Lexus RC 350 vs BMW 5 Series

[agentwhite]

Hey Perbies,

Been looking at picking up a BMW 5 Series or a RC350....has anyone here owned either of these cars previously? Thanks!

 

[Lo-ki]

Can't help you there...I am a North American type of guy for cars...

 

[morementum]

Hey Perbies,

Been looking at picking up a BMW 5 Series or a RC350....has anyone here owned either of these cars previously? Thanks!

If you cannot make up your mind between a Japanese car and a German engineered automobile then you clearly are not sure what you are shopping for. If you want techo gizmos then go Japanese - if you actually "drive", well you know where to go for that.

 

[patdragon]

Dislike BMW, even Audi is better. Get MB if you want a German made, go Lexus in your case.

 

[apl16]

My Lexus is the best car I have ever owned.Legendary 4.0L v8 and never breaks down.

 

[Banger77]

Definitely the Lexus rc-350 long-term reliability...BMW your going wish for a longer warranty

 

[westwoody]

Everyone I know who has a BMW hates their service. Toyota/Lexus service is the best there is.

 

[canuck33660]

Having owned several BMWs I agree with the comments regarding reliabiity and service.

BUT and this is were the trade off comes into play ............. what is more important to you driving dynamics or reliability.

Drive both and you will see that the Germans still have the edge over the Japanese in driving dynamics.

 

[Fullhouse]

Drive both and you will see that the Germans still have the edge over the Japanese in driving dynamics.

And yes, those driving dynamics are very, very important when your navigating through the West End or downtown Vancouver at 10 kmh.

Or, while driving in Richmond on - let's say - No. 3 Road----- when you get passed by a lady pushing a stroller on the side walk....

 

[nickcan]

And yes, those driving dynamics are very, very important when your navigating through the West End or downtown Vancouver at 10 kmh.

Or, while driving in Richmond on - let's say - No. 3 Road----- when you get passed by a lady pushing a stroller on the side walk....

Yeah, we need more bike lanes.

 

[P3t3rp4n]

You could spend a bit more and get something even cooler!

 

[apl16]

Having owned several BMWs I agree with the comments regarding reliabiity and service.

BUT and this is were the trade off comes into play ............. what is more important to you driving dynamics or reliability.

Drive both and you will see that the Germans still have the edge over the Japanese in driving dynamics.

I agree. There is a difference. I still blow away many of my colleagues with beemers because my Lexus has a very wide power and. I'm a better driver. And, I have more guts than these younger guys. It really drives them crazy when my $10k Lexus smokes their $70k BMW. Older, wiser, and particular about maintenance.

 

[Chef99]

It's like you're asking "should I have an apple or an orange". I would not lump all Japanese cars together. Honda/Acura make excellent "driver's cars", Toyota/Lexus not so much. If you like to drive, enjoy a bit of performance, agility in a car and it want it go where you point it and not wander all over the place, get the BMW (or Acura). I owned a Bimmer for 11 years, the service is not terrible everywhere. Park Shore Motors is excellent, BMW West is horrible. If all you want is good reliability, and something to get you from a to b in comfort, then go for the Lexus. But, the two cars you're looking at aren't even the same type; one's a 2 door coupe and the other's a 4 door performance sedan....

 

[badbadboy]

Having owned several BMWs I agree with the comments regarding reliabiity and service.

BUT and this is were the trade off comes into play ............. what is more important to you driving dynamics or reliability.

Drive both and you will see that the Germans still have the edge over the Japanese in driving dynamics.

This is quite true. The BMW's I have had on a track worked very well in tight corners without any under or over steer. Held the line quite well.

I never tried any of the Lexus on a track but saw one losing it on a corner ending in the bush. Probably an untrained driver trying to get too aggressive in the corner but it did stick in my mind that car should have made the appropriate adjustments as it was losing traction.

Repairs? Phuuck, never had a bill under a grand on a BMW ever.

Only thing i really dislike about BMW's is the driver controls. They are not abundantly obvious even to the most experienced driver vs any other sports car I have owned/driven. The manual and google were always at my finger tips to figure the damn thing out. Toyota/Lexus controls are obvious to anyone with an IQ preferable above a 100. :nod:

 

[Fullhouse]

I agree. There is a difference. I still blow away many of my colleagues with beemers because my Lexus has a very wide power and. I'm a better driver. And, I have more guts than these younger guys. It really drives them crazy when my $10k Lexus smokes their $70k BMW. Older, wiser, and particular about maintenance.

So, apl16, please let me know in what area of the lower mainland you indulge in your ego boosting street racing with your colleagues, so I can avoid that area for fear of getting hit by a reckless, "I own the fucking road, buddy", driver..:fear:

It's nice to read that you are particular about maintenance --- you're obviously not too particular about the safety of other drivers.

And about your 'guts',----- are you talking about lack of fear, --- or your body's shape because of too much beer.??..

 

[badbadboy]

How often did it need to go for repairs? My original plan was to get a BMW..I wouldn't mind ridiculous repair bills if they didn't happen often...

Tanya the best resource for me is JD Power's opinions based upon owners satisfaction or dissatisfaction with vehicles. As you will see this Five Series did not do so well on the overall quality and dependability.

http://autos.jdpower.com/research/BMW/528i/2011/Sedan/index.htm

The Parts are expensive being brought in from Germany. Shop time at any of the dealers is expensive. I had one for a while on Lease and gladly left it at the Dealer when the lease was done.

They are frikin awesome to drive especially if your driving habits are a bit on the aggressive side like mine.

 

[canuck33660]

How often did it need to go for repairs? My original plan was to get a BMW..I wouldn't mind ridiculous repair bills if they didn't happen often...

I never keep my German imports beyond their warranty periods.

With sophisticated systems comes a greater chance of needing repairs and at a greater cost.

My Audi has "direct injection" but along with the greater control over fuel delivery comes the added issue of "carbon build up".

You have to keep in mind the original MSRP of the car if you are buying used.

So on my over $100,000 MSRP Audi a brake jobs cost $2k for all 4 wheels. That is not too bad relative to a $100,000 car. But for the person who bought it used for $45,000 a $2k brake job is very expensive relatively.

If I was ever going to keep a car beyond the warranty period I would definitely stick with Acura, Lexus or Infiniti.

And when I was younger I had a streak going whereby I owned 5 Infiniti's in a row.

But once I moved over to a German car I never went back.

 

[Lo-ki]

When I first graduated from college, my dad was encouraging me to buy a german car..but I didn't listen, like with everything else my parents tried to tell me..

My next car..I want it to be nice ...& I'll be happy as long as it's not going to the shop on a monthly basis, like the pile of junk/financial black hole on wheels that I have now. The damn bitch thinks the mechanic shop is a spa...

Oh my.....
Sorry about your car
Sounds like when clients go visit an SP...same price but earlier services and options keep disappearing but yet the same SP

What did you get for a car...????

 

[pokiepokie]

When I first graduated from college, my dad was encouraging me to buy a german car..but I didn't listen, like with everything else my parents tried to tell me..

My next car..I want it to be nice ...& I'll be happy as long as it's not going to the shop on a monthly basis, like the pile of junk/financial black hole on wheels that I have now. The damn bitch thinks the mechanic shop is a spa...

May I ask what brand of vehicle you drive?

 

[patdragon]

The newer and more recent Ford vehicles are getting better.

Anyway, Lexus (Acura is half a tier lower in my opinion) is what you would like to keep for a substantially longer period, it is more reliable and also keeps your financial healthy.

Regarding the German made, I recommend MB, get rid of it before the warranty ends though.