Trust me, I have tried but it seems I run in every possible roadblocks under the sun. We have no Lexus accessories (lowering springs) available in Canada, Lexus Canada says that it will void my warranty if I put aftermarket parts, RSR springs that I was hoping to install seem to have a problem (based on a thread in the RC forum), few places are comfortable installing these where I live...so after a while, you get so frustrated by the whole thing that you just want to say F' it and trade it....

 

BMW is very pricey for sure. My Performance Model 3 was $55K. The 340i, I priced out was near $65k. I guess you have to pay to drive the Ultimate Driving Machine

 

Let me guess, your favorite color is white? xD congrats on new car, my next car will be a G20 as well.

 

I know some of you wanted a comparison, so I'll keep this short and simple with not too much technical details. I've driven the car about 250 miles now. Car is absolutely amazing, anyone who is thinking of getting a G20 I would highly recommend you take it out for a drive. I hope this helps some of you maybe make a future decision. It's late at night here so I'll try to get whatever I can think of in.

330i Interior:
- Simple yet elegant layout. Not a cockpit feeling like the IS gave me, but roomy and comfortable. Cup holders are not near my armrest like they were on the IS, making it much more easier to use now.
- Steering on the 330i is by far superior than the IS, it makes you feel like the IS is lacking power steering!
- Live Cockpit Pro (instrument panel) has a lot going on. It was an overload of information for me at first, but I eventually got used to it after setting it to how I'd like to view it. It has most of the items you see on your IS, just in different formatting ofcourse.
- Heads-Up Display makes it simple to see your speed and speed limits along with navigation directions and music stations to cycle through without having to look away from the road. At first I didn't think I'd care for it even though the vehicle came equipped with it, and turned it off at first. Ended up deciding to try it out and realized it's extremely useful and also increases overall safety. Plus, it looks pretty cool!
- The iDrive (infotainment) system literally s***s on the Lexus infotainment system, it can do so much. The iDrive system is a bit glitchy if you don't have the latest update. A few things weren't working right for me initially so I went to the dealer to diagnose the iDrive issues and they did a software update. Looks like most of my issues are solved and I ended up also finding a bug for them which they may implement a fix for in the next update. There's so much to cover about this, I'd recommend watching videos on reviews for the car to learn about the iDrive if you are interested in the G20. The 8.8 inch touchscreen is right near you, so it's easy access to go through the menus if needed. Raising your hand to the screen also brings up menu items. You can also talk to it and ask it anything like such as latest news headlines, weather and even if you're cold, tell it to heat up the car for you!
- The seats are nice and comfortable, but oh how will I ever miss the Lexus IS seats. The cushion, bolstering and padding of the IS seats is unbeatable.
- Rear seats have more room, and also dedicated digital A/C controls for the rear passengers.
- Comfort Access Features are nice. You can set preconditioning for your vehicle at certain times so when you are off work and coming back to your car, it will be at the temperature you want and not scolding hot if you park outside! Also doors unlock/lock when you walk to and from your car. Mirrors folding in and memory seats are added convenience, the one thing I felt my IS was really lacking. Remote Start is built into the keyfob, and you have the option to use a BMW Digital Key (credit card key) as well.

330i Exterior:
- Sharp lines and a beautiful look on the M Sport package. I personally wouldn't get the non M-Sport since I didn't like the front end or rear of the non M. Grille slots opens up when driving in Sport mode at higher speeds to allow more airflow.
- Transmission is extremely smooth, no jerkiness and gears shift almost unnoticeably.
- Almost no turbo lag, you would be surprised for a 4 banger the power it puts out. It's got more than enough power for your daily driver, and allows for the occasional spirited driving. Blow off valve sound is an added +
- F-Sport brakes have a more aggressive stopping power than the G20 brakes. My brakes on the 330 feel like the Akebono brakes I got on my IS currently. I believe you can upgrade your brakes, but I didn't. The M-Sport package didn't come with any different brakes.
-Vehicle is equipped with safety features all over which are running off the sensors all over the vehicle. Front end mitigation, lane departure assist and parking sensors are all equipped on it. Some have a package you can add for more drivers assistance and 360 cameras around the vehicle.
- Adaptive headlights are something which really help with driving. For those who don't know, its when the headlights turn when the vehicle turns so you get added lighting.


I love the IS and its looks, but I'll honestly say it feels outdated for being a 2016 with some of the lacking features especially for being a 45k car when I first got it. The 330i is the clear winner between the two for now. These were just some things I can think of currently, but like I said if you've ever wondered about this car and thought of test driving one, I highly suggest you do. Don't be surprised if it ends up in your garage right after!

A few pictures I took the other day. Not a photographer but I try sometimes lol.

 

Totally agree Lexus is behind in tech. My 2019 IS still doesn't have apple carplay and i opted for the smaller screen b/c i didn't want navigation so I only have a 7 inch screen. Pretty much 2019 car with 2014 technology LOL. But I do have all the parking sensors on the front and back. Also I got the car for 39k OTD here in soCal so I consider that not bad. The 330i M-Sport really is nice but the it runs 10k+ more than the IS and out of my price range. I do wonder tho with the BMW being so high tech, how reliably is that stuff?

 

Premier3IS - Great review and I love the pics. My favorite one is from the rear 3/4 (middle image) - Just stunning!! I love white cars so I am biased

I agree that the IS (and RC for that matter) is (are) behind the curve when it comes to technology, features and such but I don't mind that too much given how reliable they have been. For me, given my smaller size, I find their interior is just perfect so I can't complain and I don't mind a naturally aspirated engine and 6 speed tranny given how bullet proof they are. After owning 2 IS350 (2015 and 2017), the only thing I wished was that it had a bit more power/less weight - The IS felt very heavy and ironically, and I am not sure why but my RC which is heavier and has the same engine "feels" not as heavy so maybe they have stiffened some suspension components to give it a slightly more planted feeling. I will be trading my 2019 RC next spring and will see if the new IS is out but at the moment, I will either go to BMW but at the moment, the car that has me the most excited is the concept Acura TLX Type S....I doubt it will be out next spring but I'll see what is available by then.

 

Did you feel like the 330i is much quicker than the IS350? And yes, Lexus really let the IS stagnate for so long. Maybe they were waiting for TNGA to be complete, or maybe they just didn't want to spend money on the IS. If I were going for long term ownership (which I am), I'd pick the IS, but at the same time it's just so outdated. The 4th gen IS can't come fast enough.

 

I hear BMWs are becoming increasingly more reliable these days, so we will see and time will tell. I have carplay but I honestly don't see what the hype is all about it for? I don't even use it... nor do I want my messages popping up on my screen lol.

Thanks for the feedback. Love white cars as well as I'm sure you can probably tell lol. I see you opting to hold out for a while to trade in that RC till next year. Acura is a good choice as well, test drive both when you get a chance so you get time to think about what you'll enjoy to drive. I took a good 2-3 months trying to decide on a new vehicle.As far as the 4IS, if it follows the 2IS pattern (2006-2013), we can expect to possibly see it next year unveiled since the 3IS runs from to 2014-current... But who knows, that is only a guess!

 

Nice pick up. I am interested in the plug in 330e. Should be out soon huh? 30 mile electric range and apparently almost no compromise in performance this time around. Like electricifed is no longer a "dirty" word for enthusiast cars. I think of it as another form of forced induction (or assisted propulsion) cause it basically is.

 

My "toy" are always white...This is my 7th white one in a row since 2003 or so and I don't see that trend changing so I am with you on the love for white cars

Yeah, I decided to wait until next spring as there are a few options coming out next summer that I would like to see before I make a choice. I am aware that I will lose some money on teh trade so I don't want to do a rush decision and then regret next spring again (lol) Given that the days are getting shorter and shorter, driving it when its dark is more easily done and soon, I'll park it for the winter so out of sight, out of mind I was an Acura guy until the TLX came out with its ZF tranny otherwise I'd likely still be with Acura...Not because of teh product as much as the dealer experience. Don't get me wrong, the guys at my Lexus dealer are AMAZING!!! But so were teh guys at Acura...I have been very fortunate to have good car dealership experience but my recurring purchases likely have something to do with it

I'll keep you guys posted

 

Premier3IS , you're my twin, mine is also white.

 

Of course it has 2014 tech, it's hasn't been redesigned since 2014. I'm not sure what people really expect to be honest. Now if they redesign it next year and it still feels outdated, I'll rip the hell out of Lexus. It seems to me that the tech in cars the last five years have really taken a major leap forward and vehicles that haven't been redesigned during that time will feel outdated, only makes sense.

Things I hope they fix with the 4th gen:

- More power
- More soft touch materials in the interior
- Better cup holder design
- Better tech/infotainment

Overall though, I don't see myself leaving Lexus. I value reliability over everything and the German cars simply don't measure up in that department. I'd maybe lease a German car but I don't think I'd look to own one long term, they're money pits and I don't want to be leasing cars the rest of my life.

 

Congrats! You take delivery next week I believe? We are waiting to see it, post some pictures once it arrives.

 

Just because it's a 3IS does not mean it cannot get a revamp or update till the 4IS releases... Example: 2016 IS200t has no safety system services while the 2017 IS200t does (lane departure assist, pre-collision system etc etc). Lexus has the ability to do it, and they don't which is what I think people are unhappy about.

And speaking of reliability, I understand your concerns but they are starting to become more reliable. Both Lexus and BMW are high up on the JD Power Ranking charts for 2019 and you'd be surprised to see who is below them. Lexus is number one and BMW is 7, out of 31 brands. Any car can have issues, you cant just say they don't measure up in reliability when the rankings prove otherwise. I took all these factors into consideration before making the purchase.

I believe @E46CT has owned a few BMWs himself, you may ask him to chime in here to discuss reliability. He would be more well suited to discuss the topic.

 

I have also owned 3 BMW's in the past, one E36 and two E46's. I would suggest no need to waste bandwidth on this topic; the replies are always the same. Nothing to be gained other than disdain if you mention any positive and or advantageous attribute of BMW VS Lexus in this sub forum.

We will enjoy our new bimmers and likewise current 3IS owners enjoy theirs. Turned in my 3IS yesterday, took one last look; overall it was a well built car that always started on the first crank. In the 3 years and 44k miles i have had it, it only let me down once mechanically but was fixed and issue never reoccurred. For that, it shall be missed, that was it's greatest attribute, dependability and build quality, it failed in performance. Hopefully i will be back in 3 years for the 4IS or 2nd gen ISF provided they build a compelling car, if not their loss. Life is too short to drive boring cars if one can afford not to.