[Dinh335]

Good article and fair IMO. If I had to do it all per I'd still end up wi this car just cause i don't care for styling of the Lexus. That's my one point opinion.

[Jamesons Viggen]

The two other cars offer no manual. The styling of the Lexus is terrible. That leaves both to me DOA.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Nepal

Nice! I think it's official now. This is the end of long lasting 328 vs 335 dogfight.

328 8AT 0-60 5.6 seconds
335 8AT 0-60 4.6 seconds

One whole freaking second in this range is awesome! Considering MT rated 335 8AT as 4.7 seconds, I guess these numbers are very reliable. Sweet!!

Not really, unless you know the test circumstances. If these times were done on a drag strip, big difference in grip levels. 4.6 on a 300hp RWD AT with no launch system takes some believing on normal Tarmac.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Not really, unless you know the test circumstances. If these times were done on a drag strip, big difference in grip levels. 4.6 on a 300hp RWD AT with no launch system takes some believing on normal Tarmac.

Tires are the big discrepancy between 335 and 328 mag times besides the obvious power increase.

See mag 335 tests have either been on 19" 401's with 255 summer tires, or here in this test, 403's on 255 summer tires. There is no optional 19" or 255 tire for the 328 unless it is an MSport which is yet to have a magazine test.

This is why the delta between the two cars 0-60 is larger than the 1/4 mile. The 328 makes up time the longer the race since the 335 really seems to take advantage off the line.

If the 328 MSport with the same tires does not show a tenth improvement when tested, well then, that hypothesis is out the window lol. No mag seems to have broken 5.4 with a 225mm equipped 328.

[tuned2ride]

There is a serious problem with the Bimmer (specially with M-Sport!) as soon one realizes that it gets the last position in slalom test. Quite a symptom.

[doublevanosrc]

WTF? The Lexus won? Are we being punked?

[CirrusSR22]

I don't know how they can give scores to interior and exterior styling. Looks are subjective. IMO, the Lexus exterior is the ugliest by far, yet got 9 points, along with the BMW. The ATS is the best looking but got 8.

[tuned2ride]

Engine flexibility 3/5 for the 335i, worse than the 2 NA engines. I really wonder how that they can back this.

[infinitigor]

Quite a disappointing review, seems that BMW went the wrong direction with electronic steering. seems like an upgraded suspension is a MUST =/

""theres more movement from both front and rear axles than expected… even with the optional suspension, body control falters… its steering also seems comparatively lazy, too light and vague on center; and what little feel there is to begin with disappears entirely in fast transitions""

[tdizzle]

Originally Posted by tuned2ride

Engine flexibility 3/5 for the 335i, worse than the 2 NA engines. I really wonder how that they can back this.

I found that one pretty weird myself. Faster in every respect and much more midrange torque. How does that lose to slower cars with torque made later?

The lexus seemed to lose to the other two until it got to the last category and the opinion based stuff. I was like how is it the car that won overall lost to one of the other two cars in the sub categories. But I guess it came in second a lot and they liked the way it 'felt'.

If the bmw's steering 'felt' better, it would've won. I think they even admitted it didn't affect performance but they didn't like how it 'felt'. That's subjective for you. That's like saying with the top down on a vert it feels faster so it gets more points on acceleration tests...

[Jamesons Viggen]

I think the MSport should have had the Mperformance suspension standard lol.

[buildbright]

The article shows why you should never trust magazines. Do they not read their past reviews? What a joke lol

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by buildbright

The article shows why you should never trust magazines. Do they not read their past reviews? What a joke lol

I agree, these magazines are just to give you an insight on how it compares to others. The best test for yourself is to go to the dealer and sit your butt behind the wheel.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

I think the MSport should have had the Mperformance suspension standard lol.

It really should.

The M Performance Suspension coupled with the PPK would annihilate the competition.

It's THAT radically different, not even funny.

But BMW is trying to aim the M Performance Line at the S4, so they have to keep the M Sport "diluted".

[Dinh335]

of all the mags, I respect C &D the most, after all they've loathed over the 3 series and everything BMW for a long ass time, and funny how when that was happening people were cool with the mag tests

at any rate, they need to run this test again in a few months with Q50 anyways.

Regardless, nothing to get all in a tizzy over. I'm sure the Lexus is a great car. Doesn't mean it's for all of us. BMW imo still makes great cars, but there's no doubt the brand is a bit diluted. Between S"A"Vs, GTS, and gran coupes it's a bit confusing.

I still love my car though as i said above, if i had to do it again, the f30 still has the best combo of features for what i needed but I certainly don't have the illusion that it's the best car for everyone in it's price point.

[doublevanosrc]

Just read the FULL article and it seems the 335i didn't do that bad but C&D complained about things that are true about the F30. The suspension is softer and the steering is numb, no secret there. C&D loves BMW's especially the 3 and that's not a secret either but lets be honest the current 3 is less driver oriented than it's predecessor while it's competitors are more driver oriented. Lets hope BMW is listening and addresses some of these issues with the LCI model.

[Agamemnon]

Saw that Lexus at the car show. Stood around listening to people's comments. Most of the comments ran to "Man that thing is ugly" What a shame" Used to like Lexus but this?

The only people who seemed to like it was a very young demographic that really knows very little about cars.

A BMW will always be a BMW. That Cadillac is an expensive Chevy and the Lexus is an ugly Toyota.

My M-sport has the adaptive suspension and VSS and is the best sports sedan I have ever driven bar none.

Originally Posted by RPM90

Personally, I don't know what C&D are talking about. Yes, the sport and adaptive sport suspension is softer than the E90, but it absorbs bumps quite well and with a single thump, and that's when set to sport, which is where I set it about 99% of the time.
In comfort mode road imperfection and bumps are absorbed even softer and quieter.
I'l have to try the new Lexus to see how much better it can be since C&D seem to think it's a big difference.

The car tested has the 19" wheels, do you have the 18" or 19" wheels? I wouldn't be that surprised that the 19" don't absorb bumps as well as the 18" wheels.

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by DarkTrigger

They needed the VSS. But I'm surprised they didn't like the optional Adaptive M Suspension.

Originally Posted by alex2364

Pretty sure it has VSS since you can't get one without the other in the US.

Originally Posted by beemer3

The car tested has the 19" wheels, do you have the 18" or 19" wheels? I wouldn't be that surprised that the 19" don't absorb bumps as well as the 18" wheels.

Maybe the Servotronic Steering (which I have) would do better. This is standard on the 328i, 335i and 330d M Sports in the UK. I do find the steering a bit heavy, but then I am a 10 stone weakling.

I feel the ride and bump absorption of my F30 330d M Sport on 18" 400M wheels is truly superb in Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes. The Adaptive Suspension coupled with the 8 Speed Sport Auto is delightful. And, the handling and road holding are devine in dry and wet conditions.

Anyway, the Lexus looks revolting and the Caddy disgusting. 100% FAIL.QED

[Roki_014]

Originally Posted by RASHID007

So let me get this straight...

It's the fastest, most fuel efficient, quietest, most spacious,most practical and best looking in the test and it finished 2nd?

These car magazines have become a joke and it is no wonder they give them away $10 for a 60 month subscription. Might as well have Fox News give its "unbiased" opinion. Not.

+1

[DerekS]

Originally Posted by dcg71

To be fair, it lost by a point. And the areas where it scored worse are fairly subjective. The performance figures are impressive. It also had near perfect scores in the powertrain category.

I think a better measure is how many 335i owners want to sell their cars to buy the lexus based on that... not many I reckon..

How true !!

What is clear is the bias that C & D has against the F30 ! Example : rating the combined exterior and interior styling of the Lexus to be superior to that of the F30 M Sport !!!

On this basis alone, the hideous Lexus was declared the overall winner by one point !!
What a joke !

[bcl0328]

Is the Lexus melting?