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According to Webster's dictionary, spartan means- marked by simplicity, frugality, or avoidance of luxury and comfort.
That's exactly the way I would describe the interior of the 3 series. :P
It might be IMO, but your opinion is in the minority. BMW has a much more functional interior than the IS, which makes it nicer. :P It's not devoid of luxury, it's devoid of clutter.
blueguy better get his dictionary out before posting.
Actually it's not an option. talk to a lexus dealer. They, if they're honest, will explain they can only "order" cars Lexus is building. They must take what Lexus builds - nothing is built to order by Lexus.
I also like multiple options for colors and trim
Not 4 colors of leather (beige, black, grey, terra) and 3 wood/aluminum trims. Sorry Lexus doesn't offer than kind of customizing. You also must get items within packages - so picking things you do and don't want is nigh impossible. Heck, I'm not even including the lemon leather interior option for BMW.
I want a purposeful interior that's got the gauges I need, hard, tight leather seats, an ergonomics focused on the driver. The 46 had it, the e90 is a step away but not nearly as bad as the competition. Give me the hard edged teutonic designs over anything buicky-soft (Infiniti, Lexus, Acura, Caddy).
1. Trade with other dealers (the simplest). Dealers usually trade car at port right after they arrived. For my region the port the Jacksonville.
2. Request the car before they shipped out. This is not custom-build, instead the dealers request the car right after they rolled out of the assembly line. If dealers don't have special request then it's up to Lexus to distribute the cars.
3. Customer-build. This option takes the longest (usually up to 120 days) and yes you can customize your car. The story I heard is that Lexus rarely builds IS with sports package and the only way to get it is through special order.
As for the color, like I said the color options Lexus offered is plenty enough for me and also, Lexus doesn't charge extra for paint colors other than while, red and black like BMW does.
I do agree with you that E46's interior looks way better than E90's and I also would like to see more driver-oriented cockpit design for cars in this segment.
Interiors. Read the whole message. I was discussing interiors. As for drive, only the Lexus and the Acura are soft in terms of drive. The Infinti feels pretty good - a tad skittish.
Do I really have to post the numerous reviews about the interior styling of the 3er? I hope not..
"It's not devoid of luxury, it's devoid of clutter."
What you call clutter, others call "necessity."
Best Regards,
Shipo
Then we're in agreement.
"Give me the hard edged teutonic designs over anything buicky-soft (Infiniti, Lexus, Acura, Caddy)."
Not even going to go into the inherent absurdity of that comment...
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=104670
Note in the article where they talk about build and quality materials.
"What you call clutter, others call "necessity." "
Yes, and still others call clutter.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Yes, but as soft as the Buick? I don't think so.
Also, a car's interior isn't just the seats. It also includes the dash, center console and many others. Beside paying extra for the metallic paint one also needs to pay extra to get genuine leather seat in 3-series. As for Lexus, genuine leather is standard throughout the lineup
Saying it another way you can build the car the way you want and pay for only those options that make a difference for you.
I second that. The TL's thigh bolsters are hard. Can't wait til they soften up after some use.
I believe there are 'driving enhusiasts' who want seats that hard. For me though, a good (not great) performer with comfort is the best mix.
Those making generalizations like 'your opinion is in the minority' one way or the other lose credibility in my view. If you talk mostly to enthusiasts, the BMW seats are just right and you will feel those of us who like the mixture are in the minority. I see it the other way. I have no way of quantifying it and I think others have no way either.
As has already been said, it's what is best for each individual, not what anyone else thinks is best (even if they are in the minority ).
about the seats. I've been researching and
checking the interiors on these cars, meaning
the dash layouts, instrumentation, even the
styling contours of the seats. These are my
basic likes and dislikes in regard to the
the cars that I am eyeing when my lease is up.
Acura TL: Love the interior looks of this
car all the way from the electric blue
instrumentation, the entire dash layout, and
I think the contour of the front bucket seats
are gorgeous. Right now, the only thing
I wish the TL had was the auto-headlights and
split fold rear seat.
The current Nissan Maxima: The fact that my
2002 Maxima has been an excellent car for
four years would probably always keep this
car on my radar. I know the styling to
many people out there is subjective
inside and out on this car, but I still like
it.
Lexus IS250/350: It's a beautiful car, but..
It's just too small for my tastes.
BMW 325/330: While I really like the
exterior styling, especially with the sport
package, i.e., wider tires and such, I really
am not crazy about the interior dash layout/
design. It's what keeps this car down on the
list for me. I really feel that the previous
generation 3 series had a much better looking
dash layout/design.
The Infiniti G35/coupe: Love these cars, but
not crazy about the mpg's with today's gas
prices. I'd rather get the TL or the Maxima
with a little bit less hp and more mpg's.
Just my two cents!
Amen!
M
We have some interchanges like that here in the Chicago area. There are two on I290 and few in downtown Chicago. Very dumb design IMO. If the faster traffic is to keep left then you can't put merging traffic on the highway in the left lane. I don't know how that got by the engineers who designed these interchanges. Illinois has gone so far as to pass laws about the left lane and its specific uses in the last few years. Luckily the City of Chicago is eliminating most of the left handers on I94 in downtown Chicago, but the ones on I290 are here to stay I guess for the time being.
M
80 is kinda slow as far as Connecticut goes.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
From behind, i saw a big black bmw shooting down the ramp. He passed by us on the left doing at least seventy, sucking my car several inches to the left, and uneventfully merged into traffic.
I remember thinking, "I need to get me one of THOSE!"
And a new girlfriend that knows how to drive!
dave
From http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/jun2006/bw20060616_655394.htm
"Jaguar X-Type
Segment: Luxury Sport Sedan
Engine: 3 Liter V6
Horsepower: 227
Cost: $32,330
Gas mileage: 18/24 (city/highway)
Near misses: Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac CTS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Though the X-Type does have 12 more horsepower than a base BMW 3 Series, it also costs more ($32,330 vs. $30,900). But that doesn't matter because the 3, like other class competitors -- the Audi A4, Cadillac CTS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class -- makes better use of what it has under the sheet metal. Drive-wise, the soft-handling X-Type doesn't get close to the gold-standard 3 or sharp-witted and well-powered upstarts like the CTS, which packs 255 horses over the X-Type's 227. And though the ride is Jaguar-comfortable, the interior materials aren't what you'd expect from the venerable mark. There's nothing worse than hoping to rest your superiority complex on a classic and elegant British inter1ior only to have a lackluster cabin leave you hanging."
I have to say, that was your own fault. You do realize that the folks already on the freeway have the right of way? It's your responsibility to get up to the proper speed to merge with traffic! It doesn't matter what the speed limit is.
The TL is the best car in the pack (overall) and i'm not just saying that because i'm a fan, it's true.
A magazine i was reading had a comparo of all of these cars:
The TL gets great gas mileage, auto-industry best reliability, and fast, too! (FWD)
For 2006 The TL has no black spots on Consumer Reports, and is recommended as the best entry-level midsize sedan.
The 3 Series is an excellent drivers car.
But the price tag can be steep, for just a name "BMW"
The G35 is a driver's car also, and looks good.
But as of right now Nissan is at the bottom of the import pit with Suzuki and Volkswagen. (JD Power)
The IS350 is hair-raising fast, and is a Toyota.
But i'd rather have the bigger GS for the price.
The C-Class is a nice car, and fun to drive.
But when you pay for a name. You sometimes pay for bad quality also. It had more black spots across the board than a Ford Taurus. (Consumer Reports)
The CTS is an alright car with excellent reliability (saab engine)
But lacks the fit and finish of it's competitors.
The ES330 is nice, pretty quick, and reliable.
But Lexus isn't exactly the most economical buy in the category.
For everything you get, gas mileage, reliability, a price that doesn't jump 10k like it's competitors. The TL is the best entry-level midsize sedan on the road. (Autobytel)
a lot of "bang for the buck." Now, if only
Acura would offer some better lease support
on the TL. I know here in my hometown in
Florida, I just want to laugh out loud when
I'm perusing the Saturday ads in the auto
section for the various leases, i.e., Acura,
Infiniti.
For instance, the local ad in town for the
Acura TL for a lease on a non-navi right now
is $354 a month, but they want $4,000 down.
$354 a month might sound nice, but after
reading these forums over the past year,
there's no way I'm putting $4,000 down to
lease a vehicle. The Infiniti ads are the
same way. They want ridiculous amounts for
a down payment on a lease. I get so P.O.'d
when I see this every weekend.
I have to admit, I have hardly seen any
really decent lease offers that anyone has
been getting even on these forums, and I
check the other forums besides Acura. I'm
always checking out the Lexus forums, the
Infiniti forums (granted some people,
particularly in California, seem to get some
outstanding deals.) It always seems like
slim-pickings when it comes to leasing these
days. Just my rantings!
But the price tag can be steep, for just a name BMW
You can pick up a brand new 2006 330i for about 32k if you know how to shop. Under 30k for a 325i. On lease a 330i is a steal. My last one ran me 17k for 3 years of its lease. Not bad given the 43k msrp. My current 330i will cost me $10k (42k msrp) total in lease fees over 2 years. Can Acura even come close to that? don't think so...plus the BMW has free maintenance so the only cost for upkeep on my 3s: tires.
The G35 is a driver's car also, and looks good.
But as of right now Nissan is at the bottom of the import pit with Suzuki and Volkswagen. (JD Power)
Infiniti is in the top 10 for reliability. Nice way to cloud facts.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
You begin your post with, "A magazine i was reading had a comparo of all of these cars..." which is certainly a beginning, but if you haven't driven all the cars, how can YOU decide which is truly best? Only the actual buyer/lessor can decide which car is the best. Not everyone has the same buying criteria. If you decide that a BMW is the best, you pay what you pay because that is the car you have decided is worth your $$$.
But for me, like you, the TL is the best!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Thanks
I have rear HVAC on my e90 330i. Not sure but I think it's standard on all e90s.
As for the A4 v. 325, go hop in both.
This situation is the similar to turning into traffic from a side-street. If the posted speed is 35 MPH you have every right to expect the on-coming traffic is doing 35 MPH or less when calculating your safe-merge zone.
If this does not make an sense, think how you would react if you were trying to enter the street from your driveway and the traffic as doing 60 MPH. Would you say: "Well that's okay -- they have the right-of-way. I will just have to go purchase an alcohol Funny Car so I can merge in safely."? :mad: I don't think so!
I am no angel with my new TL. But if you can not be considerate of other motorist, at least remember you are assuming a tremendous responsibility when you speed - potentially a life-and-death responsibility :sick: .
and guess what? The local Acura's ad
increased the down payment for a 2006 TL
w/out navi to $5,000 down for 36 months with
the same payment they've been advertising of
$354 a month. The nerve!!! They wanted
$4,000 down last week. I just cannot believe
that with all the TLs they've got sitting on
the lot, and believe me, they've got PLENTY,
the incentives are even worse. I really don't
understand this.
As far as Infiniti's lease program, if you
go by what's advertised in the Tampa Tribune,
the local Infiniti dealer wants too much to
be put down for the down payment of a lease,
although I have a gut feeling that there's
still room for negotiating a decent deal with
much less money down. It was very deflating
reading today's paper in the automobile
section. Makes me start to think I should
just buy my Maxima when the lease is up.
The buyout price is pretty cheap. :mad:
Thanks!
You could buy the car with no money down and have a similar payment, and still have the flexibility to do what you want, whenever you want, with the car.
I leased an Accord a few years back. Zero down, first payment was made for me, and a residual that mirrored the true MV of the car at lease end. The payment was $100+ month lower than if I'd bought the car.
My $.02
I know my monthly payments would be
considerably higher if I were to buy it and
put 4k down and finance it over 5 years, but
I wouldn't have to deal with mileage limits
or fees to turn the car back in and such
and such.
It seems to me that leases overall are not
very good deals these days as opposed to
four or five years ago. And you're correct,
I believe the mileage limit for the lease
on the TL is 10k or 12k per year and it's for
a 36-month lease.
I can say this much: If I can't find any
decent lease incentives on the cars that I'm
interested in when my lease is up, I may
have to just look at buying, maybe even used.
ok, you got our attention. brand new 330i for 32k? 325 for 30k? lease fees under 10k?
care to share? You'll have an eager audience, promise!
So that does mean that on a base 325i (no options), with a regular MSRP of $31,595, it would end up being 26856?
I have not finished reading through the ED options, but does it require a trip to Europe?
If you like the ideas of BMW's and european delivery, you don't count the vacation cost as part of the car cost. I'm going to go on vacations now and again anyhoo. And i subtract the cost of rental from my car's price. Picking up the car at the factory and breaking it in on the autobahn is worth something to some people.
However, if you're not positive about bmw's in the first place and aren't going to travel to europe, you can add $1500 to the ED price as part of your "virtual" car cost.
I certainly don't mind the travel. I just spent a month in Europe, which was an amazing experience.