I'm torn: E90 330 vs. IS 350

[PersonaNonGrata]

I went by the dealer today and checked out the E90 330's again. There is a color combo I just love. It's Black Sapphire with Terra leather. It is soooo nice. The Terra is a rich brown but it is matched to quite a bit of black trim. It's a sort of two-tone interior. I must say that the darker the color of E90 the better it looks. I am just so much happier with the overall feel of the E90 over the IS. The IS is superior on paper and the options are so good but it lacks the BMW feel I have come to love and the IS is too cramped inside. The E90 now has the latest and greatest navigation system and the voice control module is included.

I know we've had this debate before but I'm always looking for input. Also, for those who have Black Sapphire BMW's, how has the paint held out? I had sworn off of black cars but Black Sapphire is quite metallic so it should hide the usual swirls, etc, better than Jet Black. Actually, before I decided on Steel Gray for the X5, Black Sapphire was the front runner.

Oh, I'm driving myself nuts!

[blondboinsd]

I love the Is350 but the 330i with sport pkg is an amazing car, I would go with the BMW its just a more well rounded and technologically advanced car and its following is just different then BMW, I understand the interior thing my X5 is truffle which is bmw's 2 tone version for the x5 and I just love it, always get compliments and its very classy, good luck!

BTW: we love our 325i (2006)
its silver grey with black leather
premium/sport/logic 7/cold weather/bi-xenons/pdc/rear sunshades
current odometer reading-24,400

[Quicksilver]

We did this back and forth thing for months. My CEO loved the 330 but turned it down because of the fact that it had no spare and run flats and she had read of too many people getting stuck trying to get very expensive replacement tires. She said it handled very well but was a bit rough riding and more prone to road noise. She wanted a 330 exactly the same colors as you choose with the exterior dark Blue as an additional choice.

The lexus is350 was the bomb. Fast with a smoother ride, not quite the handling of the 330. She was ready to deal with the no maintaince thing until i tried to get in and out of the back seat and that rear door was to small. I complained about it more than a few times. Even went back to try it out and i just coulden't deal with it. No i would not be sitting back there but I begin thinking of others and said no. The straw for me was seeing it out and about town. The back end looked like crap. I didn't really notice it till later when someone else was driving it. That's when I saw just how butt ugly it really was.

We passed on both and ended up getting a 530i. It has everything both of them didn't have except one thing the lexus did have. interior cargo space for stuff. Women have this thing about stuff and somewhere to put it. But I gotta had it to the CEO she's working the no where to put stuff thing like a champ. ( She had too much junk anyway) But don't say anything

[rayxi]

Sports Car International (March issue) did a comparison between the G35, IS350, C350 and 330i. They ranked in the listed order, from bottom up.

As you noted, the IS350 looks really good on paper and this is stated in the review:

"In purely rational terms there is a strong case to put the Lexus in second place, or even to declare it as the overall victor"

The knock against the Lexus is the same as always:

"...too much pure, unfiltered feedback has been dialed out in the quest for perfect road manners, which ultimately makes the Lexus too distant and unengaging to be truly inspirational."

"...the IS350 has more horsepower and equipment than the others, but those advantages just don't make up for the lack of character."

This sums up the review for the 330i:

"...the simple truth is that there still is no better sport sedan for the dedicated driving enthusiast than the BMW 330i. You could own this car for years, giving it a good thrashing on your local track every few months, and probably still never encounter the absolute limits of its ability."

Is it just a case of the SCI journalists not daring to stray from the pack? I don't know. I've driven the E90 330i but not the IS350 so I'll hold my opinion for now. I don't like that fact that you can't get a manual in the IS350 (yet).

[SuperGreg]

Get the 330 with a manual gearbox, and have some fun

[Juanted]

Kevin,

My X is a sapphire black, and the paint has held up well. I am a stickler about NOT taking my car through car washes, though -- as I'm sure you are. 2.5 years or ownership, and the paint still looks beautiful!

Juan

[Wagner]

Tough call man, the IS350 is sharp but I have a hard time paying all that money for a pumped-up Toyota (not to say it isn't a great car).

[LeMansX5]

Go for 330, or the 530 as Barry suggested. The 2007 530 is out and has the night vision option.

[fln8tive]

Some friends went Lexus and they just got their first service bill. Ouch. Good thing the seats are comfy, they need that feature now. My Audi-phile friend's fiance has the new 330. They loooove it.

[pseto]

I too went to look at the e90 and like it a lot. The Terra interior is amazing, although I liked it with Blue paint. After driving it, I thought, hands down this is what driving should be. My wife's lease isn't up till jan, so we may wait till then to get one. Plus, maybe some of the kinks will be worked out by then if we get MY07. BTW, anyone know any of the links yet?