Hi, everyone
Which of these new sports sedan will be the best buy ?
Interms of price and design, IS 300 will have an advantage
Interms of performace, bimmer will lead the way.
BMW does 0-60 mph in low 6
Lexus IS300 in 7.1 and MB C320 does it at 7.5 sec
I will also expect that the 3 series will have the best handling.
Interms of luxary, C320 sounds like a smaller S-class with tele-aid , and all kinds of fancy features.
I think Mercedes will cost the most ?
and exxon lights will be opinional, while Ci will offer as standard equipment.
Pete regards

IS300 has very creative exterior design. In fact, I prefer IS300's design over 3-Series or New C-Class.

European IS300(IS200 or Altezza)has very good handling, and decent power. We might have to wait 'til it actually comes out to give any judgement about it.

328i is already a decent car, with good finish, performance, and fresh look. With new 3.0L engine, it will be even more sportier as well as higher price. Xenon lights are standard on Ci, however, sedan has it as optional item.

C320 has the most up-scale look of the 3. It offers traditional Mercedes safety and look, with very modern technology in it. And it will be my best choice for family and/or long term car.

Here's my pick

For Look
1. IS300
2. C320
3. 330i

For Performance/Handling
1. 330i
2. IS300
3. C320

Long Term Investment
1. C320
2. 330i
3. IS300

Interior Space
1. C320
2. 330i
3. IS300

However, above list is just my personal opinion, and it's best that you can test drive all 3 before you write the cheque. Also, all 3 cars are compared as with ALL options installed(Sport Package on all if available).

Andy Kuo

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<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
<LI>Pearl Grey/Black Leather
</UL>
ICQ#26950002
Mercedes Owners ICQ ActiveList ID#61730549
Mercedes S-Class Page
http://drive.to/akry
http://akry.homestead.com

A best buy will definitely be the best buy becuase it should be cheaper (starting at just a little below $30k) while the BMW 330i will get about a $2200 bump in base price along with 4wd options taken strait from the X5. The C320 will be the most expensive (almost $40k ) then the IS300, but will be more refined inside.

For aggressive looks:
1) IS300
2) 330i

For a Sophisticated look:
1) C320
2) 330i
3) IS300

Sportier:
1) 330i
1.1) IS300 (It will be very close to the 330i)
3) C320

Fit & Finish:
All up in the air.

Resale:
1) C320
2) 330i
3) IS300

The IS300 will be what a LS400 is to a S430 and 740iL. So lets see how it turns out.

Just wait till the Jaguar X400 gets into the picture. With standard 4wd, and the size of a the current 3, it should make it even harder to pick.

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Chirag (Charlie) Patel

- 99 Mercedes-Benx ML 430 V8 w/custom TV, Video, UHF, speaker system
- 93 190E 2.6 (4-sale) w/ an amp, equalizer, and CD-changer, integrated w. stock stereo for integrated cellular phone speaker system
- had a 93 190E m103 3.2, 5-speed trans,
- had a 88 300E 2.6
- had a 84 300TD w/275k+ miles
- 2001 C-Class - Maybe (if 190E sells)

The all-wheel-drive BMW 330ix will be here before the Jaguar X400. It was just introduced at the New York auto show.

My 2 cents: I have been seeing pictures of the Toyota Altezza, aka - Lexus IS for more than a year. The appearance and body shape does not excite my senses. It will have to grow on me. It looks somewhat boring in showroom form. I'm sorry to disagree about the looks. The body style looks rather dated and insignificant to me. It does not stand out in the crowd, very mundane. It needs more aerodynamic and/or round edges or perhaps a sleeker coupe-like shape. The rear c-pillar and trunk area should be smoother, it looks short, blocked and bunched up rather than low, wide, lean and long. I will probably like it when it is tuned and some sort of aero package added. It will be the value leader of the three.

[This message has been edited by Kevin (edited 05-02-2000).]

Anyone been in and around an Altezza? (IS200 here in UK) Its one UGLY s.o.b... Pictures give you no idea of how bad the rear looks with the fake chrome light surrounds. Nasty nasty nasty design. The only good bit are the wheels which I really do like!

Bri

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Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069

this is just a thought,
how bout either
pre-owned 1997 Mercedes C36 or 1997-98 BMW 540i?

these cars would be around the $35-38K price range and should outperform the 330i, IS300 and C320.

just a thought....

I would go for something that is mint but pre-owned. Depends on your priorities but you can get much more "bang for your buck" that way.

As for the new cars, don't just go on sticker price...what the car is worth (estimated) down the line makes a huge difference in cost of ownership.

Hope this helps...Lee

Lee,
i am with you. after reading reports of massive New car depreciation, mint-pre-owned is the way to go. i got my 1995 C36, MINT and a warranty until 2002. i bought it back in september of 1999 for $30,000 even.
i am in the car buying market again. though the new 330ci sort of appeals to me since they call it a "junior M3" i think i would rather pick up a used 1999 or 1998 C43.

but i understand certain people have a thing for new cars.

lee, and others, what would you get for $40,000 used or new?

Some ppl are more bias toward new car(myself, for one). When buying a mint-used car, it's still a "USED", and you have no idea how well the previous owner has taken care the car. He might have pamper the car, and he might have races/abused the way before/during break-in.

I usually don't buy used cars unless it's either for a beater or it's from ppl I know.

Get a brand new car, you can break in the car properly(assume, you don't get too excited about the new baby, especially when you get something performance oriented). You know you are the first one who owns it and drives it. No guess work...but have to live with the massive depreciation for the first 1-2 years(depends on cars).

But everything has exceptions though. I have heard couple M5 owners claimed that their M5s have been repainted before they took delivery. Worst ones have the whole side of the car repainted....ARG...

Andy Kuo

------------------
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
<LI>Pearl Grey/Black Leather
</UL>
ICQ#26950002
Mercedes Owners ICQ ActiveList ID#61730549
Mercedes S-Class Page
http://akry.web.com http://akry.homestead.com/files/mercedes_benz_2.gif

I just saw an IS300 on the road the other day (northern california) and I'd have to say its look is decent but not as good as the new c class will be. My friend and I both agreed it was more suited to be in the Toyota line-up than Lexus. It looks sporty but really doesn't match the C in terms of classy styling. Also, the tailights look like they're aftermarket and cheap... overall, it's a fresh design but I would easily choose the C class or the new 3 series over it.

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Phil Ly

1987 300E Midnight Blue
Remus Sport Exhaust
European headlights
Clear corners
AMG 17in Monoblock IIs (hopefully soon)
Eibach Lowering Springs

[This message has been edited by amgkid (edited 06-26-2000).]

For $40K ballpark on the nice used market...a CLK430, a C43, 500E/E500 with some toys (sorry, had to...), and probably my pick at the moment...a S4 biturbo.

Hope this helps...Lee

IS300 looks like a big Integra. Magazines panned the suspension and other handling quirks - said it's trying too hard to feel German without the benefit of German engineering.

Whatever that means.

I'd go Bimmer if you're a nutso driver. Fast, precise, fun.

Even with the generally cheaper feel that the newer models possess (this from a guy who drives a 190E), the MBZ will be the most vault-like. And I personally think their skin is designed best, bar none. I'll reserve all comment on the interior, what with that Jetsons speedo and HAL9000 computer...

Of course, if it were ME spending the $35k I'd go pre-owned with an E500 / 500E. Or maybe a C43. Maybe even a 540 (older body style).

[This message has been edited by makakio (edited 07-05-2000).]