The IS350 is such crap...

[bmwbenz0101]

Ok so some of you may know I started a thread in which I was deciding between the 325i and the IS350. Well I went to the Auto Show last weekend to actually get into the IS350, and let me tell you they messed up big time. The IS350 looks good in one color and only one color, black. The IS350 does not stand out one bit, it is the definition of bland. I don't think I've ever seen a car that has such a nice exterior and such an ugly interior like this since the Corvette. The IS350 has crappy palsticy leather, and the so called aluminum trim looks like what you would get in a Hyundai. To even compare the IS350 to the 325i is a stretch.The IS350 has such an akward seating position and the dash is at a 90 degree angle which makes it almost impossible to see the controls on the dash. Using the nav. must be really dangerous when you drive. The IS350 has a horrible blind spot, which is not good. In the back the windows are tiny and you feel like your in a cave. Honestly, for the same price as a BMW there is no comparison between the two. I was pleasantly suprised by the updated G35 coupe. While the center console a bit cheap looking, it has beautiful leather, and is much more luxurious than the IS350. Also, I saw the A4 with the S line package for the first time. Man that car looks hot. I cannot believe Audi would make the S package so similar looking to the actual S4. The interior on the Audi definately needs to be updated, its nice but its old looking. Once you sit in the BMW you know its special. It by far has the nicest interior. The one at the show had it without idrive. I personally think the interior looks wierd with only one hump. The BMW has the perfect seating position. You feel enclosed tightly yet it is spacious and open, and you can see the front end of the car, which I could not in the IS which I did not like. The trunk space in the BMW is Huge. BIG PLUS!!!I cannot believe they fit that huge trunk in such a small looking car.

The nicest car at the entire Auto Show..The ASTON V8 Vantage.. That is one sick ass car. My father has one on order and we saw it for the first time. All I have to say is...WHY BUY THE DB9. The Vantage is much bigger in person than I thought it would be. It is better looking than the DB9, plus the interior feels bigger because they got rid of those useless back seats. Opened up the hood. The engine is really far back in the front. That will be great for performance and handling. All I have to say is why buy the porsche. For 10k more after options you get a special car with equal handling, that is much more luxurious, and is an exotic. Honestly in South Florida porsche and a bentley are on every corner and you feel ripped for spending 100k on a car that everyone has. Only 2-3 thousand Vantages are going to be imported to the US every year, so hopefully it won't get to popular.

[stressdoc]

Not sure I would call an IS350 crap, but I agree with your assessment that the E90 is a step above in those characteristics that matter the most to us.

[ZenDriver]

WHY BUY THE DB9

I don't know...

Perhaps because, unlike the Vantage, it has a gearbox that works?

[aw_330i]

I find that the people on this board are too biased. I mean Lexus is a nice car. Great quality and reliability, but to say it is crap is abit far.

It is your opinion so to each his own.

[coco]

It's bmwbenz0101's opinion of course, but he doesn't really have much reason to be much biased, since he doesn't own a BMW and was considering both the E90 and the IS. Also don't read too much into the word "crap". One man's crap can be another's treasure I've said this before about my test drive of the IS, but it's simply not as good a car as the E90.. might not be crap, but definitely not as good.

[Xens]

It's not crap, but it's no BMW.

[r3amir]

So everybody agrees IS is not a crap and it is not as good as our cool BMW

[Atty]

It's fair game to hit Lexus for making an imitation that falls short of the mark, but there's no reason to knock them for trying. I support what they are trying to do. Again, the more competition BMW faces, the harder BMW has to try; thus, by Lexus coming out with competing models, BMW has to offer more. Heard of the 335i? Cadillac is also in the game, as is Nissan/Infiniti. I'm not saying I like those cars or would rush out to buy one, but with every new model, they get closer to the Target. If BMW wants to stay ahead, they have to produce. I remember the days when you couldn't buy a BMW V8; but now you can, courtesy of Nissan and Toyota. So who wins from all this? We do.

BMWbenz, aside from your analysis of the IS, did you let us know about your personal "best in show" because you really thought that or because you wanted us to know your daddy is buying one?

That's my 3.35 turbocents.

[Hunter399]

BMW
Lexus

[ABR]

I told ya, visibility from IS is not that great. Now you have witnessed it your self.

I disagree on interior; it has top quality materials IMHO. BMW interior is quite simple and cold comparing to IS, but I have to admit that after using car for 2 weeks it keep grow on me more and more everyday. I like to derive this car, not to stare on dash gadgets.

[db17k]

Originally Posted by Atty

It's fair game to hit Lexus for making an imitation that falls short of the mark, but there's no reason to knock them for trying. I support what they are trying to do. Again, the more competition BMW faces, the harder BMW has to try; thus, by Lexus coming out with competing models, BMW has to offer more. Heard of the 335i? Cadillac is also in the game, as is Nissan/Infiniti. I'm not saying I like those cars or would rush out to buy one, but with every new model, they get closer to the Target. If BMW wants to stay ahead, they have to produce. I remember the days when you couldn't buy a BMW V8; but now you can, courtesy of Nissan and Toyota. So who wins from all this? We do.

Indeed, competition only makes for better products! so for that fact GM loses big time.

[tightie]

ahah dude ur trippen.
is 350 is fucking phat.

[Jay_328]

I saw it last week. IMO, it's looks like a chick's car. It shows totally opposite from the e90. The IS looks good in pics, bland in person. The e90 looks good in pics, totally rocking in person. :rocks:

[GoBonesGo]

Originally Posted by Jay_325Ci

The IS looks good in pics, bland in person.

You nailed it. I saw one today while I was enjoying my new car. It wasn't bad looking at all, but I think it will start to blend in with traffic in no time.

[BMW786]

I saw the IS the other day...good - ppl. are buying it. I see these threads "Should I buy a C-class or E90?" or "IS250 or 325i?" - I personally don't go out of my way to convince anyone to get the E90. Shoot, then everyone will have the E90! - I want my car to be rare!!

Yes, bmwbenz - get the IS350, you'll be different.

[Jay_328]

Originally Posted by BMW786

I want my car to be rare!!

And you live in Cali?

[BMW786]

Originally Posted by Jay_325Ci

And you live in Cali?

Well, right now they're still relatively rare down here...strange but when I do see them they are out all in one day. But E46, yes they come a dime a dozen...hope E90 doesn't end up that way (wishful thinking...)

[Nikki]

I also saw it at the SFIA this weekend and I was unimpressed.
It looked nice on the outside, especially in the Glacier color (similar to Arctic),
but the inside was such crap!
I hated the design of the inside, it was ugly, uncomfortable, and I couldn't see over the high dashboard.
The seats were very cheap looking and feeling.


What really pissed me off though is that Lexus had 3 fully loaded IS350s,
but BMW only had one e90 and it was a base model 325i with 16" wheels, non xenon, no options whatsoever. How fair of a comparison is that?

[stressdoc]

If the price tag was on them then it was a great comparison. 31k for the BMW vs. 44k for the Lexus. I know which one I would choose...

[obLu]

The trunk space in the BMW is Huge

Compared to what?!?! I can't even fit the jogging stroller in there.

[18LLC]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I also saw it at the SFIA this weekend and I was unimpressed.
It looked nice on the outside, especially in the Glacier color (similar to Arctic),
but the inside was such crap!
I hated the design of the inside, it was ugly, uncomfortable, and I couldn't see over the high dashboard.
The seats were very cheap looking and feeling.


What really pissed me off though is that Lexus had 3 fully loaded IS350s,
but BMW only had one e90 and it was a base model 325i with 16" wheels, non xenon, no options whatsoever. How fair of a comparison is that?

In San Francisco, there are two fully loaded 330i sport to be compair to IS350.

[2006bmw]

Originally Posted by Jay_325Ci

The IS looks good in pics, bland in person.

So true. I saw the pics and thought the car looked great. Then walking through a parking lot I saw one and said "that's it??!" Looks like a puffy Acura RSX. Boooring.