Originally Posted by fastball

I think the new 3 series coupe is going to change alot of people's mind (maybe not yours). Car & Driver just tested the twin turbo 330i coupe, and absolutely loved it. Apparently the car handles and performs better than the outgoing M3, for $15,000 less.

I agree with you that Lexus builds fine automobiles. They do. But they still do not, nor do I think they will ever, come close to the driving dynamics of a BMW. Price for price, class for class, if you want a true driver's car, BMW is still the only one. Like the styling or not, they are phenominal driving machines.

I love Lexus interiors, I love their new L-finesse styling motif, I love how everything in the car feels like chocolate silk, I love the buttery soft leather, the scent of their new cars, and of course their reliability. But they still tend to handle like mashed potatoes. If you don't get the performance suspension upgrades and 18" wheels, they handle like a 1985 Buick Park Avenue when you push it hard. I was dissappointed even the IS series let me down handling wise. When Lexus gets serious about performance, I would consider them on par with BMW. That's gonna take either boosting the power of the IS250 by about 60 hp or making the IS350 available with a true stick shift, and tightening down the suspension tuning for both IS and GS series cars. Oh, and one more thing, BMW still offers a stick shift on the 5 series. I doubt Lexus will ever offer a stick on any GS. True driving machines are stick shifts.