Nicely optioned 335is or stripped M3?

[J08M3]

Originally Posted by Digital.James

if you can't afford 10k for options on a 56k car, you can't afford it

too many financial "experts" on this forum.

[persian54]

Originally Posted by kmarei

Everyone here makes such a big issue of interest rates
When at the end of the day it totals less than a $1000 dollars over 5 years

Actually it depends

That's cause the Credit union has good rates where you are


Here, the best rates I've seen offered by CUs is 3.9%.
I was forced to pay 9% on my first autoloan 3 years ago on the Dodge...paid off after a year, but 9% interest is a PITAAAA

[Mike van D]

Had a '11 IS e93, fun car in it's own right with the torque...gone now. Couldn't compare with the overall ability of the ///M. If you haven't yet, drive both and that should help you make up your mind.

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by persian54

Actually it depends

That's cause the Credit union has good rates where you are


Here, the best rates I've seen offered by CUs is 3.9%.
I was forced to pay 9% on my first autoloan 3 years ago on the Dodge...paid off after a year, but 9% interest is a PITAAAA

Oh I was talking about penfed
I assumed that was national, not just in the DC area

[BMWsully]

Originally Posted by christopherchenm

The 335is is not optioned, its base model !

True, it has more than no options though.

Originally Posted by persian54

if the IS was fully loaded with nav etc, i could somewhat ponder the decision

but that IS sounds like a stripper to me too...

Why don't you buy used?
or lease if you don't plan on keeping the car long

I thought about going used, but, 1) the closest thing I could find in my area to a car with the specs I want has a sunroof, which is a dealbreaker as I want the CF roof and 2) I'm just not a used car type person - I understand the value behind them, but I'm so OCD with my cars that I would nitpick literally every little imperfection on the car. It would drive me crazy, lol.

[dibxna]

Originally Posted by youngnastyman

used M3 fully loaded > both of those

This.

Buy it CPO and u have a longer warranty than a new one too.

[dibxna]

Originally Posted by persian54

Actually it depends

That's cause the Credit union has good rates where you are


Here, the best rates I've seen offered by CUs is 3.9%.
I was forced to pay 9% on my first autoloan 3 years ago on the Dodge...paid off after a year, but 9% interest is a PITAAAA

I thought credit unions offered better rates than big banks more often than not?

I am at 2.59% on a 5 year term and bought CPO not new... I got a .25% break or something because I work for the big bank but still am used to credit unions being slightly lowered

[blinkme323]

Go with the M3 and add whatever you need down the line.

[w00tw00t]

+10000000 get the stripped M3 and let the mods begin...

[persian54]

Originally Posted by dibxna

I thought credit unions offered better rates than big banks more often than not?

I am at 2.59% on a 5 year term and bought CPO not new... I got a .25% break or something because I work for the big bank but still am used to credit unions being slightly lowered

Really depends

Over here, the CU's do tend to give better rates than big banks, but not always

I think BofA is pretty competitive

The only issue with CUs for me is they make you become a member lol
not a big deal, but annoying for me

[dawei213]

I'm in the same exact boat as OP. Ok, almost. I'm considering a loaded 335i RWD Sedan vs a used 08/09 M3 Sedan. Affording it is not the issue, but whether for nearly the same price, a loaded 335i vs not as loaded used M3 for a DD is the question. I know I WANT a M3. Will I track it? No as it'll be my only car and if something happens, well, the wife won't be so happy and I'll never back into another performance car. Maybe some autoX on Sundays with the local SCCA. Having two kids also means no free time. In any case, it'll be a DD. However, I feel if I get the 335i, I'll just be settling for second best.

8 years ago, I wanted a G35 coupe. Even put a deposit down, however financially, it would've cost nearly twice more than my current Mazda6s sedan. So I settle for my second choice. To this day, it was a good and right choice but now without regrets. Every time I saw a G35 coupe, I just dream of owning one. I'm at the same cross road now. However, performance wise for a DD, the 335i and M3 around town is fairly close. The low end torque of the 335i really moves the car. But the M3 was definitely a blast to drive around the country road. Scared my sales rep a bit when I told him out for a ride.

For OP, I also took into consideration maintenance cost after maintenance period ends. The biggest cost driver would be the tires and brakes/rotors. The M3 will run more for the tires while almost twice as much for the brakes/rotors (based on my research). It could be less if you get it done at an independent shop and get the OEM rotors/brakes from some of the sponsors on the forum. But if it's just a DD, and based on your own driving route, you might only be changing it once every 40k or few years. Oil change cost is not that much more between the two vehicle. The only thing that would concern me is the warranty period. But then again I'm only looking at CPO M3's.

Hmm...I think I talked myself into getting the used M3. Just need to talk my wife into it :P

[z335is]

M3...

[BMWsully]

Thanks for the advice guys - I think I'm going to get the M3. I shouldn't let options get in the way of a superior car, I can add most of them down the line if I really want to I guess as well.

[EVO350]

Originally Posted by BMWsully

Thanks for the advice guys - I think I'm going to get the M3. I shouldn't let options get in the way of a superior car, I can add most of them down the line if I really want to I guess as well.

Good choice....M3 all the way.

[GIdriver]

M3

[mdosu]

m3

[FVM3]

Originally Posted by persian54

Actually it depends

That's cause the Credit union has good rates where you are


Here, the best rates I've seen offered by CUs is 3.9%.
I was forced to pay 9% on my first autoloan 3 years ago on the Dodge...paid off after a year, but 9% interest is a PITAAAA

If i were you, i would rather pay the 9% interest to build up the credit history. 9% is so less on a car loan,also calculate how much u have to pay for 5 years let say, maybe just $3000. But you didnt pay that once, that what you pay in 5 years.Put those cash in stocks , you can easily earn more

[persian54]

Originally Posted by christopherchenm

If i were you, i would rather pay the 9% interest to build up the credit history. 9% is so less on a car loan,also calculate how much u have to pay for 5 years let say, maybe just $3000. But you didnt pay that once, that what you pay in 5 years.Put those cash in stocks , you can easily earn more

Chris... I did pay the 9% to build my credit history....

That, among other things, allows me to have multiple new BMW leases in my name.