Well my06 S2000 lease is coming to an end and it is time to grow up and get a sedan. Well not grow up, but something with more room. Loved the S2000, but once you drive over 100 miles your body starts to feel the road. The S2000 is truely a "raw" car, which i love. Now onto the 2 vehicles at hand.

2005 BMW 330i ZHP (either manual or auto). This car has been on my list since the day it came out. I would be in the market for an E46 M3, but it doesn't come in a sedan. The 2005 CPO'ed are going in the mid 20's with low miles (under 30k).

Pros:
CPO
Low mileage
Timeless design
All around good car
Drivers car
Great Price

Cons:
Used
BMW Repair prices (once 6 years / 100k miles comes)
Expensive to mod (if i deceide to)

2008 Lexus IS350. This thing is a beast. 300+ hp on tap. I have driven this car at the last 2 "Tastes of Lexus" and loved every second of it. For 2008 they added the option to turn off traction contron, which is nice. This car only comes in an auto, which isn't bad, but I do like the choice.

Pros:
New Car
My brother is a lexus tech (all services will be done at the price of parts)
Lexus reliability
Padel shifters on the wheel
Fully loaded (only option is the sport package)

Cons:
Sticker price of $40k

As soon as I pick up either car I am going to put BBS LM's on them. If I choose the Lexus then it would be white with black interior. If I choose the BMW it would be either Grey/Black/Blue with black interior.

Pics for the viewing:

Modified by Boosted A4 at 9:06 PM 4-13-2008

Quote, originally posted by Jesus is my pilot »

God wouldn't have made cows so big if He didn't want us to cover things with them.

Lexus if you're looking for a drivers car with a little more comfort.

That's a great idea! I second it.

I would not hesitate to recommend the IS350. I really do Love mine. I have a 06 car and it has been flawless. I have not had a single problem...and the power!, Its a beast! There are aftermarket suspension options out there for better handlling, not to mention exhaust and intake options. IMO Interior is much more refined then a BMW also. You can't beat Mark Levinson as a stock sound system.

Its not just about the car either, you will be getting the Lexus service. I mean what other car company changes out mostly worn brake pads for you, for free, because people have complained about the brake dust on their wheels!

LMs?! You got good taste as I do.

Here is my car. I have dropped the car using coilovers and have aftermarket intake and exhaust installed.

I highly doubt that comment. Brake wear is not a warrantied item unless it was a defect in the design. You may have had it done because it was a CPO but that is not the case for other owners.

If I could only have one car and it had to be one of those two, I would choose the ZHP. It's just more entertaining, plain and simple. That said, the Lexus is more comfortable and powerful. The interior is ahead by miles. It feels like a higher quality, more solid piece. Here's mine, Glacier Frost on Black:

The lexus has more luxury items + goodies (seat coolers, paddle shifters, 4 pos brakes, and my brother will be the one working on the care). My brother makes it kind of a pain to work on other cars, so if I just request he does an oil change then he will make all the necessary repairs once my car gets in the shop.

CTS....no. maybe the last v series, but that is it.

G35 used to be in the running, but I just like the IS that much more.

I really want a 335, but new they are to expensive. I received a lease quote for a base 335 sedan, auto, and premier package with zero down would be 580 per month for 36 months.

Used first year turbo cars......absolutely not. I have owned two used turbo cars in the past.....biggested financial mistake of my life. 1989 Toyota Supra Turbo - 2 months of owner ship and the turbo fails and the head gasket blows, which results in 4k in repairs. 1997 Audi A4 turbo purchased in 2000 - wastegate failure that resulted in a new turbo. So done with purchasing turbo cars used. Sorry.

the new f-sport parts are coming out.

It feels like a quality car from the moment you shut the door...and then you fire up the engine and drive it.

Few, if any, small/midsize sedans built in the past 20 years have the same balance and finesse as the ZHP. I wouldn't say that of a normal E46 330i, either.

The Lexus offers more creature comforts, and more HP, but the driving experience--handling in particular--leaves me cold. I'm also not a fan of the interior styling. That said, it is likely to be more reliable in service.

Let's put it this way: I had my Saab up for sale a couple of weeks ago because I'd found a particularly outstanding example of a ZHP. Prior to, I had no intent to sell it (and in fact passed up an opportunity to do so in January). I didn't end up doing it for a number of reasons, but the ZHP is that good.

The 3 series ZHP package (we call it M sport) is kind of ugly and ruins the E46. I think of the new 3 series in the reverse. The coupe NEEDS the M sport to detract from the funny design.

The IS in particular is probably one of the worst cars as far as myself as a driver concerned. You just can't see out from the damned thing!

It is truly a "blind-spot du-jour", a term that used to only apply to exotic sports cars.

Screw the poor!!!

While i don't agree from an aesthetics point of view, I agree about visibility. its borderline scary to drive the new IS.

That is if I couldn't get a Saab Turbo X.

I thought the IS350 was an incredibly boring drive.

Now you said you owned a 2006 S2000 and you want to go from that fun roadster to a boring and dull car like an IS350?

I am also a former S2000 owner and I can assure you you WILL get bored quickly with the IS350.

Please take the Bimmer, which will even feel like a pig coming from an S2000.

I'd take a look at a 2007 EVO MR if you're just looking for a 4 door replacement of an S2000.

BPCDubs » I promise you won't feel a thing.

BANNED!

I'd lean towards a used Lexus if my brother was a tech. A new Lexus you may get rid of before you ever need his help.

137K on my 2002.5 Jetta GLS 1.8T- repairs - window regulators, coil packs, water pump plus timing belt, coolant sensor, maf, pcv Y hose, rear wheel hubs, fuel pump, kombi-valve