View Poll Results: 2006 IS350 or E46 M3
IS350
13
26.00%
E46 M3
37
74.00%
Voters: 50. You may not vote on this poll
IS350 vs E46 M3
#1
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
IS350 vs E46 M3
Man, I haven't posted in a minute!
So here's where Im at with my next new car purchase. '06 IS350 or an E46 M3 - probably a 2003 model.
Now, I know these cars are apples and oranges in most aspects and this is not a debate as to which car is better but rather which one would you choose and why.
I've always wanted an E46 M3, but the IS350 is an attractive option as they around the same price and typically will have less mileage and of course are newer.
I considered the G35 coupe as well but I don't think I'm going that route.
So here's where Im at with my next new car purchase. '06 IS350 or an E46 M3 - probably a 2003 model.
Now, I know these cars are apples and oranges in most aspects and this is not a debate as to which car is better but rather which one would you choose and why.
I've always wanted an E46 M3, but the IS350 is an attractive option as they around the same price and typically will have less mileage and of course are newer.
I considered the G35 coupe as well but I don't think I'm going that route.
#5
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
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#10
Lexus Test Driver
Join Date: Jan 2004
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17$ for labor for oil change with my own synthetic oil and oil filter.
BMW ,on the other hand, comes with free everything for 4 years. But the old BMW without warranty might be a different story. I will be rather cautious about buying a used BMW.
#12
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Yeah, that's something I've looked into. A major issue with the early M3's (mostly 01-02) were the rod bearings which were replaced by BMW on recall and then backed by a 100k mile/6yr warranty.
Another big service for these cars are Inspection I and II - Inspection II being the major one because of the valve adjustment needed, which can be costly.
#14
Lexus Champion
IS350 if your priority is comfort (without necessarily very much space, especially in the back) and reliability.
M3 if your priority is fun and maybe more room in the back.
Owning a BMW out of warranty would kinda scare me.. but you gotta pay to play and the M3 is a whole different universe when it comes to driving experience. There was a modded E46 M3 out at the SCCA Solo2 autocross I was running at a couple weeks ago and it was just wicked. We were running a short tight track but it ran a best of a 32.6 second time to my best of 35.7 in my 335i. Granted he was modded and I think his driver was more experienced than me, but still...
M3 if your priority is fun and maybe more room in the back.
Owning a BMW out of warranty would kinda scare me.. but you gotta pay to play and the M3 is a whole different universe when it comes to driving experience. There was a modded E46 M3 out at the SCCA Solo2 autocross I was running at a couple weeks ago and it was just wicked. We were running a short tight track but it ran a best of a 32.6 second time to my best of 35.7 in my 335i. Granted he was modded and I think his driver was more experienced than me, but still...
Last edited by Threxx; 09-02-08 at 02:13 PM.
#15
For my own reason, I only do services at dealers, not that I really mind the additional cost, but comparing to BMW, it is about $70 more expensive for non-synthetic oil services too.
*my old e46 coupe's rear seats/rooms are bigger than the IS, that just doesn't make sense at all.