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BMW 3-series vs Lexus IS
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Comments
Better feeling, handling, and strong engine.
I know without a doubt can handle my very very very fast speeds with absolute confidence.
I test drove Lexus, really liked it a lot. I tell other people they should buy one.
But for me and my 'spirited' driving; only BMW.
If BMW ever really pisses me off.
I would buy that IS in a hearbeat.
Realy good looks, AIR comes THROUGH their seats! that was really cool.
decent power, nice interior.
Just doesn't ride or corner as good as BMW.
K
Regards,
OW
Regards,
OW
But the E90's styling does not move me at all. It's certainly not a bad looking car, but in my eyes it's a step backward from the E46. The first time that I saw that generation, back in 1999, I was filled with lust. I had to own that car. And looking at my 2001 330i still gives me great pleasure. I still look over my shoulder as I walk away from it. By contrast, when I see an E90, I think, "Well, that's nice". It manages not to give offense, but that's about it.
Because my BMW is a weekend fair weather pleasure ride, the miles are low. And that means that 2 years from now, I may well decide that all I need is a new set of tires to keep me happy for another 2 years.
Here's hoping you stay happy and have fun in the hunt!
Regards,
OW
Tomorrow I wash the 330.
Regards,
OW
I also hear how the 3 series BMW blows the IS 350 away in the handling area. The drivers of all the BMWs we encountered on the parkway were always braking hard at turns and on inclines.
... so much for the BMW's great handling capabilities. :P
Then again, I blew away an IS350 on a double wide freeway ramp this weekend, and I was driving my wife's minivan.
...so much for the vaunted handling capabilities of the Lexus IS twins. :P
Best Regards,
Shipo
True I'm turning 50 next week and haven't started wearing corrective lenses yet, but my eyesight ain't that bad (I'm one of those types that needs longer arms to read the paper but have no problems reading road signs a mile away).
As you probably surmised, my point was that a 1966 VW Beetle (the most diabolical handling car I've ever driven) will blow away a Ferrari in a turn given enough difference in the drivers.
Best Regards,
Shipo
A 1966 VW Beetle could also blow away a Lambo if that Lambo driver was just out for a nice Sunday cruise.
A predictable occurrence, given the combination of a fundamentally unstable vehicle & a young, stupid driver.
Apologies for the digression...
Yup, I'm thinking that "diabolical" may not have been a strong enough adjective to describe how that car behaved on roads that were straight as an arrow as well as those that were Route 17ish (or worse). BTW, I leased my two BMWs from dealerships on Route 17 (New Jersey), and drove them quite often on 17a west of Sloatsburg. Lots of fun!
Best Regards,
Shipo
I've got you by 2 years and my arms are still long enough to read but approaching the extent of focus, so to speak.
I think spiritinthesky had both IS350 and 335 in his hands on a recent test at an old airport runway and can probably provide the best feedback on the better performing car (as opposed to the official editor expert reviews). His family owns both and is selling one for a people mover. Guess which one is being sold?
Let's assume the Asians are getting better but not there yet in the best handling category. That's an opinion I'm sure will be a quite heated debate.
Regards,
OW
Yeah, I'm still within focus most of the time for most things, however, I needed to send my RAZR in for service last week and I needed to read the IMEM (or some such) number off the label behind the battery. Uh-huh, not happening, time to get the cheaters out. ;-)
Mrs. Shipo on the other hand lost the ability to read children's books (big type and all) when she was 41, and it drives her nuts that I'm still not wearing glasses (yet of course). If for no other reason than the fact that she's irked by my eyesight, I'll hold off on spectacles for as long as possible. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
Oh, heck, I get it...just adjust the seat, silly me!
Regards,
OW
I owned Lincoln LS and the 3-series is "cozy" in comparison but livable for 4 on most drives. It's far from a long-trip cruiser for 4.
I would buy another 3 just for the driving dynamics.
Regards,
OW
Also, why are you posting the same post at different IS boards? Even the IS-F one? What does it have to do with the IS-F? :confuse:
Regards,
OW
Regards,
OW
Best Regards,
Shipo
2. IS250 is more comparable to the 328i in terms of performance and pricing
That said, if the OP is looking for a cushy boulevard cruiser, then the IS250 is probably the perfect choice.
Best Regard,
Shipo
The BMW 3 (& TSX, by the way) will carry two adults comfortably in the back seat and can be had with fold-down seats, which add immensely to the practical value of the vehicle (IMHO, of course).
I recently helped a co-worker purchase a new car and her top choice ended up being a loaded IS250. The 3 series was too expensive when optioned like the IS, the CTS was too big (and the test car gave a bad impression with a vibrating steering wheel). The IS NAV is also much better than the CTS
She didn't care about the power of the IS350 and wanted the NAV instead of the extra power (odd concept for me).
I can squeeze into the back of an IS (6'3")...but others with shorter legs will find that the back of the front seats have indentions that give additional (much needed) space.
We recently took her car for lunch and 4 of us fit fine (I don't see the middle seat being used by anything other than a child).
Not my top choice...but a real nice car that she's trilled to own.
In your case, I vote for the TSX.
The TSX and IS250 are pretty much a toss-up on fuel economy and engine output. The biggest difference between them is that the TSX is more spacious and is actually fun to drive. The TSX also has a track record of outstanding resale value.
Thank you, thank you sir. I'll take whatever postive reinforcement I can get these days.
Seriously, with my 5-month old TSX I can certainly tell that it's not RWD, but otherwise (how was the play, otherwise, Mrs. Lincoln?) it's been delightful. My bicycle fits in the trunk & everything else works too, every time.
Oh, and it gets 28 mpg in mixed driving to work and back.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
As far as the TSX, I tested it a couple of years ago and didn't like the 4 cylinder feel. The car gets about the same gas mileage as an IS250 which is a 6. This should not be. Plus, I found the quality of the TSX to be kind of cheaply made but yet only a few thousand less than an IS250 and even a 328 for that matter. For example, I thought the doors were very light and tin'y. In fact, I thought the Accord V6 Coupe was a higher end car than the TSX.
Again, I'm not looking for power just a nice looking car and decent gas mileage. Keep in mind, my 325 is only 127 hp and is cramped in the back seat too.
The current model TSX was redesigned from the ground up. It's a completely different car than the one you test drove 2 years ago. But if you want a V6, then it's off the list.
"The car gets about the same gas mileage as an IS250 which is a 6. This should not be."
Why not? Both engines are basically the same size and displacement. You know, the 4 cylinder Accord, Camry, and Sonata also get basically the same mileage.
Speaking of the Sonata, have you looked at it? With current incentives, you can get a 2009 V6 Limited with all the bells and whistles (Satellite navigation, heated leather seats, Infinity audio system with XM radio and iPod jack, bluetooth, etc.) for between $25,000 and $26,000. It's a very nice car with a smooth powerful V6 (it's 20% more powerful than the Lexus yet gets about the same mileage), refined road manners, excellent quality, and a luxurious interior.
With today's economy, saving $6,000 or $7,000 can't be a bad thing...
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I then replied saying that the IS250 is more closely compare to the 328i in both performance and pricing.
Was I wrong?
:confuse:
Also...if your steep driveway straightens out (which I'm assuming) then you may also bottom out the middle of the vehicle too...so wheelbase length may matter as well.
Of course you could take the approach at a 45 degree angle and after one wheel is on straighten out (also assuming the back end doesn't scrape)
Best to take the test vehicles and try it out on their cars before you get either.
thanks!