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Question on the comfort and noise level

6620 Views 21 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  tcelicargtsd
I currently drive a 2001 Celica Gt-s and selling it. When i graduate i'm planning to get a IS-F or M3. my dad drives a BMW 535i which is a pretty quiet ride on the freeway going 60+. at 80 it is very quiet and a smooth ride. my celica is a loud rattling piece of metal compared to it. I just want your opinions on the noise level and ride comfort on the road and track. thanks
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Well, it seems you nailed it..When I drive the F on the Highway gradually hitting 55-80 MPH without sport mode on and paddle shifters it gets quieter keeping it under 3000 RPM..Then when I pumped and hitting 3500RPM and up obviously the Beast roars..Even then only thing I hear is engine sound nothing else at all..I'm sure some of the guys here who has taken it to the tracks hopefully will respond..In my opinion your call on M3 or the F..If you plan on something overall get the M3 or if you want a straight out drag racer, stick with the F..
If you plan on something overall get the M3 or if you want a straight out drag racer, stick with the F..
I will have to respectfully disagree with this statement. :cool:

The M3 is a better car on the track, but only in the hands of an experienced driver. As a Daily driver, the M3 is not that great.

The IS-F on the other hand is a superb daily driver, and will also hold it's own on the track. It is very comfortable, and very quiet...until you stomp on the gas and it turns into a beast. :)
Welcome to the site!! :)

I agree with A03 about how the F seems to get a little quieter as the speed increases under 3000RPMS. I'm sure you know about the dual intake system on the F and so when you punch it on the freeway to get up to 80 (which doesn't take long ;) ) the intake opens and the car screams :cool:

I am constantly impressed by how smooth and quiet the F is at higher speeds :) When I purchased the car, the dealer said that as you go faster and faster, the smoother and quieter it gets, I think this is true

Good luck with your decision and let us know if you have any other questions!
I agree that at highway speeds, particularly on cruise control, you don't hear any engine noise and little road noise. I am disappointed, however, in the wind noise once my F gets above 70mph. It's possible that the window tinters may have done something to damage the seals. I seem to remember that wind noise was acceptable before the tint install.
Take one for a test drive to see for yourself.Even though it's fast and sounds like an animal when pushed it's still a LEXUS. :)
I have a rattling coming from the driver side seat belt assembly right by my left ear. It is annoying and sounds like something is broken or loose inside the slider assembly. Not what I expected from a Lexus:confused:
"have a rattling coming from the driver side seat belt assembly right by my left ear. It is annoying and sounds like something is broken or loose inside the slider assembly. Not what I expected from a Lexus"

Take it to the dealer you bought from and do what most people do....bitch and complain and cry and maybe they'll give you something for free. :p
No car company makes 100% perfect cars, it's just that some make better ones than others. The IS-F is a great daily driver, I have a demo that I drive and it has a firm ride, but not jarring, the acceleration is sweet, plus on highway jaunts it is a comfortable and quiet cruiser. I have driven this car several times on a track and that is where it really shines as a performance beast. Having the voice activated touch screen navigation, the Mark Levinson audio, the smart key, and superior leather make this car a very nice environment to be in when not smoking the guy next to you. Given the reputation for quality, and service you will enjoy this car immensley.:cool:
When you are driving under 3000 RPMS, you will like a minimum revving sound, but when you go over it you will hear a loud one, thats cause anything by BMW is a luxury more rather than sport same thing with lexus and mercedes, well for BMW M series are the one that has the noise level, and then Lexus obviously the first F series, and then Mercedes has the AMG, but if you want a nice sporty car your going to get the noise, for example say you get a ferrari that thing isn't quiet...ive been in so many idling its pretty loud depending on which model, as well as lamborghinis once you hit that amount of pedal you will hear the engine roar through the exhaust.!!!which is an amazing sound
thanks for the input. yes i love engine and exhaust sound but not the sound coming from outside. i like the IS-F because i can drive it for many years with reliability and cheaper maintanence. I also like it for the 4 door which is more convenient. the M3 is a very nice car but the 4 door is ugly to me. i drive stick right now and i will miss it if i get the IS-F. for now my mind is on the IS-F and maybe when i make some money later i will get the M3.
the M3 is a very nice car but the 4 door is ugly to me.
I agree with you on this point, the M3 sedan isn't good looking at all, the coupe though, better looking. I had a little fun with one the other day :)

Let us know what you decide and how it goes :)
I will have to respectfully disagree with this statement. :cool:

The M3 is a better car on the track, but only in the hands of an experienced driver. As a Daily driver, the M3 is not that great.

The IS-F on the other hand is a superb daily driver, and will also hold it's own on the track. It is very comfortable, and very quiet...until you stomp on the gas and it turns into a beast. :)
Actually there are several factors on M3 or Beemers in general..
1.High Maintenance
2.Reliability Issue
3.Preference

As a F owner I think M3 is Really nice car..I mean yeah, on the track odds are the driver needs to pretty skilled I suppose but every mag seems think that M3 is clearly a better car although there is a debate on who's better..
I guess I'm just speaking clearly for the person who started this thread since he/she drives stick..Overall stick.manual seems dominate better than paddle shifters..
Dominate?

Overall stick.manual seems dominate better than paddle shifters..
In what way does the stick.manual domiate over paddle shifters.
I currently drive a 2001 Celica Gt-s and selling it. When i graduate i'm planning to get a IS-F or M3. my dad drives a BMW 535i which is a pretty quiet ride on the freeway going 60+. at 80 it is very quiet and a smooth ride. my celica is a loud rattling piece of metal compared to it. I just want your opinions on the noise level and ride comfort on the road and track. thanks
They're both excellent (M3 & 'F') but the F is less expensive and some say a smoother ride with a little more accent on luxury.

I say the F is a great performer with a 'stout' ride, which you expect with this level of performance.
No doubt M3 owners feel the same about their gems.

Try 'em both......I say you'll be more impressed with the 'F'.

As far as comparing it to your Dad's ride......well the Bimmer is a different ride with different purpose.
You have to decide what's more important to you: Luxury with reasonable performance in the 535, or exhilliarating performance with luxury to boot in the Lex.

Whichever one you choose, you'll get a great ride.....For me, I'd spend less and get the Lex. :)

and either will be a giant leap forward from the Toy.

C.
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Why is it that every other thread started in here gets off topic and ultimately ends up comparing the IS-F to the new M3? I would love to see just for once that the administrators in this forum would do their jobs and go off topic with this stuff. :mad:
Original question on this thread...
When i graduate i'm planning to get a IS-F or M3. I just want your opinions on the noise level and ride comfort on the road and track. thanks
That's why we are comparing it to the M3...:rolleyes:
Actually there are several factors on M3 or Beemers in general..
1.High Maintenance
2.Reliability Issue
3.Preference

As a F owner I think M3 is Really nice car..I mean yeah, on the track odds are the driver needs to pretty skilled I suppose but every mag seems think that M3 is clearly a better car although there is a debate on who's better..
I guess I'm just speaking clearly for the person who started this thread since he/she drives stick..Overall stick.manual seems dominate better than paddle shifters..
That is very true, because thats why honestly i would have easily gotten either the BMW M5, or BMW M6, because just with people having the 5 series as well as 7 series and 3 series they are nice cars, but the BMW overall is a very high maintained car serviced a lot and i don't know if i trust it as much, but lexus very little cause my family already has 2 previous Lexus LX 470's
it wont be a while till i get a new car. first i would have to sell it and it also depends on how our business goes. i am a wholesale distributor for JEBO Aquariums and its a hobby just like cars so its kinda slow like the economy. My dad says i'm expecting too much but we will see how it goes in the near future. all i wanted to know was the comfort and noise level. The M3 is a sweet and agressive sporty looking car which i like but i will only age as times go by so i dont want to have a college students car when i'm in my 30's. The F on the other hand can be also used as family car with some excitement. if any of you guys know someone who wants a Celica Gt-s let me know i'll give you $200 if you can find a buyer.
"family car?"....not quite. Good luck fitting anyone or anything other than a bag of groceries in the back seat of the IS-F. And family cars don't go 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and average 15 mpg in city driving! OK I'm bored now, can we get back to discussing the new M3 since that is what anyone ever talks about in here!
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