Driving an M3 ... made me appreciate my CL-S so much more.

Now don't get me wrong. I am not suggesting that the M3 isn't a nice car. And I am not suggesting that the CL-S is a better car than the M3. But given the price difference, I now appreciate even more what Acura was able to do with the CL-S.

If both cars were the same price, I'd definitely take the M3. But given the price difference, I think the CL-S is a better value. (NOTE: I am stating opinion here and I realize some of you will not agree. )

Since I drive my CL-S every day, I sometimes forget just how nice it is. I don't always appreciate what I have. But whenever I drive another car, such as a rental car while on business travel, I always get back in my CL-S and smile. It just feels so nice.

 

E36 or E46?? BTW, Bimmers have never been known for value.

 

E46 6-Speed compared to my CL-S 6-Speed

 

Though there's no arguing with the power and looks, I like the E36 M3 MUCH better.

But your point is well taken, the TL/CL always had a blend of power, performance and amenities. Not to mention, you need not worry about shoptime with the CL versus the E46 M3.

 

i smile too after driving my car after driving a rental

 

joo are :sqnteek:

 

Oh look who arrived......:captobvious:


The CL is a nice car, but the E46 M3 is in a completely different playing field.

If you didn't notice a big difference between the 2 cars, you either don't know how to drive or you drove a 330 with an M3 badge.

 

No need to insult my driving ability. I clearly stated that this was my opinion and I also realize not everyone will agree with me. Obviously you don't agree with me and I respect that. The M3 is a very nice car. But for my needs, budget, etc., I think the CL-S is a better choice.

 

That's nice but I don't get this post, how is this different than any other car buying decision?

 

This forum is "Car Talk". I am just talking about cars.

 

I understand what cartan is saying. As a daily driver the CLS can't be beat. You could buy 2 CLs for the price of an M3.

 

I think the key word is for *his* needs... anyone who's not blind/numb to feeling can see the M3 is nicer, faster, and holds it's value better... So the extra you spend you get back when you sell it...

M3 loaded is way better then a CLS....

I'll wait for the "I drive in the snow" argument

Bottom line is if you can afford it, you buy it... just another person justifying their lesser purchase... financially your better off buying the M3, you won't lose nearly as much $$ in the long run.

 

Great, I can buy 2 nicely loaded M3s for the price of a CL55.


Like Siggy said, it just sounds like a self justification post.


That's like me saying I bought the M3 over the Carrera because it fits my needs, budget better. Granted the Porsche is a nice car, if the M3 and Carrera were the same price...I would take the Carrera.

 

What do you mean you won't lose nearly as much $$ in the long run? Yeah, my CL-S has lost over 33% in a year and a half. But that is only $10K (according to KBB). The M3 may only have lost 23% (according to KBB), but that is still over $10K. So far, the CL-S has lost a little less $$.

I am not justifying anything. I am just stating an opinion as are you. Can't we all just get along?

 

I love my CL-S also -------------- but whenever I see an M3 around here i just wonder what it might be like to drive one ...... I really have to wonder about the price though, WHY is is SSSOOOOOOO expensive ?????? I'll keep wishing I geusse

 

Compare a 01 CLS $$ lost to a 01 M3 man. Your numbers are off. Reality is when your car is 3-4 years old. The extra $$ you would have spent on the M3 you'd get back when you sold it.

We are getting along, your just justifying your purchase...

 

The Modena was nice, but with my needs and budget I went with the CLS and I love it more after I get out of a rental

 

How did you drive the m3? Did you go over 35mph?
Anyways im sure a 70 year old would rather drive a buick than a M3 too.


I get what you are trying to say which is cool... but yea i dont think many real car ethusiast would agree with you on this.

 

Shouldnt you be out driving :fingerfawk:

 

OK here are the facts according to KBB. I assumed both are 2001 trade-ins with 50k miles in good condition.

The CL-S is worth $13,800 which represents a loss of about $16,200.

The M3 is worth about $26,900 which represents a loss of around $21,000.

Percentage wise, the M3 did better. In terms of absolute dollars, the CL-S wins.

Again, no justification on my part. I respect the M3. I just happen to have a different opinion than you.

 

 

I would have used private party, but that aside...

Your leaving off the fact BMW has 0 service costs. Since all maintenance is paid for. Thats an easy $3k in 4 years on the Acura from the dealer. Saying you don't have your transmission replaced and get free services, LOL.

Which then makes the difference come to about a $1800 difference in loss.

$1800 more to own a $50k car over 4 years. Which translates to $40 a month difference.

You can get killer deals on CLS because they are discontinued, so if you play that into effect I can see your point.

 

I realize people will not agree with me. And I believe I even stated that in my original post. Differences in opinion make this forum so much more interesting.

And I am not quite 70 yet, so there is no Buick in my near future. But perhaps you are on to something...age is a factor in my opinion. I love performance. But now that I have a family, I have other priorities as well. And those priorities definitely affect my opinions and decisions.

 

Acuras are shit now that they are made in OHIOOOOOOOOO.



I'm selling mine in the coming months and i will NEVER EVER EVER buy another honda/acura again. I'm on my 3rd transmission in 4 years of ownership for Godssakes!

 

An M3 is a drivers car, and it SPANKS a CL-S in every possible aspect, so I don't understand how you can claim that you're acura is better. 100% of people on this board would choose an M3 over A CL-S.

 

i think i rather have a cl-s and 20k for mods than a m3 though

 

 

Read my original post. I clearly stated that I was NOT suggesting the CL-S was a better car. I agree that the M3 is a better car. I just think the CL-S is a better value given all the factors I consider important. Based on your experience and factors important to you, you may very likely come to a different conclusion. That's cool!

 

I can understand your point somewhat, but I really think your post comes down to trying to justify your purchase. Ultimately if you had a choice of the two without price as a consideration, you'd take the M3 as would us all.

I drive a 350Z.. I can look at a 911 Carrera and say that since my car is like 1/3 the cost of the 911, performs about 7/8th's as well and looks somewhat similar (at least to me), that I'm glad I got my Z and it was a better purchase for me. But I'd only say that because I can't afford a 911. If I could, I'd get it in a heartbeat over the Z. I love my Z, but I'd never say it's a better car than the 911.

 

 

I agree with you 100% regarding having a choice without price as a consideration. And if you read my original post, I think you will see I already stated that.

This is not about justification. I don't need to justify anything to the people on this forum. This is a "Car Talk" forum and I am simply talking about cars and stating an opinion. And I do appreciate hearing other opinions and I respect them.

 

We have agreements, thanks cus for the clarification.

 

i know what your saying but thats like comparing a civic and an accord v6, totally different targets, and one is obviously better and more expensive

 

yipes.....cartan....good review.....not sure why everybody gets so pissy. Sometimes the cheaper car is better.

 

Actually my grandmother when she was 73 was gonna buy a brand new honda prelude...that was loaded and my brother had to talk her out of it at the dealership....she stiil bought a new 2-door loaded honda accord...

 

Are you kidding me???

So if I bought a $100,000 Mercedes, and it lost 30,000 (30%), you'd say the same thing???

The percentage shows how well the cars held their value. Who gives a rats ass about "absolute" dollars.

So people who bu Kia's for $10,000 and have lost $5,000 of their value have us all beat!!! Shit, I better run out and buy one.

 

Relax Scrib! I think you missed my point. The numbers simply state that after a couple of years of owning the CL-S, I probably will have lost less in terms of absolute dollars than after owning an M3. So if you tell me over 4 years I will lose $15K on car A and $30K on car B, that might influence my buying decision. It is not the only factor I would consider, but it can be important to those of us on a limited budget. If you are on an unlimited budget, and absolute dollars mean nothing to you, I am happy for you. But I am not on an unlimited budget, so I guess I give a "rat's ass" about absolute dollars.

Now this doesn't mean the CL-S is a better investment, and it doesn't mean the M3 is a better investment. Very few cars are good investments. I was just pointing out that resale value is perhaps not a good argument for owning the more expensive car. There are plenty of other valid reasons for owning the more expensive car. But in general, resale value is usually not one of them.

And yes, from the resale value perspective the KIA does even better than the CL-S. But I wouldn't own one because of those "other" factors. I am not making an argument for resale value. I was just refuting a previous argument about the M3 resale value.

 

And people here get all hyped over nothing. He never said a CL is a better car than the M3.

 

Of course, because the M3 has a higher MSRP and has a lot more to lose because of it! Therefore 20% loss on a BMW is going to be greater than 20% on a CLS.


So if you could afford an M3, would you be saying the same thing? Probably not. Face it, the Bimmer holds its value better.




Ok bud... Keep driving your CLS and worry about your absolute dollars.

The Kai lost 50% in my example. HOW is that better than the BMW??? Percentages make an apples to apples comparison. How you can compare a 5K loss on a Kia to a 21K loss on BMW when the Bimmer costs $40,000 more is beyond me.

In your example, the CLS lost 54%, the Kia lost 50% and the Bimmer was 41%. Dollar comparisons are stupid because each car is so different from on another in terms of MSRP.

Anyway you slice it, your dollar argument is weak.



BTW, find me a M3 for $26,900 like you stated in your example and I'll buy it. An '01 with reasonable mileage goes for much more than that.

 

But if it is TL and M3, I would choose the TL. I probably would choose a 330Ci over a M3 due to the stiff suspension of the latter one. I think M3 is for a small group of people only, not a main-stream kind of car. Its advantages are too extreme to the point that exacerbate its disadvantages. Its superb handling is killing its ride quality significantly. Is there many people enjoy that kind of speed and nimbleness, even sacraficing so much comfort? I would say not.