I test-drove a 2000 BMW 328i 4-door sedan this week, equipped with the sport package, bigger wheels, tighter suspension, and more. The 193HP 328i was retired in 2001 when the 325 and 330 were introduced with different inline 6-cylinder engines (the 330 getting more HP and torque). On paper the 328i sits between the 325 and 330s of the early 2000s (the E46). Exterior and interior styling was essentially the same compared with a friend’s 2005 325i. The car still has the throaty 6-cylinder growl and the great steering/cornering as a result of the nearly 50/50 weight distribution and RWD. The 3-series still manages (pre-2008 EPA estimate) 21/29 MPG, better than some four cylinder cars.

A couple days later I drove a 2001 Lexus IS300, automatic with the manual shifting via buttons on the steering wheel. Apparently a manual transmission was available in the US starting with the 2002 model. I’ve always liked the looks of the IS, and “people say” that the engine will “run forever” (200-300k miles) while being less expensive to maintain (compared with cars in the segment). The IS felt a bit cramped on the inside to me though, feeling considerably smaller than a 3-series (which is a smallish car by US standards), and somewhat uncomfortable in terms of places to rest my arms while driving. Lexus cars are pretty expensive, even in the used market, with lower depreciation than competitors. This particular IS (from a private seller) was a very nicely-maintained black on black model, that even had a couple more years of extended warranty covering it. In general I wasn’t very impressed with power output from the IS300.  Performance felt more refined to me, comparable to a Acura TSX for example, but not really as a competitor to a BMW 328 or 330 (though priced similarly). I personally didn’t care for the suede interior mixed with black leather, just because I prefer a single style versus mixing upholstery types. Manual shifting seemed dated as well compared with modern alternatives, like DSG on a Volkswagen/Audi, or paddle shifting on a Saturn Aura (to be fair, it is a 2001 vehicle). While I think the IS300 is an attractive car and a reasonable performer, I prefer the 3-series for the price.