Opinion needed: Lexus IS350 or Audi S3
 

I'm in the market for a sporty sedan and I have narrowed down to these 2 cars.

Both cars look great in and out, but S3 felt faster and more fun to drive. However I am worried about Audi's reliability as they don't have great reputation in that. (I like to keep the car for as long as possible)

What would you guys get?

Thanks

S3 for me all day, love that little car, tons of fun to drive. Warranty will cover you for the most of its life, maintain it properly and you'll be fine.

I've driven both and I'm in favor of the Audi S3 as well.

If you're worried about reliability, buy 3rd party warranty once the manufacturer warranty runs out. That's what i did with both my cars once warranty expired.... and one of them is known for having poor reliability. (Range Rover)

That's the sad part...

Potential wise... S3... and yes, you are correct, it is faster....

Biased.

S3.

Do it.

But like jiaz_97 mentioned, it's going to be more cramped than the IS350.

But the S3 is more agile (if you base it on size).

If you are getting the S3, if you plan on lowering it, DO NOT get the magnetic ride.

DO get the virtual cockpit.

The S3 seems too cramped to me. No doubt the S3 can out-perform the IS350 though. For a long-term daily, however, I'd take the IS350. Can't beat good ol' Toyota Reliability. The exterior of the new IS is just striking as well .. but looks are subjective.

Is350 for me

RS3

340i

Otherwise S3 cause the IS350 doesnt drive "exciting" at all

S3 - lease it or have extended warranty

Both have what amounts to an unusable back seat.

If you do get an IS350, I would suggest importing one from the US, since they still offer a RWD 350 there.

Have you looked at the Jaguar XE and Giulia Ti? Both have great chassis and options for more power. I drove a 330i lately, and found the chassis to be quite boring compared to BMWs of yore... and the two listed above.

we are taking a delivery of an is350 this weekend.
great rebates for this mth on the IS300/350 ($2500off)
we chose lexus for its reliability rating.
Car Brands Reliability: How They Stack Up - Consumer Reports

Note that Audi is way up there for reliability as well. Much of RS mentality is still set in the days of the B5 S4 lol. Parts will be more expensive of course but an extended warranty is not that expensive. Fuel economy wise the S3 will be noticeably better than the IS350, put that savings towards a warranty.

The AWD IS are very underwhelming to drive IMO and the drivetrain hump on the driver's side is unacceptable when I'm spending 50k on a luxury car. Back seat is not much better on the IS but the interior materials are nicer

If you are keeping the car for a while, 10 year old IS350 are still worth a good amount. (Perhaps since they've barely improved the drivetrain over that 10 year span but still...) not sure how the S3 will fare but Golf R resale is decent as well. B8 generation S4/S5 seem to be holding their value.

If you need a Audi or Lexus hook up.
Holler I'll refer you to one of our clients for a deal :) - josh@drivemarketinggroup.ca

Personal opinion haven driven, tracked, reviewed both.
S3: Fun, Agile, Cramped - very cramped
IS350: Decent power, very smooth and comfortable ride yet still fun.

Overall, my pick would be the S3 as I don't like driving people lol.
The S3 and IS350 are two different types of vehicles so what really matters is what you are looking for in a vehicle.

If you're keeping the car for more than 5 years, IS350 for resale value.
Otherwise, if you're leasing, S3.

I'd also take a serious look at the Golf R as well - more room, 10K lower MSRP for the same equipment, and available in stick!

The only feature you'd be missing is the virtual cockpit (which is only included on the loaded teknik trim anyways).

Thanks guys for the input, I am more leaning towards S3, just maintenance and repairs worry me. I guess extend warranty is the key.

My wife think leasing is waste of money but a lot of my friends are saying is not... I better look into lease vs purchase.

S3 is so small. I sat in one before and I had to put the seat all the way back in it's tracks (I'm 6'2). There was zero space behind me.

Although this isn't the same thing but have you thought of that Acura TLX ? Loaded with all wheel drive im sure it's in the same price range. Plus you get a lot more tech for your money.

Another vote for the Audi S3. Magride is great and you should definitely get it if you dont plan to lower the car or use aftermarket suspension

Also note that the quattro system on the q3 and a3-s3 is a bit different compare to the other Audi family.

I am no expert, but my understanding after discussions with my peers are...

if you can get a good lease rate, you should take it, still put the same amount of money that would cost you to finance though, you will need that money to buy out at the end...you can invest the money in the mean time? not sure how viable that is though hahaha.....

but lets say... knock on wood, you get into a nasty accident, technically the car isn't yours... so when your lease is up... you can give it back to the dealership and let them take the depreciation... but if you finance, it is your car... so... yea...

My gf daily drives an IS350 AWD F Sport and I hate driving it. Transmission is so damn slow it's ridiculous. The RWD had the IS-F 7 speed but I never got the chance to drive it, they don't even sell the 350 RWD anymore.

I recently bought a 2017 S3 and cross shopped with Golf R. After discounts, for $70 more every month on my lease, I could get virtual cockpit. The fit and finish, feel of buttons etc on the S3 is just better than the Golf R, which are both WAY better than the IS350.

S3.


agile, nimble all rounder package, probably almost same interior size as IS350 AWD.


IS350... looks interesting with those sharp edges.... but that stupid hump and lethargic transmission is way too dated.


or...... the new B series motor'ed 340i is mighty fun to drive. seriously under rated factory rating of 335hp....

that happened to 2 people i know. both had a new car, a month in....someone smokes them big time...but not big enough to write it off.

I think if u need to use the backseat sometime the IS might be a better choice. If u dont need to use the backseat or use it very rare or u dont care the people in the backseat. Then S3 is the choice. I like the S3 better because I like small car.