bmw 330ci vs lexus is300

[CrzyMR2T]

the bmw 330ci is the is300s competitor right? anyways, whichever one it is, has anyone driven both cars? how was its steering, and everything about it? or if anyone has opinions on it, what do you think? looks, and performance wise.

[Mike (M3)]

the beemer is slightly faster, but it is down to taste really on this one, they are both very, very good cars.

personally id rather have the german quality.

[crayzayjay]

No contest for me. 330Ci superior in every way.

[del]

bmw no question. from looks, to performance, to driving dynamics, etc. the lexus can't hang. although reliability of the lexus goes without saying. bmw? questionable. but i would take the 330 over the IS300 any day of the week.

[Jimster]

BMW, has the IS completely outclassed, obviously/

[3000ways]

Totally agree with you guys, the BMW 330CI is better in every arear in my opinion except for price.
The IS300 has very nice styling, but it now has become trendy and not as impressive, same goes with it's interior styling. It's performance once was very good, but now it is just average for it's class. The IS300 is a nice car, but it's competition has gotten better while it has remained the same. Hopefully the next generation IS300 will have a lot more power.

[kman10587]

I've driven both, and I'd take the IS 300. The BMW has a better transmission and a more luxurious interior, but I just like the feel of the Japanese cars...they feel so down-to-earth.

[DinanM3_S2]

Yea, the Lexus is easily outclassed. The 330Ci is about as close as you can get to the M3 right now. Easily my favorite car in this class. I've always found Lexus boring, especially compared to BMW. Lexus is really about luxury before performance, and therefore their cars struggle to compare to BMW. The Lexus was actually compared to the 325i in a recent Car and Driver comparo and the Lexus lost to the Bimmer, the Acura TL, and the Infiniti G35. So if it can't beat the 325i, it stands no chance against the even better 330Ci. Of course im biased towards BMW, but this is just one of those things where the winner is so obvious its not even funny.

Other good cars in this class that should be compared
1) Infiniti G35 (Sedan more comparable to the IS300, Coupe closer to the 330Ci)
2) Acura TL
3) Audi A4
4) Caddilac CTS

[91300zxtt]

ive driven both bmw 330 has so much more on the lexus except the aftermarket

[kman10587]

Eh, guess I'm the only one who likes the IS 300 more. I've never really liked German cars that much, though.

[CrzyMR2T]

well from just reading magazines, the bmw is the better car in every way, but i know that you can improve a cars performance with some tuning. i think that the lexuses double wishbone suspension all around is more attractive than the beemers multilink rear/macpherson strut front setup. i really wanted to hear opinions from people who has actually driven both cars, and if you have, try to give as much detail as you can. i think that id like the bmw better if i drove both, but thats if its stock, the car will feel different after tuning. i wanna see how peoples opinions will compare to mine when i drive one.

does anyone know the steering ratio for the is300? i think the bmw has 15.4:1.

[kman10587]

I've driven both, and I can honestly say that I think the Lexus has better handling and steering than the BMW. The IS 300 felt lighter on its feet, and the interior was more ergonomical and functional (function over form). Plus, I think the IS 300 looks ten times cooler than the BMW. Keep in mind that I'm only 18, not the typical Lexus/BMW buyer. The IS 300 just appeals to me a lot more; most Japanese cars do.

[del]

Originally Posted by kman10587

..... Keep in mind that I'm only 18, not the typical Lexus/BMW buyer. The IS 300 just appeals to me a lot more; most Japanese cars do.

with all due respect and nothing personal, but that statement right there answers a whole lot of questions. most people in the market for bmw's and lexuses aren't 18 years old. what does that say about the IS300?

[DinanM3_S2]

With all due respect to your opinion that the IS300 has better handling, you would be pretty much on your own on that. Read almost any article comparing the two in any aspect. I know R&T and C&D have both said the 325i outhandles everything in its class. I have also drivin both, and the BMW is far superior.

330Ci > 325i > IS300

[kman10587]

del: You're right, and that's why I said it. The IS 300 is not really meant to go head-to-head with the BMW 3 Series; it's meant to get younger clientele into Lexus dealerships. The edgy styling, the cool-looking interior, and the overall ride of the car are all meant to appeal to younger enthusiasts like myself. The BMW is better in just about every way, but it isn't meant to appeal to people my age. It's meant to appeal to older buyers who want a sporty, entry-level luxury sedan.