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Car totaled, need new 1, BMW vs Lexus

imageWIS

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Originally Posted by von Rothbart
I think I am leaning towards Lexus. Especially if it's recommended by AF and AP, who have a high standard for finer things in life.
icon_gu_b_slayer[1].gif
But I'll test drive them to be sure.

I absolutely loved my E38 (short wheelbase version), it's fun to drive, responsive, precise, rounding corners like nobody's business, great connection to the road and feedback to driver, and nimble even for its size. It had all the creature comfort gadgets.

But it's a high-maintenance vehicle. Just off top of my head, I'd replaced both catalyptic converters, O2 sensor, radiator, fuel pump, thermostat, instrument panel, coolant reservior, and motion sensor. Fortunately they're all covered by warranty, but it's still a hassle. And the nav was extremely slow at times causing me to miss exits but the dealer wouldn't replace it. I can't imagine owning it without warranty. May be I picked a lemon. Strangely, it had been relatively trouble-free in the past year or so.


I've heard / read nothing but good things about the new 3. The new 5 on the other hand isn't the most reliable of cars...or so I've heard. I really think you can't go wrong with a 335i. But, I would seriously suggest you also go look at Audi, and test drive every car, where you want to test drive them, not just where the moronic salesperson tells you to go.

The whole: "make a left here, turn right there" bullshit doesn't let you feel the car. You need to actually take it out on the highway, on the twisting roads, without some moron telling you where to go, to actually see if you like the way the car handles, how it feels.

Jon.
 

GQgeek

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Originally Posted by imageWIS
The best Audio system (from a manufacturer) found in a car today is the B&O system option on the Audi A8, it's simply amazing.

Jon.


The was a McIntosh in the Ford GTO. That might have been nice!
 

A Y

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Originally Posted by Artisan Fan
Rubbish. Lexus are plenty quiet for audiophile listening. You should hear my stereo. You can hear the layers of an orchestra nicely defined.
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Only if the car's turned off and not moving. I've been in the last-gen LS460, and it is not quiet enough for high quality audio. I'm talking about NC figures in the teens across the audible spectrum.

--Andre
 

Artisan Fan

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Originally Posted by GQgeek
The was a McIntosh in the Ford GTO. That might have been nice!

I believe the Bugattis have a German Burmester system.
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Virginia Dandy

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Originally Posted by LSeca
The true sound sytem comes from the engine bay for me.
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+ 1

My car actually has a pretty nice HK system but engine is too loud to enjoy it, and I'd rather listen to what the car is doing anyway. If it happens to be playing when I come to a stop and turn off the engine I'll sometimes sit in the garage listening to it for a minute or so thinking "that sounds pretty good".
 

aportnoy

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Originally Posted by Nantucket Red
Not much into the driving experience, I take it.

What exactly is the driving experience? Does it give me a bigger johnson?
 

LabelKing

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Originally Posted by Artisan Fan
LK,

This statement baffles me. My experience with a wide variety of Lexi has been totally the opposite. As a car detailing enthusiast, I can attest to quality of the interior plastic and real wood inlays and the absence of noise and any rattles over tens of thousands of miles.

Do they use real wood fascias?
 

Girardian

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I've looked at both the new BMW coupe (turbo) and the new IS. They are different cars. As a current BMW (5 series) owner, the "feel" of the BMW drive was preferable. However, I like the IS styling and reliability. I decided to forego either at present. I'm waiting for the "F" model IS to debut to compare how it drives to the BMW 3 series.

A car purchase should satisfy your logical, economic, and emotional needs -- sometimes this requires balance, but for most of us these three elements will never weigh "equally." You've explored the logic and presumably the economics -- it looks like a test drive is in order to resolve the emotional aspect of your decision.
 

von Rothbart

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Originally Posted by LabelKing
Do they use real wood fascias?

They use, or at least they advertize they use, burl so to eliminate the chance of occupants being pierced by wood splinters during course of crash.
 

Artisan Fan

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Originally Posted by LabelKing
Do they use real wood fascias?

Yes, they do but there is a coating for safety and cleaning reasons.

VR, they also use California walnut which is in my car.
 

von Rothbart

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Originally Posted by Artisan Fan
VR, they also use California walnut which is in my car.

Yes, walnut burl. Burl is an abnormal wood growth that resembles a ugly lumpy mass attached to a tree.
 

LabelKing

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Originally Posted by von Rothbart
Yes, walnut burl. Burl is an abnormal wood growth that resembles a ugly lumpy mass attached to a tree.

Most car interiors seem to use some variation of burl. Rolls Royce used to advertise that they kept extra identical sets of burl for repair.
 

Artisan Fan

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Originally Posted by von Rothbart
Yes, walnut burl. Burl is an abnormal wood growth that resembles a ugly lumpy mass attached to a tree.

Huh, looks like a walnut wood with straight grain, not the circular burl finish I've seen in SC and LSs....
 

von Rothbart

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Originally Posted by Artisan Fan
Huh, looks like a walnut wood with straight grain, not the circular burl finish I've seen in SC and LSs....

So they downgraded from burl to regular grain?
frown.gif
 

LSeca

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When ordering the 335, I had the option of dark burl, or light poplar wood (both real). I could have went with brushed aluminum too, but chose the dark burl.
 

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