Lexus IS-F '10 vs M3 E46 supercharged?

  • Thread starter Thread starter themartlab
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I've been following this thread..

I used to own a E46 M3 Comp. Package ´05, and that car was just awesome!
It had everything.. Ok, not 4WD or nice for long trips for your passanger no 3, 4 and 5.. But you can fit 5 persons in it over shorter distances or if your mates does'nt bother about tight spaces.. ;)

I got some friends that also own E46 M3's, and 2 of them got ESS superchargers to them as upgrades. One had the 440 pak, and another one had the 550 pak (Or was it 540, can't remember exactly right now).
What really struck me was that both cars had the exact same engine caracteristics as my stock one, but more power obviously.
I was really happy and amazed that ESS manage to put these Superchargers in these cars without destroying the true BMW M feeling. It's still there, untouched. 👍
ESS superchargers are also very reliable.
In Sweden, many many E46 M3 owners upgarde their cars with a SC from ESS, and I've yet not read about one case where there was complications of any kind.
But what I do know is that it can be hard to get it thru viachle control (Or what you call it in Canada?).
The insurance companies might have a thing or 2 against the SC as well though.

Lexus IS-F is something completely different. You can get a siilar car like that in many years up ahead.
The E46 M3 is of a dying breed, and most likely the last "proper" M3, in that it's not heavy, runs on an in-line 6..
The E9X M3 is way to heavy.. V8 etc. More like a GT car.

I could buy the E90 M3 (4 door) though.. It's like a more agile M5, and similar to the IS-F if you want something with 4 doors that's more practical.

The RS4 (B7) is also a good choice..
But BMW is BMW.. Nothing in it's price range comes close to the feeling of a tru M car.

Either way, hope you find something you want shortly. 👍
 
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Ordered my new car this morning. I decided to go with a 2013 dark grey Subaru STI 5-door, Sport-Tech package. Since I have to spend at least 4 months driving in snow, a AWD was the better option. There's enough room to fit the kids and the wife, with a boxer engine sound. :-)
 
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^Congrats. Watch out for that #4 ringland.
That said, I might end-up getting one too unless I miraculously bump into a local unmolested low-mileage used one.
 
Thanks! I heard about that #4 piston ringland. I will take great care of it, the car probably won't go on a track so i will keep it away from abuse. Did i mention i also order a Cobb cat-back exhaust? It will be install the same day I will have it, so don't tell my wife it's not OEM exhaust..
 
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Should have went with the IS-F
best looking car out of all the choices.

There's no quality like Lexus quality
 
HELLAFLUSH240SX
Should have went with the IS-F
best looking car out of all the choices.

There's no quality like Lexus quality
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True that's a great looking car but I don't really feel driving 400+ hp RWD car on icy road and snow storm.
 
1241Penguin
So you think it's man to unnecessarily put oneself into danger?
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Exactly. I wouldn't mind if I was alone, but driving with two kids on the back seat require to be more responsible. A 400hp rwd on icy road isn't.
 
Depends on whereabouts in Canada. If studded tires are legal - not much, if any, safety is sacrificed.
 
Your choices was ISF, and M3.
Last time I checked the M3 isnt exactly ice friendly.
Yeah you got the STi, but thats the same as your EVO so why not drive the Evo in the winter....
 
One screaming, naturally aspirated sports sedan is safer than another screaming, naturally aspirated sports sedan with more stability control and traction control options? Really? :D

Just admit it... you thought the M3 was prettier. I wouldn't be ashamed of buying it for that reason, either. :lol:
 
I'm just unsure why he would get a Sti when he has an EVO.
That's like getting a a pair of boots when you have a new pair already.

Rich people problems.
 
HELLAFLUSH240SX
Your choices was ISF, and M3.
Last time I checked the M3 isnt exactly ice friendly.
Yeah you got the STi, but thats the same as your EVO so why not drive the Evo in the winter....
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If you read up ahead you know the M3 was sold. Which was a good and a bad thing. Bad thing because I wanted it which would have been not a reasonable choice. Of course the bimmer would have stay inside for winter months. Then the purchase of a "beater" car for winter would be necessary.

I have my Lancer since almost three years now and wanted some change. I looked at 2013 Evolution MR but choose the Scooby.
 
HELLAFLUSH240SX
Should have went with the IS-F
best looking car out of all the choices.

There's no quality like Lexus quality
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Yeah, that's easy to say when you've never actually had to deal with them when they break. :lol:

Congrats on the purchase themartlab. 👍
 
McLaren
Yeah, that's easy to say when you've never actually had to deal with them when they break. :lol:

Congrats on the purchase themartlab. 👍
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Any car with lots of tech is a PITA to deal with if it breaks, but I know from firsthand experience that a Lexus will be less prone to breakage than a bimmer, and probably cheaper to fix too. My IS has more than 5 years and the only thing it has had done is some recall and a small radio problem, whereas my dad's E92 M3 (which I absolutely love) already, after not even 2 years and less than 15k miles had a problem with the abs/dsc. I'm not saying all BMW's are unreliable, and certainly not bad cars, I love bimmers but I just think that a Lex tends to be more reliable.
 
motortrend
Any car with lots of tech is a PITA to deal with if it breaks, but I know from firsthand experience that a Lexus will be less prone to breakage than a bimmer, and probably cheaper to fix too. My IS has more than 5 years and the only thing it has had done is some recall and a small radio problem, whereas my dad's E92 M3 (which I absolutely love) already, after not even 2 years and less than 15k miles had a problem with the abs/dsc. I'm not saying all BMW's are unreliable, and certainly not bad cars, I love bimmers but I just think that a Lex tends to be more reliable.
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How new is your IS to begin with? The last generation (& other Lexus models of that era) are very good cars.

The current era however is a different story. The "There's no quality like Lexus quality" line does not exist anymore. They're reliable, but the quality of the cars is still nothing compared to what the Germans have mastered (bar the new GS & ES which are leaps & bounds above the last generations). I can speak from first hand experience as well with 20 years of BMW ownership in my family; all reliable, great cars (our E39 was possibly the very best) whilst a first generation RX we had showed its age very fast. I will say our 2nd generation GS was a great car as well, but it didn't deliver what our BMWs had & was replaced by one after a coupe years.

Cost to fix varies by dealer here & my workplace is comparable to what Classic charges me per hour to service my 3.
 
^^ thanks! I can't wait to have it!


Also, even if my Lancer is running good and i'm still satisfy about it, the hatch-back STi will give me more room. Those who have kids know what's it's like to go out for a week-end with two kids specially a toddler, ,luggages and all the stuff. The trunk in the Lancer is okay but can't fit taller objects. The hatch-back will be way more practical
 
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McLaren
How new is your IS to begin with? The last generation (& other Lexus models of that era) are very good cars.

The current era however is a different story. The "There's no quality like Lexus quality" line does not exist anymore. They're reliable, but the quality of the cars is still nothing compared to what the Germans have mastered (bar the new GS & ES which are leaps & bounds above the last generations). I can speak from first hand experience as well with 20 years of BMW ownership in my family; all reliable, great cars (our E39 was possibly the very best) whilst a first generation RX we had showed its age very fast. I will say our 2nd generation GS was a great car as well, but it didn't deliver what our BMWs had & was replaced by one after a coupe years.

Cost to fix varies by dealer here & my workplace is comparable to what Classic charges me per hour to service my 3.
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The IS is 2007MY (2IS) and the M is 2011MY, have never had mayor complaints with either, but like I said the M did have this thing break a tad early in its life. General build quality on the Bimmer is great though and it all feels very solid. The real problem reliability wise in my opinion is the amount of tech in modern cars, and how all those complicated electrical bits will never last as long as the simpler mechanical ones. Not going against modern tech or anything but the more complicated something is the more prone it is to breakage.
 
I had one german car ( VW mk5) for 80,000miles and never had issues, although i heard complaints about reliability of german cars. I also think the more electronic stuff you have ( first gen iDrive for example) more problems you have.
 
Those complaints of German reliability mostly stem from VW's made for the US/Canada/Mexico market. It was usually the electronics that went bad, such as my brother's VW Rabbit from 2006 having speaker issues two weeks after driving the car off the lot. BMW, Mercedes, and Audi usually are trouble free of electric gremlins.
 
themartlab
I had one german car ( VW mk5) for 80,000miles and never had issues, although i heard complaints about reliability of german cars. I also think the more electronic stuff you have ( first gen iDrive for example) more problems you have.
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iDrive though, didn't really have problems reliability-wise, & still doesn't. The issue with it was how ridiculously complicated it was just to input simple information. :lol:

The new one is so much better & has a lot to offer, but it still has its quirks. And I will be honest that the Lexus Enform in the GS (& I believe ES) while not as complicated or thorough with what you can do, are on par for the sheer simplicity of it. I think it's also the largest available screen in a production car right now & it's beautifully built into the dash.
 
.....


Received a call this morning from the dealership, saying the STi is ready. Good news! One hour later I'm there, and see a white sedan STi, parked, a seller installing the liscence plate. I ask him if it's my car. He said yes, just been washed and ready. I told him I bought a Dark Grey sti, 5 doors, Sport-tech package. He went to check my papers, with the sales manager and of course they made a mistake. The seller "ordered" the wrong car from another dealership, from another sale. After few calls, the manager said my car is in another dealership, in another state. At least 3 weeks of waiting. Now i'm pissed off, the Lancer will be gone next monday, and i will have to pay a rental. They're supposed to call me tonight, I asked for a cash rebate on the car.

Good things they didn't try to fit the Cobb cat-back on this car.
 
Just ask to drive the sedan for a few days until yours gets in.
 
That sucks, I think they should at least provide a courtesy car for the days up until you get it - since you know they screwed up on their part and you're the one that's feeling the damage.

ROAD_DOGG33J
You should have gotten a Camry 2.2
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This will never get old. :lol:
 
aadil717
That sucks, I think they should at least provide a courtesy car for the days up until you get it - since you know they screwed up on their part and you're the one that's feeling the damage.

This will never get old. :lol:
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Actually I asked for a cash rebate, to compensate the rental car and free oil change/maintenance for a year.
 
Finally, the dealership owner called me to offer me the free year maintenance cost, and they will pay the rental car, if I still want to buy them the car. Of course! They're also willing to give me 2012 WRX wheels to put my winter tires.

Their error turns out really good for me.
 

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