IS350 vs e46 M3
#16
Pole Position
Thread Starter
I've owned both. I ran a 13.48 in my 2004 M3 and a 13.71 in my 2008 IS350. Both cars bone stock. If the M3 has a good driver, it should slowly pull away on top end. From a dead stop, they feel pretty close.
However if you look beyond drag racing, the M3 is the better car hands down.
However if you look beyond drag racing, the M3 is the better car hands down.
The following users liked this post:
ncatona (04-20-21)
#17
Racer
iTrader: (12)
Yea i agree, the m3 is def the better car when it comes down to pure sports performance. But I am looking for a luxury daily driver that also has some power under the hood. Which is why the 350 is perfect for me. All comes down to what your looking for in a car. There is no way I would be able to use an m3 how it's meant to be used just using it as a daily driver. So why pay more in insurance, gas, and alot more for repairs and sacrifice the luxury for a car that I won't be able to even use half of its potential. If your looking for pure performance and plan on taking it to a track and race alot then Yea go for m3. But if ur like me and looking for comfort , reliability, and that has some horses under the hood that still gets decent mpg than can't go wrong with the Lexus is350.
#18
#22
I owned a 2004 e46 M3 convertible (6MT) for 6 years and it was my daily driver. I now own a 2014 IS350 convertible.
The M3 will eat the IS for lunch around a track all day long... Straight line performance may be close between the two, but I'd say that if you put the M3 in sport mode and it would win in a quarter mile against the IS.. especially if the M3 has the SMG trans and a good launch.
Both great cars, but cost of ownership is significantly higher with the M3, which is why I'm in the IS. It would be so great to have an IS with a MT.
oh yeah, and "tuning" an e46 M3?? Not something that can be done easily or inexpensively. The car is tuned to the gills when you buy it.... by German engineers...
The M3 will eat the IS for lunch around a track all day long... Straight line performance may be close between the two, but I'd say that if you put the M3 in sport mode and it would win in a quarter mile against the IS.. especially if the M3 has the SMG trans and a good launch.
Both great cars, but cost of ownership is significantly higher with the M3, which is why I'm in the IS. It would be so great to have an IS with a MT.
oh yeah, and "tuning" an e46 M3?? Not something that can be done easily or inexpensively. The car is tuned to the gills when you buy it.... by German engineers...
Last edited by TomDac; 01-13-14 at 08:16 AM.
The following users liked this post:
RJMacReady (06-19-24)
#23
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,553
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the M3 is just more difficult to drag well than the IS is. I'd wager with a competent driver, 0-60 would be quite close with the M3 pulling slightly ahead by 1/4 mile and pulling well away past that.
#25
I've owned both. Stock vs. stock the E46 M3 is just a better experience all around. Handling, acceleration, braking and anything other than reliability and the E46 comes out ahead all day.
Throw some F-Sport shocks/springs, F-Sport lower rear brace, ISF steering ECU, and a couple other braces on the IS350 and you have a contender to the E46 M3....other than reliability.
I love my IS350 for my daily. But, I would prefer a 6 speed E46 M3 for a weekend car.
This may hurt some feelings but, I have to call it like I have seen/driven it.
-Kenji
Throw some F-Sport shocks/springs, F-Sport lower rear brace, ISF steering ECU, and a couple other braces on the IS350 and you have a contender to the E46 M3....other than reliability.
I love my IS350 for my daily. But, I would prefer a 6 speed E46 M3 for a weekend car.
This may hurt some feelings but, I have to call it like I have seen/driven it.
-Kenji
The following users liked this post:
RJMacReady (06-19-24)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post