Its a odd comparison I know! I need to get a new car for work. I'm now performance product manager at ecp so need to have something modable and decent! its got to be no older than a 56 plate, under 100,000miles, have 4 seats and ive got a 10k budget and bought from a dealer. I ideally want a manual, petrol, rwd and needs to do at least 25mpg Been looking at a 08 is250 sport. Its pretty much mint condition with low miles its manual sport with the nav pack. So better stereo and sat nav. Got every toy you can imagine. Drives nice it just seems abit boring! Used Lexus Is 250 Saloon 2.5 Sport 4dr in Bristol, Avon | Autochoice Other choice ive test drove today was a e92 335i. Its a 06 plate so older and its done 79,000. Again its pretty mint and it fucking shifts. Just dunno what the running costs are like and the reliability are like! as it is a twin turbo lol Used Bmw 3 Series Coupe 3.0 335i Se 2dr in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | Vanquish Autos Ltd I really cant decide! most of the times its just going to be used driving 150mile round trip to Wembley and back! Both get around the same mpg aswell. Anyone owned either or had dealings with either? Cheers
You could always take the girly approach to it and go on looks alone. In my eyes the bimmer is just better looking if that's any consolation atall
If your insistent on a manual make sure you test drive a IS as soon as possible, it may just make your decision a lot easier lol. I have a manual, IS250 sport and love it, but the box is known for being very notchy. Basically they built it to be bulletproof and maintenance free but did too good a job of it lol BTW, I'm sure you already know but the IS wont be nearly as quick as the 335! Just seems a strange comparison??? I was looking for a 325 or IS and after seeing all he toys in the Lex I obviously went for that.
I used to have 335i. Actually still own it, but has given to my GF. I have never driven Lexus, but 335i is great car, quite comfortable, very quick, good on fuel, very easy to tune up to 400bhp.
Since when? I test drove a manual and I know 2 other guys who have manuals too unless Im dreaming? Anyway, of the two Id strongly advise the 335i - the Lexus is a nice car but the 335 is a step up in power, handling and looks. Interior and gadgetry is arguably better on the Lexus but the 3 is a much better drive IMO. If its an 06 it will have the N54 engine which basically means £1500 on some exhaust bits, and intercooler and a remap and youre looking at 400+hp and 500 lb/ft+ in torque, but be aware pretty much ever engine ancillary breaks sooner or later - injectors, HPFP, wastegates, actuators, turbos and none of that is cheap, best to buy one they have already been done on. The Lexus is a bloody good car but the 335 is better IMO.
I'm very surprised your not considering a 335d they have spastic amounts of power with a quick remap and insanely good on fuel Also worth mentioning Lexus are one of the worst cars for depreciating so I wouldn't be surprised if that same car is half the price within a year or two
Fecking hell who put 50p in docwra???? Honest mistake op, mustn't have been any manuals when I was looking as I was convinced they were auto only. As a few have said, the BMW is a hell of a lot quicker so if that's what you want then it's a easy choice. Looks wise, each to their own, I prefer the BMW exterior but the Lex interior is a much nicer place to be. One of the Lexus selling points for me was that you don't see 20 every weekend you go food shopping like the you do with the 3 series. Get test driving pal
Not even in the same ballpark IMO. Main issue with IS's is they're pretty much a rep-mobile special and look like any other. That and the fact they're never gonna be fast, so not really relevant to 'performance products'. Personally if you care about miles per gallon, while a 335i is badass, get a 335D. They go like fuck, very little mods and it's faster than the stock petrol, does good MPG, and while I don't know the kind of performance products ECP will sell, my guess is it's the generic big brands, and they ALL make decent parts for the BM, and not for the Lexus, so it makes a fuck sight more sense to me.
I have an IS250 and my next car will be a BMW 330d. Better in every way except the noise. Not driven a 335i but I imagine it's better in every way including the noise.
