Trackmouse wrote: Pretty sure the is300 wasn't a 50-60k Beamer.
Base MSRP, the IS300 started at $31k. The 325i/328i was $31.8k, and the 330i was $36k.
Invoice prices vs MSRP on the BMWs was less than the IS300, which means in real world terms they were about the same price.
I've only ever driven one IS300 and I came away really unimpressed, like it was a big Corolla.
I'd WAY prefer an E46. Even if they were theoretically more expensive to own (they are? All I ever do on them are tires, brakes, oil changes, and periodic crankcase breather rebuilds when they fail emissions with a 171/174) the buy-in is like HALF of what an IS300 gets because of the 2JZ/drifter tax. And E46s are a lot easier to find in wagon form, if that's your thing. And it seems like half the E46s out there are all wheel drive, if THAT's your thing.
A 330i was on my shortlist for DD replacement until I did some soul searching and came to the realization that I hate rear wheel drive for commuter use, and I think I prefer a smaller engine with a turbo (essentally a turbodiesel that runs on cheap fuel and doesn't smell like a baby threw up) to a moderately large engine that still can't get out of its own way until you rev it up a lot.
Ultimately you will have to drive both and decide what you like, but the IS and E46 were competitors new (within $5k MSRP, your average 3-series has never been a $50k car) and on the used market a nice E46 is actually cheaper. I wanted to like my IS sooooo bad but the E46 330 that I bought for $3k less was really a better car in every way. You can fix bad seats but you can't tune an IS or replace that massive iron block, and with BMWs you can pick between cars that don't have salvage titles....
Also: This is 2017, we are through the looking glass, virtually no car made in the last 20 years is hard to get parts for, BMW or otherwise. I wish that myth would just die already.
It's very true. I'm not a German car fan at all, but I've always said if bought a German car it would be an e30.
sesto elemento wrote: power is a set of cams and a header away (or a turbo)
Any cams you would recommend for a revvy lightweight N/A car?
maschinenbau wrote:sesto elemento wrote: power is a set of cams and a header away (or a turbo)Any cams you would recommend for a revvy lightweight N/A car?
Sorry to bump an old thread just noticed that I was asked a question.
Crower
http://my.is/forums/f88/official-is300-cam-head-thread-439348/
pointofdeparture wrote: Biggest things I remember are oddly poor gas mileage (like 20MPG on premium),
I actually know why, and once you do it's not odd at all. The rear gear ratio is like 3.7 something. Pair it up with a five speed and a fairly thirsty 6 cylinder it makes perfect sense.
In reply to sesto elemento:
Thanks! I'll keep that cam in mind. Still a loooong way from starting the Rice Rod.
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