Is350

[eddiea1]

Im thinking about changing the IS300 but I am not really interested in the 220d or the 250. Havent driven either yet, but I am thinking that the 350 would be more the one for me. As you all know, Lexus UK in all their wisdom have decided not to sell this car here. Neither are they importing the IS250AWD. Very confusing decisions imho.

Two questions then:

1) Has anyone heard whether or not Lexus will be importing the IS350?

2) Is it possible to get one through a car imported in RHD and put it through STVA?

[Pip]

Beautiful car and i believe the only ones on our shore will be imports. Typical.

[eddiea1]

yeah what is it with Lexus UK?

they supposedly have done all this market research and do all these focus groups and then decide there wont be demand for the bigger engined cars. Well BMW seem to sell quite a few 330s and 535s and even 540s. How much extra effort would it take to make 350s for our market?

Why is the AWD one US market only?

Audi seems to do all kinds of engine sizes with or without Quattro..... maybe Lexus should take a leaf out of their book.

(actually I dont know the answer to that but would be interested to hear if anyone does have answers)

all i heard from Lexus UK is that they thought the demand would be so small as not to be worth bringing it in.

im not so sure....

[Bazza]

lexus reasons were on past sales

the is300 wasnt a big seller

the sportscross wasnt either

hence the lack off similar models

[eddiea1]

lexus reasons were on past sales

the is300 wasnt a big seller

the sportscross wasnt either

hence the lack off similar models

maybe if theyd spent some money marketing their sales would have been better. You would think that the mighty Toyota would have some money available for that considering their revenues....

I personally never saw Lexus ads for it and it was only when mate recommended going to a Lexus garage did I even go there to take a look at the cars - he was looking at the IS200s himself and I was looking at BMW at the time about to buy a 330.

Im not convinced that the IS350 wouldnt sell here - they could easily shift 900 or 1000 of them a year. Or isnt that enough to justify importing it? How many of the IS250 / IS220d are they expecting to sell?

[tyrrp]

Im thinking about changing the IS300 but I am not really interested in the 220d or the 250. Havent driven either yet, but I am thinking that the 350 would be more the one for me. As you all know, Lexus UK in all their wisdom have decided not to sell this car here. Neither are they importing the IS250AWD. Very confusing decisions imho.

Two questions then:

1) Has anyone heard whether or not Lexus will be importing the IS350?

2) Is it possible to get one through a car imported in RHD and put it through STVA?

From what I have been told here in Ireland it was a Europe wide decision not to bring in the 350 and so it has not been put through the standard tests that allow it to be sold in Europe.

So if you wanted to import a RHD one it would have to be from Japan (or from Auz when it is released later in the year). Problem though is as you said you would have to pay for all the testing.

However. From what I can tell you would not have to go through the tests if it is a second hand car. (Many models of cars have come in from Japan over the years without any testing. Just window replacing).

So you could probably bring in a display model from japan or something. Try contacting some of the specialist importers and they will be able to tell you for sure what needs to be done.

[eddiea1]

Im thinking about changing the IS300 but I am not really interested in the 220d or the 250. Havent driven either yet, but I am thinking that the 350 would be more the one for me. As you all know, Lexus UK in all their wisdom have decided not to sell this car here. Neither are they importing the IS250AWD. Very confusing decisions imho.

Two questions then:

1) Has anyone heard whether or not Lexus will be importing the IS350?

2) Is it possible to get one through a car imported in RHD and put it through STVA?

From what I have been told here in Ireland it was a Europe wide decision not to bring in the 350 and so it has not been put through the standard tests that allow it to be sold in Europe.

So if you wanted to import a RHD one it would have to be from Japan (or from Auz when it is released later in the year). Problem though is as you said you would have to pay for all the testing.

However. From what I can tell you would not have to go through the tests if it is a second hand car. (Many models of cars have come in from Japan over the years without any testing. Just window replacing).

So you could probably bring in a display model from japan or something. Try contacting some of the specialist importers and they will be able to tell you for sure what needs to be done.

Ok thanks for the info. Which specialist importers should I contact?

[MacRS200]

Welcome back Eddie :D

The secondhand bit I think only applies for cars that are over 10 years old

Any other car must have an SVA test, that means a model report and I am sure that one will not exist. Ask IanF about all that with his Tezza.

[tyrrp]

Im thinking about changing the IS300 but I am not really interested in the 220d or the 250. Havent driven either yet, but I am thinking that the 350 would be more the one for me. As you all know, Lexus UK in all their wisdom have decided not to sell this car here. Neither are they importing the IS250AWD. Very confusing decisions imho.

Two questions then:

1) Has anyone heard whether or not Lexus will be importing the IS350?

2) Is it possible to get one through a car imported in RHD and put it through STVA?

From what I have been told here in Ireland it was a Europe wide decision not to bring in the 350 and so it has not been put through the standard tests that allow it to be sold in Europe.

So if you wanted to import a RHD one it would have to be from Japan (or from Auz when it is released later in the year). Problem though is as you said you would have to pay for all the testing.

However. From what I can tell you would not have to go through the tests if it is a second hand car. (Many models of cars have come in from Japan over the years without any testing. Just window replacing).

So you could probably bring in a display model from japan or something. Try contacting some of the specialist importers and they will be able to tell you for sure what needs to be done.

Ok thanks for the info. Which specialist importers should I contact?

Just Google it. You should find plenty. Try some of the Irish ones.

The secondhand bit I think only applies for cars that are over 10 years old

I think the way around that is to import the car from a European country. The way this has always been done for the UK is the cars would always first be imported into Ireland.

The boat used to arrive in Dublin. The cars driven off turned around and straight back onto the boat. and off to the UK.

I think Tezza might actually have discovered this but it was to late for him because the car had already landed in the UK.

[MacRS200]

I think the way around that is to import the car from a European country. The way this has always been done for the UK is the cars would always first be imported into Ireland.

The boat used to arrive in Dublin. The cars driven off turned around and straight back onto the boat. and off to the UK.

I think Tezza might actually have discovered this but it was to late for him because the car had already landed in the UK.

Sure it is more complicated than that, like the car would have to be registered in Ireland first.

[nicnac]

if you register a car here it will cost you 30% of the open market selling price....ARGH!!!!!!

[IanB]

lexus reasons were on past sales

the is300 wasnt a big seller

the sportscross wasnt either

hence the lack off similar models

I personally never saw Lexus ads for it and it was only when mate recommended going to a Lexus garage did I even go there to take a look at the cars - he was looking at the IS200s himself and I was looking at BMW at the time about to buy a 330.

Well all I can say is, I think the IS300 SC is a great car. It's also much better (for me) than the BMW 330Ci which I used to own. If they made an IS350 SC, I suspect I'd be interested, but not till the novelty of the current car wears off :winky:

IanB :D

[autobeach]

I think it's a cert Lexus will be bringing out different variants for the IS 2nd gen, don't know if it'll include the IS350 though. Before the IS launch, Lexus management made reference to learning from BMW, that is, include different engines, models, mid-life re-skin to keep the public/ trade interest.

Lexus UK targets for 2006 are 12-14K (that's a 20-40% increase), the 2007 target is in the 20K range. There is not an earthly they'll do that with the current IS line up (2 engine variants), so expect new models/ engines to appear.

One hope for the IS350 in the UK is if Lexus sales are good. I know they are hitting targets in USA, UK, Canada and Japan - don't know about mainland Europe.

I absolutely believe there is a market in the UK for more powerful IS models, Lexus just need to pitch it right, create demand so that they don't get their fingers burned. Obvious examples of how to do it right are the Nissan 350Z and Mazda RX8 - great cars at very competitive prices.

So Lexus, if you're looking in........

IS300 (250 hp V6 from the GS, presumably already passed all Euro tests) starting at £25K

IS350 (306 hp), starting at £28K

These 'base models' fall within what people are spending on IS250's loaded with MM - so how can Lexus say there is no market?

[eddiea1]

IS350 (306 hp), starting at £28K

Sold!!!

[Pip]

What about Lexus's answer with the mighty M series from BMW and RS from Audi??

There IS DEFINITELY a market for them to compete in and that is what everyone is crying out for. I know that it will be hard because BMW and Audi have always be the competition to beat.

Eddie how long you on Tag/house arrest for? LMFAO!!

[rap03]

Hi all.

I think it is all a marketing ploy and based on how they can price the cars. The 250 is not far off the HP that the old 300 had, so, there thinking is that this shlould keep most IS drivers interested.

Lexus in the US actually outsell BMW and Mercedes, so, they can add extra vechiles to the range and it is cost effective. And the US people are serious Petrol Heads who like their speed and the cost of petrol is not an issue.

To bring the IS350 to UK or Australia (right hand drive and emission issues) as has been said above, there would have to be more testing, etc. As well, they would have to price the IS350 above the top of the line IS250 and I think this would then start to get very close to the price of the GS range.

They have dropped the ES range in Aust, and not sure if they have totally dropped it or just Aust, and I think it is a pricing thing.

Having said all the above, when I had discussions with the Lexus management, they confirmed what I always suppected, that the build cost of the cars is about a 1/3 of what we pay and the cost to make the bigger models (like LS) over the samller ones (IS) is bu**ar all.

Would have been great to see the 350 in Aust, but maybe something that happens in 12 months or so after the 250 hype has settled. The big question will be "At what price". I think in general, we are being ripped off when you look at the pricing of the US models!

[Pip]

Still my point being are lexus going to compete with the bavarian power plants or are they going to continue to rule that niche of the market??

[lexus boy]

Well if lexus were as cheap as they seem to be in the rest of the world everyone would be buying them

shame they bump the price up for the euro market

[eddiea1]

What about Lexus's answer with the mighty M series from BMW and RS from Audi??

There IS DEFINITELY a market for them to compete in and that is what everyone is crying out for. I know that it will be hard because BMW and Audi have always be the competition to beat.

Eddie how long you on Tag/house arrest for? LMFAO!!

i think im off the hook now! or should i say out of the hook

[squarehead]

Lexus Chester told me they would be bring out the IS350 and a coupe to the UK - I reckon he's bulling it!

[eddiea1]

Lexus Chester told me they would be bring out the IS350 and a coupe to the UK - I reckon he's bulling it!

are you implying that car dealers dont always tell the truth 100% of the time? surely not. I always thought they were the most honest straightforward people in the whole world.

[tyrrp]

Lexus Chester told me they would be bring out the IS350 and a coupe to the UK - I reckon he's bulling it!

I was told by my Lexus dealer that we can forget the 350 but there will most likely be in the not to distant future a Coupe and a hard top cabriolet version.

[Pip]

we are not interested in the coupe or cabriolet we want POWER!!

[eddiea1]

Lexus Chester told me they would be bring out the IS350 and a coupe to the UK - I reckon he's bulling it!

I was told by my Lexus dealer that we can forget the 350 but there will most likely be in the not to distant future a Coupe and a hard top cabriolet version.

we are not interested in the coupe or cabriolet we want POWER!!

looks like im getting an Audi Quattro next ;) only joking!

[saracen]

we are not interested in the coupe or cabriolet we want POWER!!

Actually I would be interested in a hard top convertible...

I'm at a loss to understand this fascination with power and speed. I mean realistically on a day to day basis, how fast can you actually go bearing in mind traffic lights, schools, speed cameras, traffic humps etc? (please don't flame me - it's just a question!)