Bmw or Lexus

Thomas. PLease. · 13 Nov 2007 at 21:27

Please explain to my friend who currently owns a perfect example of 2001 80k mile bmw 520i (Facelift model)

Which would you rather own? which is nicer to drive? etc etc. Your Thoughts.
a) his current one
B) a cheaper lexus is200 (old shape)

tom.

Duke · 13 Nov 2007 at 21:29

I personally have not heard many good things about Lexus cars.

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2007 at 21:29

His current one. It is better built, it handles better, it has more standard equipment, it has a better engine, it is no slower than the Lexus.. its just better, full stop.

The BMW 5 Series E39 was Executive Car of the Year when it was launched in 1996. It won it again in 1997. Then 1998. Then 1999. And 2000. And 2001. And 2002. Nothing else in its class comes close, let alone from the class below.

Then it got replaced

McLovin · 13 Nov 2007 at 21:31

Dont the IS200 get miserable fuel economy?

Alex UK · 13 Nov 2007 at 21:32

Is he mad? The Lexus IS200 is a smaller car designed to compete with the 3-Series, not the 5-Series. So he'd be going backwards. Please, for the love of God, tell him not to do it.

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2007 at 21:33

McLovin said:
Dont the IS200 get miserable fuel economy?

No, but its lower than most 2 litre engines because unlike most 2 litre engines, it has 6 cylinders.

dalin80 · 13 Nov 2007 at 21:33

as far as iam concerned nothing is better built then the lexus, in 8 years we have never had one in for anything except servicable items and mots.

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2007 at 21:34

dalin80 said:
as far as iam concerned nothing is better built then the lexus, in 8 years we have never had one in for anything except servicable items and mots.

You are mistaking build quality for reliability. The Lexus is very reliable, more so than a BMW 5 Series. But it isn't built anywhere near as well.

Alex UK · 13 Nov 2007 at 21:36

dalin80 said:
as far as iam concerned nothing is better built then the lexus, in 8 years we have never had one in for anything except servicable items and mots.

There are many cars with higher levels of build quality, including the 5-Series. Reliability has little to do with build quality.

Hussman · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:22

Duke said:
I personally have not heard many good things about Lexus cars.

But Lexus often comes very high, if not top, in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey.

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:29

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with a Lexus IS200 and they are very reliable.

But then so is a Honda Jazz.

Morba · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:34

the only thing to add: is200 looks better. that is all.

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:38

Morba said:
the only thing to add: is200 looks better. that is all.

Get out of the thread.

Morba · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:39

[TW]Fox;10481691 said:
Get out of the thread.

plain 5 series (not even a sport) or an is200? easy winner there.

233 · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:41

is200

cant beat the toyota for reliability

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:44

Morba said:
plain 5 series (not even a sport) or an is200? easy winner there.

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:45

sormicoft said:
is200 cant beat the toyota for reliability

Reliability is not the sole decider in car choice or we'd all drive K11 Nissan Micras.

mrk · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:54

Well I have yet to feel a car (hur!) that has better exterior and interior build quality than a BMW car, weighty doors, body panels that actually feel like they won't bulge in if you lean on them, proper paint finish, dashboard and buttons that don't feel like they are made from toy plastic and so on and so on!

Morba · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:57

[TW]Fox;10481754 said:

is200 looks better there, however, be fair and atleast find a picture of both cars in the same colour.
also, are those standard alloys? cant say i have seen a 5 series with those on before.

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2007 at 22:58

Both cars have optional alloys, that IS200 is riding on optional 17's as well.

It's entirely fair, infact weighed in the IS200's favour, as silver is a better colour.

Miles better than an IS200.