Every sporty car needs one thing: great seats. The IS happens to have very good perches. They provide terrific support all the while being comfortable. Out back, two adult passengers can be comfy as long as you are not driving too far. The trunk is spacious enough for most of your gear; two golf bags will be a tight squeeze.
2JZ-GE
Perhaps only a random series of letters and a number to most but they are actually the name of the 3.0L inline 6-cylinder engine that lurks beneath the hood of the IS. Even though the 215 hp rating is modest, we must remember our physics lessons; weight is the enemy. The IS' tips the scale at a reasonable 1,550 kg and so, the car is actually quick. The 3.0L is eager and responsive and well assorted to the tester's 5-speed autobox. Under hard acceleration or passing manoeuvres, the transmission never skipped a beat. If you hold the go-pedal long and hard enough against the firewall, you will be rewarded with a second wind around 5,000 rpm.
Why the IS occasionally gets drooled over is for its tunability. The 2JZ-GE is in a large part responsible for the IS' following. This engine has much in common with the Toyota Supra's powerplant. If you recall, the Supra Turbo had a nearly identical engine that benefitted from a turbocharger. The beauty here was that the 2JZ-GTE from the Supra dropped right into the IS' engine bay. In Europe and elsewhere around the World, numerous tuning companies manufacture superchargers for the IS's other engine, a 2.0L 4-pot.
Sharp as a tack
The IS has nearly perfect road manners. Its chassis is finely tuned and very capable of carving any mountainous road you throw at it. The car handles impressively well and the suspension does a great job of limiting lateral and vertical movements due to weight transfers. The compromise the taut shock-valving is a slightly harsher ride than one would like. The 3-Series BMW still holds the title as the ultimate road-handling and cosseting driving machine. The 4-year old still feels as tight as it must have when it was brand new.
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2JZ-GE
Perhaps only a random series of letters and a number to most but they are actually the name of the 3.0L inline 6-cylinder engine that lurks beneath the hood of the IS. Even though the 215 hp rating is modest, we must remember our physics lessons; weight is the enemy. The IS' tips the scale at a reasonable 1,550 kg and so, the car is actually quick. The 3.0L is eager and responsive and well assorted to the tester's 5-speed autobox. Under hard acceleration or passing manoeuvres, the transmission never skipped a beat. If you hold the go-pedal long and hard enough against the firewall, you will be rewarded with a second wind around 5,000 rpm.
Why the IS occasionally gets drooled over is for its tunability. The 2JZ-GE is in a large part responsible for the IS' following. This engine has much in common with the Toyota Supra's powerplant. If you recall, the Supra Turbo had a nearly identical engine that benefitted from a turbocharger. The beauty here was that the 2JZ-GTE from the Supra dropped right into the IS' engine bay. In Europe and elsewhere around the World, numerous tuning companies manufacture superchargers for the IS's other engine, a 2.0L 4-pot.
Sharp as a tack
The IS has nearly perfect road manners. Its chassis is finely tuned and very capable of carving any mountainous road you throw at it. The car handles impressively well and the suspension does a great job of limiting lateral and vertical movements due to weight transfers. The compromise the taut shock-valving is a slightly harsher ride than one would like. The 3-Series BMW still holds the title as the ultimate road-handling and cosseting driving machine. The 4-year old still feels as tight as it must have when it was brand new.
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