First, you have to remember that the Lexus vehicles are named with two letters and a number. "f" sounds good coming after an "s" or an "x". RX-f, IS-f.

Second, why shouldn't Lexus proclaim their cars as being fast? At least now they HAVE to give the cars upgraded power or they will sink themselves.

And lastly, the context is completely different. A person worries over a grade of an "F" on something they do. And as for the curse word, maybe its Lexus being balsy. Yea, let me drive that In Sane F***ing car.

 

think of all the marketing...for BMW/Audi

The BMW M3 now with 450hp
"F that"

Toyota NEEDS a performance brand. TRD.

RWD sedan (IS)
RWD Coupe (Supra)
MR coupe/cnvt(MR2)
250hp FWD coupe (celica).
no slush box. no soft suspentions. nitche market cars.

 

I was gonna say that, but you beat me to it...I feel more sane now, thank you.

 

Yea, I came up with something today at the store.

Toyota is all about pushing the envelope on people-movers.

They are not about pushing the envelope as far as automotive technology in general is concerned. That simply isn't in their business plan.

Who can blame them? I'm sure we'd all love to see a 700 hp V12 fire breathing beast from Toyota, but how much business sense would that make anyway? Toyota is a conservative company, methinks. Unfortunately I don't see that changing.

Well, unfortunately for our drool factor, but fortunately for Toyota because they'll just make millions more on the Camry

 

if they want to make camarys fine...but doint make a "sports sedan" and not give it a manual trans option. you just look stupid.

 

Not an outright disagreement, but the Prius really is a technilogical marvel.

 

^^ Ahh, yes, that is true! I forgot that there was indeed another front as far as automotive technology is concerned.

You know, I think that after they release this, all SLers should go en masse to their local Lexus dealerships, ask about the car, then suddenly say "it doesn't have a manual? What? Wow that's pretty dumb."

And then just walk out. Toyota will get the message hopefully

 

good idea

 

I think Paul34 had a big point. Toyota isn't going to make a nitche market car and limit their sales potential. Besides seeing as how toyota is the most financially sound automotive company in the world (and by such a large margin) it seems very unfair to say they are stupid for not offering a stick shift. I mean I love the manual too, but lets face it, the people with the wallets to buy these cars dont want the "hassle" of a manual.


As for the F designation, I think it's kind of cool. They couldnt really do TRD, and the one letter helps keep it simple. It also brings hope that one day they might release the JSF and I would be first in line to buy one of those :D

 

if you don't like the "hassle", get a different car, the Ford GT only has Manual....but the Fararri's have mostly clutchless manual, with shift times of like 15 milliseconds.

The solution, make it clutchless manual. Or at the very least give that as an option.

 

If you rearrange the letters of "Lexus IS F" you can get:

Six Fuels

Flex is Us

Flu is Sex

Welp, that's all from me, thanks, you've been great...

 

That's still missing the point. Why make a car for the niche market when you can have a car that appeals to a broader market. Why do you think the 3000GT Supra and 300ZX were eventually canned? cause at the time the market wasnt there for them. Now that the market has come up stronger, these used models are difficult to come by. And manufacturers are replying in turn to this new demand. i.e. new 350Z, 2008 Supra, 2008 Skyline GTR etc. Now, since we know that the supra will be something close to a 500hp monster (with undoubtibly a 6 speed manual) then it is within complete reason to have a lexus version of the same car with an 8 speed automatic. Most people buy luxury brands for luxury first, performance second.

Now in the grander scheme of things, i agree with Stand Strong... bring on the paddle shifters!!

 

For the true driving enthusiast, Driving is what it's all about.
I'm sure 8 gears are undoubtedly nice'n'all, but IMO paddle shifters don't belong (unless ~ the steering wheel was actually "similar" to formula style - where one spin of the steering wheel translates into a complete turn), than I can see it functioning purely for performance.

If on the other hand it's the regular (takes 3 turns of the wheel to make a u-turn), than it's defeating the purpose. In any case, when buying a performance car, I don't want a diluted luxury car tuned with "performance" enhancements. It's a fact that the more performance intended a car is, than the less luxurious it will be. I'd be willing to sacrifice some if not all luxury items to have the true performance car, because to me if I buy a performance car and it doesn't have that critical element of performance driving, than the whole purpose is defeated.
Don't get me wrong, I like A/C, power windows, and a stereo, but come on! the no manual option is just too much. For me, it's like Toyota telling us they aren't truly serious about performance, and their #1 objective in the end product will only be a cost effective one above all else.

I've already stated my case with the "F" branding, but I must say it again... WTF were you thinking Toyota??? Are you purposely trying to alienate your future customers from ever wanting "your" performance division? I for one instantly DON'T want to be associated with the (IMO) horrific "F" as the apex of Toyota performance (are you F***ing kidding me!?!). Even though some of you disagree, we all have the right to feel the way we do. So to those who disagree with me, I recommend you get comfortable with people not liking the division "F".

 

it doesnt matter how fast the car is...its how fast you can drive it.

i will never forget one of my 1st experiences at an autocross event...this guy in a 911 was KILLING everyone else on the track...some guys got cocky and said it was all the car...he took out a Stock 1.9l Diesel Jetta WAGON and was .5sec off the pass of his Porsche. the rest of the guys just kinda sat in there cars with the heads down.

It takes no skill to flick a steering wheel paddle...my grandmother can drive a Ferrari in a straight line as fast as Michael Schumacher. a TRUE sports car has a 3rd pedal. Period

 

The supra is a good point, just get that if you really want a performance car. I'd go for the GT-R if it looked like the R34, but...I like the G35 look too, and you can't beat the sound of the Nismo VQ engine, (G35, 350Z, Q35, Murano)

 

^ I'd much rather have the brand name TRD Lexus or Nismo Infiniti
OVER
a Lexus model-F.
At this moment in time when I think of performance, "Supra" isN'T what I think of (which will hopefully change once it comes out).
And let's hope the name "F" never makes it to Toyota/Scion models, but DO add the upgrades/mods just this time give it a BETTER brand name.

 

^^ great idea

 

Like I said, so long as it's not a Lexus IS350 NoGo it's fine by me. Letter's don't bother me much. As people are saying, Toyota doesn't really care about you, or you, or even you. Toyota cares about them and they like automatics. I mean, I could hardly call an automatic Corvette a real sports car but when 75% of Corvettes out there are automatic it only makes financial sense to ramp up production of automatics.

It's unfortunate that Toyota is alienating people like us but Toyota will make more bucks on the other people. If Toyota seems like it's copping out on real performance, so be it. So long as people are buying their stuff, Toyco's happy.

It sucks. However, if Toyco puts out a worthwhile Supra, rwd, super sturdy block, in m/t, it'll take care of most of us I'm sure.

 

Damn skippy, anyone can ride behind the wheen of an auto, it takes skill to drive a m/t. I think the Supra will have a m/t and prolly a a/t too, for some unknown reason, and I think that will have to be enough for most of us.

 

^ And if it's not enough? Than what? Would you leave Toyota?

^ Answer for me is, YES I would leave if I didn't like the direction they were going.

Vette's being 75% auto I could understand since I've rarely seen men driving them (not to be sexist, but I know more often then not females rather drive autos over m/t). And if the make the Supra like you guys want but put it in an uglya$$ shell with only automatics would you think about getting it? For me, HELNO.