wills2k106

I would actually lean towards the AMG C63. The IS-F is a great first effort for Lexus but the Germans should still come out ahead, at least in this first round. BMW has been building M3s longer than Lexus has been building cars, and you can't buy that kind of development. I think the M3 is a great car and if I drove all of them it would probably be the car I would take home. But there is just something about the hooligan aspect of the AMG that I can't get away from. Every time you see the car it is sideways, trailing huge plumes of smoke off the rear tires, and the driver is grinning like an idiot.

WRS2K

ez decision. 3

bjohnston

Or, what about a slightly used E63? C63s aren't that good-looking, IMO, and E63s are beautiful inside and out.

ou818

If you plan on owning one after warranty, I'd go with the IS-F.

If not, M3

bigsley18

take it for what it's worth...but i've been reading from m3 owners that they've been averaging 13mpg/city and about 17-20mpg/hwy. and those numbers are considered "normal" every day driving. drive the m3 like it should be driven and the numbers can only get worse.

yeah, i know it's a sports car and gas mileage shouldn't be too much of a concern. but if it's your dd and with gas prices the way they are now...it's gonna matter to some people.

WRS2K

they're looking a wee bit dated these days

Malloric

I'd lean towards the C63 myself. The interior is leaps and bounds above the previous generation C class in terms of quality. Styling wise the M3 is awkward, the C63 loud bordering on pretentious, the IS-Fugly. The RS4 wins on exterior styling for me. On the interior the C class wins in terms of styling and the RS4 in quality. BMW interior styling doesn't do it for me, nor does Lexus. Performance wise in a 2 ton sedan I'm more of a torque addict. In the hypothetical situation I could see buying one (commute in traffic and I could only have one car) I'd want an auto which eliminates the RS4.

I'd prefer some combination like 135/335i + S2000 or Accord + C6 if I could have two cars. Sitting in stop and go traffic I don't see the M3 as being that much more desirable than a 328i and for canyon runs, autox, or HPDEs I'd rather have C6, S2000, or spec miata. The real appeal of the M3/ISF/C63/RS4 is that they are amazing compromise vehicles. They aren't great sports cars, nor are they great luxury cars. They are high performance near-luxury cars.

y2ks2k

I would probably get an M3 right now but it depends on your budget. You can get into an IS-F fully loaded for $10K+ less then an M3 that even loaded would not equal it in quality, reliability or technology of the Lexus. But you can

WRS2K

wait 2 years if you can for the E92 M3. i'm sure by then they'll make a few nice upates to the lights or something and get that new dual clutch tranny which is going to be hella nice.

S2020

GT-R

(I keed. I keed)