MWIS350

If want speed I would get used RC-F V8 467HP instead. To compete with Beamer.

rogers2

If price wasn't issue would you go for the BMW? I have a IS250 as a daily driver. My girlfriend just purchase a 3 series last month. I tried my best to convince her to purchase the IS but it didn't work. While the Lexus is more reliable the BMW just seem to be the better car. The salesman at silver spring Lexus really suck on customer service. I probably won't purchase another Lexus until they change the grill.

3ISFSPORT

M3 or bust

goldengame

Absolutely not. If the 340i and IS350 were the same price, I'd still choose my IS350. Now, the M235i though...the IS350 F-Sport feels very similar to the M235i to drive. If you don't mind 2 doors, then I'd probably get the M235i over the IS350.

Savjam

Agree. The m235i is an excellent drive. I consider the 2 series to be the most fun to drive cars that BMW makes today.

SceneAmati

Before I bought my IS350 F-Sport, I test drove the 340i M-Sport.


The 340i is nice and the handling and driving experience was way better. But the interior just didn't match up to what I saw in the IS350. I'm a shorter person so I guess having the IS350 setup is nice since it feels like everything is close by or "cramped" as you say.


The 340i had the cool heads up display and the power was nice.


But the IS350 has the sliding gauges, lol. I just went with the IS due to reliability and looks.


I plan on keeping my car for a long time so I figured I'll get something that I know will last.


I have a Toyota 4Runner that's been running strong with a bunch of miles so I expect to get the same with the Lexus.


If I want to go fast and beat beamers, I'll just take my crotch rocket out.

RayG

iTrader: (3)

i just did what you wanted to do i had a 2015is350 and my father took over the lease just picked up a 2016 340i msport.

smacc83

Just switched from a 09 335 coupe and the car was awesome but only really came alive with a couple mods. 50,000km on the clock and it was virtually un-drivable. Always small issues that cost a fortune. Just make sure you lease.

MWIS350

They say BMW & Mecedes are money pit.

dizlex

But IS350's engine is weak in the lower RPM's where you spend the vast majority of your time. It REALLY COULD use more torque down low. Especially annoying is that it actually dips in the mid-2000's, before finally coming alive above 3000, and really showing what it's got only above 4000. A poor design, arguably.

Olasek

It is like any other naturally aspirated engine, similar characteristic. I don't see any dips in the mid 2000, I see a nice almost linear build up of torque. I personally don't like turbos or supercharged solutions.

Ice350

iTrader: (1)

I grew up in the muscle car era. We didn't need turbos for low end power. Chevy and Ford engines provided power throughout the rev range.
Lexus just keep missing the boat on torque. High revving engines are passe. We need low end grunt on demand. Period.

The IS350, GS350 and RC350 all need AT LEAST 400 HP AND 400 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE! Keep that world famous reliability with the power and the Germans will be pissed at us.

MWIS350

If you wax on it all the time it won't last. High revving to safe gas and engine reliablilty

Cake

Im cross shopping between these as well. 2016 340i, 2017 430i or the 2017 is350 when its out.

dizlex

The characteristic of having a large rise in torque at high RPM's is not endemic to normally aspirated engines. It's a result of designing the engine to get a lot of peak HP, using camshaft profiles, bore/stroke ratios, and intake/exhaust tuning. It comes at the expense of low-end or mid-range torque.

If they had wanted to, they could have designed it with a flatter torque curve that peaks at much lower RPM's. But then the engine would "run out of breath" at high RPM's, producing a less-impressive peak HP number.

The big HP may in fact "win" in an all-out drag-race, but, in most driving conditions, it would be better to have more torque in the low and mid-ranges. Some rise in torque as RPM's rise does feel better, to most people, but in the IS they took it too far, IMO. Making it feel even worse is that frustrating dip in the mid-range.

The IS350 is about the "peakiest" car engine that I've ever experienced. There is a HUGE difference in this engine, between 2500 and 4500 RPM's.

As for the dip in the torque dip in the mid-range, I can sure feel it. It's frustrating, right there, often causing me to keep pressing the accelerator until I get "the big downshift" that causes everyone's neck to snap-back. Very unrefined.