Osnabrueck

Hey Everybody.

I had the chance to toss around the new Lexus IS350 yesterday at the Taste of Lexus drive event at Dodger Stadium. Lots of hay was made about this car a while back on the old GCF board, much to the effect of weather or not the Japanese have finally caught up with the Germans when it comes to the seminal car that is the 3er.

After taking both cars for a back to back spin around the test track my mind was made up - The 3er is the car for me.

Without a doubt, there were some very subjective details that tipped the scales, but in the end it came down to one thing - size. The IS is by no means a roomy car, and is completely unfit to carry 4 full size adults for anything more than a short trip across town.

My measure of "acceptable comfort" was made by sitting shotgun in both cars and adjusting the seat so that I could stretch out my legs and sit in a relaxed position. After that, I got into the back seat to see what things would be like if I were to sit behind myself (Since I'm 5'11" I figured this would be a good measure of average experience).

First came the 3er. It was reasonably comfortable in the back. Basically my knees brushed lightly against the back of the seat, and my foot room was just fine. Headroom was tighter than I would have liked, but I could still sit upright without having the roof brush against my hair. By my estimation, the car could accomodate 4 adults on a long trip without issue, so long as we're talking about people of an average height.

Next came the IS. I adjusted the seat just as I did for the 3er, then got in the back. Ouch! This car is small! It's nearly like getting in the backseat of a Supra. Really, It's that cramped back there. My feet were smushed, and my knees had to spread outwards on both sides of front seat in order to settle in. There's no way this car would work on a long trip for 4 unless said people are tiny asian girls.

Now some of you might be thinking, "Well, who gives a rat's ass about the backseat? Most of the time you'll be alone in the car." Thing is - I'm in the market for a sedan, not a coupe. If I planned to be alone most of the time in the car, then I'd just get one with 2 doors. I want a car that my friends and I can have fun with on weekend roadtrips, that'll also provide a good measure of driving excitement. Also, none of my friends have a car that fits the bill when we all go somewhere together. It always ends up being a matter of who gets stuck in the backseat. I don't want to spend a fortune on a car if people are still going to bitch about where they're going to sit, I want everybody to be equally comfortable.

So taking all the other minutia out of the equation, the IS takes a big hit when it comes to it's sedan credentials. Come think, floorplan gave me the impression that the car is more of a "4 door coupe" than anything else. The car's cabin feels very closed in, with a center console that isolates the driver. For some this may be a good thing, but I found it a turn-off compared to the open feeling of the BMW. And like other German cars, the BMW's cabin posessed visual unity. Details are tight, and in step with other models from the brand. The Lexus, when contrasted against its siblings, is a hodge-podge of details thrown in arbitrarily for maximum visual effect. The gages look good, but there were some typographical gaffes that simply weren't in step the car's mood, or other cars in the Lexus family.

On the subjective side of things, there's still plenty of good news about about the IS350. There's lots of grunt comin' from that engine, and the impression from the seat was that the IS definitely had more "oomph" off the line than the 330i. On the other hand, once things got going the BMW was easily more fun to toss around. The steering feel is meaty, and I knew exactly what the expect from the car when I was jumping through the turns.

In any case, I'm sure Lexus will sell plenty of IS350s, and I think they deserve to. For $35k the car has good performance off the line, and no doubt the cars will hold togeter. The car just doesn't fit the bill when it comes to what I'm looking for in a sport sedan, and there's a fair measure of subjective advantage in favor of the BMW in terms of handling, styling and overall product design.

One more thing - DSC. From what I know, and have read - we're unable to turn stability control on the new IS. This is irksome. I had the IS reign me in when I tried to swing out the rear whereas the BMW took it with a smile on its face. I realize there's few situations in real world driving where I'll be drifting through turns, but it's nice to know that you could if you wanted to.

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martinbo

Thoughtful opinion and thorough analysis Osna.

There's a big worry in that IS' lack of interior space. That's one area where a Lexus ought to match up evenly with its competitors. Sure, no-one was expecting the Lexus to outgun the Bimmer in the dynamic and driver appeal stakes but one thing they can engineer in is a bit of space and comfort in keeping with image of the brand. So in that respect I'm a little disappointed for Lexus. That said, this new 3er is just so fantastic at what it does. Whilst the looks might just sit this side of conservative, it still is a very handsome automobile, is nicely put together and remains the class leader as it's a sensationally good driver's car.

Centurion

Nice to hear your opinions Osna. In terms of handling and enjoyful driving how much better is the 330i than the IS350?

Alx

Well Osna, for someone (OUR) size it is important to have room and be comfortable, it seems like a hihg school/college girls car, for short trips to the mall with few friends, not a family car, for sure the 3'er is a much better all around car, and comfort is a big issue, im surprised to hear you have room regardless due to your height but you are a thorough peson, so i will surely take your word.

Osnabrueck

In terms of sheer enjoyment, I'd put the BMW one solid notch above the IS. Now there is the matter of the bad taste left in my mouth after the IS' stability control gave me a spanking, but there's also the immediate impression one gets when they grab the wheel and plow through a tight corner.

I never had to think about what the BMW was up to. I just knew exactly where my turn-in was, and the car immediately became an extension my my foot and hands. Not so with the IS. The steering feel was decent, but I just didn't feel the same sense of communication in the car as I did in the 3er. If driving the BMW was intercourse, the IS is like wearing a condom - that's the best way I can describe it.

Osnabrueck

One more thing - I made sure to roll up the windows so I could get a sense of how the cabins treat you. The IS, as expected, is very isolating. Depending on your tastes, this could be a good thing or a bad thing. For driving enthusiasts like us, the BMW's acoustics are much more pleasing, with the engine snarl becoming deliberately audible when you mash the pedal.

Alx

I do like hearing the car too.

Seems like yiou really didnt like anything about the Lexus, which is ok, im not a fan of the IS at all anyway.

I think the 3 series just came along way and is very superior to any car in its class.

warot

Nice to hear from you Osna. You being 5"11 is not particularly huge in the first place. I can't imagine what bigger people would do with the IS. I finally saw the IS in real life near campus. It looks really really good... but it doesn't look that small. I didn't have time to look inside. The E90 is a big improvement over the E46 in terms of space. WHile a lot of people may hate the fact that it doesn't have the cockpit feel anymore, it does provide a much bigger sense of space.

What did you think of the aesthetics of the car?

Osnabrueck

Hey warot.

When the press photos first started popping up for the new IS I was really impressed. I now realize that a fair measure of the "wow" effect came courtesy of Lexus using a non-production specimen that had impossibly small panel gaps, giving the car an otherworldly look. Still, I find the IS to be a rather attractive car - I really like the thin slatted grill and how it makes the whole front of the car feel tensioned. One letdown is the lack of any trick optics in the taillights. Nowdays you garden variety Accord comes with flashy LEDs, I don't see why we shouldn't expect similar from the IS.

So in a nutshell, the new IS looks good but doesn't outshine a 3er or even a new A4 equipped with 18"s. Looks are always subjective of course, but it's clear to me that the 3er has more durable lines than that of the IS. (Of course, I'm still waiting for BMW to "fix" those rear lights)

Osnabrueck

There was still plenty to like about the IS. The ride quality was excellent, and the car was coffin-quiet. Everything in the car seemed to be bolted together with care and cabin materials were definitely up to snuff. No doubt the engine is excellent and wastes no time in tossing your ass from 0 to 60.

From my vantage point the IS hits lots of high notes but the whole isn't really the sum of its parts, especially when compact sedans are becoming more and more roomy. Of course, there's the benefit of it being a Toyota, so you could probably put 300k miles on it without issue. But come think, these aren't the kind of cars you'll own for decades, so the issue of reliability is somewhat muted here.

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