is250 vs. 325i

I am interested in trading my Acura TL, and have
narrowed the most likely possible replacements to
the Lexus is250 and the BMW 325i, both with manual
transmission.

I am interested in whatever input anyone might
have. I have owned a number of Toyotas over the
years, but no Lexus and no BMW.

I have heard that Lexus takes Toyota's quality and
attention to detail to the next level, and that in
the long run BMW is very expensive to maintain. I
have friends who own both - and swear they
wouldn't drive anything else.

Suggestions, pros, cons, all info would be
appreciated.

Many thanks.

Robert

"Robert A. Cibiras" > wrote
>I am interested in trading my Acura TL, and have narrowed the most likely
>possible replacements to the Lexus is250 and the BMW 325i, both with manual
>transmission.
>
> I am interested in whatever input anyone might have. I have owned a number
> of Toyotas over the years, but no Lexus and no BMW.
>
> I have heard that Lexus takes Toyota's quality and attention to detail to
> the next level, and that in the long run BMW is very expensive to
> maintain. I have friends who own both - and swear they wouldn't drive
> anything else.

I don't know why people say that BMWs are expensive to maintain.
The Camry that I bought my mom has cost about the same as my 330xi.
Some parts for my T100 cost *MORE* than the same part for my 330xi -
for instance the starter solenoid went out and the entire starter had to be
replaced; the O2 sensor is TWICE as expensive as those on BMWs.
My wife's Highlander has more often maintenance intervals; in aggregate
they cost what it does for my 330xi. And the maintenance on the BMW
is free for 4yrs/50K.

YMMV.

FloydR

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 04:13:09 UTC, "Robert A. Cibiras"
> wrote:

> I am interested in trading my Acura TL, and have
> narrowed the most likely possible replacements to
> the Lexus is250 and the BMW 325i, both with manual
> transmission.
>
> I am interested in whatever input anyone might
> have. I have owned a number of Toyotas over the
> years, but no Lexus and no BMW.
>

I have an 02 manual transmission IS300. From what I understand about
the IS250-350, they are fast cars, but not particularly sporty (seems
to be a Lexus characteristic, unfortunately). the BMW is probably
going to be a bit more of a "driver's car" but from everything I've
read, the Lexus will be the more reliable of the two by far.

"Robert A. Cibiras" > wrote in message
. ..
>I am interested in trading my Acura TL, and have narrowed the most likely
>possible replacements to the Lexus is250 and the BMW 325i, both with manual
>transmission.
>
> I am interested in whatever input anyone might have. I have owned a number
> of Toyotas over the years, but no Lexus and no BMW.
>
> I have heard that Lexus takes Toyota's quality and attention to detail to
> the next level, and that in the long run BMW is very expensive to
> maintain. I have friends who own both - and swear they wouldn't drive
> anything else.
>
> Suggestions, pros, cons, all info would be appreciated.
>
> Many thanks.
>
> Robert
>

If you're looking at those two particular cars you are, evidently, intersted
in the driving dynamics. If that's the case, I'd choose the BMW.

If all you are interested in is reliability, pick the Lexus (or any other
driving appliance).

Floyd Rogers wrote:
> "Robert A. Cibiras" > wrote
>
>>I am interested in trading my Acura TL, and have narrowed the most likely
>>possible replacements to the Lexus is250 and the BMW 325i, both with manual
>>transmission.
>>
>>I am interested in whatever input anyone might have. I have owned a number
>>of Toyotas over the years, but no Lexus and no BMW.
>>
>>I have heard that Lexus takes Toyota's quality and attention to detail to
>>the next level, and that in the long run BMW is very expensive to
>>maintain. I have friends who own both - and swear they wouldn't drive
>>anything else.
>
>
> I don't know why people say that BMWs are expensive to maintain.
> The Camry that I bought my mom has cost about the same as my 330xi.
> Some parts for my T100 cost *MORE* than the same part for my 330xi -
> for instance the starter solenoid went out and the entire starter had to be
> replaced; the O2 sensor is TWICE as expensive as those on BMWs.
> My wife's Highlander has more often maintenance intervals; in aggregate
> they cost what it does for my 330xi. And the maintenance on the BMW
> is free for 4yrs/50K.

....in the US.


--
-Fred W

joe_tide wrote:
> "Robert A. Cibiras" > wrote in message
> . ..
>
>>I am interested in trading my Acura TL, and have narrowed the most likely
>>possible replacements to the Lexus is250 and the BMW 325i, both with manual
>>transmission.
>>
>>I am interested in whatever input anyone might have. I have owned a number
>>of Toyotas over the years, but no Lexus and no BMW.
>>
>>I have heard that Lexus takes Toyota's quality and attention to detail to
>>the next level, and that in the long run BMW is very expensive to
>>maintain. I have friends who own both - and swear they wouldn't drive
>>anything else.
>>
>>Suggestions, pros, cons, all info would be appreciated.
>>
>>Many thanks.
>>
>>Robert
>>
>
>
> If you're looking at those two particular cars you are, evidently, intersted
> in the driving dynamics. If that's the case, I'd choose the BMW.
>
> If all you are interested in is reliability, pick the Lexus (or any other
> driving appliance).
>
>

I would not go quite that far... I think that a prior poster got it
right. The BMW is a better driver's car. The Lexus will be a softer
ride (mushy) and marginally more reliable. If talking new cars, the
maintenance on the BMW will be covered under warranty. But even for
cars out-of-warranty I would not expect to save much with the reliable
Lexus.

--
-Fred W

In article >,
Floyd Rogers > wrote:
>I don't know why people say that BMWs are expensive to maintain.

This is the way my father in law explained it to me 30 years ago: "the
Germans are quite up front about maintenance costs. The Japanese want you
to believe their cars are cheaspre cheap to maintain but in reality they cost
about the same".

Volvo parts seem the be THE most expensive.

--
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

In article >,
Elmo P. Shagnasty > wrote:
>In article >,
> Fred W > wrote:
>
>> The BMW is a better driver's car. The Lexus will be a softer
>> ride (mushy) and marginally more reliable.
>
>The Lexus will be infinitely more reliable.
>

Yeah. Plus chicks really dig toyotas.


--
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article >,
> Fred W > wrote:
>
>
>>The BMW is a better driver's car. The Lexus will be a softer
>>ride (mushy) and marginally more reliable.
>
>
> The Lexus will be infinitely more reliable.
>

define infinitely...

--
-Fred W

Richard Sexton wrote:

>
>
> Yeah. Plus chicks really dig toyotas.
>
>

Good point.

--
-Fred W