Redzed actually makes some good points... (wow did I say that... )

We're in a changing era and yes we are going to lose some Industry. Will we lose it all, NO - anyone that thinks every industrial job is going to China needs to get out of their hole and look around.

The United States is/was the country everybody was cussing 20-30 years ago because WE were the China of the world at the time. Did Europe dry up and DIE because we were the Industrial Powerhouse... NO.

One thing that has been true of all time is that the Human Race adapts. It's how we react to this change which will make us or break us.

As China's currency rises (and it probably will some) - expect our low cost goods that most of us buy here to rise in cost as well. There is a lot bigger picture to look at here then "Made in the USA."

Think about it; Foreign companies capitolized on the USA because we were the Industrial Powerhouse. Now it is our turn to capitolize on Foreign markets as they increase in size. This is actually good for us all.

Of coarse we could Tax the crap out of China, and in turn they will Tax the crap out of us. So then we have to build our own TV's which will cost 5 times as much and now we've closed any avenues to Export = DEPRESSION.

Look at China and these emerging "Industrial Powerhouses" as an opportunity for us to expand our global efforts, not as an end to the American Economy."

 

So back to orginial post......

Let me get this straight I can have a fully loaded IS250, not 350, for ~4k less then a full equiped Charger RT or a IS350 for about the same price as a Charger SRT8? Sure the Charger doesn't have the manual, and I do like the styling, but I will take the Charger over the IS cars, plus it is a full size car.

 

Do you understand currency markets or monetary policy?

A defense scenario involving a massive industrial mobilization has been unlikely since 1945 and impossible since 1975.

 

Once again, avoiding the discussion at hand. What does that have to do with your claim that Red Planet (or anyone, for that matter) is incapable of understanding? But, for the record, I do not consider myself well versed on global economics and currency issues. Also for the record, that has jack squat to do with my post, which you glazed right over as usual.Oh, well ok then. :blah:

 

Currently expected prices are 28,000 + destination for the IS250 (which will come relatively well equipped including leather, xenon lights, 10 airbags, 10-speaker AM/FM/MP3/MP3 player/XM/SACD/DVD-A system, dual auto climate control, heated seats, vehicle stability control, etc. The AWD IS250 will be around 2500 more and will also go to a 6-speed auto (no manual available for the AWD)

The IS350 last I heard will start at about 34,000 + destination and will add a few features including VDIM (ridiculously advanced stability control that damn near makes wrecking a car impossible short of aiming for a tree... and even then it'll apply the brakes, tighten the seatbelts, and prep the airbags once it determines collision is unavoidable), 6-speed auto standard. Once you upgrade it with everything like Mark Levinson sound, navigation w/ reverse camera, dynamic laser cruise control, precollision detection system, heated/cooled/ventilated seats, dynamic/adaptive lighting system w/ bi-xenon lights (highbeams upgraded to xenon instead of just low beams), and so on (I'm sure I'm forgetting something), the price should still be comfortably under 40k.

 

FWIW guys, to keep this thread from continuing on the extreme tangent it has been going on for like 3/4 of the thread, I created a thread in the lounge about the potential for a post industrialized US economy, and put my thoughts in there. Let me know what you think, but post in there if you don't mind. It'd make for a good discussion I think.
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385513

 

It sounds like the perfect car for an 80 year old who currently drives a Mercedes C240. For the rest of us, there's the Infiniti G35.

Yes, you're "forgetting something." Toyota botched the Lexus IS (again!) by undersizing it. The Infiniti G35 demonstrated that a successful 3-series competitor could actually have a comfortable rear seat. Did Lexus pay attention. NO!

The sad part is that Lexus could have built a 3-series slayer, but a lack of forward thinking means the IS250/IS350 is another Japanese also-ran.

People who need a near-luxury sedan in the next few months are well advised to choose the Infiniti G35. If you can wait, the upcoming BMW 1-series will be the small sports sedan to watch.

 

I was reading the new Issue of Motor Trend today at work, the one with the Charger and the Mustang on the front cover reenacting the "Bullit" chase scene...
Anyway they were talking about GM's future with people writing in. One guy said something along the lines of "The employee health care is partially to blame for GM's troubles but it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that they build cars nobody w ants to drive."
Another wrote in saying that if GM cars lasted more than 18 months he'd consider one. Another talking about if GM actually got their act together that they wouldn't need to have tremendous sales to move their rotting inventory.
These were people in proud, All-American states. Hell any time I see Texas plates up in Canada it's on a Honda accord or a Lexus. Very rarely are they an American car.

As for people bickering about how Toyota takes sales away from GM...
Let's p ut it this way. If somebody wants to buy a Toyota, they will, right?
Toyota could build their car in Japan, take more profit, and that be that.
ORRRR
Toyota can GIVE jobs to Americans and help the economy. It wouldn't make a difference to their sales where they're built unless it's Mexico in which case the quality would decrease.

I promise the business of my next car to GM as long as they can keep up with the competition. If Cadillac can build an entry-level car that battles the 3-series, IS Lexus, C-class, etc. then I promise Caddy I'll buy their CTS or whatever, as long as it's just as good if not better.

 

The IS350 will blow the current-gen G35 away hands-down, I'm quite positive of it if they reach anything near their projected sales, which they did and more for the new GS.


Uh... you really need to research your facts before opening your mouth. The new IS will, based on rough HxLxW cubic exterior dimensions, be about 1.5% larger than the 3-series, and is, by the same calculations, only 3.5% smaller than the G35 sedan. Considering that bigger is not always better in the sports sedan market... I don't see how that would make or break this car?

I'm also interested to know when you checked out the rear seat of the IS to determine it was not comfortable? And if for some odd reason Lexus said "let's make our rear seat uncomfortable because we think that's a good thing", would that truely make or break sales? I thought there might be other factors in mix as to whether the car is a success or not? Crazy me.

Most of the reviews I've read to date say that other than electronic stability controls that won't let you go crazy with sliding around the road and such when you want to, this car could very well be exactly what Lexus needed to seriously compete with the 3-series.

If Lexus hits their sales projections (and they've been very accurate with them and if anything underguessing them with their last three all new models), they will well more than double the G35 sedan's sales figures and even with the coupe added in for the G35's total, they will have it beat by 50% or so. Still won't quite be in 3-series territory, but that's what a benchmark is all about. You can't get there immediately.

Beyond that, considering all there is to BMW's $30-40k entry level is the 3-series and nothing else... I imagine that at the very least, the combined sales of the ES330/ES350 and the IS250/IS350 will far surpass BMW's sales figures.

You're "well-advising" them? You!? I'm sorry man, but you're a nutcase. I have no problem arguing about the facts and then drawing conclusions based on those. But you seem to love to make conclusions without presenting a single damn fact, or if you do present them, it's something completely trivial and inconsequential to the big picture.

 

Yes, actually I do understand Currency markets and Monetary policy............

and your last line, at least to me, speaks volumes.

It seems...correctly if I'm wrong.....that because you're doing OK...then everything's OK?

Sorry....it's a free country and we're free to make our own decisions....and I guess you and I will agree to disagree on many things.......buying foreign cars (note I didn't say 'import') as one of them...............

Still waiting for those credit cards and bank statements from the other post, by the way.

 

Let's finish this argument up with a final post; if GM didn't make inferior contenders in today's market, there would be no need to consider foreign cars to get what one desires.
Cadillac makes a car that's outdated, so one buys a Lexus. Then 10 "proud Americans" jump down the throats of said Lexus owner, "Why didn't you buy American?!"

The best selling car in America is from a Japanese brand. What does that tell you? Here's what it says to me; instead of concentrating on patriotism, rebates and low interest rates, GM should focus their time on actually making a good f*cking car that people will buy, even withOUT employee discount pricing!

 

I am sure his advice is going to make or break so many deals for either Nissan or Toyota.

 

Unfortunatly Here where I live, Lexus is as popular as Toyota, Honda, Cheverolet, Ford. I would say between the 5 of them there are equal shares where I live

BMW, Porshe, Benz, Acuras, Jaguars are all pretty common as well.

Here in my local comunity amoung the million dollar manions Lexus's and Benz's are a dime a dozen. Unfortunatly Vettes and Cadillacs are not.

 

 

I think the new redesign of the New 3 Series is too girly. The lines of the car have ben softened and looks like a chick car now. The way BMW is going design wise on all of their models to me looks kind of gay.

The New IS Lexus defnately needs to be bigger than the previous model to compete. I would not even look at the current ones due to their smallish size.