M3 350Z

Having SUCH a tough decision. Before I go on let me say that I am looking at 2 completely different cars. My choices are an Acura TL Type S or a BMW 328xi coupe. Both are awesome cars and believe it or not, similar in terms of performance feel and price. The BMW feels more solid of course as I was doing 60 during a test drive and felt more like 35 or 40. The Acura is a bit quicker with 56 more horses.

I priced both out for similar leases and the BMW was only about $20-30 more a month. I just can't decide. I also love the 335i but the lease on that I was told would be from about $50-$100 more a month than the xi. Doable, but not sure yet whether I would go with RWD.

This decision is tough, ugh what to do what to do.

daemonicus

BMW = free maintenence for 4 years = you only pay for the gas you put in it
Acura = you pay for every service and repair...and gas.

EuRTSX

Hmm that's funny. I don't pay anything for my Acura service.

daemonicus

ah yes, i should rephrase. acura has a good warranty but it's not as covered as the bimmer warranty. it'd still be a tough choice for me though, that TL-S is a fun car to drive.

Crazy Bimmer

I rather have the 328xi, but im sure most of us knew that.

Well better question is, what options would that 328xi come with?

M3 350Z

the 328xi comes with the sport package, premium, cold weather........pretty much everything except navi

Crazy Bimmer

Thats a pretty damn good deal then. IMO

M3 350Z

The only thing is i don't wanna regret not having gotten the 335i (which is pricey and crap in the bad weather) and I don't wanna wish i got the type s for it's speed (cuz i do like me some speed). But the BMW ain't a slouch or anything

Garnet Canuck

Your two choices include a FWD and an AWD. Since you are considering an AWD, is that a deciding factor, ie. for winter time driving? Obviously, a FWD based vehicle is decent in the snow as well, but AWD is certainly better. Also, will having two doors be an issue, compared to the 4 doors on the TL? Like you stated, you are looking at two entirely different vehicles.......just weigh the pros and cons of each one and take it from there. IMO, both are great cars.......just different. Good luck.

M3 350Z

Yeah the 2 doors don't make a difference cuz most the time no one else is in my car. Usually 1 other person at most. My pops sat in the back of the 328 while i drove it and he's tall and said there was plenty of room. Plus the FWD AWD isn't a huge issue to me as both are better than RWD in the snow. I live on Long Island so it only snows a couple times a year at most

Garnet Canuck

Ok, so the FWD vs AWD isn't an issue and neither is the two doors vs. four doors.
Based on exterior and interior looks alone, I like the TL type S better.....but then again those things are completely subjective and only you can decide what you like better. If the 335i is only $50 more a month, I would be extremely tempted to opt for that. While I haven't personally driven a 335i yet, I have heard nothing but great things about its performance.

In the end, that only think I can suggest is test drive both cars again and see which one gets you excited the most. :wink:

M3 350Z

What sucks is no BMW near me has a manual tranny to test drive so i had to check the BMW in auto. It was nice but nothing spectacular. However afterwards i drove the TL-S in auto (i drove it in stick weeks ago) and it was like a different car. The stick was so much more fun and the auto was quite boring. That makes me believe the BMW would be much more exciting in stick too

M3 350Z

Man this would be so much easier if the 335xi coupe was already in production. I'd wait, but my mazda ain't holdin up another 6 months.

picus

Since when is RWD crap in cold weather? Winter tires my friend.

Anyway; the auto on the 328 is different than the auto in the 335i - it's a little slower; I'd definitely opt for the manual in a 328i. The clutch is kind of light, but it's a good transmission.

mov_ovr

Seems that the TL would be the quicker car.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

Dont forget though when something goes wrong with a BMW its not cheap at all to fix if its not covered under warranty.

Crazy Bimmer

Read the thread before shooting your mouth off. He said hes LEASING.

I dont even think he would have to pay for brake pads.

Are there any 1/4 times for the TL-S yet?

Crazy Bimmer

Also im shocked no one has said this, but have you looked at the G35 also?

Hell i think you might even be able to get a Audi S4 if you leasing... doesnt hurt to check it out.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

that doesnt mean you cant go out of warranty on a lease. I did see that and im just saying keep in mind if you go over the warranty thats something to consider.

daemonicus

my old man has a BMW that he bought about 3 years ago and he's still covered under the warranty for another year/20k miles. he's never payed for one repair on that car because the warranty has always taken over. the only things he paid for were the new tires he put on and the fuel. BMW warranties really cover you for whatever you need done.

and yes, crazy sellout, replacement brake pads are free of charge.

Crazy Bimmer

If you going over 4 years/50,000 miles on a lease then you have more issues than repair costs.

SanJoseRoller

i'd buy the TL-S

more room / practical space

more power

M3 350Z

I look at it this way:

Acura: (Pros) Faster, slightly cheaper, nice fit and finish, reliable, everything comes standard, styling (Cons) FWD torque steer, 1st year model woes plus 4th year model body style.

BMW: (Pros) German solid build quality, BMW warranty, AWD, handling, even nicer styling imo (Cons) Not quite as fast, wishing i'd gotten a 335i.

M3 350Z

P.S. I looked at the G35 coupe and i didn't like it as much as the BMW or acura. Also I looked at both a CPO S4 and a new s4 and they're just so price plus they don't come with anything and the options are extremely pricey

gdcwatt

I test drove a 6AT 325 in 5 inches of snow a year ago, with stock all-season tires; it was wonderful, able to turn corners without drama and start on a hill, and easier to control than my TSX with snow tires, but I would still definately by snow tires for that car, so you're not a target in the middle of an intersection.

My Jeep experience tells me the big advantage of 4wd is the ability to make a left turn out into traffic, in the wet. Sitting in the passenger seat of a 198x 323ix on a racetrack, I was told that it is difficult to steer the car with the gas pedal, and a proper line is, perhaps, more important.

I'd lose my licence in a week, if I had a TL 6MT; I bought a TSX over a 325.

jz-97-c7

lease the 335, if it's just $50-100 more...you sound like you're set on a bimmer anyway. snow tires can't be that expensive, can they??

JediMindTricks

if i was choosing, i'd go with the tl-s. i'm just more partial to sedans than coupe.

though if the 335 was an option....

daemonicus

the 335i comes in a sedan version.

dom

2007 G35 sedan? Comes in AWD as well.

synth19

why are you leasing either car @ 21? Anyways, if the Bimmer is as equiped as the TL, sounds like it's a great deal.

M3 350Z

Why not lease one of those at 21 if I'm able to? As per the G35 AWD, it only comes with a girl transmission (auto).

synth19

^ what are your reasons for leasing?

M3 350Z

Why lease? New car every couple years, lower maintanance costs, lower payments and you're only paying for the depreciation anyway so you're in the same place as if you'd purchased except you don' t have to worry about resale. Cars are a financial pit no matter how you look at it. I prefer to lease.

M3 350Z

I set up an appointment to drive a 335i Coupe MT this friday (yes i tracked one down). I called every BMW dealership remotely near me and it was the closest thing I could find to a 328xi coupe MT. I know once I drive the 335i I'm not even going to want to consider the 328. But, it's my only means of getting a feel for the manual tranny. Does anyone on here have a 328xi coupe with MT or even a 328i MT coupe? Are they slow as some claim? Coming out of an '03 Mazda6, I think this car will be about the same as my current car in terms of speed, not sure.

dom

C&D ran a 325 MT to 60 in 6.1 and through the 1/4 mile in 14.7. This is obviously only a guideline but a good indicator nonetheless.

The 328 with 15 more HP and 15 more lb-ft should be just as quick if not quicker.

Also alot quicker than a V6 Mazda 6.

http://www.caranddriver.com/shortroa.../bmw-325i.html

M3 350Z

What about the added weight of AWD?

dom

BMW's web site lists the 328xi coupe as doing 0-60 in 7.1 and they are typically very conservative.

A 328i Sedan weighs 3333 while a 328xi coupe weighs 3575.

M3 350Z

I've just narrowed it down to the TL type S and most likely the 328xi (RWD doesn't seem too practical and 335i is a bit pricey). I want a car that's going to make me look back at my Mazda6 and see a huge improvement in all aspects. I want to love the 328xi very badly, i'm just not sure whether or not it has enough oomph from the 230 horses with the AWD. I don't wanna regret not going with the 286 ponies in the TL-S but the beamer is so solid. There isn't one 328xi coupe on Long Island to test drive.

kappa821

yea i would be going through this same debate if i already didnt have my TL.....the main reason i went with the TL over last years bmws was that they didnt have coupe all wheel drive....this being said the only reason i think i would choose the 328xi is if i could get black ext with red leather color combo is sick otherwise i think i would go with th TL type S with KBP

JediMindTricks

that's right.... they both come in sedans now.

still, i'd take the tl-s over the 328. but not the 335.