The comparison has probably been posted before...

David328M-Sport · 08-06-2006, 05:08 PM

But I drove my friend's new IS250 last Saturday evening.

It was very quiet - too quiet. Very smooth - too smooth. Neat dash with the white back lighting.

Power and torque in standard drive mode not too flash. Nothing like my E90.

Very small rear window to look out from - high back.

Cheap feeling steering wheel with very large cruise control paddles behind.

Fiddly gear selector housing for Park, Reverse & Drive etc.

The IS250 seems to be more of a Benz C Class competitor in terms of smooth, quiet ride than a 3 series competitor.

kuthair · 08-06-2006, 05:18 PM

I drove the IS350... I gotta say that thing freakin flys. That thing is so fast its not even funny. I cant wait to drive the 335i, bet that thing is a monster.

ChineseGuy · 08-06-2006, 07:22 PM

try to take a corner with that flying is350.....hope you don't fly off the track

recall: 330i can take on a is350 ....u don't need a 335i....

xG35c · 08-06-2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChineseGuy

recall: 330i can take on a is350 ....u don't need a 335i....

You're dream'in!

kuthair · 08-06-2006, 08:16 PM

I drove both the is350 and the 330i.... and based on my seat-o-the-pants meter the is350 was faster. I'm sure it doesn't handle as well as the bmw tho, that's why I'm here instead of on a Lexus board. It is a nice car tho. BTW, I never said I needed the 335.

StewtheBassman · 08-06-2006, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David325Australia

But I drove my IS250 last Saturday evening.

David, do I understand that you own an IS250 also?

During the xDrive Experience I got to try an IS250 AWD. It was too cramped for my 6'1" 195 mass, and it didn't corner anywhere like the 325xi (or even the X3 for that matter).

Although Lexus states flat out that the IS has the 3 Series in their sights, it's hard to see how it competes at all.

Bimmerforlife · 08-06-2006, 08:59 PM

I drove a IS350 about 3 months ago. Yeah the thing was fast but that is about all that I liked about it. I felt very clostrophobic in the driving seat with the dash really high, the side windows really tall but short window frame, the driver door sill is so high you get a closed in feeling. The rear window so small it's dangerous. I also felt unsecure in it with no rear visibility at all, this is the reason for the dumbo size side mirrors, you need them to see. There was not much involvement in the driving experience in the IS350. Sometimes it's not all about just going fast but how you feel along the way.

I sat in the back and forget it, I thought the front was closed in feeling the rear is 10 x worse. It was too heavy in the turns and body roll was evident, getting back in my E46 after that test drive was a joy and I quickly told me baby I'm sorry for even thinking I could get rid of her for that thing. Just with the media hype I had to see what that thing was all about.

BMW's have the total overall driving experience for me.

David328M-Sport · 08-06-2006, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StewtheBassman

David, do I understand that you own an IS250 also?

No sir, the post should have read my friend's IS250 - sorry about that. I will try to edit the post
I have the 325 (as you know) and my wife has a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C180k, which we also bought new.

Last Saturday evening was the first time I was in any Lexus.

Cheers

StewtheBassman · 08-06-2006, 09:07 PM

Thanks David, for a moment my world was teetering!! You are possibly the most graceful BMW 3 series apologist, it would have shaken my Universe to know you had a Lexus registered to your family name! Now a Benz is okay, Old School and all that.

Cheers and have a great day!

climkt · 08-06-2006, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David325Australia

But I drove my friend's new IS250 last Saturday evening.

It was very quiet - too quiet. Very smooth - too smooth. Neat dash with the white back lighting.

Power and torque in standard drive mode not too flash. Nothing like my E90.

Very small rear window to look out from - high back.

Cheap feeling steering wheel with very large cruise control paddles behind.

Fiddly gear selector housing for Park, Reverse & Drive etc.

The IS250 seems to be more of a Benz C Class competitor in terms of smooth, quiet ride than a 3 series competitor.

hi. did u drive manual or auto is250.? the UK version has a hand parking brake, makes it more suitable for manual/ our cars come only with auto and has a foot parking brake.

Jay_328 · 08-07-2006, 01:01 AM

That car peeked my interest for a quick minute. Actually I saw it in person and walked away. IMO, it looks like a car my little sis would want. I had no interest in driving it so I can't respond on how it drives or how much power it has. But after eyeing it I knew it wasn't a car I'd ever buy.

Another thing the e90 didn't look so great to me when I saw a few of the first pics released, but I was hooked when I saw it live. The lexus looked pretty hot in the first pics, but not so much in person. And the lexus design will age much faster than the Bimmer.

08-06-2006, 05:08 PM	#1
David328M-Sport Brigadier General 101 Rep 3,566 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Estoril Blue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	The comparison has probably been posted before... But I drove my friend's new IS250 last Saturday evening. It was very quiet - too quiet. Very smooth - too smooth. Neat dash with the white back lighting. Power and torque in standard drive mode not too flash. Nothing like my E90. Very small rear window to look out from - high back. Cheap feeling steering wheel with very large cruise control paddles behind. Fiddly gear selector housing for Park, Reverse & Drive etc. The IS250 seems to be more of a Benz C Class competitor in terms of smooth, quiet ride than a 3 series competitor. __________________ 328i M-Sport, Estoril Blue, Carbon XP 35 Tint, front heated seats, black Dakota, Sports Suspension, Anthracite Headliner, HUD, Pro Nav, Sunroof, hk 600w, Bi-Xenon, 19" 403M wheels, Reversing Camera, DAB+, Xenon, BT Ext Connect, MST turbo intake pipe, MST Cold Air Intake, JB4 on Map 2 with Catless DP produces awesome performance in Sport. Last edited by David328M-Sport; 08-06-2006 at 09:04 PM..
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08-06-2006, 05:18 PM	#2
kuthair Captain 11 Rep 613 Posts Drives: 07 335i Sedan 6MT Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	I drove the IS350... I gotta say that thing freakin flys. That thing is so fast its not even funny. I cant wait to drive the 335i, bet that thing is a monster.
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08-06-2006, 07:22 PM	#3
ChineseGuy QuickShifter 139 Rep 1,500 Posts Drives: Black E90 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Pole iTrader: (2)	try to take a corner with that flying is350.....hope you don't fly off the track recall: 330i can take on a is350 ....u don't need a 335i....
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08-06-2006, 08:16 PM	#5
kuthair Captain 11 Rep 613 Posts Drives: 07 335i Sedan 6MT Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	I drove both the is350 and the 330i.... and based on my seat-o-the-pants meter the is350 was faster. I'm sure it doesn't handle as well as the bmw tho, that's why I'm here instead of on a Lexus board. It is a nice car tho. BTW, I never said I needed the 335.
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08-06-2006, 08:59 PM	#7
Bimmerforlife Major 393 Rep 1,283 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	I drove a IS350 about 3 months ago. Yeah the thing was fast but that is about all that I liked about it. I felt very clostrophobic in the driving seat with the dash really high, the side windows really tall but short window frame, the driver door sill is so high you get a closed in feeling. The rear window so small it's dangerous. I also felt unsecure in it with no rear visibility at all, this is the reason for the dumbo size side mirrors, you need them to see. There was not much involvement in the driving experience in the IS350. Sometimes it's not all about just going fast but how you feel along the way. I sat in the back and forget it, I thought the front was closed in feeling the rear is 10 x worse. It was too heavy in the turns and body roll was evident, getting back in my E46 after that test drive was a joy and I quickly told me baby I'm sorry for even thinking I could get rid of her for that thing. Just with the media hype I had to see what that thing was all about. BMW's have the total overall driving experience for me.
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08-06-2006, 09:07 PM	#9
StewtheBassman Major General 201 Rep 6,381 Posts Drives: 2011 X5d 421,000kms Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hudson, Quebec iTrader: (1)	Thanks David, for a moment my world was teetering!! You are possibly the most graceful BMW 3 series apologist, it would have shaken my Universe to know you had a Lexus registered to your family name! Now a Benz is okay, Old School and all that. Cheers and have a great day! __________________
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08-07-2006, 01:01 AM	#11
Jay_328 Lieutenant Colonel 121 Rep 1,595 Posts Drives: 07 e92 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 07 E92 328 [0.00]	That car peeked my interest for a quick minute. Actually I saw it in person and walked away. IMO, it looks like a car my little sis would want. I had no interest in driving it so I can't respond on how it drives or how much power it has. But after eyeing it I knew it wasn't a car I'd ever buy. Another thing the e90 didn't look so great to me when I saw a few of the first pics released, but I was hooked when I saw it live. The lexus looked pretty hot in the first pics, but not so much in person. And the lexus design will age much faster than the Bimmer.
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