efini_8

I really love the look of the new is250, and there aren't too many out yet. the bmw is nice too, but there are a LOT in my development.
i'm looking the sell the 8 soon for one of these, so what are your opinions?

2006 IS 250 RWD w/ premium package OR
2006 BMW 325i w/ Sport package?

Let me know which model you preferr and why..?
thanks everyone.

Fanman

How tall are you. I'm 5'9", and to fit anybody behind me in the IS is still impossible. I personally like the looks of the new IS better, but the lack of space in the back still blows.

playdoh43

i never drove the is250 or 325i, but ive driven the is350 and bmw 330i, as far as handling is concerned, bmw is overwhelmingly dominant in that category. so i personally like the bmw better. of course is250 has a better interior and more electronic technologies as well as reliability.

brillo

325i no question.

its faster, it handles better, and the back seat is more usable.

rodrigo67

My wife is looking at both of these car. She want a manual, so that means a IS250 ( the IS350 is not available in stick), and the 330 is a bit pricey, so that leaves the 325. Both are excellant cars, but if back seating space is a must, the bimmer has more room. Both come very well equiped, but one thing I did notice is that the bimmer is much more flexable on options then the lexus.

If you want a IS250, manual (not 4wd), then it must be ordered as lexus has determined that most people want all the high end tech on the car, so the majority will come either fully loaded or near fully loaded, and almost all will be auto's. I was told it was a 6 month wait on an order. There was another guy on site who wanted a base 250 with only nav and upgraded rims, he had to order it, 6 month wait. I asked if he had one to test drive, and he stated that he didn't have a manual at all and didn't expect one, but if a 250 awd manual comes in, he would call me to test that. Not too thrilled about it as it will be a very different feel then the rwd.

I went to the BMW dealers just down the street and wanted a base 325 6sp manual with the sport pkg ( upgraded suspension, sport seats, upgraded steeering wheeel, bigger rims and summer tires). They had 4 of them exactly how I wanted on the lot.

Both came in about the same price. The bimmer seemed to come with more options as base compared to the IS. I understand the handling on the bimmer is better, but have yet to test drive the IS ( and yes the dealer still calls me from time to time to let me know they haven't forgotten me). The bimmer has more power, better road feel and is 50/50 weight (amazing on a car this size). The lexus exterior looked nicer (my opinion) and the car had a much longer warrenty then the bimmer.

I didn't like the idea that Lexus has decided for me what I want in a car. If I want this, I have to have this, and even if I did want that, I had to wait for it because Lexus has determined that most people don't want what I just ordered. The bimmer was must more accommodating. If I wanted only this, and most likely they already had it on the lot, and if I had to order one, it was a 2 week wait.

BMW seems to understand better then lexus that thier is a group of people out there that want a sports car but live in the real world where 4 doors and space, require more. BMW doesn't let that 4 doors and space interfer with that sports car excitement, that just because you require more room doesn't mean you have to give up your spirit.

The lexus is a great car that is trying to be a sports car too, while the bimmer is a sports car in sheeps clothing...

DreRX8

IS250 is about as fast (or slow) as the outgoing IS300. I've driven both and I can honestly say don't waste your time with the Lexus if its not gonna be the IS350--that is if performance is your bag. If you must get the IS250 its got to be the stick. The 325i is an all around better car, I like the interior of the Lexus more but the BMW just drives better.

efini_8

thanks for the advice guys...
here's my 2 cents though... I LOVE the fit and finish of the IS. I also test drove it and loved it. the leather seats seem to love my butt and it fits me very very well... Very snug. I'm 5'9 and a 1/2 and i was very comfortable in the IS250.

Performance isn't a must for me as i currently own an r6s... does 0-60 as fast as i can... and i want a car that my sisters can use comfortably too. I love the 8 that i currently drive, but i want to sell it bc i just got a brand new motor, engine, and cat/converter replaced for free!

As for the bmw, i agree that it's a very nice car, and i only want the sport package as the option... but, i'm leaning more towards the IS just b/c of the interior and exterior look. IMO, it handled very nicely too, but that 50/50 weight on the bmw was something i didn't know and that's a very impressive attribute on bmw's part.

I'll let you know what car i end up getting, but keep the advice rolling, it's very helpful...

efini_8

OH, and i forgot to mention... the lexus dealer is installing a full-service car wash station... so lexus owners in that area get a car wash for free whenever they want!!

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

the IS has an interior, exterior, and a hell of a reliability edge... other then that, all performance aspects go to the bimmer

UFGator12

The IS. It's better looking, more reliable, better customer service (Lexus is always #1), and not near as popular. You see the new BMW's all the time. I could get over the backseat.

Japan8

Tough choice. A six-month wait is inexcusable for the market that Toyota/Lexus is selling in. Not even having 1 manual car for test drives? WTF? No manual even as an option on the IS350? Toyota doesn't really get it. Or people are taking the car wrong. This isn't a BMW 3 series contender. It's a Benz C Class contender. When the next G sedan/coupe comes out from Nissan/Infiniti... the IS is going to drop to 3rd place in compros (where the OLD G35 sits now). If you want BMW, then you should look at Infiniti (a new G sedan is supposed to be out in the fall if you can wait). If you want a Benz, then shop Lexus.

I'd be tempted to get the BMW just to spite Toyota. Money talks... if people keep buying it they won't change it.

Fanman

I remember reading the Autoweek comparison (& pretty much all the other ones) regarding the 2. The Lexus (they usually test the IS350 vs. 330i) usually wins in every conceivable acceleration tests, while the 3 Series wins on braking & handling. With the 250 you are giving up the acceleration advantage though, yet the BMW will still probably have the braking & handling edge.

JeRKy 8 Owner

Unlike the 325i, I think the IS250 is a complete rip off. Unless you can get one in the 27 - 28k range, you're really wasting your money. I really don't know how they get off charging that much for a model that is 3 seconds slower than the other one. It's similar to the 04/05 automatic vs manual RX-8 situation, only a lot worse. Both IS250 and IS350 are over priced in my opinion, but at least with the IS350 you get a little something for your money. Now that the IS250/IS350 has become more common around here and I've had more time to digest it, I'm really not too impressed anymore the car's styling. At this point I think its looks just barely edge out the 325i. I'd probably consider an IS350 over the 3 series BMWs, but definitely not an IS250.

GULAMAN

I was reading the latest C&D today and they directly compared the IS250 and 325(both RWD/manual). they gave the overall performance edge clearly to the 325; e.g. 325 was 1.0 sec faster 0-60, among other things.
I've yet to check out an IS250 personally, but for me to pick it over an equivalent BMW, it had better offer some *other* qualities so awesome as to offset a performance deficit. I doubt it does....

MikeW

Toyota has 2 different size[diameter] wheels on the IS 225/45 17 front 245/45 17 rear. What size spare tire? does it split the difference?
The IS250 AWD is automatic only 54/46 weight distribution, and has 225/45 17 front and rear. This leads to a much slower steering geometry[caster axis] and needs to be in 3rd gear to reach 60mph, and finishes the 1/4 in 4th gear.
The IS250 manual need 3rd to hit 60, and does the 1/4 in 4th.
The IS250 auto has a wide ratio coverage 6 speed automatic, but 5 & 6 are too tall. 5th gear in the auto is taller than the 6th gear of the manual.
The IS250 auto is so toyota can show of the super EPA mileage 24/32, IS 250 manual 20/29, IS 250 AWD 22/28, IS 350 21/28

BMW doesn't even have a spare, only runflats which ride harshly.
The 325 can reach 60 in 2nd gear, hence the quicker time, and is almost on the 7000 limit at the 1/4 in 3rd gear. and BMW has drastically underrated the torque, 215hp@6250 is right(180.67 ft-lbs), compare the M54 manifold to the fake N52 manifold of the 325/525. So torque must be greater than the 185 ft-lbs @2750. best guess <= 200 ft-lbs

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....ticle_id=10106

spork

I don't know many people with bimmers so I'm not too sure about the Bimmer service (which I'm pretty sure should be quite good) but I do know from my brother and a friend of mine that Lexus has very nice service. It's expensive from what I understand, but the service stories I hear makes me wish I had a Lexus instead of a Mazda.

But basically I would say, if you REALLY care about the driving experience (meaning how the car handles and how you feel connected to it), apparently BMW is the way to go without a doubt. If the driving experience doesn't really matter as much as comfort and reliability, then go for the Lexus.

Ike

I want more choices...

ucfracerx8

325 Base Price - 30,900

IS250 Base Price - 29,990

MazdaSPEED 6 - 29,995

Since you are asking between BMW and Lexus, I would pick the Lexus, from a cost to own standpoint, would be less if you keep it for a long time. But for the same money, the MazdaSpeed 6 is a much better buy, especially if you are looking for a manual. If automatics are more your thing, the 325 would be a little more fun and have a little more get up and go.

Ike

The MS6 is an ill handling turd with a messed up engine, hardly a better buy. Get a Legacy or an A4 if you want something sporty and AWD with some luxury.

efini_8

you guys are good persuaders away from the lexus...

these are ALL the cars i'm considering in that range... so if you guys have some info on these cars, that would be great too: [i'm not worrying TOO much on speed anymore as i own an R6s]
these are my ranks:

1. Lexus IS250
2. BMW 325i
3. Infiniti G35 sedan ( somone said a NEW model is coming out this fall... Any articles on this? )
4. Acura TL
5. Audi A4

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

I'd wait to see the new G35... the coupe concept looks stunning, the production versions are scheduled to show up in New York at the auto show next month

spork

I say get the Lexus. It seems to me you enjoy the looks and the better comfort and fit and finish and that those things more than make up for the performance downgrade (it's not going to be as much as people make it out to be unless you're really hardcore about driving). You can't really go wrong with Lexus. I think people are just assuming you're a big performance freak. If that's the case, then there's definitely better performing cars out there.

Ike

A4 would be my choice, free maintenance, great interior, AWD, nice 6 speed, and a good engine, and easily and cheaply modded for more power if you end up wanting more umph. The new G35 looks like it's still at least a year away, the TL is FWD, the Lexus looks great but until they ahve a 350 with a manual I could care less, and the 325 BMW bores the snot out of me and is such an annoying status thing for the middle to upper middle class that can't afford a BMW with the better engine.

Japan8

The Lexus is an overpriced slug. Plain and simple. The RX-8 will hand it its *** in a race, both drag and road course... and everyone complains about the lack of power and how slow the RX-8 is! That should answer that question for you right there. No Lexus.

BMW... cost of ownership will be killer in the long run, but if you plan to dump it by the time the warranty ends... I'd say it's worth looking at.

MS6... I'd wait and see what Mazda does to fix the issues with the engine.

Legacy GT Limited or Spec-B... good value. AWD, quick performance, easily modded, Subaru tough, and the looks are the classiest of all Legacy thus far.

I'd be wary of the Audi... VW/Audi are notorious for their reliablility problems and even if their fixed I wouldn't want to risk it just to find out.

Take a few of these out for a test drive and see what suits you best.

efini_8

IKE, i believe that lexus has a 50,000 or 40,000 FREE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE as well... and i believe BMW does the same thing...

A4 is nice, but my sister also has a jetta right now that i tug around for commuting in school, and i really don't want to get behind the wheel all the time just believing that it's just a slight upgrade from the jetta... unless it's the s4 of course!!

Does anyone have links or pictures of the G35 concept?

Thanks guys!!!