The E39 platform is getting to look old to me now. So many of my friends have the 528, 530, and myself have previously owned a 540....it's really looking old. But to all his own.

 

The M3 is an outdated OLD car.

It is DATED period. It's also S_L_O_W!!!!

The new IS350 can almost keep up with it.

M3's suck at the moment. Loud, harsh and HORRIBLE interior.

 

Keep the discussion honest. The 350 can't come close to keeping up with an M3. How can you say it's SLOW when it still destroys the 350?

Saw the IS at the Anaheim autoshow. My high hopes disappeared. The interior of the car sucks. WAY too narrow. In my view, this highly anticipated car strikes out. So close yet so far.

As a Lexus fan I had hoped they FINALLY would make an IS that people would want to buy. I think they missed the mark again. Time will tell, but I don't think they will hit the demographic they were looking for with this car. Very sad.

 

he he.

Ummmmm

I think it can come close. 5.1 and 13.7 in the 1/4.....

Please why don't YOU keep it honest.

Also, maybe you should go on a diet.

 

I see that your intent is to pick fights rather than honestly discuss cars. I will dismiss you as the ******* that you obviously are.

 

let's keep the discussion civil, i dont' see your posts being nice to others.

and is350 keep up with the m3? are you kidding me? here are some simple facts:
1) m3 came out in 01, and sc430 came out in 01 as 02 model. the two cars are almost just as "outdated" if you put it that way
2) m3 can eat the is350 alive any day. m3 does 0-60 in less than 5 secs easy. i wonder if you can get is350 to go low 5 yourself.
3) handling of the m3 will be on top of the is350 no doubt.

the is350 is a nice car dont' get me wrong, and i am not bashing the lexus brand (search my posts and know what cars i drive before you try to get me on that), but being honest and talk about the truth is what earns you reputation here

on the other hand, what you were doing is bringing you the opposite

 

Folks, an M3 is not in the same league as an SC430. The SC430 is an higher end model vehicle and marketed as such. No argument there. Same as a Honda Accord is not a M3. That said, I did consider the M3 seriously before the SC430.
Many reasons why I went the SC430 route vs the M3. Those being luxury, style, uniqueness (M3 is still a 3 series), reliability (there is something said to being confident your car will always work), hard top, smooth V8 vs high strung 6, and did I say style? SC430 gets MANY compliments( 2 today alone), M3 did not get one in 3 days of parking in well crowded areas. So if you want to blend in, get the M3 as the SC430 get's noticed! A bit too much for my taste.
Also I have read of numerous complaints of the M3 soft top having issues including leaking. I wanted a convertible and feel safer in the hard top. Many SC430 owners came from M3's. Not many if any M3 owners came from a SC430. To say it another way, M3 owners GRADUATE to a SC430. Something to that in my book.

Read:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehi...184.A3851.html

M3 is nice and will fit the needs for those looking for it's attributes which is speed (as long as it is not the MUCH SLOWER 330 lb more SMG convertible), and handling. The car does not offer anything more past that over a regular 3 series. I finally decided that since the M3 only offered speed and handling + the badge over a regular 3 series and I did not care too much for them anymore my primary goal was not outride speed. If I wanted a fast car and sounds like you do, I would have bought a Viper or Z06. Both which will destroy a M3 or any BMW for that matter including the new M5 and the Chevy would be just as reliable as a Bimmer. Before talking about any of the cars, I highly suggest driving them for a while and stay out of the magazines.
Oh and yes I have driven both Viper (2 models) and Z06 as well.
Lee

 

haha trust me lee, m3 was on the radar when we were shopping for the sc430. well you know the rest, and i am sure you can easily name 10 reasons why i chose the sc430 and what i gave up on

 

Well,

I LOVED my E36 M3! It was one of my favorite cars and I have owned a lot of cars.

I now have a C6 with N20 and the Z06 will be here in two weeks.

I'm either going for a GS430 or an IS350 for my daily. I'm leaning heavily toward the GS430 because of the small and down market interior of the IS. Also the darn dash is so high in that thing.

I might take a ride in a SC just too see if that might do it for me.

 

I been seeing alota imported Twin Turbo Aristo's why dont you get one of those

 

So as not to be deemed an M3 troll please refer to my pervious post in this thread where I agree almost entirely with your points Lee. I also added one point in favor of the M3 that you didn't address -- for a one car owner, the M3 is much more flexible than a 430 IN MY OPINION.
Of course, this entire thread addresses M3 vs 430, so stupid remarks interjected on the merits of the IS350 aren't even germane to this discussion.
I'm a big Lexus fan, but one car can't be everything to everyone. Not crazy about the 430 body style, but it is an awesome car THAT I HEAVILY considered before opting for the M3. I just needed the trunk and back seat and LOVED the SMG tranny and overall performance.

Matt

 

very very well said matt!

and i think it's time this thread moves

 

Ahhh yes, I completely forgot about that attribute which the M3 has over many other cars of similiar performance. Thanks for bringing it up.
Lee

 

Back to the original question...here's a reason no one else mentioned. Exclusivity...sort of. While there may be several modded sc430's here on the board, you hardly ever see one on the road. Since you plan to mod it if you keep it I say keep it and mod the heck out of it. I see modded bimmers all over the place. As stated previously, M3 hardly looks more special tham a regular 3 series, especially when modded. Add to that the reliability and high style of the Lex and there you go...a no brainer.