M3 > CL-S

 

I'll take my "weak dollar argument" and my extra few thousand dollars and I'll be happy because I'd rather have the money. You can take your fewer percentage points because it would appear that percentage points make you happy. I wish I were rich enough that percentage points meant more to me than absolute dollars.

How is the KIA better than the M3? It would cost the KIA owner $5K in depreciation to drive for 4 years, but it would cost the M3 owner over $20K in depreciation to drive during the same 4 years. Does that mean you should by a KIA and not an M3? No, because there are other factors to consider. But saving $15K over 4 years is still a nice concept. There is nothing wrong with buying the M3. Just don't tell me you bought it because at the end of 4 years you will be better off financially.

Also, apparently you didn't read my post too well. When I did the car value comparison, I clearly stated I was comparing TRADE-IN VALUES as listed on KBB. According to KBB, the TRADE-IN VALUE for a 2001 M3 with 50,000 miles in "Good" condition is $26,925.

If you cannot understand my point by now, then I guess I'll give up trying. But thanks for participating in the discussion.

 

KBB is WORTHLESS!!! It simply takes averages and projections, etc. It is usually a good benchmark for selling a car, but on some vehicles like an M3 its not. M3's hold their value a million times better than we can ever hope our cars will. http://www.roadfly.org/bmw/classifie...ds.php?cat=206
Look at the price of E30 M3s. THose prices are fairly accurate as to what they are going for. You think you can touch an E46 for 26k even if it had 100k miles? You'll be in the E36 M3 range with 50k miles for that much. I can see where you would say driveability and maintnence for us, but in almost every other aspect an M3 is better and its more of a worth while investment.

 

That's your opinion and ain't nobody gonna take that away from you.

 

I agree that the M3 is far superior in many respects. But I can tell you all that when I bought my CL-S, I did have the money for an M car, and looked at 4 of them in different flavors. I then researched (thanks to ACL) and drove a CL-S with Navi and it was all over. The CL-S drove smoother, was just as reliable and there wasn't one of them every 50 feet. It was roomier, I liked the body style, the pricepoint, the insurance, the navi system, the big trunk, and the performance. This was a daily driver that I was purchasing and I would have paid much more to insure it if it was the M car. The gas mileage is just as good if not better in the CL-S too. I thought it was a better buying decision than the M car, and I still do.

 

You're obviously not in any position to afford a M3, so I "guess" I see where your argument is coming from.

However, your logic is severely flawed IMHO.

Saving 15K isn't the issue. It's the fact that you're comparing a $30,000 car, to a $50,000 car. And since ALL cars depreciate, the more expensive cars will lose more money over the long term because they cost more to begin with. Unless we're talking about something that will actually "appreciate" over time. Which we're clearly not.

So yeah, you've got 15K more in your pocket, but you're not comparing two of the same cars...

Your argument would be valid if you had two cars in the same class that both cost roughly the same amount.

But my issue stems from the fact that you're saying you have more money in your pocket after four years.... WELL YEAH!!! The cars didn't cost the same to begin with. So I'd expect you to have more in your pocket just from the basic principle that one cost much more to begin with.

Look at it however you want, but the only reason you have 15K more in your pocket is because it stayed in your pocket to beign with. But comparing a CLS to a M3 is pretty dumb. There is no comparison.

 

Cruz, I agree with you on your compraro, but there is still part of me that says f it, I want the BMW. I would get a 330ci manual if I did, cause the cool factor and engineering is very high. Against it, the US made CL seems a little mundane. That's my struggle, the 330CI is way sexier or the practical fun, reliability of the CLS.
Also, the BMW dealer had 3 or 4 used M3s when I was there a while ago. One was a 01 with only 15k miles, they were asking $39, is that cheap? Still about twice what I got my 6 speed Navi for. I need to stay practical but the 330Ci seems more exciting to me and maybe it would to my insurance agent too, I don't know.

 

The 330Ci with the Performance package is a very nice alternative to the M3. Has plenty of performance and the insurance is fair amount less than the M3.

 

i can now talk...and you my friend are ''LOCO''

i just leased an 04 tl, and IMO that car kills the cl-s hands down. i loved my cl-s but it's a far fucking cry from my M3.

 

i was very suprised to see my M3 is only $200.00 more per year than my 04 tl.

what's up with that???

 

theres dale...

hes had both cars he can put some info into this thread

 

M3SOME wins a NO CONTEST bout.

 

yea, thats a great plate

when ya gonna get it

 

Did you lease it? If so (assuming they are under similar terms) the only reason I think that its surprising is because the M3 is an 03.....pre-owned cars typically don't lease out well.

But, I should also say that the M3s carry a high residual (all 3series do). Not sure what an 03 would be at this point, but the 04s are 60%+ for 3 years/12k miles.

The TLs residual is not that great, it was in the 56%-57% area like 2 months ago. Not sure what it is now.

Then again, $200 more a month while not a ton of money.....isn't chump change either (like $50/month difference).

 

Ummm so did I.....had an 01 Type-S for 3 years.

 

i totally forgot

 

WOW guys, you totally missed what his original post was saying. He didn't say anything about either car holding value, or percentages, or any of that crap.

Look at it this way. Given that both cars would be used as "daily drivers" most people aren't going to drive the car at 10/10ths everyday on the street. Therefore lets say they like to do some "spirited driving" every now and then. For a daily driven car that is maybe pushed to 7/10ths of its potential why would one need an M3? Of course we all know it is faster in every aspect of performance. But I believe what he was trying to say that for the price of admission for an '03 CL-S 6-Speed, he was very impressed with what Acura could offer. A car that will offer all the power any "daily driver" would need.

He wasn't trying to "justify his purchase" or try and make it seem like the M3 was not up to CL-S standards. But when it comes to the performance, the luxury, and the reliablity of the Honda powerplant in our cars it is hard to pass up for the money, this is why we all bought the car we (well most of us) here own.

The CL-S definitely rides smoother than the M3 and that is a major plus for the Acura when it is used as a commuting vehicle. You guys need to relax a little. The M3 and CL-S are world apart from each other and I doubt a potential buyer of either car would cross-shop the two. He never tried to imply this. He was simply stating how much he enjoys his CL-S. Something alot of you all need to do more often instead of continuously pointing out the flaws in our cars. It's nice to hear from someone who actually enjoys their CL-S so much.

 

buying the M3, leasing the TL.

i said $200.00 more per year! as in 2200.00 for 12 months(m3) vs. 2000.00 for 12 months (tl). more like 17.00 a month more.

 

EXACTLY!!! You finally understand my point. That was my only point regarding the finances. If you are just looking strictly at finances and nothing else, you are usually better off in the cheaper car. See, it wasn't that big of a deal.

Now regarding other factors, I would agree that an M3 is a better car and if you read my first post you would probably see that.

 

i think we shouldnt be comparing 2 cars together sense it is a totaly diffrent category, but as for price and freature wise i think the acura cl-s has more things to offer,while compared to the M3

 

Ok... I'm with you now.

But the M3 still has better resale.

 

While true for the current models, this wasn't the case back in '98 when I bought my M3. The insurance for either the M3 or the 328/330 (can't recall which model existed back then) was exactly the same, which is what swayed me to get the M3. After all, if the insurance is going to be the same for both cars, why deprive yourself?
Otherwise, I feel rather fortunate not to have to debate this subject based on the hypothetical ... as my CL-S occupies the left side of my garage, and my E36 M3 occupies the right side.