izzyracer

How come no one is comparing these two machines. It's always BMW 330i vs. IS350. Would'nt this two be more comparable due to it's Luxury first then sport approach?
I already have a clear winner in this comparison but I still want to hear your opinions.

Maximus350

May I ask what your winner is? I was ooooh soooo close on buying the Mercedes 350 sport. In fact, if the dealership would have had my color with nav and xenon light package, I might not be driving the IS350 now.

Xanadu350

I've wondered this too. The C350 has 268 hp and is about in the same cost bracket. It also has a Luxury C350 and a Sport C350 which mimicks the IS350.

I think the Sport C350 has a nice interior and have always like the exterior. I prefer the looks of the C350 much more than the E90.

But people are always saying that Mercedes has electrical problems and watch out for that. I've also heard people say that unless you have the upscale model Benz then the service dept won't treat you the same, seeing that the C class is the lower end model.

But I plan to test drive this car along with the new IS sometime next year when I'm ready to buy, I'm leaning more toward the IS though but I'm not buying first model yr.

Good thread though. Not sure if you will get much input though.

Maximus350

There were two main reasons I did not go with the Mercedes. First of all, a new C class body style is coming out soon. I did not want to be driving the "old" style. Second reason was the electrical problems that are known on the newer Mercedes. I do not want to go through that.

speedyj88

It seems to me that the IS350 is the perfect blend between the C350 and the 330i, and a WHOLE lot more power.

GreyHound

iTrader: (1)

Good question cause that is exactly what my wife and I were comparing, Mercedes
(C350) & C230 sport. The C230 and C350 look exactly alike. The C230 sport was
rated at 200hp and 180foot ponds torque. Underpowered here in the mountains of
Virginia. I could see that coming.

So we tried a C350, it accelerated better,@ 267 hp. Way more than the 330i. But
the C350 is pretty heavy car. We almost bought the C350, but Lexus had its 'IS' coming out
party and we saw it in the newspaper, went there, drank the Koolaid the rest is history
Mercedes C350rode very well, but acceleration was nothing like
the V6 Eclipse we just sold, and the Mitsubishi only had 210HP ! According to
the Mercedes message board, the BMW is not as fast as the C350.

Mercedes C350 was very nice, it was laid out well inside, but the cruise control
was on that funky second stalk on the left side behind the signal light stalk.
It was quiet, drove well, very refined especially when compared to the Eclipse.
Harmon Kardon system was $1100 dollars extra, and I didn't think it sounded as
good as the Infinity system that came in my Eclipse.
Mercedes lets you pick everything you want as option, but when you started
adding options, things really added up quick . The high intensity headlights and
power head rest were a option. Where the C230 sport was like starting at $28k
and nicely loaded at $38k, the C350 started at something like $40k and soared
from there. Mercedes says you get Roadside assistance for as long as you own the
car. (+) Free maintenance is a myth, only your first required check with oil change
is free. Mercedes says you don't have to change the oil for 12k miles(-) and the
transmission is sealed, no dipstick,(-) so they have transmission issues if you
don't change the trans fluid every so often, according to the mercedes message
board. The wheels were nice, big Five spoke 17inch staggered wheels, and on the
brake calipers it says Mercedes in nice machined script(+). Lexus could use
those, if they said Lexus. Mercedes is very respectable, a lot of attention to
detail but it didn't feel as sport like, like the IS350. If you bought a C230
sport, I think the V6 in it would let you get blowed away at a stoplight, or
worse, getting passed going up Fancy Gap Mtn. on I 77 from NC to Virginia.
The goal is not to be passed while going up. You would at least need the C350
and a good tailwind. I wasn't passed in the Eclipse on Fancy Gap and I don't
think I will be passed in the IS350, except when I bring it home, because of
that whole breaking in thing, driven under 50 mph varying the speed, for the
first 621 miles or what ever the manual says.

Now the Nissan 350z was fun to drive, but no room, and that terrible sounding
Bose radio. The class action lawsuit against Nissan because you can't keep a set
of tires on the front of that car longer than 4k miles, eliminated it pretty
quick.

I feel like I got more car for the money with the Lexus. It's sportier. I felt
'older' in the mercedes, like my parents or something. Glad we drove the Lexus on
the IS introduction night, the Bar-B-que was good too. Thanks !

is350

just wondering do you guys think the C-class interior is smaller than the IS, or is it just me??? when i sat in my cousin's c230, it felt really tight inside.

dennis250

Isnt the c350 class way pricier with similiar options?

izzyracer

Well guys, before I let you know what is better for me. I want to let every Benz fanatics that I am also a benz owner. Starting with the E320 and now the E350 Sport Package a 10,000 option (yikes). I've also had a 330i and an IS300, even a Scion XB. All of this in a span of 3 years, and oh yes a Matrix. So, as you might guess, I am a performance oriented guy but also has a practical side specially when the money does not come in as well as it does. The E350 car is being driven by my wife and I currently drive an IS350. Anyway, For Benz's sake, they are good cars, at least our E350 is. (massage in seat) and hey, it is a benz, but that is the problem, being a Benz they cost a lot and what more the C class in my opinion has just been butt whoop by Lexus's IS series. I really liked the C classes exterior specially when they took the time to improve it but that's about it. Technology, Style, Power, Handling, and the best overall, the IS350 is a clear winner. BMW drivers (I was ones, and probably will be in the future, specially when the new M3/M4 comes out, unless Lexus pumps out the rumored Lexus IS V8, but that is another topic). When I had my later model I330 sport package. One week of ownership and I had to return it to the dealer to exchange the transmisson. How did that make me feel? CRAP! Brand new and the car is CRAP. A German Crappy Transmission. It might handle better depending on who you talk too but that transmission is still crap, oh yah! you might say that was before. Then I say go look at the BMW forums and you will find tons of issues with the new 330i. Anyway! This is my opinion, and I stand by it with the backing of an experience as a daily driver like you.

flipside909

Dunno about the C350 but the IS350 (GRE21) has very good balance... 52/48 (F/R%)

dmz

You should have gone with the manual transmission on the bimmer. they are the most reliable manual transmission out there. But yeah, the auto tranny on the bimmers are crap. Personally I think all auto transmission are crap.

Xanadu350

You may have missed this thread over at Chat Forum

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=186018

spwolf

p.s. if not for the fact that C class is a bit old now, it is perfect competition for IS350. Despite the so called "perfect" handling of 330i, C350 has it beat on the track (Autobild Magazine)...

Gojirra99

IS350 easy Never a fan of the C class personally, & it's near the end of it's model cycle.