Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-series vs Lexus IS
1527 messages, Last post on May 20, 2009 at 1:33 PM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
|
Replying to: g17 (Oct 21, 2005 10:24 am)  I'm sure your Lexus dealer will be thrilled to sell you an IS and hope you enjoy it! |
|
|
Replying to: blueguydotcom (Oct 20, 2005 9:34 pm) I Agree! zero roadfeel - as if floating on a cloud I do not think this as a bad thing. I felt that the 325i isolated you from the road very well, which I thought was great; I dont wanna feel bad roads, it gives me a headache. With sport package, leather, comfort access that car stickers at 41k. European Delivery price minus BMW CCA rebate = 35.5k Wow, sounds really good, but tell me how much would it cost to fly 2 people out to Europe and to stay there for a couple of days just to get this deal? What about shipping cost?
|
|
|
Replying to: texasmerq (Oct 20, 2005 10:20 pm) Yes, the design is not bad, but I am talking about other things. The 330i looks great with those 18inch wheels, but the 325i with 16inch looks boring. The 16 inch wheels are ugly. The paint job looks cheaper then on the 330i. It looks like an average car, to tell you the truth I dont even notice BMWs on the road anymore. It is just basic simplicity- gauges, HVAC controls, sound system, basic simplicity = boring. I want something flashy, I want to get into the car that looks fun inside. |
|
|
Replying to: g17 (Oct 21, 2005 11:50 am) Thats relative. Compared to Lexus they are. Wrong. The existence of Lexus does not make BMWs "unreliable". BMW's reliability rating isn't affected by Lexus' reliability rating. You can simply use the numbers to say that "on average a Lexus is more reliable than a BMW." But declaring BMWs to be "unreliable" is a statement devoid of comparison or relativity. By your logic I can declare Lexus' to be notoriously unreliable when compared to a stirling engine. For the record, CR gives the 2001-2003 3-series it's highest rating for reliability. |
|
|
Replying to: legar (Oct 21, 2005 2:05 pm) How the paint job looks any different on a 325 than a 330 I have no idea unless someone is aware if they spray an extra layer or two of clearcoat. I was under the impression that the paint jobs were the same. As for the wheels you can always get different wheels if that is that big of an issue. basic simplicity = boring. I want something flashy, I want to get into the car that looks fun inside. I agree I'm a bit of a technophile myself and like some of the features found on a Lexus but I don't find them at all necessary for me. Nothing currently says flashy like the new Civic as far as interiors go. That dashboard is like something out of Star Trek. |
|
|
Replying to: legar (Oct 21, 2005 1:54 pm) Air fares to Europe are reasonably priced right now and worth every penny. You get to see Europe! What about shipping cost? Shipping costs is $695.00 (exactly what you'd pay if you bought it here).
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: legar (Oct 21, 2005 2:05 pm) 52K which i was like "Ooh God" which someone said I should just buy the "M 3" I think, which i havent checked it out, i might in a liitle bit.
|
|
|
Replying to: suave_tequila (Oct 21, 2005 2:29 pm) |
|
|
Replying to: zcar3 (Oct 21, 2005 7:51 am) There are 2 different issues to look at when determining reliablilty. 1) Initial Quality in which BMW is not too far behind. 2) The more important issue is Long-Term Quality or dependablilty. http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/vds2005089.asp Lexus wins this too but BMW is further behind. I have never owned a BMW as much as I love to drive them. I do have a mini cooper S which is one of the worst in reliability but very fun around the corners and plenty fast since its so lightweight. In fact, if you want more info on reliablilty i would check consumerreports.org. |
|
|
|
|
Hi everyone: I own a 2004 "E46" BMW, have driven both the E90 BMW and the Lexus IS 250, and I'm throwing my 2 cents in. I will agree that BMW's have niggling issues from time to time. My car has been in the shop three times this year for annoying things (sunroof shade got stuck, brake light went out, check engine light came on). But I will also agree that this is a reliable car in the sense that it won't strand you, but it'll just embarrass you in front of your friends! I have heard anecdotal reports of similar problems from past owners. I'll also agree that Lexus (toyota) has one of the highest build qualities of any automaker. My gramps has a Toyota and it hasn't has the slightest problem in 8 years. If you want to count JD power (some don't), Lexus/Toyota ranks really high in that they have the fewest problems per automobile. Now for the cars: Lexus: I think it had a nicer interior than the E90, very quiet and dignified. Back seat is really a 5 ft leather shelf to put groceries on, nothing more. Not much bolstering in the seats, but the Sport package may be different. Even so, some people prefer a cushier seat. I loved the Navi and other controls, I thought the sound system was great. I also like the looks. IMO, the exterior looks are a draw between the E90 and IS 250/350 - beauty is, as they say, in the eye of the beholder. However, people are correct in saying you ride "on a cloud" with not much feedback in the steering wheel. Again, some people want that, some don't. The only thing that REALLY bothered about the car though was the transmission. I put it in "Sport" mode and tried to use the paddles. I tried to upshift, nothing happened, I gave a quizzical look at the salesman and he said "Oh, the computer decides what the best gear is", THEN the car shifts after he finishes the sentence. Oh boy. Further testing proved that the paddles respond to your input in an absolutely random way. Sometimes it shifts, sometimes it doesn't. So I wonder, if "the computer decides which gear to be in", why do they have paddles to begin with? BMW E90: The seats are very supportive and well bolstered compared the the seats in the IS. However, the standard radio really sucks and you need to get the HK to even compete with the base Lexus sound system. The interior is kind of sterile and business like. They have removed any trace of graceful curves on the dash in the E46 and replaced them with very linear designs. There is actually more room in the back seat than the IS, but the funny thing is, the BMW back seat is already kind of tight. I understand you have a trade off when opting for a compact sport sedan, but I don't understand why Lexus couldn't have at least matched the bimmer here in one of the bimmer's weakest areas. I like the acceleration and torque curve of the BMW cars. Even my E-46 325i feels "spunkier" than the Lexus IS 250. I think it is the damped suspension on the Lexus and the gearing on the BMW rather than raw power that makes the difference. And of course, some people like the run flats and some don't. The chassis is the real story here, it is amazing compared to the E46. It soaks up bumps much better than the E46 yet is even more responsive to steering inputs. It also has very little body roll compared to the Lexus. You CAN feel road imperfections, and many people detest feeling anything under their behinds in a 40K car. Conclusion: I give both cars 4 stars. They are outstanding automobiles in different ways. With the Lexus, you can bet on a mostly trouble-free car and a great dealership experience. It's also very luxurious but modern inside and bests the interior of the BMW. Also, many people may prefer the smooth as glass ride and well-boosted steering that takes only the light touch of your index finger to get you around the corner. The BMW is the "driving man's" car. You can feel the road and the experience is a little more visceral. The interior is so-so, and idrive has it detractors. Also, you can plan on having some annoying quirks surface from time to time that will have to be fixed. I give BMW a thumbs up on free maintenance. The exiting thing is that although these are very different cars, they overlap in many areas, and competition is always a great thing for the consumer in the end! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And about Mercedes, their quality issues are hardly anecdotal. In fact last year alone "Mercedes spent some $600 million to cover warranty costs". Read below: Click here
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-series vs Lexus IS
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Lexus IS 250
2011 Lexus IS 350
2010 BMW 3 Series
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
