Lexus IS 250 AWD vs BMW 328i xDrive

[JMapleton]

I've driven many 328xis, and personally I think the AWD kind of kills the car. Why are you thinking AWD? I drive a RWD BMW all winter in Minnesota, and it works great with snow tires - it's actually the best winter car I've ever had. Also, don't buy a 3 series without the Sport package.

I cannot do FWD or RWD cars in my weather. I live in the midwest and it snows here sometimes. I need AWD. I live in a very hilly city that requires AWD. I dread the winter because of this.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I cannot do FWD or RWD cars in my weather. I live in the midwest and it snows here sometimes. I need AWD. I live in a very hilly city that requires AWD. I dread the winter because of this.

Just out of curiosity, what very hilly city do you live in? I think of most of the midwest (where I live) as being flat. I've been driving in snow for 24 years and don't really think anyplace "requires" AWD. The only arguable exceptions that come to mind in the continental US are in the high mountains.

Where I live it snows more than "sometimes." We got 85 inches of snow here last winter. I also live in a hilly neighborhood (one of the few in Minneapolis). My RWD 330i was great all winter (just as it was the two prior winters) and has never gotten stuck with the Blizzak LM-25s I mount in wintertime. Ground clearance, not traction, is the only issue, and the xi will suffer from the same problem. Actually ground clearance is the main reason I'm not mounting snow tires and driving my M3 in the winter this year.

By all means test-drive the 328xi, but I would personally never consider buying one without the Sport package - it's just kind of blah, and offers little or none of the driving fun of a BMW. Modern BMWs are not paragons of reliability and I personally think the E90 is kind of bland-looking (I say these things despite having owned one for 3 1/2 years), so I would look to another marque if you're going to get a non-Sport E90. I would definitely consider an Infiniti G or an Audi A4. Actually I like the VW Tiguan as well if you can deal with a small SUV.

 

[madoka]

I'm more about features, ride, and reliability.

Features?

Lexus

Ride? (I'm assuming ride comfort)

Maybe BMW, but probably a wash

Reliability?

Lexus

I think the choice is clear given your desires.