I have WHEELS at last!! Warning: pics inside

[Fat Tone]

Well here's my Bugg on my private test track. It don't have a stick either! It's the closest I'll ever come!

[Wulfman]

I've never driven a car with an automatic transmission and I don't think I was missing anything...

hmm... interesting car, electro-powered?

mfg
wulfman

[agallag]

Originally posted by spoogenet
IS300 already has the down/up shift on the steering wheel.....

I know some with the IS300s, they barely use them, say they'd rather have horn buttons instead....it would come in more handy.

I still prefer manuals, but I'm among a dying breed here....

b

Spooge... the IS300 is still an automatic transmission. The buttons just let you tell it what gear to use.

The new M3 tranny that the Rock is talking about is really a manual. It just happens to have a computer controlled, hydraulically actuated clutch (not clutchless, but clutch-peddle-less ). The Ferrari 360 F1 and the Aston Martin DB7 Vanquish are the only other cars I'm aware of (other than real F1 cars of course), that have that kind of system.

The IS300 is still a sweet car though...

[spoogenet]

True, true. The auto in the IS300 is supposd to be a pretty good one, but I'd rather have a manual. An automatic clutch....that could be cool, I remember watching some shows on those when Ferarri was working on developing that back in the day. Pretty interesting stuff. They were talking about how it would sense when you wanted to shift based upon things like pressure on the shifter, etc. Sounded pretty sweet. Not sure how they're doing it now, though.....anybody care to explain? Is it with buttons?

There is a manual available for the IS300 now, though, which is good.

They're all miles away from my '88 Volvo, though.

b

[Maggi]

Boston Motor Works are known to create really niec cars ...

[agallag]

Originally posted by spoogenet
Not sure how they're doing it now, though.....anybody care to explain? Is it with buttons?

There is a manual available for the IS300 now, though, which is good.

Not buttons... paddles behind the steering wheel. Very very cool.

http://www.edmunds.com/news/innovations/articles/46873/article.html

The IS300's new six speed is supposed to be a very nice box as well. As you said, that is a very good thing.

[Jammrock]

The Lexus IS 300 is one mean machine! Very expensive unfortunately. A really nice car for a decent price is the new Volvo C70 and the Subaru Impreza WRX. Both nice looking cars with a mean engine (for stock).

Jammrock

[Wombat]

agallag,
A friend of mine races stock cars, and she said that the paddle shifters are pretty much standard issue now.

[impact]

Originally posted by agallag

It just happens to have a computer controlled, hydraulically actuated clutch...

That's becoming quite a trend, isn't it? The Renault Twingo has that, too.

[Wombat]

Well, they can shift a lot faster and cleaner than you can.

[spoogenet]

IS300 is less than a 325 in the US. I look forward to having one....one of these days (in a few years maybe).

WRX is a pretty good deal, definitely a lot of bang for your buck. I prefer the older body style, though.

b

[The Rock]

A buddy of mine has been researching that WRX, and he raves about it. Supposedly phenomenal engine/tranny, and definetly a TON of bang for your buck. I don't care much for the styling though. I don't like the front end at all, but I'm heavily beemer-biased.

Bart

[agallag]

My lease is up in another year, and I'm trying to decide what I'm going to replace my 2000 Protege with. I don't know if I'll be able to afford a bimmer by then, so barring that, I have it narrowed down to two. They're both really close in the running too.

I think the leader right now is the WRX, for obvious reasons. A close second is the new 2002 Nissan Altima 3.5SE. It's front wheel drive (yuck), but it does have a 5-speed stick, a 240hp V-6, and loads of luxury items (climate control, wicked stereo, power heated leather seats, etc). It's also about $3500 cheaper than the WRX, and most likely will have a better resale value too (I'd be much more abusive with the WRX ).

What do I do? I'm at a loss. At least I have a long time to think about it...

[Wombat]

Well, I like my 2001 Sentra SE.
The 2002 line has the SE-R, and the Mark (V or VI) above that.
That last one has a 6 speed manual (not inc. reverse).

[RichL]

I dunno about you lot all wanting European vehicles, I've always fancied one of these -


But until then, I'll stick with this -


You get used to the paintjob after a while.