Ask the Car People.SM


BMW 3-series vs Lexus IS

1527 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2009 at 2:33 PM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? Lexus IS, Lexus IS 250, Lexus IS 350, BMW 3 Series, Sedan

Messages Page 67 of 154

#652 of 1527 Re: Lexus the Mighty [pg48477] by thegraduate

Feb 22, 2006 (8:41 am)

Replying to: pg48477 (Feb 21, 2006 10:43 pm)
Actually TL will do quite well in the exercise, it does handle well on high speeds. Acceleration and turning at around 20-30 can be a problem. Torque steer is not noticeable at 90 MPH. To get BMW one need to drive it on the curvy roads, I was very surprised that TL got better numbers that 3, it does have wider tires up front, might not feel as good as 3 but I guess grips fine.
 
A friend of mine who is currently at Alabama (Roll Tide) has a TL. I drove it one night when he decided he didn't want to drive, and my car was too small for all of us (5 people). I have a 1996 Accord, and mus say that I like the heavier steering of my old Honda (and now, my new Honda) compared to the finger-light feeling of his TL. It has a more germanic (read Audi/Bimmer/Porsche) feel to it, and it's over ten years old!
 
You may all scoff at this, but I drove an A4 Cabriolet 1.8T last Novemeber, and found that it was not as peppy as my 2006 Accord I-4, nor did it handle as well. I'm guessing this is due to a heavier feeling car, but I didn't like it.
 
Honda cars have handling down-pat. I think Acura engineers need to look at their lowlier counterparts in getting a fun to drive car to market.

#653 of 1527 Re: Lexus the Mighty [thegraduate] by ivan_99

Feb 22, 2006 (11:18 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Feb 22, 2006 8:41 am)
Your 1996 Accord has nearly the identical wheelbase and width of the new Civic, plus in the EX I4 trim it makes 5 more hp, and is within 100lbs of the Civic.
 
I actually prefer the Honda’s of the late 80’s like an 89 Civic Si. Honda’s have lost a lot of feeling as of late IMO, although I have not driven the latest Si.
 
A4 Cab with 1.8T is a heavy car with not enough power…for a sports car that is.

#655 of 1527 Re: Lexus the Mighty [best4] by pg48477

Feb 22, 2006 (3:39 pm)

Replying to: best4 (Feb 22, 2006 8:13 am)
I had no idea TL has so much power and torque that it torque steers at 70 MPH with 235 wide tires. Before I leased BMW I had 2002 TL-S and never noticed torque steer at such high speed.

#656 of 1527 hello? by pat

Feb 22, 2006 (4:33 pm)

Topic: 2006 BMW 3-Series vs. 2006 Lexus IS
 
Discussion: Compares subject vehicles to each other.
 
Ready, set, go!!
 

#657 of 1527 IS350 vs. 330 saga continues by dewey

Feb 22, 2006 (7:23 pm)

Discussion: Compares subject vehicles to each other.
  
Ready, set, go!!
 
And Vroooom!
 
Lexus brought a knife to a gunfight and still managed to shoot itself in the foot. The 3 Series is indeed the better car
 
Nope the above are not my words although the truth is captured quite well with the above quote.
For all you well informed and conversant IS350 vs. 330 debaters here I have linked an objective IS versus E90 comparison review that just happens to be the best one I read so far in my entire life. Enjoy the riveting and tantalizing details:
 
link title

#658 of 1527 Re: IS350 vs. 330 saga continues [dewey] by mikegiller

Feb 22, 2006 (8:58 pm)

Replying to: dewey (Feb 22, 2006 7:23 pm)
I recall someone saying that the IS with its big engine (3.5L) and big horsepower (306 hp), it manages to have worse MPG than the 3 series'.
 
Here are the stats from the review:
 
330i: FUEL MILEAGE
EPA combined: 23.52 mpg
AW overall: 22.12 mpg
 
IS 350: FUEL MILEAGE
EPA combined: 23.66 mpg
AW overall: 28.64 mpg
 
Would that person like to come from out of the woodwork now?
 
Quote: "Lexus could suddenly find itself winning some of these inevitable comparison tests if it would just reprogram a few algorithms. For whatever reason, it won’t."
 
Speaks for itself, doesn't it?
 
dewey, I believe your boldened text, which came after the portion I decided to quote, contradicts itself. Something is seriously wrong with your logic; it is almost robotic for you to pick the worst thing possible to trash the IS.
 
The quote I selected suggests that the IS would be the victor, in more peoples' minds than now, if VDIM were shut off.
 
I know that I would not have a huge problem with having the IS 350 even without the off switch, because when I want to really let the tail spin out, I have a way of shutting it off, although impractical, the procedure would take 20 seconds. I understand, "20 seconds too long", yes, but if I don't want to buy new rubber every week, then 20 seconds worth my time and money to keep me out of the red!
 
Here is a situation: Drive like a sane person, although "spirited" (cus Lord knows I like to have fun behind the wheel) on your commutes, etc., but when you have those opportunities to carve up the twisties and let the tail hang loose, turn off traction control! Turning off traction control could take all but 20 seconds! And then, you have nothing to complain about!
 
"You can scramble the computer and cancel VDIM completely via a complicated pedal dance that must be performed every time you start the car, but Lexus doesn’t want you to know about that. In fact, Lexus reps swear to us there is no way to circumvent the system.
 
So we left VDIM on for the slalom."
 
Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah! And you call this your favourite review?! Argh!!!
 
You drive me nuts! Only you could be riveted by that kind of review!

#659 of 1527 Sales numbers by pg48477

Feb 22, 2006 (11:09 pm)

Does anyone have the sales numbers for IS and 3, it wont tell you which car is better, however it will show which car is more popular, for whatever reason. My guess is that 3 beats IS in sales by a mile.

#660 of 1527 Re: Sales numbers [pg48477] by texasmerq

Feb 22, 2006 (11:59 pm)

Replying to: pg48477 (Feb 22, 2006 11:09 pm)
I would say that is an accurate statement. The 3 series has also been out since May 2005 also so it actually will sell for about a model year and a half. To date I have seen 6 IS' on the road - a white one, a navy blue one, a black one, a beige one and 2 reddish maroon ones. I have seen a ton more 3 series but again they had a 6 month headstart. even with that advantage I'm sure the 3 will still outsell the IS for the time period they were both out.

#661 of 1527 Re: IS350 vs. 330 saga continues [mikegiller] by jaxrunner

Feb 23, 2006 (12:12 am)

Replying to: mikegiller (Feb 22, 2006 8:58 pm)
Good reply!
 
I was thinking the same thing...they say it can be turned off, well why didnt they just try it and tell us how it compared with VDIM off.
 
If editors can do rolling starts or drop the clutch to try to match claimed 0-60 time, surely one can take 20 seconds to disable a feature they claim is too intrusive...cmon people.

Messages Page 67 of 154

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement