Some may recall a thread a few months ago entitled "Any quiet 4 cyl diesels"
Many thanks for everyone's advice on that thread. However the one that stuck with me was one saying that no 4cyl cars sounded that good.
So.... after a protracted search, I've ended up with another 6 cyl petrol - the new Lexus IS250. It has more torque than my IS200, less road noise, handles better and the most fabulous autobox. I normally HATE autos, but this was so smooth I couldn't beleive it and it even has better economy than the manual!
Runner up was the Audi A4 2.0T. Great engine, less company car tax and a better deal from the leasing company. BUT... didn't pass the "I want it" test when I saw it next to the Lexus in a car park.
We were also impressed with the Volvo S40 2.4.
We didn't like the Saab 9-3 (hideous cabin) or the 2.2D X-Type (diesel clatter). We didn't drive the 3-Series because the dealer was extremely unhelpful and I wasn't very impressed with the cabin - very cheap and nasty unless you spent quite a lot extra, I thought.
When will HJ drive the Lexus, I wonder?
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Reckon a good choice though a lot more BiK than a diesel, in the US they have the IS350 which is a real rocket ship with a 300 hp 3.5 V6 it is in M3 perfromance territory with 5 series refinement. When will it come here I wonder.
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"In the US they have the IS350"
I dare say it costs the same as the 250 over here....
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Good choice.
I gather that Nissan may bring the Infiniti brand to UK, that would be interesting....
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>>I dare say it costs the same as the 250 over here....>>
Less, around $35k (£20k!), also there is an IS250 4wd. Agree re Infiniti, the G35 is a great car as is the Acura TL (Honda premium brand), also the Cadillac CTS which can be found in right hand drive over here now as it is officially imported. In a recent test Car & Driver put the new 330i top, just, though the IS350, G35 and TL all trounced the 9-3 Aero 2.8 V6 turbo, S60R and A4 3.2 Quattro, the CTS was also placed ahead ofthe 9-3 Aero and the S60R.
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Peter,
you do right to prevaricate,
1. you're spending a lot of money, you want to know you've made the right choice.
2. you can enjoy the research too, providing you don't go overboard.
Thanks for the comments on the IS250. I thought it looked great in the advertising photos, I'm looking forward to seeing it in the metal. It's a bit pricy for me but it's on my maybe list for a year or so hence subject to FD (wife). It's well kitted out, unlike Audi and the like.
Good luck, feed in the odd report on mileage and the like.
John
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Ooh, lucky you! As a fellow driver of a 2.5 6-cyl Japanese automatic I await your comments about how you get on with this. I'll admit mine isn't anything like as fancy, but I may consider one of these for the upgrade I'm promising myself for my 30th birthday. Keep us posted!
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A small point - don't you mean "procrastinate" - to waste time rather than "prevaricate" - to lie or avoid telling the truth?
This may be construed as being a bit nit-picky, but it's the Christmas slowdown and a very quiet day at the office.
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"prevaricate" - to lie or avoid telling the truth?
What you mean he is really getting an Almera!
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Being even more nit picky 'procrastinate ' means not so much wasting time but more exactly putting off until tomorrow. From the Latin ' cras ' meaning tomorrow.
I could have been a judge you know.....
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Think you have made a good choice.Would be interested to get your opinion of it after you have had it for a few months.
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Do you mean the car or the other correspondent's dictionary ?
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