Opinions Wanted on Hardtop Convertibles: BMW 335 or Lexus SC430? Why?

[4Q Basket Case]

I'm on the market for a low-mileage hardtop convertible. The BMW 335i and Lexus SC430 look to be roughly the same price.

From what I gather, the BMW is a lot more of a driver's car -- handling, manual transmission, steering, responsiveness, road feel, etc. -- but reliability is an issue, especially in the electricals.

The Lexus is more of a cushy ride, looks great, is as reliable as sunset following sunrise, but handles like a land yacht.

Any opinions out there? Regardless of which you'd favor, what makes you feel the way you do?

 

[BamaGoose]

BMW is

Big
Money
Waster

 

[Jon]

it boils down to whats important to you

Does the extra performance of the bmw matter to you? Prefer a softer riding cruiser?

How do you like to drive?

Lexus will cost less in the long run due to its reliability.

BMW and all modern German cars will nickle and dime you forever. If you go this route check out the certified pre-owned programs. High end German cars depreciate pretty quickly but are often leased. So you can often easily find 2-3 year old cars with 30-40K miles and in perfect shape for 50-60% of sticker price. The two German manufacturers i've bought this way from bring the warranty to 100K miles and add 3 years. Best way to buy cars imo

 

[boatmax]

I have owned 7 rag tops, always wanted a hard top convertible, until I bought one. Brand is unimportant, but what is the problem is that when the top is folded into the trunk, there is no trunk; barely enough room for a brief case; forget luggage, or anything else in the trunk.
PS: I still preferred the hardtop convertible. You may want to consider a rag top with a removable hard top for winter.
Max

 

[DzynKingRTR]

the beamer. no real reason other than i like them better.

 

[SavannahDare]

BMW and all modern German cars will nickle and dime you forever.

This is correct regarding BMWs, in my experience. Having previously had a BMW 750Li, I can attest to the fact that, while the handling and performance of a BMW is top-notch, they are very high-maintenance in order to keep them that way. Everything from the electronics to the windshield seemed to constantly need tweaking. The windshields are so soft that they get nicked and cracked in the blink of an eye. In three years, I had to repair or replace my windshield three times! I loved the way it performed, but I HATED the constant tweaking, maintenance and repairs.

I now have a 2009 VW CC VR6 Sport and enjoy it so much more. Still, it is a German automobile and little things need maintenance. It seems every time I turn around there's a light that needs replacing! But I'll gladly replace a lightbulb over a windshield any day of the week! Now, I have great handling and performance, reliability, at half the cost.

I have no experience with Lexus, but if they are as reliable as folks seem to believe they are, it might be looking into more closely.

 

[MegaVars]

Can't speak for how a SC430 handles, but I would think that it handles somewhat better than an IS250 and the 250 is far from handling like a land yacht...that's the best I can give ya...I know zilch about the beamers personally, but the folks I know that own them do have to have a lot of maintenance on them.
2 words.....test drive.

 

[Jon]

Can't speak for how a SC430 handles, but I would think that it handles somewhat better than an IS250 and the 250 is far from handling like a land yacht...that's the best I can give ya...I know zilch about the beamers personally, but the folks I know that own them do have to have a lot of maintenance on them.
2 words.....test drive.

I don't own either car but the IS Series Lexuses (Lexi?) are the companies "sport" models. The SC is more of a sporty cruiser and therefore I would expect the SC to be "softer" than an IS.

 

[MegaVars]

I don't own either car but the IS Series Lexuses (Lexi?) are the companies "sport" models. The SC is more of a sporty cruiser and therefore I would expect the SC to be "softer" than an IS.

Never driven a 430, but it is different than the earlier SC models. I had an SC400 and it drove more like 4Q has stated, but the 430 chassis is different and is similar to the IS (independant double wish bone set up).

 

[ccc2259]

I don't have a convertible, but I drive a 1998 Lexus GS400 with 230k miles on it....I bought it used with 65k miles.....all I've ever done to it is routine maintenance, and it's still as tight and reliable as the day I got it.....I'll never own anything but a Lexus from now on. On the other hand, I had a used BMW 318 that cost me a fortune to keep running.

 

[rizolltizide]

Depends entirely on which "feel" you want/prefer and if maintenance is going to bother you or not. German engineering is hard to put into words if you haven't experienced it first hand.

Personally, between those two cars I'd go with the BMW, damn the maintenance. I hate the looks of the SC. It's just butt ugly.
/.02

 

[MattinBama]

The 99% are going to occupy this thread until they all have a BMW & Lexus.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Thanks for all the responses, guys. This board always has the best discussions, no matter the topic.

I went initially with the SC 430. Long story short, though, the digested matter hit the fan, and it didn't work out. If and when I can spill the details, I will.

Meanwhile, thanks for the unvarnished truth.

4QBC

 

[cbi1972]

I don't have a convertible, but I drive a 1998 Lexus GS400 with 230k miles on it....I bought it used with 65k miles.....all I've ever done to it is routine maintenance, and it's still as tight and reliable as the day I got it.....I'll never own anything but a Lexus from now on. On the other hand, I had a used BMW 318 that cost me a fortune to keep running.

I have the same year model GS400 with 140k miles on it and it is as you say, but it is getting a bit boring. Boring can be good in a car, because boring also means no problems. However, I am into car audio, and I do not like the way the trunk deadens the bass. I have owned a lot of 3 series from the late 80s and nothing I have ever driven has felt as much like a driver's car as they have. I have been looking at the 335i because I wanted something that I could fold the back seats down, and that was just as fast as the GS400, but which had less body roll in curves and forward tip under hard braking. I decided to wait, though. The new 3 series is a bigger car than the 3 series I used to drive. The 1 series is closer to that. The 1 Series M is a vehicular orgasm, but it comes only in orange. Good grief.

 

[rizolltizide]

Thanks for all the responses, guys. This board always has the best discussions, no matter the topic.

I went initially with the SC 430. Long story short, though, the digested matter hit the fan, and it didn't work out. If and when I can spill the details, I will.

Meanwhile, thanks for the unvarnished truth.

4QBC

Finally, someone who understands the value of good advice as much as I do.