325 Sports vs IS250 vs new C Class

[peanut]

Now it seems that there are two more worthy competitors to challenge the 3 series. While Lexus is still small here, they are quite fast bringing new models and the IS250 is aiming directly at 325i Sports.I also know that BMW Malaysia is quite nervous about the new C class and many think that it looks better than 3 series. Although I can't imagine myself be a MB owner (always have been a BMW owner, not as fun to drive for comparable model and the taukeh image), I was going to wait to see the new C class. In the end, I just decided to get the 3.What do you think about the other two vs the 3 series?

 

[Traveler]

I test drove the IS250 last weekend. My thoughts in comparing it with a 325i/325i Sports:

1. Acceleration - good but not as good as the 325
2. Handling - seems ok, but dislike the lighter steering typical of Japanese cars
3. Exterior looks - good, about on par with 325
4. Rims - I think they'r 17", prefer the 18" on the 325i Sports.
5. Interior - like the perforated leather seats with built in aircon - good for our hot weather, but maybe get dirty easily? In general, prefer the 325's interior look though.
6. Dashboard/electronics - some fancy lights in the dials, can see your gears as your gearbox changes, paddle shifters (nice feature, but how often do you actually use it if you're mostly a city driver?), no big LCD screen (Lexus didn't bring in the GPS & big LCD screen), great sound system (but then again, my ears aren't that refined to care about it so much so long as the sound is decent enough like from our E90's standard sound system), wood trim (I dislike wood trim, so a plus for the E90 here, although I was told there is a titanium trim available as an optional aftermarket accessory).

Price-wise: Can't remember the exact price but it's somewhere between 305k and 313k. Sunroof is an additional 7k.

I think it's a nice car, but overpriced relative to the E90. Might pay maybe 250k for it, but for the current price, I'd rather have the 325i Sports for about the same price (M-body kit, GPS, big LCD screen, 18" rims, better acceleration, heavier steering).

 

[Schwepps]

Congrats on your booking of the 325i Sports, peanut! It's a great car and you'll enjoy it. :top:

While they're good, I don't like Lexus much as to me they have an even more fuddy-duddy image. My own opinion of course.

The W204 interests me, but only the Avantgarde or Sports model...dunno what they're going to call it here. I like the big merc star in the 3 slat grill as that styling has been limited to only the CL and SL models so far. This is the first time it appears in a saloon and I think that's cool. Overseas reviews of the W204 have been rave, especially for the active suspension of the Sports.

If you want to see the W204 in the flesh, C&C are holding a sneak preview in their Federal Highway showroom this Saturday, but I understand it's the Elegance model, so I'm not that thrilled. :burnout:

 

[JCKL]

Comparison of BMW 325i (non-sport) to IS 250.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/13/bmw-325i-versus-lexus-is-250-with-330i-and-350-reviews-thrown-i/

 

[rookie]

If you want to see the W204 in the flesh, C&C are holding a sneak preview in their Federal Highway showroom this Saturday, but I understand it's the Elegance model, so I'm not that thrilled. :burnout:

This is interesting...might drop by C&C Fed Highway this Saturday to look at the W204 :wink:

 

[Traveler]

This is interesting...might drop by C&C Fed Highway this Saturday to look at the W204 :wink:

Haha, I was thinking of doing the exact same thing... C&C FedHighway might suddenly see a convoy of UDMs parked outside...lol

 

[peanut]

Congrats on your booking of the 325i Sports, peanut! It's a great car and you'll enjoy it. :top:

If you want to see the W204 in the flesh, C&C are holding a sneak preview in their Federal Highway showroom this Saturday, but I understand it's the Elegance model, so I'm not that thrilled. :burnout:

Thanks! I like the 325 Sports and there is no buyer remorse :1:

As per W204, I only like the Avangarde and this is the model that competes with 325i/325i Sports

 

[RedZ4]

Hey if you're going to compare the bimmer 3 series, MB C Class, and Lexus IS model, why not throw in the Audi A4.

Its a pretty competitive market with these 4 brand names.
Bimmer do the best due to their very active marketing campaign. It also help that the cars made are above the others in performance.
But this segment isn't all about performance. The buyers for these cars look at other aspect too...

I kinda like the Lexus IS model. Of course the IS250 is nothing to shout about compared to the star performer like the E90. The will be competing with the Audi A4 for market share in our small industry. And I hope Euromobil wakes up and start to price their car more competitively.

Tonight I'm going to attend the new C Class launching in KL. I'll snap some shots and try to post 'em. I'm curious to know what sort of models will be made available here in Malaysia. In the U.S. its the C300 and C350.

 

[Drivenz@330]

I will go for the Merc. It look sexier

 

[Schwepps]

Exactly my thoughts on both counts peanut! :rock:

That they're calling the Avantgarde the Sports in US and European markets shows that it's aimed squarely at the E90, especially as they tweaked the suspension too. But the W204 will always suffer from its need to maintain the traditional C-Class' market of first merc, wifey's car, etc. The Sports grill does help differentiate the offering and is a good move.

Lexus doesn't really come into the picture in my mind, although they're trying really hard. To me Lexus is even 'post-Merc' in image and feel. :24:

 

[peanut]

Hey if you're going to compare the bimmer 3 series, MB C Class, and Lexus IS model, why not throw in the Audi A4.

Personally, I like the Audi but I think the A4 is due for a new model? The current A4 is smaller than the E90 in terms of interior space. I would consider Audi if there are more competence service agents to support Audi. Audi, Alfa, Volvo, Saab are all having issues due to not having economy of scale and thus parts and support are problematic.

p/s: I did propose a Audi TT but home committee rejected it :68:

 

[mnas]

i think the IS250 is too overpriced although it's pricing is slotted bt the 325i and 325i Sports. me too was considering to wait for the IS250 before getting the 325i Sports but heck, after reading some reviews plus the encounter at 2006 s'pore motorshow...my guts tells me that the 325 should be the choice.

 

[E46Fanatic]

A friend of mine was really keen to get the GS300 and was going to trade in his E46 330 cabrio. The defining moment was when someone asked him which model was the GS300 and he said the smaller variant (not the LS) and the guy replied, oh, the one which looks like the new Camry. My friend ended up with the E60 530i instead... LOL.

I'm with Schwepps on this. Somehow, the IS250 to me is a glorified Toyota Camry/Mark. The C interests me much more than the IS250 or the A4. Will go check it out as well this weekend. I'll contribute another E90 at C&C's parking lot on that day hehe.

 

[Juan Powerblow]

Shucks! Too bad I'm overseas this weekend or else you bet your bottom dollar, I'll join you guys at C&C too! I feel pretty much the same way on the IS250. Its performance levels are not quite a match for the E90 (yet). I like the add-ons but the BMW appeal stands out. I don't quite like the looks of the IS250 too. It just looks too jap.

However, I do like how the new C looks and I think this is gonna be a best-seller cos by the time it starts selling next year, the wow factor is gonna make the E90 look a tad dated. The new A4 is expected to look good too. I hate to say this but the E90 better unveil their facelift soon, and even that, it better make the car look much more updated.

In the end, driver enjoyment matters most and from what I've been reading, the E90 is still pretty much ahead. So, the RM308K on a 325i Sports is the best way to spend that kinda money on a car, me thinks!

 

[peanut]

I don't quite like the looks of the IS250 too. It just looks too jap.

I tot Lexus is Jap

In fact, I think Lexus is now beginning to change their design philosophy to be more Japanese. When they first started out, they just copied the German car makers, noteably MB.

 

[bmwjunkie]

Dillema, dillema, the new C Class or the 325 Sports? My gut feel is the women still prefer the BMW.....

 

[peanut]

Dillema, dillema, the new C Class or the 325 Sports? My gut feel is the women still prefer the BMW.....

Depending on what type of women you are going after :wink:

 

[Juan Powerblow]

I tot Lexus is Jap

In fact, I think Lexus is now beginning to change their design philosophy to be more Japanese. When they first started out, they just copied the German car makers, noteably MB.

Herein lies the pwobwem! It's just uncommon for someone to look at a Jap car and say, hey beautiful. The Italian cars get a lot of that and the Germans are a distant second but a Jap car?! Hence, I can understand Lexus for initially wanting to distinguish themselves. Hence, the branding as "Lexus" which sounds pretty un-Jap to me. If Lexus is changing their design philosophy to be more Jap, then I think it's a step back. On the other hand, Acura is heading the right direction. The IS250 looks too much like a better looking Altis. The E90, if dressed up properly doesn't look like anything else in the market now (which is a good thing!) and is indistinguishably a BMW.

 

[Schwepps]

LOL you guys!

Let me add that, aside from looking jap and all that, Lexus still hasn't shaken off its 'for really old guy' image. The first models targetted the well-heeled who had gone past even the Merc S-Class stage. Now they want to shake off that image and appeal to the younger (eg. 3-series) crowd. It's gonna be tough.

I think the W204 has a better chance at doing that, although they also have a problem of the C-Class persona (which they want to keep because it's THEIR bread and butter) But the W204 is certainly a good attempt at puncturing BMW's dominance in this class.

The Audi...no matter how good...will never do well here because of market dynamics.

My two cents

 

[INNOVATOR]

The Audi could end up being the Proton A4, Proton A6, Proton TT - for local markets only, if the deal goes through with Proton. I don't think its going to be the Audi Perdana, Audi Persona or the Audi Satira Neo, let alone the Audi Waja.:stupid: