BMW 3 series or Lexus IS250

[Mrericlee]

 

 

Edited January 6, 2008 by Mrericlee

[Weiming]

Angel eyes were popularized by the previous E46 and E39 if I remember correctly.

 

Likewise Lexus appears to be the trendsetter for HID headlights.

 

I believe running LEDs will be the next "in-thing" coming from Audi (A8, A4, A5 to-date) and will most likely be an Audi distinguishing mark.

[Relagsingh]

lexus is the trendsetter for their famous tail lights on the IS200.

[Weiming]

Haha...yeah...can remember many after market kits that incorporated this design. Never appealed to me though.

 

However, I thought the tail lights were popularized by the Nissan GT-R?

[Walterkoh]

well, for brands like merc or bmw, any car spoilt is called mass production lemon.

for brands like hyundai or chery, any car spoilt is all hyundai/chery cars lousy n low quality, not safe etc. n branded its like that!!!

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reply]

I visited my customer last year in California, he leased a 335. Yes, its really fast!!!

 

However, within 1 month he sent in the car to repair the power window twice.

 

so much so for german quality... or can anyone confirm whether the 335 is made in SA or GER?

 

VW and merc also made in SA, soon audi will be made in india... thai also starting to make beemers soon.

 

the feeling of paying a premium for the lower end models of prestigious marques that are not made in GER irks me. i definitely wun buy one even though the quality still maintains.

 

a benefit of doubt, sure got a few lemons due to the sheer volume produced. still better than french though

 

i would rather get the mid or higher end models that offer more quality and assurance cuz after all, its their home, ie GER that made these cars for decades.

 

how about a well equipped new mondeo? it looks smashing anyway. or those bored of the E, 5er or A6, how about the new XF? its very very very nice. the designer nailed it. i vote ian callum as the designer of the decade.

 

those interested in the XF better be quick. it may become 'made in india' . how ironic, india used to be a colony of GB and now, the pride and joy of british motoring is going to be owned by them

 

sure, some bros wun agree with me but hey, it's only my opinion. [/reply]

[Walterkoh]

people people, u must understand that the intention of is250, 3 series or c-class were not meant to b big cars. camry is different from is250, its just like comparing vios with altis, definitely altis has a bigger legroom!!!

is250 n such categroy cars r made to b more like a sports sedan, thus its compact. wan a big car? get something else, so legroom here cant b used to compare with camry/accord or even hyundai sonata

cheers

 

 

Center tunnel is high because it is RWD and requires a drive shaft and differential to power the rear wheels.

 

However, Lexus is well known for having really high center tunnels due to the straightness of its drive shaft. I believe the reason is to reduce horsepower losses and also better sound insulation by achieving a flat underfloor.

 

 

The largest rear passenger room in this small executive/luxury class will hands down be the 2008 A4. FWD and the vehicle is now very close in size to the current A6!

 

Think get the KM Camry pa. much more rear leg room. FWD and RWD not so diff to me. Currently driving IS200, rear leg room also very small..

[Coolad]

Hav been following closely on Audi's recent development... second your opinion on the LEDs... most likely would be Audi's distinguishing trait soon. Its unique. Watchout for the new A4, its a real beauty(and a performer too)... if AD brings in the German Made ones ... PML may start to sweat...

[Falc]

Falc... i-Vtec is not VVTi(VTC or AVCS), i-Vtec is Vtec plus VVTi

Althought Vtec patent ended eons back, only a few adopt the technology.

Namely BMW, porsche and toyota (VVTi-L, defunk now, Lexus reserved, too expensive to make) So Honda remains the leader in "Cheap" Vtec ... unless u consider BMW/porsche are cheap too...

 

Nearly missed this ... try not to combine 2 responses in one reply.

VVTi and VVTiL are Toyota's nomenclature. So it is pretty confusing when u mixed it with Honda's by saying "i-Vtec is Vtec plus VVTi".

 

Anyway, my original (i think ) point is that iVTEC in most Honda nowadays only have VTC (cam phasing) and missing the VTEC part (cam changing). Since Honda is famous because of VTEC (cam changing) not VTC (cam phasing, which is common now), and if one considers VTEC not VTC as Honda's trademark, then most Hondas do not carry her trademark technology anymore.

 

Hope the above clarifies.

[Falc]

My problem with Audi is they only reserved their trademark technology 4WD for their S lines or some of the more -than-3L engine variants. So most Audis do not carry their trademark technology unlike BMW and their fine chassis balance.

 

Yes, you may have guessed by now that i don't consider angle eyes as trademark at all. Too frivolous to qualify as trademark IMHO.

[Azarael]

if only diesels were allowed here....many good european marques have excellent diesels....i would strongly consider buying any bmw diesel 3 series

[Miles]

1. believe the 335 is still made in Munich.

 

2. VW/Audi/Merc/BMW/etc.. have long made cars in South Africa. It's only recently that our cars are imported from there generally due to similar RHD (as RSA) and to lower the OMV so that pricing is more attractive.

 

3. Toyota/Honda have already imported their bread and butter from Thailand. Soon Nissan will follow suit. If we refuse to accept cars not made in the country of its HQ, soon, we'll be driving only Proton and probably Peugeot/Citroen.

 

4. XF is going to cost when they bring in eventually (i think probably only next year earliest) because to start with their smallest engine is 3.0, which they have to price it around the region of 530i, E280 and A6 3.2L... which means, those looking at E200 or 523i can forget about the XF for the next 3-4 years. What TATA do with Jaguar later is anybody's guess.

 

5. Mondeo while being a very good alternative... the spec level they bring in is disappointing. Only Trend and Ghia brought in, with Trend at 104k and Ghia i think at least 8k more. They are competing with Passat base on pricing with lower OMV. Also, they only have 1 engine/transmission in their range. So, while the car is good, it wont appeal to many. If they bring in their Titanium X, they will probably price it at 125-130k which encrouch into 3 and IS territory. The car is good, but not at this price. If they can price the Trend down to 89k, Ghia 98K and Titanium X about 105k, they will be in a better position to sell.

[inlinesix]

All E90 sold in tis region (excluding countries wif CKD pack) are built in Rosslyn.

 

Sales price of XF in UK starts from GBP 28K(http://www.jaguar.co.uk/uk/en/xf/models_pricing/pricing.htm), which is equailavent to S$79k.

[Coolad]

VTEC= cam change(it is actually cam lift), all i-Vtec has VTC + VTEC

VTEC is cam change technology not just high cam change

 

VVTi(Toyota)= VTC(Nissan) =AVCS (Subaru) ("old" 1960s technology remkted)

VVTiL=I-Vtec (in fact VVTi-L in the Celica SSII is better, but then too complicated and expensive)

 

What you mentioned is entirely not true, i-Vtec is still VTEC + VTC combined... VTEC versions varies from K20A3's econo VTEC (2200rpm actuation from 12V to 16V) to CTR's K20A high cam VTEC (5800rpm actuation) and also FD civics not so high cam (3500rpm actuation)... i stress again VTEC is changing lift using cam change, it not just high cam change. Anyway, if its only VTC, you can be sure Honda will be sued thru their butts in North America mkt for misrepresentation...

[Coolad]

Just like Mercedes indicator side mirrors?

[Relagsingh]

Hav been following closely on Audi's recent development... second your opinion on the LEDs... most likely would be Audi's distinguishing trait soon. Its unique. Watchout for the new A4, its a real beauty(and a performer too)... if AD brings in the German Made ones ... PML may start to sweat...

 

yes. i agree the new a4 is nice. just check out that interior!!! beats all the others in its class hands down!

 

above its superior build quality, the design is very driver orientated. hope they wun be resting on their laurels if they really decide to move production out of ingolstadt.

 

build quality is one of their main selling points

[Otsego]

wait for the new A5/S5...

 

 

 

just hear the V8...

[Relagsingh]

oh yah yah. this one also nice.

 

the only audi i dun like is the TT.

[Diehardsu]

Which one ? 3.2FSI or 1.8T.