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      03-19-2008, 11:23 AM   #1
carnuts3
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M3 vs 335i ??

I love the M3. But in light of the concerns expressed about the lousy lease rates, I decided to calculate what it would cost to lease a modestly optioned M3 coupe (msrp $64,335, excluding gg tax) versus a fully optioned 335 coupe (msrp $50,525)... the difference in the monthly lease payments was an eye opener for me.

For a 24 month 10,000 miles/yr lease with a $5,000 cost cap reduction (excluding all up-front costs incl gg tax), the M3 monthly payment would be $ 999; the 335 monthly payment would be $546.00. Obviously the difference is due to the purchase price of these cars and the preferential lease rates on the 335.

Question that I'm struggling with: For someone like me who doesn't track my cars and drives around $8-10,000 miles/yr, is driving the M3 worth an 83% increase in my monthly payments vs the 335? Or, with my modest driving needs, can I get almost as much enjoyment driving a fully decked-out 335 as my daily driver?

If there was only a $2-300/mo diff in lease payments between these cars, I would not hesitate to go for the M, and gladly pay the premium over the 335. But for a $450+/mo premium, I'm starting to question my common sense -especially when I consider my driving needs.

As always, your thoughts/comments are most welcomed.
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      03-19-2008, 11:28 AM   #2
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I don't think anyone can answer this for you except yourself! You will be the one driving the car after all... Either way, both are awesome cars
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      03-19-2008, 11:32 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by carnuts3 View Post
I love the M3. But in light of the concerns expressed about the lousy lease rates, I decided to calculate what it would cost to lease a modestly optioned M3 coupe (msrp $64,335, excluding gg tax) versus a fully optioned 335 coupe (msrp $50,525)... the difference in the monthly lease payments was an eye opener for me.

For a 24 month 10,000 miles/yr lease with a $5,000 cost cap reduction (excluding all up-front costs incl gg tax), the M3 monthly payment would be $ 999; the 335 monthly payment would be $546.00. Obviously the difference is due to the purchase price of these cars and the preferential lease rates on the 335.

Question that I'm struggling with: For someone like me who doesn't track my cars and drives around $8-10,000 miles/yr, is driving the M3 worth an 83% increase in my monthly payments vs the 335? Or, with my modest driving needs, can I get almost as much enjoyment driving a fully decked-out 335 as my daily driver?

If there was only a $2-300/mo diff in lease payments between these cars, I would not hesitate to go for the M, and gladly pay the premium over the 335. But for a $450+/mo premium, I'm starting to question my common sense -especially when I consider my driving needs.

As always, your thoughts/comments are most welcomed.
lease on 335 isnt that great either man. try to go with indie lease company or go thru ur own bank vs. BMWFS. that's how im getting my M3

oh yah, another thing i had to factor in to justify the M3 price is factoring out the crazy mod money that i *must* put on a 335 between wheels, DP's chip, lip, etc (8k on minimum 14k maximum)
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      03-19-2008, 11:42 AM   #4
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The solution is to finance the car instead. The payment differential will then be proportionate to the difference in selling price.

Realistically though, the M3 lease rates will come down over time. If you wait, you will get something more reasonable.
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      03-19-2008, 11:46 AM   #5
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anyone that has to ask should just get the 335i.
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      03-19-2008, 11:48 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sayemthree View Post
anyone that has to ask should just get the 335i.
agreed.
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      03-19-2008, 12:35 PM   #7
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      03-19-2008, 12:42 PM   #8
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if you want the M, save a bit more to put more on a down payment...
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      03-19-2008, 12:43 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sayemthree View Post
anyone that has to ask should just get the 335i.
+1
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      03-19-2008, 12:49 PM   #10
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335 vs M3 ..............

Sort of like 911 vs 911turbo vs GT2. Bottom line is both are great cars so it depends on what each individual wants. People can mod the 335 to the hilt and get it fast, but it is not an M car, and if you spend that much to modify the car just get the real deal to start with. I wonder how many buyers ever track the car, and the ones that don't will NEVER approach the limits of either car on the street, esp the M3. I have had E36 and E 46 M3's and did some track time in both, but rarely drove it very hard most of the time on the street. The few times I can let it rip, however, are what I enjoy. The M3 has gotten quite expensive, but when you consider the performance of this new car it is about right. To get the kind of numbers this car gets you would need to spend more, and many of those cars are not great daily drivers.

It is all a matter of what you want, and you cannot go wrong either way. To be honest if this is just a daily driver or weekender you might save some $$ and go with the 335, I doubt you will notice the difference driving down mainstreet USA. Use the savings to go to an M school and drive the hell out of someone elses car.
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      03-19-2008, 12:51 PM   #11
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If you are leasing, you will get fried by BMW's intro lease rates on the M3. There will be lease deals on the M3, but not now. And since you find yourself hesitating after doing the analysis, it seems to me that the M3 is not the best choice for you at this time...
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      03-19-2008, 01:05 PM   #12
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Performance numbers from a German test (AMS) are BS?


Best regards, south
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      03-19-2008, 01:55 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Laszlo View Post
Funny, in the BMW magazine I just got, BMW claims the 135i to do 0 to 60 in 5.1 seconds.

I also suspect that the e92 335i is par to the e46 M3 from 0 to 60 and handling, and BMW stated the e46 M3 did 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds.

I think all these numbers are BS. Who do you believe?

I think 4.7 is too HIGH for the M3.
keep in mind 100 km/h = 62 mph, not 60 mph. could be the difference for .1 or .2 of those seconds.
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      03-19-2008, 02:16 PM   #14
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fully optioned 335 for 560/mo...get outta herrreeeee
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      03-19-2008, 02:26 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SCBMW02 View Post
To be honest if this is just a daily driver or weekender you might save some $$ and go with the 335,
This comment doesn't make much sense.
You covered all of the uses of a car besides a dedicated track car. Which, if someone was looking for that, there are much better options out there.
How is an M3, as a weekend car, not suitable?
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      03-19-2008, 02:32 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Epacy View Post
This comment doesn't make much sense.
You covered all of the uses of a car besides a dedicated track car. Which, if someone was looking for that, there are much better options out there.
How is an M3, as a weekend car, not suitable?
lol, no doubt Ep.

"just a daily driver or weekender"? Um, that's like 90% of all M3s probably. If every one of those people up and decided to go with a 335i, then there would not even be an M3.
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      03-19-2008, 03:17 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murellus View Post
fully optioned 335 for 560/mo...get outta herrreeeee
No - $546/mo (incl 6% sales tax). Used Mar '08 BMWFS rates for a 24 month, 10,000 miles/yr lease (R-72%, MF-.00230) with a $5,000 cost cap reduction. MSRP $50,525, Edmunds TMV $49,296.
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      03-19-2008, 03:23 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by carnuts3 View Post
I love the M3. But in light of the concerns expressed about the lousy lease rates, I decided to calculate what it would cost to lease a modestly optioned M3 coupe (msrp $64,335, excluding gg tax) versus a fully optioned 335 coupe (msrp $50,525)... the difference in the monthly lease payments was an eye opener for me.

For a 24 month 10,000 miles/yr lease with a $5,000 cost cap reduction (excluding all up-front costs incl gg tax), the M3 monthly payment would be $ 999; the 335 monthly payment would be $546.00. Obviously the difference is due to the purchase price of these cars and the preferential lease rates on the 335.

Question that I'm struggling with: For someone like me who doesn't track my cars and drives around $8-10,000 miles/yr, is driving the M3 worth an 83% increase in my monthly payments vs the 335? Or, with my modest driving needs, can I get almost as much enjoyment driving a fully decked-out 335 as my daily driver?

If there was only a $2-300/mo diff in lease payments between these cars, I would not hesitate to go for the M, and gladly pay the premium over the 335. But for a $450+/mo premium, I'm starting to question my common sense -especially when I consider my driving needs.

As always, your thoughts/comments are most welcomed.
Of course the lease rates are going to be shitty for the first couple of years. The sales success of the car hasn't been determined, and BMW won't get aggressive with the residuals until after a few years of the E92/90/93 ///M's being on the market. The same thing occurred with the E46 ///M. Lease rates sucked until 2003.


Quote:
Originally Posted by lucid View Post
If you are leasing, you will get fried by BMW's intro lease rates on the M3. There will be lease deals on the M3, but not now. And since you find yourself hesitating after doing the analysis, it seems to me that the M3 is not the best choice for you at this time...
^^^ What he said!
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      03-19-2008, 03:40 PM   #19
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A year and a half ago I almost bought the 335i because it was a such a beautiful car. I am so used to the looks of the M3 now that the 335i looks very unaggressive to me(still nice car though). Plus I would kick my self every time an M3 pulled up to me. Pick mine up tomorrow morning!!
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