BWM 330I vs Lexus IS 350

[///M-Spec]

That's the EXACT same deal with the Chrysler 300C...<snip>

I can't really fault the 300C for being a boat. It never pretends to be a sports sedan. It is good at what it does. Big. Comfy. Lots of power. Sucks up highway miles like a frat boy downs Natty Lite. Carving canyons and trophies at the autocross is not what it is intended to do.

The IS on the other hand has always been a 3-series fighter first and foremost.

Do you guys think ///M-Spec might be biased? j/k

Let's just say I won't go too far out of my way to deny it.

But I will always give credit where credit is due. The IS is a quality machine. But it seems to be hamstrung by someone at Lexus who is afraid to put the car on equal footing with not only the 330i, but the G35 as well.


M

 

[skip0110]

But then the lawyers or the marketers or the beancounters or someone's idiot nephew decided:

1) automatic only
2) traction and stability control that cannot be turned off
3) it would weigh in at 3600 lbs.

I agree 100% that it should be the driver's choice to turn the e-nannies off. I thought a comment by Lexus' Chief Engineer, Suguya Fukusato (posted on a Car & Driver forum discussion) would be of interest here:

Q) Will the IS350 provide an on/off button, which will allow the owner to drive the car at its potential (turn off the VDIM)?
A) As someone who really enjoys performance driving, and also having raced rally cars since my college years, I understand some of your concerns about being held back from fully enjoying a car like the IS 350. VDIM is not a system that will do that. It’s a complex technology that operates more quickly and less overtly than other conventional stability control systems. Because there car is tuned to handle at its absolute best with the VDIM, it was not designed with an off button. The VDIM system on the IS 350 is programmed to allow the driver to approach the car’s handling limits before it employs subtle adjustments nearly invisibly. While being driven to it limits at Willow Springs Raceway in California, we had the car in a full four-wheel drift. I believe you will be pleased with the performance when you test drive it.

So he seems to think that the suspension is not well enough designed to allow the driver to correct without the brakes helping. Or (more likely) Lexus simply underestimates driver talent and is afraid of lawsuits.

In any event, it needs a real transmission.

 

[///M-Spec]

^ Well I guess the proof is in the pudding. I noticed the skidpad and slalom results for the car were still below average, though. In fact, I think Road and Track couldn't even manage to get theirs to break .80g, which is laughable, since your average Mazda 3 or VW Jetta will top that.


M

 

[Young_Warrior]

skid pad explain please in the UK people dont seem to care or understand such data.

 

[svtsnake]

for the first time i will take the lexus, it looks much better than the bmw.

toyota reliablity+ power anyday.
i have a car that handles pretty well, now i just want a car that has power.

 

[///M-Spec]

skid pad explain please in the UK people dont seem to care or understand such data.

A skidpad is a measure of a car's steady state cornering performance, expressed as a unit of g.

Most US magazines take a flat even surface and measure out a 600 ft diameter circle. The car then drives around the circle as fast as it can before it starts to understeer (or oversteer). An instrument measures the peak amount of lateral acceleration the car produces.

It is a useful compliment to slalom average speed, which primarily evaluates a car's transitional performance.


M

 

[Young_Warrior]

cool thanks.

 

[Rogue Ssv]

330i my.... person

 

[YSSMAN]

As a former 3-series hater, and a now 3-series convert, unquestionably I would choose the 330i, hands down. Why? Driver involvement, the connection with the road, and the sweet sweet sounds of that silky-smooth 3.0L I6.

Granted the IS350 is a FAST car, but after you ask the car to do something, the computer might tell it otherwise, and that is a BIG turnoff in this segment.

The only other car to turn my attention away could be the Mercedes Benz C350 Sport, but because it's looks are so similar to it's C240 cousin, it isn't worth the extra money.

 

[Z32]

hopefully if dealerfeedback is high enough, toyota might consider a manaul for the 350

samething with the previous is300, 2 years for the 5-speed (and sportcross) iirc after initial release

 

[Wolfe]

hopefully if dealerfeedback is high enough, toyota might consider a manaul for the 350

samething with the previous is300, 2 years for the 5-speed (and sportcross) iirc after initial release

You'd think they would learn.

 

[Milliethemutt]

Having just bought a 330i (e46) I would have to say BMW in this instance. I would have gone for a is300 just because it's not a BMW if they came with a manual box because there is no way I'll ever buy an auto. Not enough torque in a is200. That new 3 is ugly though.

 

[YSSMAN]

Back when the IS300 was something worth buying, say the year 2000, it was a good car because it was nearly as fast as the 328i of the time, and a helluva lot cheaper. But after driving both, the Bimmer was the better pick, bar none.

Today, the same rules apply. The IS350 may be faster these days, but straight-line speed doesnt mean anything when going into the twisties... And with the computer interrupting your every move with the Lexus, wheres the fun in that?

 

[Jondot]

Lexus for me. I don't think i'd get past the 3's looks. It's about the only bangle design that i couldn't live with, other than the 7 *shudder*

 

[Kent]

I'm going with Lexus on this one.
Several reasons for it...

1) Toyota loyalty- I have it.
2) Looks- the Lexus looks better in my opinion, simple as that.
3) Performance- the performance of either car doesn't really matter to me. I abide the laws of the road and within those limits you will never find the limits of either of these cars.

 

[puricele7e]

Well.....the 'Ring is also a road 👍 ! (yes, I like to push it with my jokes....They aren't the best, are they....? )

 

[Kent]

Well.....the 'Ring is also a road 👍 ! (yes, I like to push it with my jokes....They aren't the best, are they....? )

Ah yes, indeed. 👍

Too bad I live in South-Eastern Louisiana of the United States Of America.

That said, I didn't mention one reason already mentioned here that I agree with...
BMW is more popular with people upholding the status-quo than with people buying for handling.
Here in the US most of the people driving BMWs are doing it for the sake of looking good (which is hard in the new "ugly" 3 series).

Then again, if I had the chance to take either of them, I would happily take either of them.

 

[GT4_Rule]

Ah yes, indeed. 👍

Too bad I live in South-Eastern Louisiana of the United States Of America.

That said, I didn't mention one reason already mentioned here that I agree with...
BMW is more popular with people upholding the status-quo than with people buying for handling.
Here in the US most of the people driving BMWs are doing it for the sake of looking good (which is hard in the new "ugly" 3 series).

Then again, if I had the chance to take either of them, I would happily take either of them.

You are so right.....simply status.

I would take the IS in a heartbeat, it looks so much better than the dreadful E90!

 

[neanderthal]

it may be status quo, but the status quo with BMWs is that they handle well relative to thier competitors. and still handle well on a track.

 

[YSSMAN]

Its all about balance, and the BMW is far better balance than the IS350. Read a review, most folks come to the same conclusion...

 

[Appie]

i believe the Lexus

 

[Milliethemutt]

I abide the laws of the road and within those limits you will never find the limits of either of these cars.

I had my 3 sideways exiting a roundabout the other day in the damp well under the speed limit. And my car has stupidly big rubber on it. I really must get round to changing that.

 

[BMWteamPTG]

E46 330Ci - looks better, handles better, its german made, and its a BMW...comeon....

 

[Danny]

Lexus. But even then I'd take the GS over the IS.

 

[Wolfe]

I wonder if we should be comparing the 335i and IS350, now that the 335i has been revealed.

 

[niky]

Actually, that's not a bad idea... Let's wait for the road tests... for ammunition.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'd be willing to bet the 335i trumps the IS350 without a problem...

 

[Wolfe]

I'd be willing to bet the 335i trumps the IS350 without a problem...

Well, that's a given, at least as far as I'm concerned. I already thought the 330i sedan was a winner in this thread's comparison.

It just occurred to me that the 335i might close the performance gap that some IS350 supporters pointed out...

 

[YSSMAN]

The only problem for BMW is price, but with Lexus' growing reliability problems, I think the extra money will be worth it...

 

[GT4_Rule]

But BMW isnt too far ahead of Lexus in terms of reliability, is it? And I always thought Lexus was the more reliable out of Infiniti and Lexus. Add to that a great styling by the Lexus team and the horrific styling by Bangle and you've got a close competitor. Yeah, BMW will win another comparo, because of the image but Lexus will be pretty damn close. Thats my prediction.