[TupperBMW]

I love my M340i, but in typical fashion one gets bored of their cars and starts looking at what's out there.

I may not even trade in, but if I do I have 2 daily drive sedans in mind as a replacement. Both would likely be low mileage pre-owned 2022 models.

1 An M3, likely Competition. Obvious reasons. Blisteringly fast, and I'm already a fan of BMW's infotainment. All around a true M car, so no issues there. I'm not a huge fan of the front grille but I can get over it. My only complaint is that it might be "too much of the same" as I'm already coming from a 3 series BMW

2. The Lexus. Not as fast, but here's the kicker: it has a very special engine, and I'm a huge sound guy. It has a NA V8 that's not long for this world. Disadvantage is that I've never owned a Lexus, so I'm less familiar with the platform and infotainment, etc. Even though this is slower than an M3, absolute speed isn't as important because I already have a supercar (R8 Performance) that makes over 600 hp.

Both priced fairly similarly, although the M3 is obviously more expensive but I can swing both.

Any feedback on my dilemma?

[Burrcold]

Out of the two, I would go M3 but I understand wanting the V8. What about kind of splitting the difference and going CT5-V Blackwing?

[TupperBMW]

^ Good call. Somehow I'm just not a Cadillac guy, that's all

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by TupperBMW

^ Good call. Somehow I'm just not a Cadillac guy, that's all

Same here. As much as I think the CT5-V BW is the best performer in the segment, I would never put that kind of money down on a GM product (not saying they are bad or anything like that...I'm just more of a German Big 3 or Japanese car guy).

[TupperBMW]

^ Yea, same here

[M3WC]

Neither. In that price range, I would try to find a clean low mileage CPO F90 M5.

If I was forced to choose, coming from a M340. I would get the V8 IS500 or keep the M340. Pre-LCI M340 is better looking that both of those cars.

[Humdizzle]

I would drive the is500 first. its a good auto if left to do its own thing. but if you like using the paddles you'll be disappointed.

[BGM-M3COMP]

I have an m3 comp and yes if the opportunity arose I would trade mine for it even though the m3 is a lot faster.

Nothing beats the sound of a v8. Plus Toyota reliability is better than bmw.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by BGM-M3COMP

I have an m3 comp and yes if the opportunity arose I would trade mine for it even though the m3 is a lot faster.

Nothing beats the sound of a v8. Plus Toyota reliability is better than bmw.

You could literally trade your M3 Comp in right now for an IS500 and have a good chunk of change leftover. Why not do it if you want one?

[TupperBMW]

^ I agree. But IS500's are not that easy to find

[wtwo3]

One just sold today on cars&bids for a pretty good deal:

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3oR...launch-edition

Funny enough I went through this exact decision not long ago. Have an m340i, and considered, among other cars, an m3 and IS500. I have always had a soft spot for Lexus.

The IS500 I think is gorgeous and that NA V8 no doubt has character. But ultimately I felt the shortcomings with the car far outweighed the benefits. Where do I start....

-The transmission is slow and lazy. It works ok left in auto, but if you even think of shifting yourself, you could have a cup of coffee between the time you ask it to shift and when it actually shifts.

- The infotainment is catastrophically bad. It's tech from literally 8 years ago. And the TouchPad is just awful. The screen looks last gen. There's also a lack of a lot of features... one of the biggest omissions is an HUD I knew going from my m340i to this I'd feel I moved backwards.

- Handling. Handling isn't really much different than the IS350, and it's just ok... but chassis tuning isn't nearly as good as BMW levels. I actually expected quite a bit more from it

- Interior - it's literally over 8 years old. The interior is small and cramped and old. Also there's no leather option. It's just Nuluxe which is Lexus' equivalent of sensetac.

With all these things considered, I found I'd have a hard time considering it over even an m340i. And so I ordered an M3.

[x622]

Originally Posted by TupperBMW

I love my M340i, but in typical fashion one gets bored of their cars and starts looking at what's out there.

I may not even trade in, but if I do I have 2 daily drive sedans in mind as a replacement. Both would likely be low mileage pre-owned 2022 models.

1 An M3, likely Competition. Obvious reasons. Blisteringly fast, and I'm already a fan of BMW's infotainment. All around a true M car, so no issues there. I'm not a huge fan of the front grille but I can get over it. My only complaint is that it might be "too much of the same" as I'm already coming from a 3 series BMW

2. The Lexus. Not as fast, but here's the kicker: it has a very special engine, and I'm a huge sound guy. It has a NA V8 that's not long for this world. Disadvantage is that I've never owned a Lexus, so I'm less familiar with the platform and infotainment, etc. Even though this is slower than an M3, absolute speed isn't as important because I already have a supercar (R8 Performance) that makes over 600 hp.

Both priced fairly similarly, although the M3 is obviously more expensive but I can swing both.

Any feedback on my dilemma?

After owning the ISF, please don't bother. They were good cars in '08-12, but the market has moved on. It's not even about the speed, it's about everything else. You're paying new car prices for a car that's from 2008. Same Engine, same transmission, same final drive, same rear end. I loved mine, don't even mistake that, but the IS500 isn't even an F.

[Germanauto]

Haven't driven the IS500 but I've driven the IS350 F Sport quite a bit and autocrossed some of the V8 Lexus models

Save for long-term reliability, the M340 trounces it in every way. So the proper M3 will be on another level. The IS suffers from a slow transmission, slow steering, a top-heavy chassis at the limits, and a dated interior full of typical Lexus plastic and fake leather.

Have you considered the C63 or Giulia QV? Neither have an AWD option unfortunately. But if you keep the M340xi, then it shouldn't matter.

[BGM-M3COMP]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

You could literally trade your M3 Comp in right now for an IS500 and have a good chunk of change leftover. Why not do it if you want one?

Just like a blackwing ct5, they’re hard to get, especially now.

When I got my m3, it took 4 months and that to me was long. Waiting for a blackwing or an is500 for 12 months doesn’t make sense to me since these cars are additional toys.

Now corvettes I can wait for. Not these additional secondary toys. When I want something extra I want it now.

[Alfisti]

You mean F80 m3 right, i mean no one in their right mind buys the current one with it's dusty front end.

[TupperBMW]

Originally Posted by x622

After owning the ISF, please don't bother. They were good cars in '08-12, but the market has moved on. It's not even about the speed, it's about everything else. You're paying new car prices for a car that's from 2008. Same Engine, same transmission, same final drive, same rear end. I loved mine, don't even mistake that, but the IS500 isn't even an F.

I think, at least from the reviews that I’ve read, that the “dated-ness” of the engine is actually it’s charm. Less nannies, pure RWD, and a high displacement V8 that’s not coming back again.

Don’t get me wrong, I like tech in a car up to a point. But I’m not as into it as some people are. Tech is here to serve me, not to be my master. I prefer cars where tech remain humbly in the background, so I don’t mind if the tech is dated. But a slow transmission is indeed a problem, I’ve seen others note that as well

[TupperBMW]

Ultimately, I think it comes down to the RWD for me. As this car will be my daily and I drive it through winter (and my wife sometimes will too), I really can’t do RWD. I can do it (and have done it) with a weekend fun toy, but not my daily commuter. So the IS 500 is likely out

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by BGM-M3COMP

Just like a blackwing ct5, they’re hard to get, especially now.

When I got my m3, it took 4 months and that to me was long. Waiting for a blackwing or an is500 for 12 months doesn’t make sense to me since these cars are additional toys.

Now corvettes I can wait for. Not these additional secondary toys. When I want something extra I want it now.

I guess it's different in Canada. You could pick up a very slightly used IS500 right now, but there is no chance in finding a CT5-V BW (manual) that isn't marked up beyond M3 Comp xDrive kind of levels.

Just looking on Autotrader, there's like between 3 and 8 slightly used IS500's in the 100-200 mile radius of NJ (using 08701 as the zip code) ranging from $69-75K...surely you could sell a 2022 M3 Comp for more than that if you really wanted to switch.

[BMWILUVU]

M3, and though the G-series appearance is a downgrade from F, the M3 styling I think more and more people are warming to. I think it looks good and the window-blind grill is starting to look ok getting used to it.

[BGM-M3COMP]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

I guess it's different in Canada. You could pick up a very slightly used IS500 right now, but there is no chance in finding a CT5-V BW (manual) that isn't marked up beyond M3 Comp xDrive kind of levels.

Just looking on Autotrader, there's like between 3 and 8 slightly used IS500's in the 100-200 mile radius of NJ (using 08701 as the zip code) ranging from $69-75K...surely you could sell a 2022 M3 Comp for more than that if you really wanted to switch.

I leased my m3 lol. That’s why i can’t do it.

Plus I want an auto blackwing not the manual if I went that route.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by BGM-M3COMP

I leased my m3 lol. That’s why i can’t do it.

Plus I want an auto blackwing not the manual if I went that route.

Gotcha.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

You mean F80 m3 right, i mean no one in their right mind buys the current one with it's dusty front end.

I'm not in my right mind