[bimmer4me]

I certainly hope BMW offers a 330 diesel here in the US before Lexus offers a hybrid IS350. Lexus relability and electronics are superior to BMW, IMO. BMW is superior when it comes to driving dynamics. Personally, I would prefer better electronics & navigation system along with better fuel effeciency, then another 100 horsepower. I'm getting the BMW because I wanted a manual transmission and superior handeling. Also, Lexus didn't offer the hybrid IS350 yet. It will be interesting to see where things are when my 4 year lease is up.

[Meatnog]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

the original poster: The IS350 would be a great car for someone like my younger brother, who would simply be satisfied with a good car that's decently quick, has nice amenities, and reliable at a good price. He also doesn't care about "driver feel" and just cares about getting from point A to point B. And he prefers automatic transmissions...but I don't. The longer the distance between A and B, the happier I am in my BMW.

Which is exactly why people by a Lexus more often than not. Lexus, like Jaguar, tend to be more comfortable than a BMW but usually lack in the performance department but are cheaper than a comparable Mercedes. A lot of people don't like the 'tight steering and suspension' of a BMW. They don't want to 'feel the road'.

[darkside]

I have not driven the IS but have driven the GS and it is no BMW. I have driven the RL, M45, A6 and on and on and just none of them handle like a BMW. I'm currently driving an e46 M3, and it is a great handling car, but a little on the stiff side. I was very impressed with the e90 330i, a great blend of comfort and performance. I would just like to see a little more power, and even that probably is not a deal breaker as it is as rare time when I really get to use the 333 HP of my M3. I read in the Rondel last night that an announcement on the 335i is expected soon.

I think of Lexus as a luxury car. We own an RX 330 and that is one comfortable SUV. My brother has an LS 430 and again a really comfortable car.

[LEDZEP]

VW owns Audi. Audi doen't own shit.

Zen - I think the missing piece in both your friend's piano playing and in other cars competing with the 3 is - soul. Your friend can accurately play the notes, and even keep proper time and emphasis, but he is not putting that "passion" or "feeling" into it as a great pianist would. Same with the cars.

[bimmer4me]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

VW owns Audi. Audi doen't own shit.

I owned a 2002 Passat. VW = sh!t :mad:

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

VW owns Audi. Audi doen't own shit.

Though VW own Audi, Audi does own Lamborghini. They bought it, it is their subsiduary, it was not transfered up the chain to VW. That is why the interiors are all A8 bits redone.

What does Audi own - Bank Vault quality on wheels. But you gotta ask yourself how exciting is a bank vault (unless there is a lot of your money in it!)

[LEDZEP]

Oh, I wasn't knocking Audi at all. Semantics with the chain of ownership thing though. If VW owns Audi, and Audi owns Lamborghini, then VW owns Lamborghini. I don't care what is says on paper.

[F32Fleet]

IS350 is one nice ride. I'll say this..95% of the BMW owner drive their cars @ around 40%. The IS350 fulfills that 40% at a cheaper price with better reliability. How many of you guys, A/T guys esp, are driving your E90's at 70% or more? I bet not many. Take my own situation, 95% of the time I'm driving in crawl of am/pm rush hour traffic. I rarely get the chance to drive my car anywhere close to what it can do. I love my car, but it's getting to the point where the cost benefit ratio is really not in my favor.
This is where Infiniti, Lexus, Acura come in.

My $.02

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

Oh, I wasn't knocking Audi at all. Semantics with the chain of ownership thing though. If VW owns Audi, and Audi owns Lamborghini, then VW owns Lamborghini. I don't care what is says on paper.

Sorry you just touched a raw nerve.

I agree with you, but Audi people are always p1$$ed off that VW take everything from Audi and claim at as their own. You can not begin to imagine how much some Audi owners hate VW for what they do to the Audi brand. So far at least that great V10 engine from Lambo hasn't shown up in a Passat, so we have small mercies to be thankful for

Imagine if Hyundai bought BMW and started selling Sonatas with the engine from the 330 and other BMW technologies. At least Audi are very careful about how then combine Audi and Lambo bits.

I know they are the owners and this is their right, what it really shows is that VW don't know sh!t about Brand management.

[davinet78]

the lexus is not cool enough for the bmw

[scottz5]

It is a great car, but I think Lexus priced it way too high. It is the same price as a 330 and IMO they will not steal any drivers away from BMW. Now if a is350 was 3-5k lower then they may steal some BMW owners. Lexus makes great cars just not as fun to drive as BMW's. My wifes loves her rx330 and I so do I, but its not fun to drive! I would bet the same for the is350 great car just not as fun. Same money BMW is the winner, if it was cheaper I think the Lexus would be a huge sucess.

[MCS]

Define "cool enough" That is a perception and marketinng at work.

Objectively, I think the IS350 is a serious contendor/competitor to the 330i. Recent entrants such as the G35 and Audi's S classes are causing BMW to rethink horsepower. I beleive there was a recent WSJ article in which a BMW executive says that with the ongoing horsepower wars, they will have to rethink engine strategy. They don't want anyont to "outBMW" BMW.

Who wins? Us as the consumers. The 335 turbo testing is a direct result of this horsepower war between manufacturers.

I like Lexus - My wifes car is an RX330 which is a great car. Comfortable, reliable, and bulletproof quality. My new 330i has not given me any issues so far, but time will tell. My old 96 3 series gave me minor electrical issues every year, which I seriously doubt the Lexus will.

As a former autocrosser looking to re-enter when the 330 has past break in, I'll be on the lookout for the IS and will wager that the better driver will win, regardless of the brand.

[shuzmaker]

IS 350 is a good alternative to the 3.

[scottz5]

Originally Posted by MCS

Define "cool enough" That is a perception and marketinng at work.

Objectively, I think the IS350 is a serious contendor/competitor to the 330i. Recent entrants such as the G35 and Audi's S classes are causing BMW to rethink horsepower. I beleive there was a recent WSJ article in which a BMW executive says that with the ongoing horsepower wars, they will have to rethink engine strategy. They don't want anyont to "outBMW" BMW.

Who wins? Us as the consumers. The 335 turbo testing is a direct result of this horsepower war between manufacturers.

I like Lexus - My wifes car is an RX330 which is a great car. Comfortable, reliable, and bulletproof quality. My new 330i has not given me any issues so far, but time will tell. My old 96 3 series gave me minor electrical issues every year, which I seriously doubt the Lexus will.

As a former autocrosser looking to re-enter when the 330 has past break in, I'll be on the lookout for the IS and will wager that the better driver will win, regardless of the brand.

Wives love the RX's lol

[MCS]

funny - I just posted re my wife's car and someone else beat me to it. There's a lot of us dual car - Lexus and BMW owners on this board. Values both reliability on one hand and fun to drive car on the other.

[loihisteve]

IMO, Lexus screwed-up with the camshaft profiles ... both the IS250 and IS350 achieve MAX Torque at 4800 RPM. Thats absolutely terrible for a modern engine. BMW's E90 has a clear advantage in this category!

[scottz5]

Originally Posted by MCS

funny - I just posted re my wife's car and someone else beat me to it. There's a lot of us dual car - Lexus and BMW owners on this board. Values both reliability on one hand and fun to drive car on the other.

I agree!

[thd13]

I was seriously considering the IS350 but there were a few things that steered me away:
1) It doesn't come in MT.
2)You can't turn off Traction Control.
3) It doesn't come in MT
4) Refer to 1 and 3.

For me manual transmission is what I was really looking for. Other than that, the E90 has a huge competitor in the IS350, closing the space in this automotive race. Lexus has outstanding reliability, very nice trim and interior, and great specs. Lastly, the exterior truly doesn't look as nice as the E90, but that is definitely just my opinion.

If only it had a MT, it would be so much closer.

[ericd]

NO, LEXUS IS NOT RELIABLE. I can't state that enough. I don't know why people say that. I own an RX330 and its been in th shop countless times for rattles and misc "plastic" issues. They car is a hunk of junk.

When it goes into the shop I get a similar loaner, or somethimes an es330, and they are just as bad. The last loaner ES330 had 1800 miles on it and th heater/air conditioner vent popped out while driving.

My inlaws have a GX 470 and its had its fair share of seat issues.

My neighbor had a new LX470 returned undre lemon law.

I have E91 on order so Icannot speak to it's reliability but our a4 was in the shop twice in our 3 year lease!

[ericd]

Originally Posted by lhoboy8

I actually think the IS is a better looking car, much better tech/options, better looking interior.

My wife and I are convinced that Lexus owners simply don't care that their car interiors are completely cheap painted plastic. our lexus has never left us stranded, but the dash rattles are INSANE. Absoutlely horrible. And the seats that creak... don't get me started. The window roll-down switches have a silly large text label underneath them that reads "ALL-AUTO" in a large font on the armrest. It's like the words "Hi-Fi" being on your ipod! Even the Lexus LX470 flagship $70,000 car has that label on the armrest.

We are convinced that lexus owners don't care about the build quality of the compnents...the fact that EVERYTHING on the car from the dash to the grille materials to the door lining components are PLASTIC - and cheap painted chrome plastic.

It's a joke. When we sat in the 530xi and the e90 we were blown away - there is some plastic as with any modern car but there is soooo much more rubber, wood, and metal. The dash is plyable rubber instead of TOYOTA plastic. It's great.

[scottz5]

Price link!
http://www.clublexus.com/

[scottz5]

Originally Posted by ericd

NO, LEXUS IS NOT RELIABLE. I can't state that enough. I don't know why people say that. I own an RX330 and its been in th shop countless times for rattles and misc "plastic" issues. They car is a hunk of junk.

When it goes into the shop I get a similar loaner, or somethimes an es330, and they are just as bad. The last loaner ES330 had 1800 miles on it and th heater/air conditioner vent popped out while driving.

My inlaws have a GX 470 and its had its fair share of seat issues.

My neighbor had a new LX470 returned undre lemon law.

I have E91 on order so Icannot speak to it's reliability but our a4 was in the shop twice in our 3 year lease!

WOW LEXUS HATER!

Our 04 RX330 is perfect!