Opinions on new 328i, mom is considering leasing
#31
Lexus Fanatic
I agree with 1SICK. If your mom's Highlander is in good shape and has had no accidents or body work, 17K for it is more reasonable than 13K....but the 55,000 mileage figure for a 2004 is somewhat more than average (12,000-15,000 a year). That will cut into its value a little; not a huge amount....the Highlander is popular and in high demand both new and used.
#32
Lexus Fanatic
I agree the 3-series is overpriced, but its extreme popularity as a sport sedan and its more-or-less tradition of winning or almost winning auto-magazine comparison tests has allowed BMW to charge....and get....premium prices, especially for the M3 models.
#33
I think it has more to do with the fact that it says "BMW" on the hood than the fact that it wins a lot of comparison tests. The people who read comparison tests would be more likely to get a 335i than a 328
#34
That's true, doug, but perhaps that is the reason WHY they they don't own one. The average car buyer is not going to sink anywhere between 35 and 80K into a vehicle with a feature that he or she just cannot live with. The people on these boards who DO own BMW's with I-Drive have seen the cars, test-driven them, and then have decided, like you and genearch, that they CAN live with the I-Drive day in and day out, and have acted accordingly. Not everyone, however, is in that group....and many of those who test cars and write about them in the auto press aren't either. It is something that die-hard Chris Bangle BMW fans are just going to have to accept......just like I myself have to accept the fact that not everyone has my extremely high opinion of the new Acura RL.
This is a class of car - people cross shop the IS/G/TL/3-series. My wife's friend cross shopped both the 325 and the IS250 and she much preferred the 325 simply from the way it drove. However at the time she was putting 25K a year on her car and she was keeping her car for upwards of 150K. Having just come from a Volvo, I recommended she stick with the Toyota product.....
Last edited by doug_999; 04-16-07 at 07:57 PM.
#35
Pole Position
I think BMW can get $45,000 for a small sport sedan because it's hard to find a small sedan that does everything dynamically so well.
It just feels good, especially when you're trying to beat it up. No need for the I-Drive, and skip that active steering option as well. Neither are needed.
The G35 is nice, with a huge interior for a smaller sedan, but that same interior is still a little plain, and that V6 doesn't produce the nicest sounding notes. But boy is it quick. You can spin the wheels effortlessly in the new G. It made a fine rental last month when my car was in the bodyshop getting painted.
The Acura TL is front-wheel drive. Acura has done a good job taming it, but it's still creates a bland steering sensation when you're really getting into it. Driven at 8/10ths and below though, the Acura is a fine sedan, at a nice price. Don't even need the Type S version, unless you're a true boy racer...and if you're a true boyracer, get a rear wheel drive car (IS350, G35 or the BMW 3). Better sensations.
The RL is nice, but bland, and not real engaging. And the exterior looks the part too. Nice car, but it's so easy to get lost in the crowd in the RL. It really doesn't stand out, and that's spending alot of money for your car not to stand out.
If you don't consistently need the extra space, you love to drive, and you don't put a lot of miles on your car every month, the 3 is an excellent choice. You'll pay a premium for it, but you can't put a number on "magic".
It just feels good, especially when you're trying to beat it up. No need for the I-Drive, and skip that active steering option as well. Neither are needed.
The G35 is nice, with a huge interior for a smaller sedan, but that same interior is still a little plain, and that V6 doesn't produce the nicest sounding notes. But boy is it quick. You can spin the wheels effortlessly in the new G. It made a fine rental last month when my car was in the bodyshop getting painted.
The Acura TL is front-wheel drive. Acura has done a good job taming it, but it's still creates a bland steering sensation when you're really getting into it. Driven at 8/10ths and below though, the Acura is a fine sedan, at a nice price. Don't even need the Type S version, unless you're a true boy racer...and if you're a true boyracer, get a rear wheel drive car (IS350, G35 or the BMW 3). Better sensations.
The RL is nice, but bland, and not real engaging. And the exterior looks the part too. Nice car, but it's so easy to get lost in the crowd in the RL. It really doesn't stand out, and that's spending alot of money for your car not to stand out.
If you don't consistently need the extra space, you love to drive, and you don't put a lot of miles on your car every month, the 3 is an excellent choice. You'll pay a premium for it, but you can't put a number on "magic".
Last edited by KevinGS; 04-16-07 at 08:11 PM.
#36
#37
This is a class of car - people cross shop the IS/G/TL/3-series. My wife's friend cross shopped both the 325 and the IS250 and she much preferred the 325 simply from the way it drove. However at the time she was putting 25K a year on her car and she was keeping her car for upwards of 150K. Having just come from a Volvo, I recommended she stick with the Toyota product.....
#38
Hmm, I don't know. My friend test drove the 330i (2006 model of course) while I sat in the passenger seat and it took me the entire 15 min test drive to figure out how to change the radio station >.<. I consider myself someone who can learn technology quickly so I was a bit disappointed with that. My ex-gf also tried working it on a separate test drive when I drove and she sat in the pass. seat. She never got it to work =(.
Anyway, I would still get the 328i just without nav and iDrive.
I'm only speaking from experience of the 06 325i but I gather it'll be the same, just with a bit more hp. It handles well although the steering is a bit stiff at low speeds.
If you can afford it, go for it. It's more fun-to-drive than the TL and more economical than the G.
$5k difference btwn the Toyota and BMW dealer is quite bit. Try selling it yourself maybe?
Anyway, I would still get the 328i just without nav and iDrive.
I'm only speaking from experience of the 06 325i but I gather it'll be the same, just with a bit more hp. It handles well although the steering is a bit stiff at low speeds.
If you can afford it, go for it. It's more fun-to-drive than the TL and more economical than the G.
$5k difference btwn the Toyota and BMW dealer is quite bit. Try selling it yourself maybe?
#39
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wow, thanks for all the help guys... My mom just signed the contract for 3 years, 30k mi on an x3 for only 729/month....
just kidding, im listing it on autotrader today, and were not going back till its sold i guess. the other thing with the 328 i forgot to mention was that it was for 18k mi/year... i know thats kind of high, given this, and without the trade in, what would a good deal be for this car?
just kidding, im listing it on autotrader today, and were not going back till its sold i guess. the other thing with the 328 i forgot to mention was that it was for 18k mi/year... i know thats kind of high, given this, and without the trade in, what would a good deal be for this car?
#41
Lexus Fanatic
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wow, thanks for all the help guys... My mom just signed the contract for 3 years, 30k mi on an x3 for only 729/month....
just kidding, im listing it on autotrader today, and were not going back till its sold i guess. the other thing with the 328 i forgot to mention was that it was for 18k mi/year... i know thats kind of high, given this, and without the trade in, what would a good deal be for this car?
just kidding, im listing it on autotrader today, and were not going back till its sold i guess. the other thing with the 328 i forgot to mention was that it was for 18k mi/year... i know thats kind of high, given this, and without the trade in, what would a good deal be for this car?
#42
Advanced
well, dont bash for looking at a bimmer but my mom actually liked the x5's alot and we went down to bmw and i tried to do some convincing to get her out of the suv and into a nice 3 series... shes not into power, so the 328 comes first over the 335. it looked very nice, alpine white, huge nav/iDrive screen (iDrive doesnt seem as bad as people make it sound, it was very user friendly) all options except sport package (17's instead of 16's, racy steering wheel, better suspension). how do you like it?
also, the tag is 41,095 and she is trading in her 04 higlander w/ 55k miles. they offered her 13,2xx for the car and a lease deal of 522 /month/36 months. thats basically what shes paying now for the highlander. the only discount so far is through her work and they added on 750 to the value of the highlander. when she was looking at a used highlander at our toyota dealer they wanted to give her 17 for it but apparently it only goes for 13 at auction.
how would you say this deal is, what would you reccomend negotiating based on?
also, the tag is 41,095 and she is trading in her 04 higlander w/ 55k miles. they offered her 13,2xx for the car and a lease deal of 522 /month/36 months. thats basically what shes paying now for the highlander. the only discount so far is through her work and they added on 750 to the value of the highlander. when she was looking at a used highlander at our toyota dealer they wanted to give her 17 for it but apparently it only goes for 13 at auction.
how would you say this deal is, what would you reccomend negotiating based on?
I just leased my 335i auto with CA for $500/month with $0 down. (Just paid drive off fees of like $1300). And it has already pretty much all the features your mom might need, except for the iDrive.
#44
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