AUTO SPIES WORLD EXCLUSIVE-First real life pics of the first TRUE 3-series challenger-Part 2

Well, the BMW 3 series and the Lexus IS sure look like the could be related (two nice cars with Asian styling cues). The thing the BMW still has going for it is the powerful brand of their product. Otherwise...

Well, the BMW 3 series and the Lexus IS sure look like the could be related (two nice cars with Asian styling cues). The thing the BMW still has going for it is the powerful brand of their product. Otherwise...

(flamez coming. if scared, stop reading)

I have one thing to say for you, wanna be know-it-all spies.

It's a freakin' Toyota! It has one design objective, penny pinching. That company will never even dream of anything close to a BMW.

I was very skeptical about the new 3, did not like the styling, the interior, the "Made-in-Japan" Bridgestone Potenza tires, the useless push-button start/stop, the "new and improved" Toyota style cruise control lever, the idiotic turn signals, etc.

But I only had to testdrive a 325i sports package for 20 mins to be convinced. BMW is back, it is better than ever, it is a dream come true. The car is instanteniously recognizable as a 3, yet on the inside it feels larger than the old 5. And oh yeah, it is as quiet as the next Lexus (no dB meter at hand, but the ears can tell). Before I knew it, I was going 90 mph on 4th gear before looking at the tachometer and realizing, maybe I shouldn't be doing this to a new engine.

Can't wait for the coupe (4 series) and the M -- hopefully the rear will look more attractive.

the high sides and small windows make this look more like an econobox from a lot of angles than the previous generation. It doesn't look very lithe at all.

Yes, the G35 is a great machine. It has a strong engine so it goes fast, it looks great, it has luxury accommodations, it is affordable by many of us.

But it suffers from similar drawbacks as the Lexus. I don't like the handling and suspension, the steering response, the yellow back-lit instruments, and the fact that after all the glitz it's just a Nissan. A properly tuned Maxima would do the same.

AB its a Lexus run website because he doesnt know the truth. The truth is that the IS is truly a better car than the 3series by far which is only a fact. Lexus has out-performed all its competitors in every aspect. The LS beat the S-class, the GS beat E-class, that IS beat the 3-series, the LX- there no competitor.
It just shows ignorance in people when they don't know what they talking about. It also shows the lack of moderness in them, the sportiness, because they have never seen it before.

hmm getting a bit personal, aren't we?

Maybe that is the point, cars tend to be a bit personal. But having driven a majority of the Lexus and the BMW lineup (yes I have no life, I test drive cars instead) I can tell you Lexus is inferior in all the ways I care. Toyota has never produced a vehicle that inspires, that leaves you speechless sitting in the driver's seat the day you first drove it and 6 years later, that makes you whisper "I love this car". I hope they will, but they have not.

No, it is not about the labels, it is not about the sheer horse power, or the layers of fake wood trim, it is about the people behind them, their design philosophy, and what vehicles they produce. Audi has it, Porsche definitely has it, even Nissan has it, not Toyota.

Thank you for accusing me of being too American. I've been trying to eat cereal, buy a gun or two and follow football and baseball for 12 years now, not quite successfully ;)

Luxury is difficult to measure. My take on it is how comfortable the car makes me feel. And frankly Lexus (a division of Toyota, a brand name, not a stand-alone company) vehicles make me bored, make me laugh at them, and make me turn my back to everyone who claims how luxurious and progressive they are... ;)

Please give me a few examples of how progresive Lexus vehicles are, and a few more of how BMW is going backwards? Sideways - maybe, weird - certainly, provocative - definitely.

Interesting lineup though. Maybe the Spies can setup a poll for their (longer term) readers and see where they stand on "luxury" perceptions.

Did you just call me a freak? Has your mommy ever told you it's not the size of your .... that matters?

No point of arguing with you, we don't speak the same language. Enjoy your "smoking" Toyota, I mean Lexus.