CAR WARS! New Auto Spies Feature Puts Your Favorites HEAD-To HEAD! Today's BATTLE-Lexus IS vs. Infiniti G

Today, we're going to up the excitement here at AutoSpies.com by starting a new themed feature called CAR WARS!

The object of this new regular series of articles is to pit two rides head to head for a face off and let YOU choose the winner!

And we hope that you really unload EXACTLY how you feel about both and explain IN detail WHY your choice deserves VICTORY

So let's get the battle going in style.

In the ring for today, the Lexus IS vs. the Infiniti G.

Both are formidable competitors offering the value equation when pitted against the old guard of BMW, Mercedes and Audi.

So the war is ON!

Tell us who wins THIS battle and why your pick deserves it?

To make it easy, make sure you tell us who looks best, drives best, offers the most bang for the buck, is the most reliable, has the most cachet and which offers the best customer experience through their dealers.

And remember, hundreds of thousands of people per month are coming to AutoSpies.com to make their buying decisions based on YOURS and OUR opinions.

Plus ALL the auto manufacturers read yours and our opinions and take them VERY seriously.

Because in the premium segment WE are the tastemakers!

So give them GREAT advice!

Also, if you want to see the most extensive library of dealer reviews or review your dealer, chime in over on our sister site www.DealerRater.com. The number one dealer review site.

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poot66 - 1/17/2012 9:30:37 PM

+1 Boost

G hands down. For one the IS is more of a feminine car and is way too small. I believe people only buy it because of its looks and its a Lexus. Besides having no room that thing is crazy slow. The G is undoubtedly Infiniti's crowning achievement and is a much better buy. Even though both of them are on their way out the look great but the IS is nothing more than a G that got neutered.

enthusiastx11 - 1/18/2012 2:22:15 PM

-3 Boost

the IS is feminine because it's rounded, has a narrower stance and has a bit too much shiny trim going on.

enthusiastx11 - 1/17/2012 10:06:49 PM

+4 Boost

infiniti no question. the IS250 is a dog. and the IS350 can't match the handling of the G. lexus is great for the ladies, not people who like to drive.

FromThePassengerSeat - 1/17/2012 10:13:01 PM

+10 Boost

Now this is a good idea! I can't wait to see the juicy arguments generated by this series.

FromThePassengerSeat - 1/17/2012 10:23:05 PM

+6 Boost

Now, to answer the question: I believe that the G has the best mainstream variants, but that the IS F is far better than the $5100-extra-for-a-body-kit G IPL. The regular ISs are rather boring, while the IS F threatens the segment's unquestionable champ: the M3. (The 3-series is generally thought of as better than either of these.)

pchera01 - 1/17/2012 11:56:13 PM

+1 Boost

GGGGGG

Designer1 - 1/18/2012 12:34:07 AM

+1 Boost

G for handling, sportiness, power, and roominess. IS for reliability and quality.

The IS250 and G25 are for girls, but the IS350 and G37 are for men. The IS needs to be bigger and get some more power and handling, G needs Lexus' quality.

I drive a G35S, but I wish it had better quality and reliability, I wish the IS350 had the G's performance and room.

So the winner for me? G for sure.

DuDE - 1/18/2012 1:21:31 AM

+3 Boost

I believe the next gen IS is going to be a stunner

FromThePassengerSeat - 1/18/2012 10:43:16 AM

-2 Boost

Maybe the 350 is quick in a straight line, but show it a corner and you'll be disappointed.

klipprand - 1/18/2012 10:22:00 AM

+4 Boost

G for performance, IS for cachet, G for most useable space, IS for reliability - it's a real toss up - I would pick the G

LexSucks - 1/18/2012 10:30:22 AM

+2 Boost

Lexus all the way!!!!!!!!!

Better looking, Better performing, more reliable, and can cure cancer.

shui3000 - 1/18/2012 11:17:24 AM

+10 Boost

This is so stupid. People buy a 3 series, IS, A4, C-class, G-series, and Tsx for different reasons.

People have different tastes and preferences, and each meet a different niche.

More importantly, I'm willing to bet money that majority of those who have expressed their opinions on this board have not even driven one of these cars, but rather only read others reviews on these cars, and base their opinions from editorial reviews.

I drove a G35, not G37, and I thought the interior was wayyyyyy too plasticy for my taste, but the power was awesome. The 3-series handling was over-rated, and the interior still to plasticy for the price. Not to mention, the reliability issues associated with all the non-japanese brands.

So, I chose the IS, where the interior quality met my preferences, the handling was great, reliability is great, looks are killer. Anyone who says the handling is poor, clearly hasn't driven one.

Anyway, flame on.

LexSucks - 1/18/2012 11:30:58 AM

-1 Boost

The IS's interior is the most plasticky of them all. The Radio is a darkened version of the Camry's radio. The power windows switches are the same ones that you will find in a Camry. The BMW interior has a higher qaulity feel than the Lexus IS's interior. There's a reason why you can only get an IS with a dark colored interior. It's because dark colors masks the cheap plastics better.

And Handling? are you rating the Lexus IS's handling over the Audi A4, BMW 3-series, and Infinti G?

Reliability issues with all non japanese brands? What a crock of crap.

Bill - 1/18/2012 11:42:52 AM

+4 Boost

The best post in this thread.

Bill - 1/18/2012 11:43:36 AM

+5 Boost

That was meant for shui3000.

curriescorner - 1/18/2012 12:20:26 PM

+9 Boost

"More importantly, I'm willing to bet money that majority of those who have expressed their opinions on this board have not even driven one of these cars"

That pretty much sums it up for me. This article is pointless.

GTR35 - 1/18/2012 12:34:36 PM

+1 Boost

I drive a G35S 6mt sedan. Great fucken Car. Top Performer. Great Navi. Lovely interior. Handles like a nissan Z.

Since i'm driven by performance my choice is clear: the G.

evanisnuts - 1/18/2012 3:16:56 PM

+2 Boost

They both suck and are over priced for what you get. I'd take an Acura any day!

Also it's not very fair that you post a pic of the older G they since have refreshed it.

LexSucks - 1/18/2012 3:23:43 PM

-6 Boost

Acura sucks too (perhaps even worse than Lexus if that’s even possible). The TL is an ugly monstrosity, the TSX is a tepid chick car, The RL was a failure from day one, and Acura doesn’t even have a sporty coupe to compete with the G37. If you live in a glass house don’t throw stones.

85bmw745i - 1/19/2012 3:57:37 AM

-1 Boost

You'd take a front wheel drive car that can't match the performance of either the G or the IS? You really don't know much about cars. Thats like saying you'd take an Audi A3 front trak over a BMW 1 series. I could see picking an RL or TL over the ES350 but thats about it. Being FWD eliminates it automatically. Add to the fact it is slower than the IS350 and G37 and theres not much else that could sell it.

LexSucks - 1/19/2012 11:54:14 AM

0 Boost

"85bmw745i, also funny you talk about picking the BMW 1 -series. By BMW's own research, 80% of actual 1-series owners THOUGHT they had bought a FWD."

- What's your point?

85bmw745i - 1/19/2012 12:41:21 PM

+1 Boost

yes, unfortunately you are right about the 1 series angry, and its embarrassing to know that so many people think they are front wheel drive. I merely referenced it to make a point. So what people think is irrelevant in this case because I am pointing out the fact that this guy actually thinks a TL outperforms a G37 or IS350. It doesn't accelerate near as fast, and while it may hold its own on the skidpad for instrumented testing, the quicvk transitions from left to right will leave the nose heavy TL struggling to make them smoothly. Thats just physics. How many Front wheel drive based AWD supercars are there? Exactly, NONE. I like BMW for how they drive and appreciate the machine. I am not just sold by looks alone. SH-AWD or not, you won't get that light nimble feel or the IS or G. It still doesn't change the fact that it is a nose heavy FWD layout with AWD. At the extreme limit it may help make up for the shortcomings of a transversely mounted engine and transmission, but it ultimately won't feel light and agile as the others, especially during quick right to left transitions. I had an A4, and while the handling was good, it didn't feel as light and nimble on its feet as the 3 series I had prior.

knowitall1985 - 1/18/2012 4:09:28 PM

+3 Boost

IS350 the G is noisy and unrefined. Poor quality of materials just like a nissan. Sheet metal is thin,everything is thinner and cheaper. Fast though. An IS350 was clocked 5.2 0-60 so performance and handling are close. I'd go with Lexus because of more refinement and better resale.

LexSucks - 1/19/2012 1:43:14 PM

-2 Boost

"Can't put the IS at the top of the class until they get a manual where it belongs. But it's list of flaws is short.
BD"

- Isn't that what they said about the last gen IS? "It needs a manual". Guess what? They gave it a manual and it didn't make much of a difference. The same would apply to the current car. Only if the current transmission is crap will a manual transmission transform the car.