BMW 335i sedan/Lexus IS/Infiniti G35 sedan

[starstreak]

I'm gonna ask this on the Lexus forum too, but what would be your reasons for getting one of those cars? I know you're biased to theBMW335i, which is fine, tell me why it's a good car! http://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

I'm a techno gadget freak. It's gonna be my first big buy on a car. I wanted one with good MPG, looks, Xenon, navigation, reverse camera, bluetooth, gadgets that would set it apart. Example is like how BMW has LED puddle lights on the door handle. Or Lexus has the LED cabin lights, Infiniti the round LED tail lights. Also has to be smaller than 190inches. Wife added that teh car needs to be smalelr than my Maxima.

Heres what I see so far:

BMW 335i- I can get one in BLACK(not metallic, I wanted metallic) with everything I wanted but no reverse camera or navigation. It'll be in a month or so, or I can special order a car and wait 90 days. Gas milage 19/29

Lexus IS- No navigation, supposedly I can order it with reverse camera(not sure how that can be done), and since I havn't been down to the dealer except for just a peek, I dont know if they even have any IS350 in stock. Gas 21/28.

Infinitig35- Car comes in this week. Has everything including the navigation and reverse camera. BUT no sport pkg. so no sport shifters, sport seats, alluminum pedals. Gas Milage 19/26

My maxima gets average 16mpg right now.

What do you think?

[eurotunerwerks]

335i for the power and get the xede to boost it to 348 RWHP and 373.88 RWTQ!!!. People are also saying they are getting better mpg also. Did i say TWIN TURBO'S!!!
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27526&stc=1&d=1149431355
Lexus IS for the styling but not a sport car imo
http://hkskim.com/upload/img/IS1.jpg
G35 no interest at all
http://www.activetuning.com/blog/uploaded_images/g35sedanfront-787170.jpg



I would like to add, if it would fit in my budget, i would have a 335i tomorrow.

[DrDomer]

I had wanted a G35 for the last couple years. I like the car's shape. Then I sat in one. I think it looks plasticky. It drove fine, but didn't seem like it had 300HP. I've never driven the Lexus. The BMW 335i interior I think is classy and well done (of course no upper echelon BMW/7 series/Jag). The engine in the 335 I think is vastly superior to the G35 (Lexus no clue). The BMW is more expensive (about $6000 comparably equipped). I just couldn't understand spending $40K for the G35. I have (had) no problem forking down $46K for a 335i coupe. Just my two cents.

[Hsv-Dan]

A friend at work said it this way, he chose the Lexus because he didn't like the way the BMW let you feel the road. Exactly why I choose BMW.

You need to drive them. They are very different. If you want gadgets, go Japanese, if you want to drive, go BMW. By the way, you need to drive them, then you'll know.

[starstreak]

Thanks. If you have either of the cars, can you tell me what things you like about it? Besides the normal "It hugs the road! Or it pulls like a bat out of hell!"
Yes, I know I have to drive it. But I dont have the time yet to do that, and the one time I went to the BMW dealership, he had no 335i to test.

So I'm asking for your thoughts while I ponder of this.

[Walked U]

335i for the power and get the xede to boost it to 348 RWHP and 373.88 RWTQ!!!. People are also saying they are getting better mpg also. Did i say TWIN TURBO'S!!!
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27526&stc=1&d=1149431355





I would like to add, if it would fit in my budget, i would have a 335i tomorrow.



Anyone know that brand and model those wheels are? Those are amazing...

[eurotunerwerks]

The wheels are HRE's

http://www.hrewheels.com/images/wheels/542_lrg_a.jpg

They are about $1,400 a wheel.

[Walked U]

Thanks alot euro. Im really comtemplating on getting those. They are dead sexy. Just need to see if the off set fits on the 335i sedan ect.

[eurotunerwerks]

Thanks alot euro. Im really comtemplating on getting those. They are dead sexy. Just need to see if the off set fits on the 335i sedan ect.

If you order from HRE, they are all custom. I do believe. they will come to fit your car. So you can size them any way you wish. also look into DPE's.

[Jim Sykes]

If you want a car that will really do if for you, maybe look at the Acura TL Type S. I looked at one the other day and its a hell of a car, unfortunately it doesnt fit me too well, I hit my head on the inside and cant lower the seat enough, but I have that issue in a lot of cars.

But the Type S has 280 hp and has every single thing you could want standard. Nav w/ rear view camera, voice activation on everything, sat radio w/ nice system, all power seats, side view mirrors that tilt when in reverse, auto dimming mirrors, heated mirrors, Brembo front brakes, dual exhuast with quad tips, multifunction steering wheel, dual climate control, and almost anything else you could want.

If you can live with fwd, its a heck of a car, especially when it lists at just over $38k and I had a dealer ready to give me one at $37,100 yesterday.

Seriously worth a look, and you can get it with a 6 speed manual or auto for the same price. And you dont have to wait for one in most cases.

I hate to do that on a Bimmer board, its not quite as sporty as the 328 coupe I was looking at, but its a ton of car for the money and pretty sporty to boot.

http://cars.blogs.ca/2006/08/16/acura-introduces-tl-type-s/

http://cars.blogs.ca/images/Acura_TL_Type_S_2.jpg

[starstreak]

I did look at it. Well in the web. The fit and finish is on par as the Lexus. But the navigation (from what I was told) doesnt work in Hawaii too.
Not to mention my uncle bought a '05 model. I can't picture driving the same car as a little old man. :) Granted his did't have all the gadgets

[eurotunerwerks]

the TL is coming out with a new model soon aren't they?

[ADAM///M]

If you can live with fwd, its a heck of a car, especially when it lists at just over $38k and I had a dealer ready to give me one at $37,100 yesterday.

It's really not in the same category as a 335. FWD makes a HUGE difference in performance. It's the ultimate compromise for a sports car. In fact, it's not a sports car...just a hopped up Accord (which is still a great car nonetheless). They really should have used the AWD platform for the S.

At that price, buyers become much more discernable and less willing to compromise. Probably why the Acura dealers are so eager to "deal" while people here looking at 335's are having a tough time getting much below MSRP.

[awise1961]

Starstreak,

A month ago I was pondering the same choices. However, I was going to trade in my 2001 Lexus GS-300. The Lexus dealer is where I strated my test drives. I think that the Lexus GS compares more favorably with the 335i than the Lexus IS does. Bottom line is that I chose the 335i when it was time to make the final decision and three weeks to the day tomorrow I have no regrets what so ever. The fit and finish on both cars was great, but I thought that the BMW was a tad better. The rush of power on the BMW is addictive. From a reliabilty stand point I was dissapointed that my GS which I traded in with 81,500 miles on it had both front calipers sieze up this past year and had to be replaced, and had a front control arm bushing that was creaking like a door in a haunted house.
The bottom line is that all the cars you are considering are top notch and it really comes down to how you fit, and feel while driving each one. The dealership that you chose will also make a big diference in your decision. My local BMW dealer here in Nashua, NH. is Tulley BMW and they were fabulous. When appraising my Lexus the hood release latch broke and the hood would no longer close. After consumating the deal for the 335i, they gave my wife and I an X3 to drive until we came back to pick up the 335i the next morning. When we arrived that next day, Tulley's had placed our 335i on the showroom floor with a plaque in front of it announcing my wife and I as the new owners. That was a wonderful moment.
You may find that comfort and attention at your Lexus and Infiniti dealers, or maybe not.

Good Luck, Al Wise

[Mark335i]

If you want a car that will really do if for you, maybe look at the Acura TL Type S. I looked at one the other day and its a hell of a car, unfortunately it doesnt fit me too well, I hit my head on the inside and cant lower the seat enough, but I have that issue in a lot of cars.

But the Type S has 280 hp and has every single thing you could want standard. Nav w/ rear view camera, voice activation on everything, sat radio w/ nice system, all power seats, side view mirrors that tilt when in reverse, auto dimming mirrors, heated mirrors, Brembo front brakes, dual exhuast with quad tips, multifunction steering wheel, dual climate control, and almost anything else you could want.

If you can live with fwd, its a heck of a car, especially when it lists at just over $38k and I had a dealer ready to give me one at $37,100 yesterday.

Seriously worth a look, and you can get it with a 6 speed manual or auto for the same price. And you dont have to wait for one in most cases.

I hate to do that on a Bimmer board, its not quite as sporty as the 328 coupe I was looking at, but its a ton of car for the money and pretty sporty to boot.


I have both the 335i 6MT Coupe and a G35 6MT Coupe currently and I had a TL-S previously. They are all good cars, but each is very different and one will appeal more to one person than the other. While the TL-S does offer terrific value for the money, I considered it a "sporty car" rather than a "sports car". The front wheel drive was the killer for me. I really like the G35, but it will probably go on the block soon. While the G35 claims to have nearly 300HP, either they are exagerating or BMW is understating its number on the 335i. The rush with the 335i clearly overwhelms the G35. :buttrock

[Russell328is]

I have both the 335i 6MT Coupe and a G35 6MT Coupe currently and I had a TL-S previously. They are all good cars, but each is very different and one will appeal more to one person than the other. While the TL-S does offer terrific value for the money, I considered it a "sporty car" rather than a "sports car". The front wheel drive was the killer for me. I really like the G35, but it will probably go on the block soon. While the G35 claims to have nearly 300HP, either they are exagerating or BMW is understating its number on the 335i. The rush with the 335i clearly overwhelms the G35. :buttrock

Edmunds agrees with you:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=116731

Where does this leave the TL Type-S? On paper, it's still a distant-but-better front-wheel-driven 4th. It'll never convert die-hard rear-drive fans. It'll never be able to precisely manage more than 300 hp through its front tires. Even with its impressive list of year-to-year enhancements, the guys at BMW, Infiniti and Lexus will no doubt continue the evolution of the sport sedan species at an even more accelerated pace — and they're already one step ahead.

[AutoCouture]

G35 looks better in person than in pictures.


But IMO:

335i>G35 Looks/Power Delivery
G35>335i Interior
G35>335i Price:Features

335i>G35 overall

[KPACOTKA]

For me:
335=G35 look, however BMW badge weights much more.

[palomino]

you are going to test drive them all, right?

[dallasfan824]

Here is my dilemma. I done lease. I want to buy and drive the car about 100K. What kind of issues am I gonna have with a tubo. I can live with spending more on the BMW vs. the Lexus. I can live with Lexus being cheaper to own the long run and comeing with more goodies than the BMW, but what i am not prepared for is for major repair bills from the turbo. So I was thinking 328 vs. IS350.

Thoughts?

[Brocken]

Get the 328 if you're worried about turbo reliability.
You really really really really just need to drive the dang car. That's what screwed me, I test drove a 328 and had to have the car after that.
For now I have a 350Z also(same engine as G35) and the Z acceleration isn't much more than the 328. There's more power in the upper rpm's but I don't spend all day revving my car up.
I've never been in or driven an IS350(I suppose I should have before buying). But what turned me off to one without driving is that they don't have a manual transmission option. I've not heard great things about their auto trans either. I don't know why but I just have to have a manual transmission if I'm driving a sporty car.
Plus, from what I've read, it sounds like the IS350 interior is a little cramped. Might not make a difference if you're 5'8 but I'm 6'1 and a large guy. The BMW is one of the few cars I've driven that I fit comfortably in.

[docross]

I'm gonna ask this on the Lexus forum too, but what would be your reasons for getting one of those cars? I know you're biased to theBMW335i, which is fine, tell me why it's a good car!

I'm a techno gadget freak. It's gonna be my first big buy on a car. I wanted one with good MPG, looks, Xenon, navigation, reverse camera, bluetooth, gadgets that would set it apart. Example is like how BMW has LED puddle lights on the door handle. Or Lexus has the LED cabin lights, Infiniti the round LED tail lights. Also has to be smaller than 190inches. Wife added that teh car needs to be smalelr than my Maxima.

Heres what I see so far:

BMW 335i- I can get one in BLACK(not metallic, I wanted metallic) with everything I wanted but no reverse camera or navigation. It'll be in a month or so, or I can special order a car and wait 90 days. Gas milage 19/29

Lexus IS- No navigation, supposedly I can order it with reverse camera(not sure how that can be done), and since I havn't been down to the dealer except for just a peek, I dont know if they even have any IS350 in stock. Gas 21/28.

Infinitig35- Car comes in this week. Has everything including the navigation and reverse camera. BUT no sport pkg. so no sport shifters, sport seats, alluminum pedals. Gas Milage 19/26

My maxima gets average 16mpg right now.

What do you think?

I think you missed the point--nowhere do you mention metrics assessing or differentiating driving or pleasure of handling these cars. if you want a camera in the back get the cheapest one would be my advice. if you want a great car that handles, has beautiful torque from here to there, and stops as well as the E46 M3, get the BMW--but all you mention is mpg and cabin lighting.

[FirstClass]

335i is fastest and best handling:D

[stickersteve]

I was one of the first to own the Infiniti G35 (coupe) when it came out in late 2002. I owned the car for 4 years and a couple months ago went to the Infiniti dealership in Scottsdale to test drive the new G35 (sedan) On the outside the car is beautiful. They changed the inside though so that I felt like I was back in my coupe. I wanted more room so I was not comfortable in the new sedan. Earlier in the day I test drove the 335i and fell in love. The infiniti may have more gadgets but the car felt cheap and in no way drove like the BMW. I now own the 335.

[Dwimmerlaik]

The choice is obvious for me. I think the BMW looks much better than either, I think it drives better than either, I think the interior is classier and of higher quality than either. Thats my opinion though.

[Mark335i]

The infiniti may have more gadgets but the car felt cheap and in no way drove like the BMW. I now own the 335.

I own both vehicles and while I wouldn't say the G35 feels exactly cheap, I nonetheless concur with your assessment.