BMW M3 vs Lexus IS-F: Which Car Is The Best To Live On The Edge With As A Passenger?

The videos are no longer working 009.

I can't believe you guys are still getting mileage out of the M3 vs. IS-F posts. I thought this was settled already when nearly every automotive publication rated the M3 above the IS-F.

Yea. . .This question has been answered 3241451346156+e9 times. The answer hasn't changed, and it ain't going to change until Toyota buys BMW.

Actually the vids work for me..

works for me too

223 comments, for sure. Let the war begin...

I can't imagine someone is buying the Is-F over the M3?

Anybody have IS-F sales figures?

I thought the limit was 5000 cars

Question for one of the agents. I was talking with a friend the other day about new cars. He currently owns a 2005 BMW 540 and was thinking of replacing it with the M3, C63 or The IS-F. He was leaning toward the IS-F due to price. He said the dealers would not sale the C63 or M3 below window sticker, but Lexus dealers would discount the IS-F as much as $3,000. I could not believe that much discount on a limited build performance sedan. I went to the carsdirect web site and priced all three. C63 was base MSRP, M3 discounted $200 and the IS-F discounted $3,380 from MSRP price. Those prices were for So. Ca. zip and I did not check other parts of the country. Are they really discounting the IS-F that much?

correction, 2002 540.

The market dictates the true value. Lexus had a brain fart and thought that they could sell an IS-F for the same price as an M3. LOL!! Nope!

Expect even bigger discounts on the IS-F. I'd say that the IS-F's price will settle down to about $50k when all is done and said. That's about what they are worth IMO.

Acura tried the same thing with the RL. They priced it at $49k in 2005 when only a fool would have spent $49K on that car. The RL’s price eventually settled at $41k because no one would pay anymore for it. Consider that the facelifted 2009 Acura RL lists for $46,000. That’s 4 grand less than the original RL that was introduced in 2005! Seems like they will try to rip us off any way they can.

My buddy bought a new M3 convertable in Toronto and recieved a $5000.00 discount.
This doesn't make the BMW any less desirable, just making a point that discounts are available on any car.

I just looked at a new M3 in an Atlanta BMW dealership, and even before I asked, the salesman said, "You won't pay close to that sticker."
That was a good thing, because the sticker stated the car had 19" wheels. But I used all four of my eyes to verify that the car indeed sat on 18s.
BTW, those 18s on the M3 look quite balloon-like. Almsot like how BMW 5-series of the 70s and early 80s looked on their 60-series tires.

this is a stupid article

Then write one yourself and submit it... Now THAT is a thought.

009, speaking of submitting articles, I have submitted one several times and it never gets posted. If it is going to be rejected, could you at least email me some feedback as to how to improve it or make it more suited to Autospies?

^ ditto

No prob, Expect to be contacted today.

vladyxa- I do write a few, however most are link backs to article I find out there.. I think that is pretty obvious.

However in general, if you write an article and it is good enough, it can easily be posted. The biggest problem is getting old material or a simple lack of content.

I submitted an article last week w/ spy shots of the 2010 Range Rover and it wasnt posted. Isnt that what this site is all about? Auto "Spying"?

HSCenterconsole and M35MT...you have mail in your inbox.

the ISF to me still doesnt compare to the M3 it has not stood the test of time and i dont care how much horse power it has the M3 is more eye appealing than the ISF. I seen a few ISF's out where I live and they are ok. NO COMP IN MY BOOK

I live in CT (Fairfield County) and have seen a ton of new M3's on the road (mostly coupes and convertibles, only one sedan, and interestingly only one M3 with the stock 18 inch rims). I have yet to see an IS-F.

...ive seen a IS-F 2 weeks ago, it was ok, was not impressed with the look, & ive seen a gang of New M3's all over, i like that M3 4door best, its hot...

I can't imagine anyone, who seriously loves to drive, chosing a ISF over a M3..

Im not a BMW kinda dude, but the M3 is a Legend (no acura), im takin the M3, Period.

BUT, GT-R > ________.

I haven't driven the new M3 yet, but I swear just sitting in the drivers seat and gripping that thick M steering wheel, it already has me convinced how exciting the drive can be.

"gripping that thick M"

^^
AYOOOOO! (no homo)

Correct, def no homo here. Look elsewhere! You're on the wrong site.

I like Top Gear better, but in my book these guys are damn close. Very entertaining video or videos. I like that gunmetal gray w/the red interior, but for me it would have to be white/red.

oh boy, here we go.

wow... Audi is not in the article and you still throw the hate.

this guy loves audi's. ain't it obvious?

amazin-- where did that come from?

amazinBimmer do you even own a BMW or you just think their amazing. because your family must have gotten burned by audi or something but again another useless comment from the infamous amazinBimmer

Am I wrong to think both cars are HOT? Oh, I forgot...I'm an enthusiast.

the answer to this stupid question is clear: WHO THE F*** CARES. it's performance car, not a people mover.

Spend an hour an on the M3 boards and note all of the transmission and overall issues this car is having. Spec'd out equally, an M3 is around 10K more. Is it worth it to the guy who drives to and from work. no.

M3...hands down.

I thought that the IS-F would out-perform the M3? That’s what folks here were saying before the two were compared. Now all you here from them is silence. LOL!!

And what ever happened to the LF-A?

But seriously, I would not want to be a passenger in any car where the driver is trying to scare me. I’ve seen too many of those types of excursions end up in tears (both driver and passenger).

So some 1 yr old child is running 0.1 second behind some 20 yrs old adult?

Woooo...... Now that sounds interesting.......

Enjoy your negative boost.

So some 1 yr old child is running 0.1 second behind some 20 yrs old adult?

Woooo...... Now that sounds interesting.......

Thanks man

Are you kidding me? This is a no-brainier the M3 hands down. Gosh I wish the C63 AMG was in this to b/c that would spank the pants off both of them.

I think both the M3 and the IS-F are okay when it comes to transporting passengers. However, only one succeeds in putting a big smile on the driver's face and that's the mighty M3.

Try driving both before commenting.

Already did! How about YOU? Ha, ha...I thought so...

C63.

I'm not surprised that the M3 won this competition. However, I AM surprised by the fact that it's margin of victory was only 0.14 seconds.

Cars are more than just numbers. Even if the IS-F would have been faster than the M3 it is still not even close when it comes to driving excitement and build quality.
Same goes for the GT-R when compared with real sports cars. The GT-R seem to have made such an impact in the world of x-box and Wii, the world of 15 years old boys who are unsure about their sexuality but on the other hand it failed to impress the real enthusiast crowd.
The Japanese can definitely build fast cars nobody denies that. Unfortunately for them these cars are not competing in any official races therefore unlike a real race car, they need to offer a LITTLE MORE than just speed. Numbers alone = piss, when it comes to street cars... and people who buy cars by looking at the specs instead of what that car offers overall are complete idiots.

Making a car go fast is not superior engineering, making a car go fast AND CONNECT with its driver is superior engineering. That missing connection, not the specs are responsible for the multiple failures of the Japanese so called "sports" cars like Supra, NSX, IS-F, GT-R...and so on. Boy racer cars are the same thing as enthusiast cars.

*are NOT the same thing.

"it is still not even close when it comes to driving excitement and build quality"
You have not driven an IS-F, because if you did you would know this statement is completely wrong.

Basically that moron called STAR will claim a F1 still cannot drive like a real sports sedan, which is probably the only thing he knows. He is so content driving that loud thing around his neighborhood street, and WOOOO, old people are scared....

He has no idea of what happens outside of US, and he calls NSX a failure?

M O R O N should be banged from this site.

How are you going to compare an audi 5000 to the current lineup?

Your roght, that Audi 5000 was brutal.

lololololoololol OK you own 3 BMW's fROM what decade the 70's or 80's....LOLOLOLOL your funny and useless. you know what I can tell you I own 10 BMW's but I dont people talk a good one online and make themselves feel superior to everyone and thats a high school move. go get your parents and tell them i need to talk to them ...lolololo...3 BMW's yeah OK and as for sucess you dont know who I am besides my screen name so dont go saying your more sucessful than me and you dont know who your dealing with little boy....but I give it to you....you are funny

If you are a hard core driver willing to forgive the faults of the transmision and all the glitches to enjoy the ultimate driving mahcine, take the M3. If you love good service and reliable car that will be working fine every day take the ISF. My country is full of Bimmers and Lexus, sadly BMW is not a relaible car. One day the trans will work great, next day the air conditioner won´t work, or the electric mirror will not work properly...always stupid things, thats happen with any BMW. Lexus in the other side, may be will stay behind for a few milliseconds or secs, but you won´t have stupid things bothering, at the end is your choice and no body should question your choice. I have and MB, but if I have and M3 with a good trans a good engine, I do not care if the air conditioner does not work, M3 will be my election, but if I have to deal with engine or transmition problems...ISF will be the one.

So some 1 yr old child is running 0.1 second behind some 20 yrs old adult?

Now that sounds interesting.......

Who said that?

Contrary to how many on this site feel about this article, I actually liked it because it was a different take on an obvious but entertaining match up.

While I admit there's been an astray of good articles on this site lately, I hate hecklers that come on here & denounce every article for a quick pat on the back...If you don't like the article then why bother posting or even clicking on the link?

MB does not need more of the same due they already have enough models to chose...and Finaly most of the peoble inlcuding you will hate a broken car, hopefully that will improve the next year.. and may be the M3 will get the reliability of a Toyota Corola. If I have to bet, I´ll say: is not gona happen. And do not misunderstand I love the design and the sound of the M3 but as any normal person I hate its faults, unacceptable. Why? Cause is BMW, we espect the best. I know that you prefer a broken manual trans over an Automatic, but most of the people needs a car at home, not in the repair shop.