How great is the resale (also known as trade-in?) value of a 2007 IS350? I'm wondering whether to buy a 2007 IS350 or 2007 335i (BMW 3-series coupe). Here are current pros and cons for each vehicle so far (I have test driven both):
IS350 Pros:
- beautiful exterior front design
- sporty exterior rear design
- overall luxury look and aura
- great power
- exquisite interior
- beautifully-crafted dash and center console
- price over BMW
- Lexus' red is gorgeous (my car would be this color)
- Lexus' service and reliability (from my and my family's experiences with Toyotas and Lexuses bought at Longo Lexus)
IS350 Cons:
- has been out 2 years now
- rear seating space (repeated so many times now.. hehe)
- doesn't have some technological advancements that the 335i has
335i Pros:
- aggressive-looking exterior front design
- very powerful engine
- impressive handling and road feel
- iDrive system (i prefer it a little more than Lexus' nav, although Lexus' nav is great)
- larger rear seating space (i would be carrying 2-3 other passengers from time to time each week)
- BMW name (more respected than Lexus)
335i Cons:
- interior and dash is ummm... ack!
- rear exterior design is "so-so" with me
- reliability questionable (I have never bought a BMW so I don't feel very confident on this issue)
What would really seal the deal with me getting an IS350 over the 335i is the typical trade-in value. I know that in about 2-3 years when Lexus should release their next generation IS (if they follow the same timeline as they did with the IS300 to ISx50), I will be wanting the next generation. I'm debating if I should just get this vehicle and then trade this in when the next generation IS comes out or get the 335i and be with it for about 5-6 years. This is of big concern to me because I'm the kind of person who likes having the most up to date things (I use Ebay a LOT to sell my older items, which has never disappointed me). I really do like the Lexus a little more than the BMW but I know that I can be with the BMW longer and it still be the current generation 3-series coupe. Gah... I'm so materialistic that I should have the label tattooed on my forehead... sorry If I annoy anyone... Anyways, I would greatly appreciate all the help I can get in this really difficult decision. Thank you for your time.
- Bryan