up-shifts in milliseconds and is flawlessly accurate. Yes you do not have any control over when it up-shifts (Computer precision controlled) but you can control down-shifting and staying in any gear. So there is some enjoyment in the twisties. There is NO WAY you can manually up-shift your car as fast and accurate as the IS’s auto (Absolutely impossible). I’m surprised, with the experience you have, that you would even make that statement.

Koz

 

[Jed]

I too was a (So called) purist and only considered a manual until I was forced to get an auto. As you are aware, the 350 only comes with one. I will admit, I wanted a manual but I also reached a time in my life where I started to dislike having to shift all the time. I have no regrets about getting the auto and if I had the choice for the manual now, I would get the auto. Also I race a motorcycle (low 9s) and I get my fix of purism every time I ride it.

What I can tell you from this experience is the modern slush boxes are not what they used to be. The 6speed auto in IS up-shifts in milliseconds and is flawlessly accurate. Yes you do not have any control over when it up-shifts (Computer precision controlled) but you can control down-shifting and staying in any gear. So there is some enjoyment in the twisties. There is NO WAY you can manually up-shift your car as fast and accurate as the IS’s auto (Absolutely impossible). I’m surprised, with the experience you have, that you would even make that statement.

Koz

Well, I'm sorry to see you that went over to the "automatic" side. I dread the day that true manual trans cars will no longer be offered because everyone is giving up on them....but it seem inevitable, doesn't it? Very sad indeed. Given the choice of an IS250 with manual or an IS350 with automatic, I'd definitely walk away completely and look for a car that offers the more powerful engine with a manual. Hell, that's exactly what I did with my G37 coupe. So the choices are out there...you just have to find them.

Personally, I never get tired of shifting. And if that day ever comes, it's okay because I'll never own just one vehicle. If for some reason I don't feel like shifting today (hasn't happened yet!), I can always hop in the 4Runner and hang my hand out the window as I lumber down the street.

Yes, I know that automatics have advanced today. But I still can't find the enjoyment/satisfaction out of driving them as compared to a true manual trans. And if I had a gun to my head and absolutely had to buy an automatic, I'd much rather have a dual-clutch unit than a conventional automatic. Hell, BMW had the old SMG unit how many years ago? And that thing was really more of a true manual trans with automatic control rather than the other way around. But technology changes and I'm quite sure that we'll see even more advancements in the future. One thing I absolutely hate is all of these CVT cars running around. Talk about no driving enjoyment whatsoever! Don't even get me started on that...

As for shifting speeds, there's an extra benefit to powershifting a manual transmission that you seem to be overlooking. It's not just about the actual speed of the shift, but the fact that the RPM rises between shifts. That's not possible with any automatic as far as I know. The extra kick in the pants more than makes up for the millisecond more it might take the manual transmission driver over the automatic car.

 

[Koz]

There's a huge difference between a 280 HP G and a 330 HP G, especially considering that the curb weight is nearly identical between to the two cars. If you don't think 50 HP makes a difference, I don't know what to tell you!

And please don't be a magazine racer....because if you're going to do that, then you'll have to admit that the IS350 is not a consistent mid-13 second car, at least according to the numbers in many road test magazines. Stock for stock, I think the IS350 is a low 14-second car. Didn't Road & Track get a 14.5 quarter mile out of it? Yeah, magazine racing is fun.

I'm in NY, but I like to race at Englishtown in NJ.

I only base my comments on what I've seen (Not read in a rag mag or hp number on paper) and from what I have seen the 37 only has a little advantage over the 35. The only reason I post the rag mags time was because T4Fun posted rag mag numbers and member were led to believe these numbers proved that the 37 was quicker. And no, Road & Track ripped off a 4.9 - 0 to 60 and a 13.5 quarter. They even talked about how the 350 outran the more expensive V-8-powered Audi S4.

Here is another interesting observation from that comparison “What a great engine. It’s silky-smooth, quiet, but really potent. It’s hard to believe that the Lexus and Infiniti have the same horsepower with roughly the same curb weight. The IS feels that much quicker”.

The only way a stock 350 would run a 14 is if the nannies were left on. The 06 model did not have a disable switch, which produced 14 sec runs. As soon as (07) the traction and stability could be disabled the true times for the 350 were produced. If you spent time at the track you would know what is common for the 350 and the 37. You seemed to be a little confused about which car runs low 14s. lol

Anyway, as soon as the weather breaks (Cooler) I have a date with a Lightning at Englishtown. I’ll let you know and maybe you can meet us and we can have some fun. Please no pissing contest, just fun!

Koz

 

[Jed]

I only base my comments on what I've seen (Not read in a rag mag or hp number on paper) and from what I have seen the 37 only has a little advantage over the 35. The only reason I post the rag mags time was because T4Fun posted rag mag numbers and member were led to believe these numbers proved that the 37 was quicker. And no, Road & Track ripped off a 4.9 - 0 to 60 and a 13.5 quarter. They even talked about how the 350 outran the more expensive V-8-powered Audi S4.

Here is another interesting observation from that comparison “What a great engine. It’s silky-smooth, quiet, but really potent. It’s hard to believe that the Lexus and Infiniti have the same horsepower with roughly the same curb weight. The IS feels that much quicker”.

The only way a stock 350 would run a 14 is if the nannies were left on. The 06 model did not have a disable switch, which produced 14 sec runs. As soon as (07) the traction and stability could be disabled the true times for the 350 were produced. If you spent time at the track you would know what is common for the 350 and the 37. You seemed to be a little confused about which car runs low 14s. lol

Anyway, as soon as the weather breaks (Cooler) I have a date with a Lightning at Englishtown. I’ll let you know and maybe you can meet us and we can have some fun. Please no pissing contest, just fun!

Koz

I do have a Road & Track that I'm reading right now with a road test review of the IS350. They listed 14.5 as the 1/4 mile time, but they said it was in 93 degree heat. But enough of the magazine tests...I do think the IS350 can run a bit quicker than that. Do I think it's a mid-13 second car? Not even with a strong tailwind!

I actually used to spend a lot of time at the track. I had a street/strip car that I ran almost every weekend. Unfortunately, it is rare to see an IS350 at the track (or a G37, for that matter) even on Friday nights when the street cars come out. But definitely let me know when you go to E-town. I'll have my car tuned by then and maybe a tiny bit modded. It should be fun.

 

[Koz]

I do have a Road & Track that I'm reading right now with a road test review of the IS350. They listed 14.5 as the 1/4 mile time, but they said it was in 93 degree heat. But enough of the magazine tests...I do think the IS350 can run a bit quicker than that. Do I think it's a mid-13 second car? Not even with a strong tailwind!

But definitely let me know when you go to E-town. I'll have my car tuned by then and maybe a tiny bit modded. It should be fun.

You asked me not to be a rag mag racer (which I’m not) and yet you selectively quote the worst run in the history of the 350, by a rag mag and then you make some ridiculous statement about how the IS (in your opinion) is a little quicker. The more comments you make, the more I’m starting to think you are trolling. Let’s be logical (If you can) the Camry is capable of mid 14s and the Rav4 is capable of high 13s with 35+ less hp. I personally have run 13.5, pure stock (with the luxury package). If you did ANY research or had any track experience you would know that many others have consistently run these times. Maybe you do know but it is just too hard to admit there is another car (other than the car you have) that is a little quicker (just like the BMW fanboys).

If the G is quicker then the 350 you don't need mods and a tune, Lets meet and settle this. I know a couple safe spots where we can line up!

Koz

 

[Uneek]

If the G is quicker then the 350 you don't need mods and a tune, Lets meet and settle this. I know a couple safe spots where we can line up!

Koz

Koz,

If this goes down, I want to see a video.

I like both the G and the IS. I'm leaning towards the G, because it's a tad bigger than the IS.

My thoughts over both cars are inline with the blog post below,
Lexus IS vs. Infiniti G37 (Priceower) — 62mph

 

[Thai]

My bet is on the IS...fabulous powertrain IMO! I have not heard of good things about the rough G37 engine...and seemingly, it seems underpowered for what the specs say. However, for me, the G37 is more practical simply because it has a decent rear seat. I hope that the next redesign of the IS will give it a tad more rear seat space.