I've already got a 2003 MC that I'm crazy for, but we're suddenly in need of replacing our 2nd car--an aging 1993 Lexus LS400. And we need to do it fast. So we are considering the following 2 cars. What are your thoughts? We like them for style, sportiness, practicality (have a 4 month old and maybe a second one in the future), we like to shop at Ikea, but we don't want a Mini van.

So we are considering:

Lexus IS300 Sportcross
BMW 325i Hatchback

Any opinions??

 

Yea, get a stationwagon like a VW Passat or Audi A4. I like to shop at Ikea too, but anything good needs to come home in a wagon.

 

Lexus IS Sportback
+ rare
- a little on the "odd" side style wise for a stationwagon (could be a + too if you're into that kind of thing).

BMW 325i Touring
+ BMW I6 and handling, plus the E46 looks great
- the E46 is very close to being replaced, so the car will look old soon.

Passat Wagon
+ a little bigger than the others, VW's soft touch plastics make the interior nice to be in.
- A little on the boring side and VW's interiors are know rattle producers.

A4 Avant
+ I really like the Avant style (looks particularly good when lowered). The V6 is ok, but the 1.8T is probably the pick of the two engines (value/power wise).
- IMO, there is no sense in getting an Audi if you're not going to get quattro, and there isn't any need for quattro in Los Angeles.

 

Both of these cars are due for a face lift soon. I prefer Beemers over Lexus, but Lexus has better customer service (Usually)

For those dollars, get a Magnum with a Hemi in it! Great power for a station wagon. And it is *kinda* a Mercedes.

You could Also go for a Mazda 3 or 6 wagon. Those are pretty cool.

 

Check out the Scion xB! It's cute and very roomy inside! And it's very reasonably priced. I rode in 2minis' xB and found it comfy and it has beefy swaybars, too!

Clo/Wanda

 

ANother option: Volvo V50 T5

 

Car & Driver reviewed the new V50 in the Sept issue. They really liked it and compared it very favorably to the BMW you are considering. I think it is a great looking car.

 

Octaneguy- at your price range, I think the BMW and VW Passat or Audi A4 would be a great choice. The IS300's are nice, but the gas milage is really
weak especially on the sedans...and it is starting to get dated.


At my price range, I would look at a Mazda3 or a JettaWagon.
I just can't get myself to spend a lot of money on a family car which
will take a lot of beating by kids and luggage. :smile:

 

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I went out and test drove a Volvo V50 today. Nice, but not spectacular. I think it's a little too "family" for me and my wife. Surprisingly we are both in agreement that we want something sporty that doesn't necessarily look practical, but is. Plus the lack of immediate availability (Volvo shuts down the factory in August), puts a damper on things. But it and the S40 are nice looking cars!

We also test drove a VW Passat Wagon and sat in a VW Jetta Wagon for comparison. The Passat is much roomier, and definitely the perferred one, despite it costing a few thousand more.

And we drove a 2003 IS300 SportCross with 5000 miles on it. After the different drives, we're now seriously considering:

1.)IS300 SportCross (lightly used)

2.)VW Passat Wagon GL (new)


Both are in the $25-$26K range which is much more affordable than our original thinking of $32-$36k. They both drive nicely and have lots of power. The Passat with Leathette was comfortable. The SportCross has only 1 ISOFIX attachments and is a bit more cramped in the back, but everything is powered unlike the Passat, the sound system is superb, and it's a Lexus.

******UPDATE
Man after I posted this, I took a second look at the Mazda 6 Wagon. I had seen the Mazda 6 sedan but not the wagon. Hmmm, I'm going to have to add to my list--the Mazda 6 Wagon. Seems to fit the price range and sporty looks.

 

Yeppers, and it comes with a healthy V6!

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=8285

 

Richard,

:smile: I suggest that you find the enthusiast websites of the cars you are considering, to see what they think of their vehicles. I've heard about problems with Passats, so perhaps seeing what is posted on a Passat owner's site would be a good idea. :smile:

Please keep us posted about your process. I'm sure that plenty of NAMsters will find themselves in a similar position and be very interested in what vehicle you ultimately choose. :smile:

Good luck with it! Always fun to find a new car!


Clo/Wanda

 

I think the Mazda6 wagon is worth a serious look.
http://forum.mazda6club.com/index.php?showtopic=19300


Too bad the Acura TL didn't come as a hatchback or wagon

 

Oh yah, I completely forgot about the Mazda6 wagon. That would be a great
comparison with something like the PassatWagon for its size, etc.

I would do that instead of the others...too pricy for a family wagon.
Save the extra money and spend it on a M3 or something for yourself!

 

What about a Subaru Outback?

 

Also the new LegacyWagon. :smile:

 

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input. We are now the proud owners of a lightly used 2003 Lexus IS300 Sportcross. Pics will come tomorrow when we pick it up. We bought it from Beverly Hills Lexus as a preowned Lexus.

It has only 5000 miles, and the CarFax report is clean. Shows the car was driven only 2,900 miles the first year of ownership, wasn't reported as a Lemon, or involved in any accidents, and last had the 15,000 mile servicing done at this dealer.

After some tough negotiation, we walked out the door for $26,425 + tax which is pretty good considering a new one starts at about $32, and due to demand and limited supply like the MINI, there is no need to discount it. We actually saw a well equipped Sportcross with LSD and Nav, go for $38K + tax from Santa Monica Lexus. It arrived, and was sold that night, so we feel pretty good.

Why did we choose the Sportcross despite all the different possibilities?? Brand was a big factor. Having owned a preowned Lexus for the last several years, we like the service people at Santa Monica Lexus, and their carefree, no pressure attitude, and ease of giving out a loaner car--getting to test drive the latest Lexus (that we can't afford) is fun!

Today we test drove a Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 Wagon and also a Scion Xb 5 speed. Between the Mazda's, the 3 was our favorite for it's sportiness and fun factor. The price was excellent at $22k including leather and Nav and 6CD in dash changer. The Scion Xb at $14K (my spec'd version was $17K), was fun to drive, has enormous headroom, but felt sparsely equipped. (Dash reminded me of the Smart Car). Performance was peppy and for 31 to 35mpg, it's a great commuter car. Surprising gas mileage for a box! I drove it pretty hard, screetching the tires on acceleration, and liked how even with the A/C on, and 3 adults inside, its 1.5L engine didn't have any lag. The clutch was also very light, too light for me, but easy nonetheless. Since this was my wifes car, and she's not much into the "being noticed" thing while driving (one reason she doesn't like my MINI or won't wave while in my MINI), she wasn't keen on attracting attention that comes from an Xb.

My wife also liked the sportiness of the Mazda 3, and we held that car as a backup in case BH Lexus wouldn't agree on our price.

So to sum it up we considered and test drove the following cars:

Nissan Altima
Nissan Murano
Volvo V50
Scion Xb
Mazda 3
Mazda 6 Wagon
VW Passat Wagon
VW Jetta Wagon
Lexus IS 300 Sportcross

Our criteria was 5 door, decent gas mileage, more practical than the MINI, able to hold 5 adults comfortably, and do it in style! I also didn't want an SUV (though the Murano is one). We experienced quite a few cars these past 2 days, and did lots of soul searching to really understand what car we wanted/needed. The IS300 Sportcross was the least expensive luxury car that we could afford that was still performance oriented, fun to drive, and wasn't cramped with even our infant and me sitting in the back seat. And at $26K, it was just a little higher than what we would have paid for a lesser car.

Note, both Mazda and VW Passat came as close 2nd places, but the Mazda 3 beat the Passat in my mind. Yes less practical, and not even the same style of car I'm comparing, but from a price point of view, and what we could live with, we actually leaned more towards sportiness and less on practicality after seeing/driving both the 3 and 6 side by side.

I would have been happy with either the Passat or Mazda 3, but the wife loved the IS300, so who am I to complain?

Now lil'Octane is going to have to share the garage with the IS--we had kicked the LS400 onto the drive way due to lack of space, but now we're forced to clean the garage.

Btw, BMW/MINIUSA if you're reading this, if a MINI Wagon had existed, we would have seriously considered buying it, but a $34+ BMW wagon was too high for us.

 

Hey, Richard! Congrats on Zaida's new ride! AWESOME!!! Now...I must ask about colors, interior trim, etc.! C'mon...spill the beans, wouldja? Can't wait to see lil octane's new garage-mate! LMAO!!!! YAY!!!!! :smile:


Clo/Wanda

 

The color is the same as below which is a nice metallic called Graphite Grey Pearl


And here are a few more pics from the Lexus Website





and 360 view
http://www.lexus.com/models/is/sport...erior_360.html

 

Ooooh! I like it a lot! Looks like a great choice for Z! :smile: Does it also have nav? What groovy options does it come with?


Clo/Wanda

 

No Nav on this one. There was one of these cars on EBay Motors in Texas with 45,000 miles and 2002 instead of 2003 that had Nav for $23K Shipped.

But ours is newer and much less miles, and sold by the dealer, so it was definitely the better buy.

Front passenger seat folds flat--forwards. You can fit a surfboard inside.
Engine is In-line 6 (certified Low Emissions Vehicle)
3 Liters with 215hp at 5,800 rpm
Standard Traction Control
5 speed Electronically Controlled Trasmission with intelligence. Can shift manually (clutchless) if you want from steering wheel or shifter.
Top Speed Limited to 143.7mph
Vehicle Stablity Control
17" Alloy Wheels
Rear wheel drive
6 Speaker Sound system is pretty amazing

More details will come after I actually pick up the car.

Thanks for asking Clo!!

 

One more thing I should add. While it was my wife that was test driving the cars to determine if the IS300 was really the one for her, I test drove the cars, only to further convince myself that my MC is still my dream car. The other cars were nice, but everytime I got back in my MINI, everything really just felt right. The perfect balance of looks, comfort, performance, and value.

The other funny thing, purely by coincidence. I picked up my MINI and delivered the certified check on 9/4/03 in Memphis, TN. Exactly 1 year later, to the day, we bought a Lexus. It's a nice bday present for the wife.

 

Oh man, Richard! This sounds like a great buy for you and Z! Can't wait for a ride in the new ride, tee hee! Soon........


Clo/Wanda

 

Richard, congrats on the purchase. I used to own an IS 300 Sedan and always got excellent service from Lexus of Santa Monica.

Sidebar:
It was a bad morning, I was groggy, didn't have my coffee ... I ended up filling my IS 300 with diesel... I know, pretty damn stupid. The car was off, and luckily, I realized what I had done before I turned it on. I called my service advisor at Lexus, and guess what they did ...

They sent THEIR OWN tow truck to pick me and the car up from bevery hills, and bring it back to Lexus of Santa Monica. They then dropped me off at work, drained the diesel from my car, and dropped it off back at my work. ALL FOR NO CHARGE!!!!

Now, BMW has something to learn from that.


Check out www.is300.net. A great enthusiast site for Is 300 owners!

 

By the way, I also wanted to add that I was pretty impressed by the Mazda 3, 6, and Protege wagons ...

I test drove a Mazda 3 wagon, and was very impressed. But the engine was a little too weak. I would definitely consider a 6 or Protege.

 

Go Passat wagon with the W-8 and 4Motion, and don't look back.