Car totaled, need new 1, BMW vs Lexus

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

The new LS460 is one of the nicest rides in the world -- at any price.
I think it is a great ride -- for the price.

 

[CaptChaos]

Originally Posted by excellence

Get a White, silver or black 335i.
I got a black one and love it. To the OP, you owe it to yourself to at least drive a 335 before you decide.

 

[LSeca]

Originally Posted by CaptChaos

I got a black one and love it. To the OP, you own it to yourself to at least drive a 335 before you decide.


Nice ride. Coupes were a four month wait, so I had to settle on the sedan as I didn't have patience. I got Montego with grey, although I wanted saphire. Btw, is yours saphire or jet black.

 

[CaptChaos]

Originally Posted by excellence

Alpine White was my second choice and looks really sharp. Beautiful wheels and the aero lip looks great.

 

[CaptChaos]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

There are some things that I really didn't like about the IS, including:

1) No rear fold-down seats. Period. They aren't even an option. It's smaller inside than a 3-series.

2) Warranty / included maintenance is better than anything Lexus offers. My Audi's warranty / scheduled maintenance is almost on par with BMW's, Lexus' is far behind.

3) The interior and it's design was completely unappealing to me, it just felt awkward, I might not love the new 3-series interior design compared to the old E46, but I'll take it any day over the IS.

The IS350 is only available with an automatic transmission if that is significant for you. The 335 is available with a 6 speed manual, which I ordered, and a 6 speed automatic. The 335 automatic is perhaps the best automatic transmission I have ever driven. Optional paddle shifters, blipping on downshifts and extremely fast gear changes.

 

[CaptChaos]

Originally Posted by LSeca

Nice ride. Coupes were a four month wait, so I had to settle on the sedan as I didn't have patience. I got Montego with grey, although I wanted saphire. Btw, is yours saphire or jet black.

Thanks, I hear you on the wait. I ordered the last week of December and didn't pick it up until the first week of April. The wait was intolerable. It doesn't help that the coupe is built only in one factory in Germany.

Mine is Sapphire Black with grey interior and the grey poplar trim. Montego Blue really stands out in a crowd - nice selection.

 

[Artisan Fan]

Originally Posted by CaptChaos

Alpine White was my second choice and looks really sharp. Beautiful wheels and the aero lip looks great.

Too slab sided for my taste. The IS350 is much more stylish imho.

 

[LSeca]

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

Too slab sided for my taste. The IS350 is much more stylish imho.

Slab sided? The new 3 styling actually gets criticized for having too much "flame surfacing" (creases and contour). The BMW styling is the most three dimentional out of the two by far. Look at the IS, that is slab sided in comparison.

EDIT for comparison:

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by CaptChaos

The IS350 is only available with an automatic transmission if that is significant for you. The 335 is available with a 6 speed manual, which I ordered, and a 6 speed automatic. The 335 automatic is perhaps the best automatic transmission I have ever driven. Optional paddle shifters, blipping on downshifts and extremely fast gear changes.

Drive a DSG in 'sport' mode, then you will see what quick gear changes are like.

Jon.

 

[Artisan Fan]

Originally Posted by LSeca

Slab sided? The new 3 styling actually gets criticized for having too much "flame surfacing" (creases and contour). The BMW styling is the most three dimentional out of the two by far. Look at the IS, that is slab sided in comparison.

EDIT for comparison:

Sorry, the door doesn't look very integrated to my eyes. Just a personal preference/taste thing.

Also, I'm not a fan of white cars and having two different colors biases the comparison...I think the smokey granite IS is very nice.

 

[LSeca]

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

Sorry, the door doesn't look very integrated to my eyes. Just a personal preference/taste thing.

Also, I'm not a fan of white cars and having two different colors biases the comparison...I think the smokey granite IS is very nice.

Slab sided comparo part II. You tell me which one is more slab sided, BMW or Lexus. BMW is def not slab sided in comparison, sorry.

Btw, the coupe's door isn't as integrated as the sedans for a reason. The coupe was designed on the sedan platform so the door is made longer and designed as an afterthought. Most coupes based off a sedan chassis (sharing same wheelbase) have this issue.

edit: I do prefer the Lexus tailight design.

 

[Artisan Fan]

Better comparo but I still prefer the Lexus styling here having driven both a few times. To-may-to, To-mah-to.

I like the 4 door 3 Series but the 2 door looks indeed like they fudged it. Both are still a bit Bangled (Bungled?) for me.

 

[LSeca]

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

I like the 4 door 3 Series but the 2 door looks indeed like they fudged it. Both are still a bit Bangled (Bungled?) for me.

I would have to agree with you on this one.

The coupe has a better front and rear end imo, not a fan of the side profile.

 

[Pariolino]

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

Sorry, the door doesn't look very integrated to my eyes. Just a personal preference/taste thing.

Also, I'm not a fan of white cars and having two different colors biases the comparison...I think the smokey granite IS is very nice.
Are you a big Lexus Fran?

 

[CaptChaos]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

Drive a DSG in 'sport' mode, then you will see what quick gear changes are like. Jon.
I haven't driven a DSG car but aren't they considered manual transmissions as it has clutches? The BMW automatic is a traditional design with torque converter. The nicest auto I've driven.