is250, 325i or?

allinthehead

http://www.dunnemotorservices.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1195585&r=

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/is250/used-2008-lexus-is250-is250-sport-dublin-fpa-141214234863995850

Seriously thinking of changing my legacy 2.0r for something like what i've linked to. I've not had the chance to drive either but i've driven 08 auto 320i and liked it so much it got me thinking how much better it would be with a decent engine. Then i came across the lexus and with the above spec seems like a nice car.

Looking for a car i can love again, the legacy's been great but we just never really gelled. Anyway i know i need to drive both, just looking for advice/opinions. Sound.

colm_mcm

The IS250 is a lovely car. Needs to have the ivory interior and executive trim IMO.

That sport is nice too of course, but the interior isn't amazing in them.

allinthehead

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2008-lexus-is250-executive-automatic-tax-nct/8709334?offset=9

This one looks like good value

colm_mcm

Lovely.
Auto 250 has a real lexusy feel to it.
Its still reasonably shporty.

Beware, that seller has a good few cars for sale, all with the reg numbers blocked.

allinthehead

colm_mcm wrote: »

Lovely.
Auto 250 has a real lexusy feel to it.
Its still reasonably shporty.

Beware, that seller has a good few cars for sale, all with the reg numbers blocked.

Ya noticed that, might be dodgy.

kerten

I owned a 3 series (e46 straight 6) and is250.

As previous posters said, aim higher spec and lower price for is250. I think it is a better built car than 3 series.

I didn't drive newer 3 series but even e46 was more involving drive than is250. is250 has high limits handling wise but all suspension and steering setup is not encouraging you to push the car if this is your thing.

If you need space at the back or easy access to boot, both are bad.



is250 = well built, reliable, comfortable, refined and toys
3 series = more driver's car, good exhaust note

166man

IS250 for me in high spec trim. A dark colour or metallic red is the job.

Been strangely allured to one in recent weeks.....

allinthehead

So sounds like i can't go wrong with either then. Not many of them for sale at the moment tho. That's the only 325 i can find and no reasonably priced decent condition is250. I've put the legacy up for sale, if it sells before i find something i'll just buy something really cheap until the right car comes up.

bazz26

€12k for that first is250 is very optimistic by that dealer.

166man

bazz26 wrote: »

€12k for that first is250 is very optimistic by that dealer.

Smart looking car though. Low mileage plus the fact that it looks mint, and you get the warranty means it's nearly worth its I suppose...

kerten

166man wrote: »

Smart looking car though. Low mileage plus the fact that it looks mint, and you get the warranty means it's nearly worth its I suppose...

IMHO, solid warranty doesn't worth that much with IS250 comparing to a 3 series unless there is a accident history with the car.

They suffer from rusty calipers and alloys (except is220d) and rest of the car is pretty solid.

I still think any of the those model should be bought with highest spec possible(especially 3 series) to justify relatively high running cost.

Oafley Jones

Very optimist price. Don't like the interior on the Sport. I've a 2007 Auto executive (92k) and I reckon 8 would nearly be near the max to shift it. Prices do seem to be raising on them slightly lately. Great car, incredibly reliable (my alloys had to be reconditioned alright) but bad rear space and small boot.

Foreign Sports

If you are going to view those two cars in particular, i'd view the BMW first so that you have a benchmark to compare the lexus to regarding driving characteristics.

As other posters have mentioned, both have their pros and cons.

If you could get a 325i M-Sport with i-drive and sat nav, then that would be the one to go for imo.

allinthehead

That 325i is gone. Phoned today. Might be a long wait if i want one, that was the only one for sale that i could find. At the moment without driving either the is250 is the more appealing with the spec they seem to come with. Would i be right in thinking the 325i would be easier to sell on when the time comes?

Idbatterim

there are a good few 06 and 07 325 coupes available...

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/5-series/used-2007-bmw-5-series-523-se-l-dublin-fpa-97914151045170130

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/5-series/used-2007-bmw-5-series-525-se-aut-dublin-fpa-134614228711029360

sarsfield dont have the best rep, but you would obviously have a car checked out prior to purchase, throw the sport bumper on and you have a damn nice looking car, straight 6 engine, 215 bhp...

allinthehead

Idbatterim wrote: »

there are a good few 06 and 07 325 coupes available...

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/5-series/used-2007-bmw-5-series-523-se-l-dublin-fpa-97914151045170130

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/5-series/used-2007-bmw-5-series-525-se-aut-dublin-fpa-134614228711029360

sarsfield dont have the best rep, but you would obviously have a car checked out prior to purchase, throw the sport bumper on and you have a damn nice looking car, straight 6 engine, 215 bhp...

Ya it's typical there's loads of coupes but no saloons. Need a saloon for the family, just the three of us so no need for anything big. I would consider a 5 series with that engine but any i've seen are 523i not special enough to justify €1080 tax.

Idbatterim

yeah thats the thing, the 523 and 525 are both 2.5L engines, the 523 as you rightly point out is poor value for money on motor tax front, the 525 on the other hand is pretty good IMO... as it has a fairly significantly higher bhp...

I cant comment on the current E60 or E90, but I have previously driven the E39 saloon and it was WAY ahead of the E46 i.e. 3 series saloon...

You can drive a 3 or 5 series for the same tax, go for the 5, which also would have been a good deal more expensive new too...

the 5 series se will also be more comfortable than the 3 series, particularly if the 3 series is m sport, if you wanna make a 5 look a bit more shart, I would simply throw on an m sport front bumper, very comfortable, good looking car then... oh and change the angle eye colour from the yellow to a nice clean white, makes them look much more current, again IMO...

AhHaor

I have gone from an 02 e46 to a 06 525i m-sport. Great car. Nice bit of power. You do need to set aside a bit for tax and maintenance tho.

allinthehead

So i'm definitely changing car, the legacy is provisionally sold.
I prefer the lexus in terms of looks, and spec. The lexus at dunne motors i can get for about 10k(6 month warranty), and the sport at the main dealer said straight cash sale at €11,300(12 month warranty). Any opinions on price welcome are these realistic or should i be looking to get either for less?

The 5 series looks stunning but the engine might underwhelm, i'll drive all three while i'm up in Dublin(from Cork)

http://www.dunnemotorservices.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1214484&r=

http://www.dunnemotorservices.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1214474&r=

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/is250/used-2008-lexus-is250-is250-sport-dublin-fpa-141214234863995850

Oafley Jones

allinthehead wrote: »

So i'm definitely changing car, the legacy is provisionally sold.
I prefer the lexus in terms of looks, and spec. The lexus at dunne motors i can get for about 10k(6 month warranty), and the sport at the main dealer said straight cash sale at €11,300(12 month warranty). Any opinions on price welcome are these realistic or should i be looking to get either for less?

The 5 series looks stunning but the engine might underwhelm, i'll drive all three while i'm up in Dublin(from Cork)

http://www.dunnemotorservices.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1214484&r=


http://www.dunnemotorservices.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1214474&r=

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/lexus/is250/used-2008-lexus-is250-is250-sport-dublin-fpa-141214234863995850

You're being robbed. I paid less for 6 year old executive with less mileage and 12 month warranty from a Lexus dealer (Macroom motors).

bazz26

The 5 Series being manual would rule it out for me.

I'd try and push the Blackrock IS down under €11k with the 12 month warranty. If the warranty is Lexus dealer nation wide then it might be worth the extra few hundred having a longer warranty and the benefit of getting anything sorted by your nearest Lexus dealer as opposed to having to get the car back to Dublin.

Idbatterim

just saw this today, might be of interest op...

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=116946

Oafley Jones

Also be aware that either 82 or 88k km (I forget which) is a big enough service for the IS. Long range spark plugs, brakes Etc. Will need changing.

allinthehead

bazz26 wrote: »

The 5 Series being manual would rule it out for me.

I'd try and push the Blackrock IS down under €11k with the 12 month warranty. If the warranty is Lexus dealer nation wide then it might be worth the extra few hundred having a longer warranty and the benefit of getting anything sorted by your nearest Lexus dealer as opposed to having to get the car back to Dublin.

5 series is auto

exactly my thinking about the warranty bazz

@Idbatterim no interest in diesel, thanks anyway for the link. looks like a nice car.

@Oafley Jones how much should i offer for the sport with the memory seats (herself is tiny and i can't even get into the car without adjusting the seat, no fun in the pissing rain) and xenons it's the one i'm leaning towards

bazz26

allinthehead wrote: »

5 series is auto

exactly my thinking about the warranty bazz

@Idbatterim no interest in diesel, thanks anyway for the link. looks like a nice car.

@Oafley Jones how much should i offer for the sport with the memory seats (herself is tiny and i can't even get into the car without adjusting the seat, no fun in the pissing rain) and xenons it's the one i'm leaning towards

Lol, I looked at the shifter and thought it was a manual. 523i is a bit if a damp squid in that for the same motor tax outlay you could have the more powerful 525i.

AhHaor

That's a lot for the 523. It should be closer to 10.

kerten

I wouldn't buy the sport spec Lexus for sake of main dealer warranty. They are not as fragile as BMW and spec matters a lot for these type of cars. I would pay extra for BMW main dealer warranty though.

If it is too important to have main dealer warranty, wait for a higher spec IS.

If you are in hurry, pay for an extensive pre-sales check for the car in dunne motors. It looks good on pictures.

I got genuine spark plugs from a dealer in UK for 80 pound last time but changing them was labour heavy I remember.

You mentioned that you need a saloon for family. If we are talking about kid/kids I would go for a 5 series or GS space wise. No need to cripple yourself with limited space.

bazz26

I don't think it's about having a main dealer warranty but rather how versatile that warranty is. That warranty can be honoured by any Lexus dealer in the country rather than having to drive the whole way back to Dublin in the event something has to be fixed, the OP is based in Cork after all. If you take warranty out of the equation then might as well save more and buy privately altogether.

kerten

bazz26 wrote: »

I don't think it's about having a main dealer warranty but rather how versatile that warranty is. That warranty can be honoured by any Lexus dealer in the country rather than having to drive the whole way back to Dublin in the event something has to be fixed, the OP is based in Cork after all. If you take warranty out of the equation then might as well save more and buy privately altogether.

Fair enough. Missed that OP is not from Dublin.

166man

I think the E60 MSport is a fantastic looking car and that one from Dunne Motor Services looks immaculate. I'd have the BMW over the IS in this case.

Fwiw, good friend of mine bought a 2005 Mini Cooper S off them last year/end of 2013. One of the highest spec Coopers in Ireland at the time. Paid around €9k for it but got an excellent car. They seem to be a decent dealership.

Leonard Hofstadter

Manual wouldn't put me off a 5 series - provided it's a petrol. Actually, if I was buying a petrol 5er, I'd prefer it to be a manual, means you can have more fun with the six pot engine . Now on the other hand if it was a diesel I simply wouldn't touch it unless it was an automatic - diesel engines and manual gearboxes do not make for good bedfellows. Much harder to shift a diesel with a manual gearbox than one with an automatic in this class of car, too.

I agree with 166man on the M Sports, they look so much smarter than an SE. Especially if you're buying a petrol it's the enthusiast's choice so any prospective buyer in the future will want the M Sport. Biggest problem with the M Sports is the horrible ride in the case of the E60 - Christ they're uncomfortable on run flats! I'd actually go for an SE on an E60, whereas I've no such issues with ride comfort on the E39 Sports (only called M Sport from E60 onwards). Then again, the E39 was and still is a far better car than the E60, although I must admit that the E39 is starting to look quite dated now, whereas the E60 still looks bang up to date. Ironic really as I despised the look of the E60 when it came out, but I really like the look of it now, especially an M Sport model.

allinthehead

Thanks for all the replies and advice. Going up on Saturday to view all three. I'm still undecided and won't be able to make a decision until i test drive and see them in the flesh. I think the lexus sport is the best looking of the three and has the best spec but the inside looks a little bland plus the price is putting me off. Lexus premium 12 month warranty is a major plus. If i could get it for about 10.5k i would be happy with that but that would require the dealer to come down another €800 from what he told me over the phone would be the best cash deal. Should i want to go for the sport any advice on what my opening offer should be?

stefanovich

allinthehead wrote: »

That 325i is gone.

Look at the description. It was stolen from the forecourt.

allinthehead

stefanovich wrote: »

Look at the description. It was stolen from the forecourt.

Ya they just put that up. He told me when i enquired about the lexus. He was disgusted said the car was immaculate.

Idbatterim

that 325 looked very good, I have to say...

allinthehead

I put a deposit on the damp squid!

tom_tarbucket

allinthehead wrote: »

I put a deposit on the damp squid!

When you collecting it ?

allinthehead

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

When you collecting it ?

Crazy at work this week so probably Monday