2013 Lexus IS-350

The 2013 Lexus IS-350 at the sticker price of $41,215 is a beautiful luxury sports car that I would be proud to own. There’s many other luxury sports cars made in 2013 that I would prefer over the Lexus IS-350, like the Lexus IS-F, or the Nissan GTR, but they are out of the price range that any normal working class consumer could afford. At $41,215 the IS-350 is still a stretch for the majority of people, but with a decent down payment it can be made affordable. Knowing that the IS-350 is barely beyond what is affordable, makes it that much more desirable. One could however settle for the IS-250 for $35,000, because the IS-250 offers something the IS-350 doesn’t, a 6-speed manual transmission. The manual transmission alone might be enough reason for most to go with the IS-250 instead.

The IS-350 has a 3.5 L V6 engine, and pushes 306 horsepower. The car launches from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds. Again the only thing it doesn’t have going for it, is the fact that it only comes with an automatic transmission. To partially make up for the IS-350 not having a manual transmission, Lexus has included paddle shifters for that sporty racer feeling. The base model IS-350 comes in rear-wheel drive, which wouldn’t be desirable for anyone that lives outside of California. So there is an optional upgrade to all-wheel-drive. The IS-250 has a much smaller engine, and only pushes 209 horsepower, but knowing that it offers a manual transmission and all-wheel-drive might be enough for most people to settle for less power and go with the IS-250.

The interior of the IS-350 is very luxurious, and includes all the bells and whistles that most luxury sports cars offer. The interior is two-tone leather that has been designed to be more comfortable than sporty. The buttons are very basic, and were probably designed to be simple for the elderly. With the elderly being main age group that can even afford to drive an IS-350, it makes sense that they would cater to them. Still, the IS-350 is very nice inside and out. The smooth and beautiful body style has hardly changed since they were first introduced in 2005, and it still seems new and exciting

I have always wanted an IS-350, and every time I saw one on the road or in a parking lot I pointed it out to whoever was with me like it was an exotic car. After doing more research and finding out that they do not come with a manual transmission, and the IS-250 doesn’t have enough power, I have decided that the IS-350 and IS-250 are simply beautiful cars, and not much more than that. My desire to own either one of them has faded. There are numerous cheaper vehicles out there that are equally as nice, and offer much more. I will still enjoy the beauty of the IS-350, but I probably wont ever buy one.

Part Three - Three Part Series: The 3 Coolest Consumer Vehicles Made In 2013

The All New 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA

autoglamor.com

         You can now own a top of the line luxury car without breaking your wallet! For only $29,900, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA is the ultimate consumer luxury car of 2013. This makes the CLA third on my list of “the 3 coolest consumer vehicles made in 2013”.

autorooster.com

Mercedes has done an incredible job building an economical, and sporty luxury car at an affordable price. The CLA is the first front-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz production car ever made for the US market. All of their other cars come in rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel-drive as an optional upgrade. The CLA base model is powered by an energy efficient 2.0 liter 4 cylinder turbo-charged engine, the engine in the CLA produces 208 horsepower, while still getting up to 38 miles per gallon. Mercedes-Benz has also included the “ECO Start/Stop” that automatically powers down the engine when you bring the car to a full stop; once you take your foot off of the brake, the engine starts back up again.

mbusa.com

The CLA is rated as the most aerodynamic production car ever made. Unlike other manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz was able to make the car aerodynamic without compromising the beauty and prestige of the CLA. The front end of the CLA looks mean, and screams dominance, while the side and rear profiles are gentle, smooth, and sleek. As you climb into the drivers seat, the rich perfume of leather interior intoxicates you, while the hi-definition multimedia screen, and the lighted controls will make you think you’re climbing into the cockpit of a jet. Mercedes-Benz paid attention to every little detail of stitching; they have spared nothing in making even the base model as luxurious as possible.

thecarconnection.com

If you’re as thrilled as I am about this beautiful car, and have about $20,000 more to spend, Mercedes-Benz is planning on releasing an even more powerful CLA45 AMG later this year. A 355 horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine will power the CLA45 AMG. This four-cylinder engine will rocket the CLA from 0-60 in a mere 4.5 seconds! The CLA45 AMG will also include the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, giving it the needed extra traction for all that power. The all-wheel-drive would also come in handy during the winter season.

Mercedes-Benz CLA teaser video:

Part Two - Three Part Series: The 3 Coolest Consumer Vehicles Made In 2013

2013 Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S

motortrend.com

            Subaru and Toyota collaborated to produce a beautifully designed rear-wheel drive sports car, and in 2011 they came out with: the Subaru BRZ, and the Scion FR-S. Toyota and Subaru have decided to market the same car separately using Subaru’s famous boxer engine, and Toyota’s reliable transmission. The 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder boxer engine pumps out 200 horsepower. The car only weighs just over a ton, which puts the horsepower to weight ratio at 13 pounds per horsepower. With such a low sticker price, the BRZ and FR-S are 2013’s most affordable race-ready sports cars. At only $26,265.00, you could be racing one of these completely stock sports cars at the track with the best of them.

The BRZ and FR-S exteriors both look mean and sporty; they use headlights inspired by Subaru’s eagle eye headlights found on the 2007 WRX. The shape of the hood flowing into the side fenders makes it look like the car is scowling at you. The design makes you believe that the car is up to any challenge you can put in front of it. My only complaint about the exterior would be the small, red, upside-down triangle on the back bumper. The upside-down triangle reminds me of the caution tape you sometimes see on the bumpers of cars driven by old people. So if I were to purchase a BRZ or an FR-S, the first modification I would make would be covering the triangle up.

motortrend.com

The interiors of both cars are very nice, but Subaru has put much more effort into making the BRZ’s interior extremely luxurious by adding heated seats, pushbutton start, and a navigation system. The small upgrades I mentioned previously would certainly push me towards buying a Subaru if I were in the market to buy one of these cars. If you were to climb into a BRZ or an FR-S, you would notice that the rear seats are too small for most children. Some smaller adults could fit uncomfortably, but they would only be able to stand a very short trip. The fact that the rear seats are so small would not be a breaking point for me though; all of the other features of the car definitely outweigh the small rear passenger seats. Also, who would care about having more than one passenger in this car? If you and your friends were going on a road trip, let one of them drive their own car and save the mileage on your car for the track. The BRZ and the FR-S share the second spot in my three part series of the “Three coolest vehicles made in 2013”. Stay tuned for next weeks review on the third and final coolest vehicle made in 2013.