[sflgator]

One comparo we've all be waiting for (not that we thought it would come out any different) ...


http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do.../pageId=124079

A couple quotes from the article...

"Once you get a sport sedan right, it shows a depth of engineering and design skill. Get it really right, and it will win widely publicized awards and bring enthusiasts to the showroom. The 2007 BMW 335i does both, and it's without a doubt the best-performing and yet most well-rounded 3 Series ever. The BMW 335i is still the best sport sedan money can buy, and you can quote us on that."

..."the BMW, with its monster turbo motor, slaughtered the (quite good) Lexus in each and every of the parameters that combine to create driving pleasure. The BMW handles better, goes better, rides better, steers way better, shifts better...possibly, you get the point. In short, BMW wins. Again.

[John 070]

I think the real comparo is the new G37 vs. 335. For many people, the G37 will win on value. The one achilles heel of the 335 is probably the open diff, which most of us wont notice. Yet I still don't understand why a Sentra Spec V gets ltd slip, but a 335 doesn't.

Anyway, in the preliminary write-up, while everyone wants someone to topple the 3 Series, the steering falls short on the G37, and the motor is not as sweet.

Now that Consumer Reports is out for the 2k6 model years, it's pretty sweet to see the 3 Series with all red circles with the exception of a white on for electrical. It gets a white circle for gas mileage, while the G35 gets partial black. Imho if Germans want to continue to command the premium they get for their cars, they have to keep at the reliability issue, and to that they seem to be making progress....

[533ogetnom]

what did you expect from a toyota?

[lawdude]

"But now that BMW has adopted direct injection and sequential turbocharging . . ."[emphasis supplied]


Huh, has there been a mid-year change?

[533ogetnom]

Originally Posted by lawdude

"But now that BMW has adopted direct injection and sequential turbocharging . . ."[emphasis supplied]


Huh, has there been a mid-year change?

these retarded reporters just read each others articles, look at specs and probably dont even drive the car

[sflgator]

Originally Posted by lawdude

"But now that BMW has adopted direct injection and sequential turbocharging . . ."[emphasis supplied]


Huh, has there been a mid-year change?

Maybe they're just talking about the 2 small turbos...1 for each of the 3 cyl. (2 for all 6 cyl.) which turn on the boost a little or a lot, depending on how much power is needed.

[Rando]

Once again they are moronic -- comparing a 335i sport vs an IS 350 non-sport. And then they say:

"We're guessing that if the IS 350 also were fitted with its $3,695 Sport package, all of its capabilities and liabilities would be similarly increased."

GREAT. F'ing MORONS I swear. What is the point of doing the comparison test then??? ARGH.

Even the 0-60 time would be affected because stickier tires would help for the launch.

The BMW would still win, but damn at least take the time to compare the right two cars, Edmunds! So idiotic.

Also they need to add 30-50 passing, top gear passing, etc... each of those the BMW will absolutely dominate due to the high torque at 1,500 rpm.

I hope the Edmunds people are reading these forums in addition to their own (very poorly organized) ones.

[533ogetnom]

Originally Posted by sflgator

Maybe they're just talking about the 2 small turbos...1 for each of the 3 cyl. (2 for all 6 cyl.) which turn on the boost a little or a lot, depending on how much power is needed.

sequential turbos is a well defined term which the 335 does not fall into

[Chi-town330]

"Not only does the 300-hp 335i slash nearly 2 seconds from the 0-to-60-mph time recorded by the 2006 330i, it also outaccelerates the Lexus IS 350 in the process."

I must have missed the 330 review quoting near-7 second 0-60 times.

[sflgator]

Originally Posted by Chi-town330

"Not only does the 300-hp 335i slash nearly 2 seconds from the 0-to-60-mph time recorded by the 2006 330i, it also outaccelerates the Lexus IS 350 in the process."

I must have missed the 330 review quoting near-7 second 0-60 times.

I believe they were just recollecting from their previous 330i test review in '05 or '06, but it's well known that the 255HP 330i has a 0-60mph time of ~ 6.7-6.8 sec.

[Chi-town330]

Originally Posted by sflgator

I believe they were just recollecting from their previous 330i test review in '05 or '06, but it's well known that the 255HP 330i has a 0-60mph time of ~ 6.7-6.8 sec.

what am I missing? From April 2005 Car and Driver: (yes, probably an automatic, but don't think step adds 1.3 seconds to a 0-60 time)

C/D TEST RESULTS
ACCELERATION: Seconds
Zero to 30 mph: 1.9
40 mph: 3.0
50 mph: 4.4
60 mph: 5.6
70 mph: 7.7
80 mph: 9.7
90 mph: 11.8
100 mph: 15.3
110 mph: 18.8
120 mph: 22.9
130 mph: 29.1
Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.0
Top-gear acceleration, 30-50 mph: 9.5
50-70 mph: 8.6
Standing 1/4-mile: 14.3 sec @ 98 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 155 mph

[Gripster]

Originally Posted by Rando

Once again they are moronic -- comparing a 335i sport vs an IS 350 non-sport. And then they say:

"We're guessing that if the IS 350 also were fitted with its $3,695 Sport package, all of its capabilities and liabilities would be similarly increased."

GREAT. F'ing MORONS I swear. What is the point of doing the comparison test then??? ARGH.

ugh - I hadn't noticed that. Although these reviews are mostly subjective and far from scientific, it is silly to compare sport vs. non-sport. If the non-sport loses, one is left wondering the outcome. In this case, I still think it's obvious, but if I was a new customer who was seriously considering both vehicles, it would leave me wondering...

[s4iscool]

Since when did people consider EDMUNDS a reliable source of car analysis? Maybe the same that Consumer Reports has anything valid to report.

[sflgator]

Originally Posted by Chi-town330

what am I missing? From April 2005 Car and Driver: (yes, probably an automatic, but don't think step adds 1.3 seconds to a 0-60 time)

C/D TEST RESULTS
ACCELERATION: Seconds
Zero to 30 mph: 1.9
40 mph: 3.0
50 mph: 4.4
60 mph: 5.6
70 mph: 7.7
80 mph: 9.7
90 mph: 11.8
100 mph: 15.3
110 mph: 18.8
120 mph: 22.9
130 mph: 29.1
Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.0
Top-gear acceleration, 30-50 mph: 9.5
50-70 mph: 8.6
Standing 1/4-mile: 14.3 sec @ 98 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 155 mph

Edmunds.com got 6.7sec. 0-60mph during their BMW 330i vs. Audi A4 comparo last year...

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...1/pageId=68285

Plus, if I recall correctly, I think C&D's 5.6 sec. 0-60mph for the '06 BMW 330i was very fast and not duplicated by other car mags; considering the older generation Infiniti G35 was still a faster car than the BMW 330i, and the (older generation) G35 did 0-60mph in 6.2 sec. at best, I think the '06 330i could typically run 0-60mph in 6.2-6.4 sec. at best. According to the tests, the new '07 G35 Sedan does 0-60mph in 5.2-5.4 sec., and of course, we all know what a stock 335i runs 0-60mph.

[m3rxn]

nice article.

[T Bone]

Hello Lexus, I am BMW, does your bum hurt?

[MDman]

Originally Posted by Rando

Once again they are moronic -- comparing a 335i sport vs an IS 350 non-sport. And then they say:

"We're guessing that if the IS 350 also were fitted with its $3,695 Sport package, all of its capabilities and liabilities would be similarly increased."

GREAT. F'ing MORONS I swear. What is the point of doing the comparison test then??? ARGH.

Even the 0-60 time would be affected because stickier tires would help for the launch.

The BMW would still win, but damn at least take the time to compare the right two cars, Edmunds! So idiotic.

Also they need to add 30-50 passing, top gear passing, etc... each of those the BMW will absolutely dominate due to the high torque at 1,500 rpm.

I hope the Edmunds people are reading these forums in addition to their own (very poorly organized) ones.

The IS350's Sport package, only includes a sport tuned suspension I believe. No different tires or steering, and it is not available at least in my area when you build the car online. I guess that is why they didn't include it. It might not be widespread available.

[De90man]

Lexus is the maker that most likely prompted BMW to make the twin turbo N54. So let's say a silent thank you to them as we blow by them on the street.

[M3ti Compact]

The IS350 sport package adds sport suspension, staggered 18's on high performance summer tires (225 front and 255 rear), and most importantly, a limited slip differential. It's not quite a fair review if the focus was on comparing performance which is what the article seemed to be.

To the Lexus' defence, the IS350 is by no means crap; it's a way more relaxed car to drive- and it's going after a different demographic. It's not as hyper and on the edge as the BMW is. If you spend lots of time behind the wheel (ie. long commutes, road trips), the IS is a far better, more reliable, more inviting and more comfortable choice than the BMW. Not everyone is willing to put up with the BMW's hard ride, the problems, the lack of features, and the cold interior of in exchange for the ultimate driving machine. Most people won't even come close to experiencing these car's limits, where the differences between them exist- if your in this category, the IS is the better choice for you, no questions.

335i>IS350>328i>IS250>323i

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by M3ti Compact

it's going after a different demographic

+1....going after people who have no souls and Lemmings.

[flipmde786]

A 0-60 time of 5.9 for 6MT 330i is consistent with most car magazine tests. At most, 6.2. A time of 6.6 from Edmunds is uncommonly slow.

The 5.6 run by C/D was too fast.

[sflgator]

Originally Posted by M3ti Compact

The IS350 sport package adds sport suspension, staggered 18's on high performance summer tires (225 front and 255 rear), and most importantly, a limited slip differential. It's not quite a fair review if the focus was on comparing performance which is what the article seemed to be.

To the Lexus' defence, the IS350 is by no means crap; it's a way more relaxed car to drive- and it's going after a different demographic. It's not as hyper and on the edge as the BMW is. If you spend lots of time behind the wheel (ie. long commutes, road trips), the IS is a far better, more reliable, more inviting and more comfortable choice than the BMW. Not everyone is willing to put up with the BMW's hard ride, the problems, the lack of features, and the cold interior of in exchange for the ultimate driving machine. Most people won't even come close to experiencing these car's limits, where the differences between them exist- if your in this category, the IS is the better choice for you, no questions.

335i>IS350>328i>IS250>323i

When I test drove the Lexus IS350 w/ sport package back in Aug. '06, I found it to be way too cramped inside (rear and front as well) with cheapened plastics (unlike other Lexus vehicles...and I've driven 3 Lexus vehicles in the past), and I was most unimpressed by the auto tranny, handling capabilities, and overall driving "feel." Although the IS350 is fast (not quite as fast as the 335i), the BMW 335i is a night/day difference, imho. Had I not opted for the 335i, I would've definitely chosen the '07 Infiniti G35 over the IS350; in fact, my test drive of the IS350 only eliminated it from my choices...just not enough "sport" for me with a cheaper feel (more like Toyota than Lexus).