My wife and I recently made the comparison between the 2007 ES350, the 2006 Infiniti M35x and the E60 530xi. I had my prejudices, but she's the one who drives it the most, so on the test drives, I just shut up and sat in the back seat. Mind you, the car she was trading was a Lexus ES300.

I'll give you her take: 1) M35x - "very nice but missing something." 2) ES350 - "plush but no feeling for the road." She also noted blindspots on both sides. 3) 530xi - got a big grin in the first mile...and she's still smiling. E60 cost the most, but damn, it's fun! She comes home every night (and it has been a month now) after 20 miles of Boston traffic, and she still has that grin. I may have to get my own...

 

I think this is a tough decision for many.

The 3.5L is a fine engine and I'd expect the GS would be appreciably faster than the 530. As everyone here says, the E60 will be more fun to drive by a large margin. In the driving department, only the M35 would compare and has the lower price. IHMO, just too ugly, too Asian styled and uninspiring.

The real question is how much weight do you place on the interior. Yes, the lexus is super tidy and executed with very fine detail. Visualize sitting in a high end consultant office, just hoping not to scratch or make odd noises with any of the seemingly too perfect to be true furniture. Now the E60 interior is not chopped liver by any means. Its minimalistic, original and more organic. Some can rightly fully argue it seems stark and even ugly. However, it feels comfortable and the seating position and primary controls are near perfect. No problems here.

To me driving feel matters most and the E60 is tops here. I don't lavish thoughts on how nice the dash looks as I drive, but rather think of how cart like the car handles and how playful it feels. The weight balance and solid feel. This provides the wow factor for me and the BMW roundel carrys the big prestige factor along with its price premium. All this reminds me of the A4 I purchased a few years ago because it was so beautifully made both inside and out. It still is. But in the end, its awkward feel on the road is the thing I now most associate with this car. It makes me mad. This mistake was not repeated again and the E60 was the choice.

Just my biased two cents. Good luck in whatever you decide.


CVT Benhogan

 

I am bias. All I could see when I look at the "LEXUS" badging on the trunk is "TOYOTA".

My wife drives the 530i much more than I do. We previously have an Acura RL and she wanted no part of the couch surfing down the road. She wanted quick response on turns and be able to connect to the road. She was hesitant about the "luxury" and "quietness" in the 530. But after driving it, she was SOLD. BTW, we also test drove the E350, and she almost chewed be out for bringing her to the MBZ dealership...........So, I said, "Honey, your car will be here in 7 weeks"

 

Surprised you're married from that comment katheikia...

I've driven the GS300 for more than a test drive as my mother owns one and I agree with the general consensus. Yes, the Lexus loks more luxurious on the inside but the ride, personally, I like to feel attached to the road, the turns etc... the Lexus doesn't give you that feeling.

If price is a factor, go for a used 545. I did it and I love my car!

 

Yea I know, alot of tough talk, I had to get approval on the amount but not on what kind of car. Im just hoping she doesnt look at in the wrong angles, like which car is prettier or cushier, hopefully she is like the female members we have on the forums and appreciates a fine machine.

 

Well I can speak for one female member (myself) I love the car... and seriously, I can't wait to get in and drive it! Even in traffic!!!

 

Best advice for you is to buy your house first then go for the car. It looks bad on your credit report when you make a big purchase right before buying a home. This is exactly what I am doing... waiting.

 

Ya get the horse, you been with BM from the start so why change?
If you get the GS, I know you will look at a e60 every time you past 1 and you wish that you got the bm instead. so don`t make the big mistake.

 

Best advise yet. I drove VW's Toyotas for years. One Toyota truck I bought new and ran up to 215000 miles before I bought another Toyota. Buy the house, start a family (or not) then look at $50,000 cars.

 

Well after two 5 series in a row..(just loved my BMW's) My lease is over in 4 months and I'm not excited to get back in the exact same car.

I just tested a Lexus GS 350 2007 and I was very surprised

300HP 5.7 sec 0-60...more than 1 sec better than the 530
Softer ride but road handling was not that bad ...tighter than a Merc. but not a BMW.
Great acc...at every speed very powerful and stable brakes

More technology, more luxury for less money 10 % LESS AT LEAST
Bluetooth, homelink,automatic trunk closing at no extra charge, great cup holder and better storage space, touch screen, seat confort better IMO

We all know about Lexus beeing very reliable and the service is top notch ( I won't even talk about BMW)
The looks are really a matter of personnal taste...I like both

BMW still has the prestige and the handling..and I'm undecided right now...my first reaction after the test drive was How long can BMW hold on their share of the market...great cars but they are starting to be overpriced IMHO

Just beeing objective

Good luck they are both great cars ( but at your age..it would definitely be a BMW )