325i vs. IS300
- Thread starter zrated786
- Start date
It's a really tough call, both are really great cars. The BMW packs less power, but has a nicer interior and is a better overall balance of sport and luxury (whereas the IS is much more sport). For that ~$34K-$35K price range, I would just get a 2004 Acura TL 6MT fully-loaded. Lots of technology, lots of luxury, and very sporty....it's only drawback (and this is a MAJOR drawback, IMO) is that it's FWD.
Z - you're probably not going to get the most objective answer to your question in a BMW forum, anymore than you would on a Lexus forum.
I like Audis, MBs, Acuras, Infinities (can Infinity be plural?), Lexi, etc, but there is something about a BMW for me that defies reasoning or explaination. Perhaps it was brainwashing through reading C&D for years, but when I finally got to the point in my life where I could afford a BMW, I bought one.
If you don't have that passion burning in you, I would recommend test driving until you know which car is right for you. I'm sure you can find plenty of comparo's and writeups on both cars out there. I ran a quick comparo on the Lexus site (BMW doesn't have Lexus for comparison) and was surprised to find out the model you mentioned is rear wheel drive.
Good luck! The great thing about buying a new car, whichever one you get will be the right one for you...unless you get the lexus J/K!
I like Audis, MBs, Acuras, Infinities (can Infinity be plural?), Lexi, etc, but there is something about a BMW for me that defies reasoning or explaination. Perhaps it was brainwashing through reading C&D for years, but when I finally got to the point in my life where I could afford a BMW, I bought one.
If you don't have that passion burning in you, I would recommend test driving until you know which car is right for you. I'm sure you can find plenty of comparo's and writeups on both cars out there. I ran a quick comparo on the Lexus site (BMW doesn't have Lexus for comparison) and was surprised to find out the model you mentioned is rear wheel drive.
Good luck! The great thing about buying a new car, whichever one you get will be the right one for you...unless you get the lexus J/K!
I'd go BMW(and did). I would stay away from ANY front wheel drive car (Acura TL) if your primary concern was driving. There is something about the feel of the car, the weight of the steering wheel, the immediacy of the gas pedal, the shifter... I test drove the IS300 and the Acura TL prior to my purchase. I wrung out both cars. The Lexus was very nice indeed and has that familiar feel (if you've driven Japanese cars in the past)-but felt a little disconnected and slow. The Acura was a strong performing car, but you really had to pay attention to the front wheels as the steering wheel would pull to the left if you got on the gas hard (torque steer). The Acura also is plagued by a lot of fit & finish items that shouldn't be happening on a $35k car! (Cost cutting to offer bang for the buck).
The BMW is a without a doubt a drivers car.
Those are my observations and your mileage may vary. Test drive all of the cars & see which one feels right to you.
The BMW is a without a doubt a drivers car.
Those are my observations and your mileage may vary. Test drive all of the cars & see which one feels right to you.
If they're both stick, then the power advantage the IS has doesn't appear in actual use. Both have the same 0-60. Since it's not actually any faster, it's more of a matter of cost vs. looks. The BMW costs more (least around here). I can get an IS300 with every single freaking option possible (NAV, etc) for the cost of a 325i with just metallic paint and maybe the SP.
But, I didn't like the boy racer guages of the IS and I wanted a coupe.
But, I didn't like the boy racer guages of the IS and I wanted a coupe.
Back in 95, I wanted a new 325i but opted for a new Maxima SE. The Bimmer was just more than I wanted to spend.
Here's my point: The Max was quick (0-60 in 6.6, 140+ top speed), roomy, reliable .... and also front wheel drive. It handled good but no way as good as a 325. But I eventually sold it
and I still want a BMW! All I do right now is work on an old 86 535i.... Oh Well
For the same money, BMW in my book.
Here's my point: The Max was quick (0-60 in 6.6, 140+ top speed), roomy, reliable .... and also front wheel drive. It handled good but no way as good as a 325. But I eventually sold it
and I still want a BMW! All I do right now is work on an old 86 535i.... Oh Well
For the same money, BMW in my book.
lexus v bmw
the lexus IS is a rear wheel drive car.
IMO, the lexus is a great car, appearance, refinement and etc but not up to a BMW.
i would go the lexus if i were younger, under 20 and looking for a cool car to mod as it responds better to mods IMO.
i went the BMW path in the end... and, well, bring on the flames if u must, but i kinda wished i woulda gone the Lexus IS200 path(the 200 is cheaper here in australia and around my 318 price).
its not a BMW and wont pass as a bmw in terms of quality and etc but the lexus commands a styleof its own IMO.
the lexus IS is a rear wheel drive car.
IMO, the lexus is a great car, appearance, refinement and etc but not up to a BMW.
i would go the lexus if i were younger, under 20 and looking for a cool car to mod as it responds better to mods IMO.
i went the BMW path in the end... and, well, bring on the flames if u must, but i kinda wished i woulda gone the Lexus IS200 path(the 200 is cheaper here in australia and around my 318 price).
its not a BMW and wont pass as a bmw in terms of quality and etc but the lexus commands a styleof its own IMO.
very well put. i agreed with BM
4 months ago, i was in your shoe also (zrated786) i was deciding a BMW, IS300, G35 coupe and i end up in a bimmer, simply bcos it's my dream car ever since i was a kid.
if you are just shopping for a car ----> by all means test drive till you are satisfied.
if you just want a sporty car go with max HP and what ever your wallet will allow you. if you want's to make your choice a little challenging consider reliability (Lexus won this one). not enough add on maintence cost, time you have to spend taking care of it. (for instance bring it to the shop, fuel consumption, etc) to further complicate stuff, add in thoughts on how much you will spend modifiying it. (aftermarket parts avail. and price)
other than Bimmer and IS300 that you have mention, i would recommend that you look into Audi A4 3.0 (the 1.8T is very under power, it's advertise 170HP, but i doubted; a simple chip modification will bring out a whole lot), MB320 Kompressor,
Saab 93 Aero, RX-8, WRX STi and Acuras.
4 months ago, i was in your shoe also (zrated786) i was deciding a BMW, IS300, G35 coupe and i end up in a bimmer, simply bcos it's my dream car ever since i was a kid.
if you are just shopping for a car ----> by all means test drive till you are satisfied.
if you just want a sporty car go with max HP and what ever your wallet will allow you. if you want's to make your choice a little challenging consider reliability (Lexus won this one). not enough add on maintence cost, time you have to spend taking care of it. (for instance bring it to the shop, fuel consumption, etc) to further complicate stuff, add in thoughts on how much you will spend modifiying it. (aftermarket parts avail. and price)
other than Bimmer and IS300 that you have mention, i would recommend that you look into Audi A4 3.0 (the 1.8T is very under power, it's advertise 170HP, but i doubted; a simple chip modification will bring out a whole lot), MB320 Kompressor,
Saab 93 Aero, RX-8, WRX STi and Acuras.
SMG I in the regular 3-series supposedly isn't good. SMG II is really great. The paddle shifters and the digital display in the dash are absolutely amazing, you feel like you are in a race car. But I have a couple problems with it:
-The auto mode kinda sucks....it was SUPER lazy to upshift and downshift, and shifts were very slow. I can make faster & smoother shifts during relaxed driving.
-What do you do with valet? Take the car to an NYC parking garage and they'll be stumped...they can barely drive stick shift, now they have to operate an automated manual gearbox? That seems way over their heads. And yes, I am aware that the car comes with a little valet card that you can wrap around the SMG shift knob, but since when can NYC valet attendants read?
-SMG II is a potentially great transmission, but it has become nothing more than the "automatic" transmission for the M3. It allows non-stick-shift-driving-noobs to own and drive an M3 (obviously just for the of "having an M3"). I'm not saying this is the case for all M3 SMG owners, but I bet it's the case for most of them.
-The auto mode kinda sucks....it was SUPER lazy to upshift and downshift, and shifts were very slow. I can make faster & smoother shifts during relaxed driving.
-What do you do with valet? Take the car to an NYC parking garage and they'll be stumped...they can barely drive stick shift, now they have to operate an automated manual gearbox? That seems way over their heads. And yes, I am aware that the car comes with a little valet card that you can wrap around the SMG shift knob, but since when can NYC valet attendants read?
-SMG II is a potentially great transmission, but it has become nothing more than the "automatic" transmission for the M3. It allows non-stick-shift-driving-noobs to own and drive an M3 (obviously just for the of "having an M3"). I'm not saying this is the case for all M3 SMG owners, but I bet it's the case for most of them.