[gthal]

I've been a long time BMW owner (see my signature) but moved to a Golf R last year and then a Lexus IS350 about a month ago.

The journey is a long story... skip this part if you want... I bought the Golf R because I wanted something small with a DCT and AWD for winter to accompany a new C7 Grand Sport. I sold my M2 to move to the Golf R and it was a really great and fun car. However, I decided in February to not buy the C7 and wait for the mid-engine C8 Corvette coming next year. That meant I wanted something a bit nicer to drive (with AWD!!) until the C8 was released. I bought the IS350 because I really liked the bold exterior and the interior quality is really a step up over a 3 series unless you get extended Merino leather. Not to mention, it is less money by quite a bit for a comparably equipped car in Canada.

Unfortunately, I decided after a very short period of owning the Lexus that it wasn't for me and the dealer agreed to simply take it back (long story but I have a very good relationship with them and am a pretty good customer).

I picked up a 2018 340i xDrive... fully loaded with everything but MPSSK and the extended Merino. I added the front splitter and rear CF spoiler. I also added the M Performance alcantara interior trim and shift knob.

Love the car... it's fast and feels as fast (subjectively) as my 6MT M2. The auto tranny shifts very fast and is really satisfying to drive. Love the digital gauge and all the tech (wireless CarPlay is awesome). Really happy to be back in a BMW... I need to learn my lesson and always own one as they just feel right to me. Every other car I've owned (other than my Corvette) left me thinking about a BMW.

Now the wait for the mid-engine Corvette. When it's released, if I don't like it, I'll buy a next gen M3/4 for my fun car and keep the 340i as my DD.

[Climb Mode]

Listen here guy - ditch the RFT’s.

[cfm56d7b]

Great car. I am sure you will enjoy every mile driving it. How did the vehicle behave in the recent Ontario ice storm?

[eluded]

Great story I kept waiting for the MT part.... but it never came.

[.BMW.]

Looks great!

Congrats.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

Great car. I am sure you will enjoy every mile driving it. How did the vehicle behave in the recent Ontario ice storm?

I wouldn't know... not in Ontario

[gthal]

Originally Posted by eluded

Great story I kept waiting for the MT part.... but it never came.

Owned MT cars my entire life and my dedicated track car was a MT. Still will for weekend/fun cars but for a DD I now prefer a DCT (or a really fast auto). Even for a fun/weekend car, a well sorted DCT is awesome.

[TheObviousChild]

I remember when I swayed from BMW. I had just ended my 2004 325i lease and thought maybe I should do something more practical. I was in my mid 20's. Ended up getting a new loaded 2007 Acura TSX. It was nice. It was not a BMW. I drove it for 3 months and went back to a 3 Series and have not swayed since. That was a miserable feeling driving that TSX and feeling regret every time I saw a BMW on the road.

Never again.

[Zara]

Very nice! These cars are great daily drivers.

[yoon_209]

whats your opinion on the is350 and 340

[gthal]

Originally Posted by yoon_209

whats your opinion on the is350 and 340

Some high level thoughts...

Looks
Subjective but I actually think the IS350 is a great looking car and more aggressive than the 3 series. One reason I added the M performance bits was to get a bit more of the aggressiveness than the regular 340 was missing vs. the Lexus. 3 series are everywhere whereas the IS350 is less so where I live. The 340i needs a bit of a "looks" boost with nice wheels, spoiler, splitter, etc to have road presence IMO.

Edge - Lexus unless you deck out a 340i

Interior
The Lexus quality inside is very, very good. I think Audi and Lexus are doing a much better job than BMW on interior material and design but... again... that's subjective. The Dakota leather in the 340i is nowhere near as nice as the Lexus and the design of the seats (even the sport seats) is not as nice to lok at or sit in. My IS350 had stitched leather on the dash, console and door. To make the 340i comparable, you really need the extended Merino leather.

The Lexus is quite small inside and my wife/kids complained all of the time that they felt too confined. However, from a driver's perspective, the seating position is very good and sporty.

Edge - Lexus

Technology
Depends on options. The Lexus came with basically all tech except CarPlay. My 340i is fully loaded so it has everything the Lexus has plus wireless CarPlay and charging. But it comes at a price... the 340i is also $15,000 more equivalently equipped.

Edge - even... better in the 340i but for a price.

Transmission
The 340i with the 8 speed is surprisingly quick and responsive. It feels not dissimilar to the DCT in my M4. Not quite as fast but not all that much different either. It's a very sporty, very responsive, very fun transmission. The IS350 auto feels like a traditional auto... a slight delay in shifting, very little throttle blip on downshifts, etc. I ended up just driving the IS350 in auto mode all of the time whereas I drive the 340i in manual mode all the time just like I did with all my DCT cars... it's that good IMO.

Big advantage - BMW

Driving performance
This is where the BMW really outshines the Lexus. The IS350 compares better to the 330i than a 340i for power. My subjective feel is that a 330i is just as fast in a straight line but with more torque around town. The Lexus doesn't feel as fast as it's 311HP 6 cylinder engine suggests. The 340i is a comparative rocket ship. It simply obliterates the IS350 in any straight line speed test and not even close.

Handling wise, both had adaptive suspensions. The 340i is a better handling car overall but they are very close. On the street both are more than capable cars.

Big advantage - BMW

Overall
Given the IS350 is really priced similar to a 330i and performs similarly, I would say it's best compared to that car. From that perspective, I might actually prefer the IS350 given it's more aggressive styling and much improved interior quality. It handles every bit as well as the 330i I test drove and is as fast in a straight line notwithstanding it has less of a torquey feel.

Compared to a 340i that is comparably equipped, the 340i is a much better, sportier and faster car overall. However, it comes with a much higher price too. So, in the end, I guess you get what you pay for. Lexus has done a great job with the IS350 and really pays attention to the details. It "feels" higher quality inside and outside and performs really well. If they would put a better transmission and a bigger HP turbo in it, it would be a better can than the 3 series IMO. They didn't, so it isn't

[Perseus83]

This is nice to know. I left BMW (2007 335xi) and leased a 2016 IS350. Although I do like it, I miss BMW way too much and as soon as my lease is up (end of this year), I'm going back to BMW and will likely get a 330, but I'm leaning towards a 340.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by gtstar

This is nice to know. I left BMW (2007 335xi) and leased a 2016 IS350. Although I do like it, I miss BMW way too much and as soon as my lease is up (end of this year), I'm going back to BMW and will likely get a 330, but I'm leaning towards a 340.

If you drive a 330 and a 340, I guarantee you buy the 340 if price isn't a problem. My mistake is I only drove a 330i and the IS350 and then picked the IS350 for the subjective things (look, interior). Had I driven the 340i first, I would have simply bought that vs anything else.

[Livfast335]

I had a 350 IS AWD and I got rid of it after a year. It was sexy, nice interior (Red) but the experience wasn't the same as the 335 I use to have. When I got into the 440i GC, I fell in love and saw some amazing improvement that made me choose BMW.

I think I'll stay with BMW for life.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Congrats

[BBBimmerz]

Nice.

[Kafkaesque328]

nice ride

[Beek]

OP, you really sound like the kind of person who would appreciate the MPPSK, wondering why you made the choice not to get it?

[gthal]

Originally Posted by Beek

OP, you really sound like the kind of person who would appreciate the MPPSK, wondering why you made the choice not to get it?

Funny you say that... I was on the fence with buying a LSB M Performance Edition car with MPPSK and a full leather interior.

It was a tough call because I loved it. However, it is not a quiet system by any stretch of the imagination and this is a DD car for me. The cold start when I'm heading for the airport at 4:30AM would definitely wake my light sleeping wife and neighbours . If it was easy to close the waste gate on startup without a tune to quiet cold start a bit, I would have bought it... most of my concern was cold start in the early mornings with a disapproving spouse and a close knit, quiet cul-de-sac. I so wish there was an exhaust with a "really quiet" start option and a "normal" start option for this very problem.

Besides, I will generally always have a fun, weekend car that will sound fantastic and that fills the need.

[uniqueMR]

Beautiful. Congrats.
340i is a nice car Enjoy!!!

[cozye]

Originally Posted by gthal

Owned MT cars my entire life and my dedicated track car was a MT. Still will for weekend/fun cars but for a DD I now prefer a DCT (or a really fast auto). Even for a fun/weekend car, a well sorted DCT is awesome.

I agree 100%