SteVTEC

Doesn't matter if the torque curve is flat, they still lack power. 185 ft-lbs of torque is very little twist for a 3500 lb car.

My old 1999 Maxima with a 3.0L had 205 ft-lbs, better gearing, and 400 lbs less weight to lug around.

4GR - 230Nm @ 3000rpm = 170 ft-lbs / 97 HP
2GR - 350Nm @ 3000rpm = 258 ft-lbs / 147 HP
320 - 200 ft-lbs @ 3000rpm = 114 HP (and probably more like 120-125HP due to BMW power ratings usually being low)
old Maxima 205 ft-lbs @ 3000rpm = 117 HP

My old Maxima had no problems getting up to speed, and would easily pull out of a slower corner in 3rd gear no problem. You generally need at least 100hp to get moving pretty good in cars of this weight class, but the IS250 still isn't making that at even 3000rpm, which means kicking down another gear to at least 4000rpm and yes, winding it out from there......

Och

iTrader: (3)

The IS250 isn't too bad, its comparable to the long gone E46 325 and its own predecessor IS300. It's a small 6 cylinder engine that may not make much more power than comparable 4 cylinders, but its a lot smoother. It's well know that it will soon switch to a turbo 4.

With that being said, I'm not sure I like four cylinder BMWs. Sure, they might be making more power, but they sound like tractors.

SteVTEC

The 328's I've driven have had a sporty and engaging sound, but still sound like 4-cylinders. I think it's fine in a 3er, but would have to draw the line at the 5-series level. No way.

yowps3

Yea I agree. And the biggest problem with the IS's are their weight. They're heavy for their size. But that's probably due to more robust components such as engine, transmissions cases etc.

Germans have been weight & cost cutting for some time. The problem is with light cars is that they feel like tin cans. Which is why I don't like the GT86

In fact I got my IS350 for the price of a new GT86

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

I'll still take those over their 3-cylinders

yowps3

Very true.

The best thing to do is to get a 335i and just re-tune it to make the same power as the new M3 which is easily achieved with 335i

Och

iTrader: (3)

The 335 however is not for those who are concerned about efficiency. We had a 335 for 3 years and averaged something like 13.1 mpg.

yowps3

Turbocharged 2.0L are guzzlers. I'd imagine a turbocharged 6-cylinder would drink like crazy.

Och

iTrader: (3)

I think the 320 might be a lot more efficient than 328 because of the way its tuned.

SteVTEC

A friend has a 328i and has no problems getting mid to upper-30 mpg on the highway.

The engines are efficient. It's the flat-footed people who drive them hard that are guzzling the gas.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

And yet they still complain because they don't understand the correlation

I8ABMR

Cant really think of a better word for a weak engine in a luxury car that has less than 200 hp than anemic. LOL

spwolf

i am sure 328i is pretty efficient, but this "on the highway" is pretty silly.... my GS350 could easily get over 30 MPG on the highway... but i got 18 mpg average.

:-)

Och

iTrader: (3)

Precisely. The overall efficiency of any turbo engine is highly questionable. It may be running efficiently in certain circumstances (in which any other engines is going to be efficient as well), but there are far more circumstances where a traditional NA engine will easily trump it tenfold.

I don't have a problem with turbo engines - they put out awesome performance, so if you want to have fun and can afford it - go for it. But don't count on efficiency.

LexFather

If you remember when this car debuted while I am not the biggest fan of a 180hp BMW, I sure as hell saw the business case for it….the thing sells like hotcakes and adds volume….a TON of people don't care about HP or a lot of other things, they just want an entry level luxury vehicle…

This thing leases for under $300 with a couple grand down….

Brilliant move BMW..