BMW 3 series or wait for the new Lexus IS 300 in the fall?

[Doctor Zoidburg]

LOOKS: BMW 3 series vs. Lexus IS 250

Thanks to Mr. Lewd we have a have a link to pics for the IS 250. The IS 250 looks like a car that chicks would like to be seen in and the BMW 3 series has the "look how big my balls are" look!

Latest auto biz news, It is rumored that Toyota may purchase General Motors in the same way that Daimler Benz purchased Chrysler. Kirk Kirkorian has just purchased about 5% of GM stock. Controling interest in large blocks of stock is what is needed for one big corperation to purchase another big corperation.
Hey?........Isn't Kirk kirkorian the guy that facilitated the sale of Chrysler to Daimler Benz?

 

[Socrates]

Wankers drive Lexus...

wannabes drive BMWs.

Men drive Jags..............

 

[peterabletare]

Infiniti M45

I recently purchased this baby and to be quite honest, I am happy with it's performance and interior comfort. It's well worth the price and I would recommend it as a sensible city car that's a charm to ride...other than a few SPs out there...they're more fun

 

[MarkII]

wannabes drive BMWs.

Men drive Jags..............

And those men are waiting for the Courtesy Van to take them to work 3 times a month.

I had a Jag..the long 12 Cyl XJS...nice car...wish I could have seen/driven it more than the service dept did! Although I have heard they've gotten better than the one I had back in the late 80's

 

[Boyscout352]

Not always the case, but there is a relationship between type of car you drive and personality.

 

[Doctor Zoidburg]

Guys that drive Jags have wives that look like Camila Parker Balls

 

[bigpackage]

Get a KIA & the money you save can be used for SP.

 

[mass123]

I saw a brand new Volvo S60 type R. That is one nice smoking car. A little more expensive than a 3 series though.

 

[Meister]

Gentlemen,

I need you advice, Should I wait for the new Lexus IS300 (2006) to be delivered this fall or get the BMW 3 series now as they come hot off the assembly lines?

The BMW 3 series is an excellent choice from a driving and styling point of view. I would have bought it, but found my legs cramped, so I went for the C240.

The only issue with the 3 series is that it caters to rich kids, ginos, etc..

You may also want to look at the Audi A4.

I am not sure if the IS300 has quite the image that the German cars would have.

 

[mass123]

Lexus all the way! Japaneese is the way to go these days. I just got a Subaru Impreza WRX STI and it's the most amazing car that i've ever owned!

The specs are amazing on the WRX STI. The styling was too rally/sporty for my taste.

 

[Meister]

The styling was too rally/sporty for my taste.

Are you talking about the same car as timdog? The styling is anything but rally/sporty. I saw a headline once in an Auto Mag that said "Goes like stink / Looks like stink"

 

[mass123]

Come on:

IMPREZA WRX STI SEDAN
Starting at $32,295*

- 300-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer engine with Active Valve Control System (AVCS)
- Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with helical-type limited-slip front differential and mechanical limited-slip rear differential
- High performance sport-tuned 4-wheel independent suspension
Brembo performance braking system with Super Sport ABS
- 17 X 8.0-inch 10-spoke BBS lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels with ultra high-performance tires1
- Iridium spark plugs

 

[Meister]

No complaints about the specs.

But, why does it have to look like a Hyundai Accent?

 

[DateMasamune]

When you buy a 3, you are not just buying a car ...

you are buying an automotive icon, the car that started it (sport seden) all. I have driven American, Japanese and German cars and find that German cars are indeed the best. But, when it comes to reliability and durability, you just can't beat the Toyota brand.

I heard from a friend that Mercedes buys over a hundred Camrys' and Corollas' a year and reverse engineers them to see why they are so good in terms of reliabilty and durabilty. And that says alot about Toyota's.

Personally, I love performance cars and love to tune them too so I have always had a love affair with Hondas and BMWs. There are lots and lots of parts for both. But Bimmers are abit more expensive to tune then Hondas though. But when I drive my little Honda and beat more expensive cars, the thrill and fullfillment is better then stopping at the lights in my Bimmer and get stares.

 

[K Douglas]

I test drove the new Nissan Altima SE-R, feels like a race car. 260HP in that puppy. And its only $36K (although you need to buy winter tires extra).

I'm also looking at the Acura TSX, Legacy GT and Infiniti G35 but I'm liking the Altima more and more as I compare.

BMW, Audi and Lexus all out of my price range when you add the bells and whistles.

 

[DateMasamune]

I'm also looking at the Acura TSX, Legacy GT and Infiniti G35 but I'm liking the Altima more and more as I compare.

BMW, Audi and Lexus all out of my price range when you add the bells and whistles.

But with the G35 adding this and that, it easily comes close to $50K. With that in mind, why not give the Teutons a try?

On the other hand, the TSX seems to be the real deal. It was highly successful in Europe and Japan under the Accord Euro-R name. Not to mention that it has also won many touring car races ...
But do keep in mind that it really is a 2.4L Accord engine tune to pump out 200HP. The TL is also built on the Accord platform.

 

[WarAxe]

A test drive of both would be wisest. I am a BMW fanatic though, so I wouldn't even look at a Lexus. But I think you should and hopefully find which suits you more. Also look at Audi's A4, Acura's TSX and maybe the best bang for the buck in North America: Ford Mustang GT.

 

[Meister]

And its only $36K (although you need to buy winter tires extra).

Are there any cars that include spare winter tires?

 

[Meister]

On the other hand, the TSX seems to be the real deal. It was highly successful in Europe and Japan under the Accord Euro-R name. Not to mention that it has also won many touring car races ...

I was in Germany a few weeks ago and hardly saw any Hondas. May be they are selling better in other countries, but not in the land of Autobahn.

Right now Audis and BMW 5 series are doing really well in Germany. And the Phaeton is the butt of all jokes.

 

[DateMasamune]

That may be true, but Toyota's are appliances, not enthusiasts' cars. Every few years, my brain says Toyota, but my gut (or butt?) prevails in a German car.

LOL ... that's true ...

But whenever Toyota decides to build an enthusist's car they are always successful. For instance, the Supra was highly successful in the JGTC races beating those Skylines and NSXs. And about a few years back the Corona/Corina did well in the JTCC. And, the Levin AE91 (hatchback Corolla with rear wheel drive) is now a cult car in the drift scene as is the Nissan 240 SX.

Oh, not to mention the Celica GTS Turbo 4WD that did well in the rally races.

And now, they have that Scion tC in the States which seems like a good deal.

I am sure TOM's and TRD is just as good as Nismo or Mugen ... it's just that in North America, Toyotas are regarded only as family man's car.

Being caught in a Toyota (in Canada) = married with kids