GreenMonster

Used G35 would be interesting too..

brizey

You might be able to swing a deal for an STI for $35k, too.

TS_eXpeed

First of all, I would change your viewpoint on a couple of things. If you are trying to aim for a certain group of cars, don't just say "I'm trying to spend X amount of dollars"....make a budget and say "I don't want to spend over this". Second, as far as the TL styling 'con' goes....who cares if the style is changing soon?? If you like it, go for it. Heck, it may be even worse than the new TSX. I'm not flaming you or anything, just trying to give you some pointers.


As far as the pick goes, I am definitely a sucker for the 3 series coupes. The are just . Granted there are a lot on the road, but for a good reason.

Scrib

Save money, buy a house.

YoungCeo

My vote would be to wait for this:

2009 Acura TL...



Or this...Lexus IS350 used...

stright-(paint)balling

have you thought about a Evo 10 or a G8 GT both of those cars will "run"

NJSGTI

OK, so I went out to some dealerships yesterday and did some test driving. I drove the Infiniti G37 and the BMW 328i coupe. The first was the BMW which was $39,900. High on price and low on power. I did like how the car drove and how expensive it felt. I also liked the wheels that came with the sport package. It hen went across to Infiniti and drove a G37 Journey with Technology Package. This car was $38,900 if I remember correctly. I LOVE THIS CAR!!! I thought that the quality of the inerior would be similar to a Nissan but it really was a lot better. I also LOVE the 330hp. My cousin recently leased a Jag XK and the G feels very similar in many ways and has more power. The MSRP is a little higher than I expected but I hope I can get them down. I might go drive an IS350 just for comparison but I think I am sold on the G37

THANKS for all the help Especially everyone who suggested the G37.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

G37 > 328i for sure.

btw, did you test drive the MT ones?

NJSGTI

I test drove automatics. I know everyone would say to get manual but I would prefer auto.

Saintor

Don't make the mistake that power is the answer to everything. A 3-series is much more fun-to-drive than a G.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test

Acuraluvr

iTrader: (2)

why not get the genesis? its made for people like you


lol good luck with the g37, sweet car

Never Summer

Don't make the mistake of using Car and Driver as a reliable source when it comes to BMW vs. [insert anything].

Saintor

Except for Consumer Reports that puts value in #1, the 3-series eats G3X for lunch.

It is not a value I buy, it is a car.

The G3X is nice, but not 3-series nice.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

I'm sorry, but do you realize that you sound like msl82 in BMW version right now?

As much as I love the 3 series myself (have been the benchmark in the segment for a long time), I don't think G3X is that far from the 3-series in terms of every aspect of car. Plus, the fun-to-drive factor is VERY subjective matter.. You just gotta purchase whatever that serves you the best.

Saintor

Fixed for ya.

As I said above, the G35 is a car I also love to drive, but less to look at. If you think that fun-to-drive is very subjective, styling is even more so.

shooter

I vote for type-s .... best bang for the buck ...

SRK85

Lol gas prices would not make the G37 attractive imo. Anyways why not test a b7 or wait for the b8 A4?

03aspec

i second this, be smart with your money.

chiawei

My 01 530i was boosted to 7 PSI. And it ran perfectly fine for over 2 years with about 30k miles.

Dem1K

iTrader: (1)

Oh God, really?

TypeSblkura

iTrader: (1)

How about a 07 M35 Sport?

Eoanou

Gas mileage will make you sell your G37 in 6mos.


I'll be back in your new thread "I've got $2000 to spend because I blew my money on gas for my G37, what should I buy."

Imo, if you can't afford to pay 40K for a car then you should consider a car that's more fuel efficient than 16/24 because in the end gas prices will hurt your wallet more than a 40K car.

Wisc Badger

+1

besides driving in a straight line is boring. the 3 hugs the corners like no other. and how fuckin fast do you need to get to 60 anyway... (most places have traffic up the ass anyway)? are you drag racing? the 328 is still a pretty quick car and the manufacturer lies about the 0-60 times if you care. my 328xi is listed at 6.9 yet I've gotten it down to 6.1 on numerous occasions. the 328 is supposed to do it in 6.2 so I'm guessing with a $300 cold air intake you'll be down in the 5.7-5.8 range at least.

I still say screw the coupe and get a 328 sedan. base MSRP is just over $32k so you can get some options too and still be in the $35-$36k range. Plus you'll get 29-30mpg hwy.

I think its so stupid that the coupes are more expensive but whatever... I'm a 4 door guy anyway so I don't care.

SRK85

^^word theres a reason why the 3 series outsells the G35.

Brandon24pdx

If you like the G37, go at least try a 135i. The power might hook you into living with it's less than elegant looks. Either one of these will get you beyond $35k unless you get and great deal AND go light on the options.

E46 M3's are tempting in that price range too I guess, and they can be a good buy if it's a nice one. Actually I feel kind of sorry for guys that bought 05's or 06's that are trying to ditch them now...24-30 months ago they bought $55k+ car they'd be lucky to get $35k for today with these new one's out that are every bit as fast, and even get better gas milage.

Mokos23

Wisc Badger

i stand corrected... about $37k with some options
$39-40ish if you want all the toys minus the navi

if you go the 135 route, with sports pkg (ZSP) and bluetooth (BMW assist) you'd be mid $37k-$38 depending on color choice cuz metallic color is extra.

its worth at least checking them out.
135 isn't as smooth through the corners as the 3 is but its still damn nice and will out handle an Infiniti... oh and if you're looking for blazing fast acceleration its the fastest non-M BMW makes (car and driver clocked it at 4.7 0-60)

Costco

That's the worst advice I've heard in this thread yet. My car gets 16/25 and I paid $12900 which incudes TTL, and that was pushing just about what I could afford at the time. I have no problem with gas prices. It's doubtful that he'll ever see $5000 worth in savings of gas with the cars he's looking at, unless he drives more than 20,000 miles/year and has the car for over 3 years, which is doubtful seeing that he's selling his TSX already. People blow gas mileage way out of proportion, as if its gonna save him $10,000 a year if he gets a car that gets 20/30.

Which is why I suggested the G8 GT - starts at just under $30,000. Automobile Mag compared a G8 GT to a 550i (which starts at $58,000) and they were very close in performance, straight line and in the corners. The OP seems biased against domestics though, so to each his own.

Wisc Badger

ok 1.

think about this. assume you drive 50/50 city/hwy...

20-29 mpg for 3 series so avg is 24.5
16-24 mpg for m37 so avg is 20

say he drives 12k a year

12k/24.5 = 490 gallons a year for a 3 series x gas price (we'll say 4.25) - $2082 per year
12k/20 = 600 gallons a year for the M37 x gas = $2550 per year

now i don't care who you are but $500 is $500 and thats could be a few nice mods over a few years totaled up or a month or two of free insurance or whatever.

Plus the less gas the collective population uses the lower the price will stay so we should hope that ALL people start buying more fuel efficient cars today.

/treehuggerrant


2. g8 gt is a good idea too however i hate american cars and again gas mileage could be better (notice i didn't say he'd save thousands of $ but I just think most cars today should be getting at least 30 hwy in general)

Costco

I've already done the math in my head, thus why I said it would take years for him to even see anything close to the difference. $500 is a lot of money but $2400 is quite a bit more. Going on BMWusa.com, the 328i MSRP is $32400. The 528i (which is more similar in dimensions to the G8) MSRPs @ $44,300.

Clearly I have less of a budget to work with compared to the OP and many others here, but I haven't had to resort to selling the car for something that gets better mileage yet and I doubt I will in the foreseeable future unless something catastrophic (knock on wood) happens.

And at the "....but i hate american cars" comment. That really improves your credibility.

I'm curious, you have a 335i right? How many MPG do you get? Edmunds and CNET both got a ~20 mpg average:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=117669
http://reviews.cnet.com/coupe-hatchb...-32027892.html

I regularly get 19mpg and got 22mpg when I drove very conservatively if that matters.... right on point with the EPA's numbers for my car, which are 17/25.

Wisc Badger

how does not liking american made cars have anything to do with my credibility??? sorry, i'm not a union guy who buys only american everything. in my experience, american cars are cheaply made (and most of the time look it), and break far too easily/often and worst of all, don't hold their values because of these factors. plus up until recently most didn't have comparable MPG numbers... some models still don't.

so for him to save 2400 on an american car, might be pointless cuz he'll lose it all if not more on the resale value in 2-3 years when the pontiac is only worth $20 grand and the bimmer is up around $25-28k depending on how much he spends.

I have a 328xi. BMW and Edmunds both stat 17/25 however I average 19-20/30 (my average calc on the car usually reads 24mpg) since its a manual but i drive my car pretty hard around town and about 80mph on the hwy so... the numbers lie on my car.
I'm not some eurosnob who won't buy american cars. I'm a guy whos had bad experiences with them so i choose not to.

PS obvious statements like that don't improve your credibility


maybe $500 a year isn't enough to sway his decision however I wasn't telling him it should... I was just clarifying for everyone the numbers and supporting Eoanou's statement that if he's complaining about the cost of the cars (infiniti vs BMW)... he'll be spending even MORE money on gas buy getting the Infiniti than he would with the BMW which is something for him to consider... and he'll end up losing more in depreciation on the G8 if he goes that route from either import... which is why myself and others are suggesting the 328

/ofstory

Costco

What in the world does unions have ANYTHING to do with liking or not liking American cars? I am 95% against unions.... the 5% being I could see the benefit IF I were a union worker that was about to retire. It results in higher prices for the consumer, which would be me in that 95% chance.

And in any case, the G8 is an Australian car, really. Built right in the same plant that the Holden Commodore is assembled in (Elizabeth, Australia) and is shipped over to the U.S. Not sure if that necessarily has anything to do with it, and its subjective, but the G8's interior is hardly cheap looking or ugly and I haven't seen any complaints from any of the major magazines or G8 owners about build quality, or seen it myself. The G8 looks great inside and out.

American cars break too easily? My Z28 started at $22,000 MSRP when it was new, and there hasn't been a single thing I needed to do in the 6 months I've owned it besides regular maintenace like changing the oil. In the 4 years and 1.5 years that my cousin and sister-in-law have owned their X5 and Mini-S JCW, respectively....

X5
Unreadable gauge display
Car needed a new starter (faulty starter ground)
Warped rotors like a mofo even after they were turned
In the shop for various other problems that I didn't ask about

Mini Cooper S
THREE failed window regulators (this car only has 2 windows!)
Also in the shop multiple for various other problems I didn't ask about. One visit cost $500+

My brother's friend also owned an X5 and had so many problems that he sold it and got a Pilot. Subsequently, after comparing the two he concluded that his X5 was a piece of crap.

I'm sure you enjoy your car a lot (otherwise you wouldn't recommend it) and you still are unswayed on your opinion of American cars, but history isn't on BMW's side with respect to reliability.

I was only referring to Eoanou's post about him not being able to afford the gas if he can't afford a $40,000 car. Used 335i resale values are taking a dump recently also, though I haven't seen many problems with them... yet.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138253

So you can predict resale values 3 years down the road... impressive. Personally I never have and most likely never will buy a brand new car. So that just means I'll get a better deal buying used

I'm a guy who knows many people with bad experiences with BMWs so I choose not to buy them.

I made an obvious statement, which was to prove a point. How does that hurt my credibility

Personally I thought American cars were trash before I looked into buying an LS1 Camaro... it took just one test drive minus the salesman/seller in the passenger seat and all of my previous conceptions flew out of the window.

I wasn't telling him that the G8 should sway his decision either, I was just suggesting that since he didn't include it even after it was suggested. This new crop of GMs isn't the same as it was 10-15 years ago. People have misconceptions that tend to cloud their judgment and thus they never ever actually go out and look and drive a car before ultimately shelving the effort because of the aforementioned reasons. And yes, I have had an up-close and personal look and feel of the new E9x's and the new G8, my brother's neighbor and roommate have one of each.

I don't think the G8's resale can get much worse than this:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...3&postcount=20

civicvtec1ps

iTrader: (1)

G35 Sports sedan.

Wisc Badger

LOL

so an 8 yr old car that as an average depreciated about $3k/yr is really that bad??? I'll admit, BMW isn't Acura/Honda in the resale dept... but they are well above the middle mark out of all the auto makers.
http://www.autoblog.com/2005/10/06/k...award-winners/
they've done something right, even if that is from 06. I haven't had any problems with my 3 series... you/ your friends experiences are obviously different.

but lets talk about your last statement of the G8's value plummeting or not.

my best friend (ill advised by me) went out and leased a new 05 GTO back a few years ago. I think he threw down a total of about 8-9 grand on the car and still was making some decent payments (he's an idiot when it comes to finances). That car stickered for just under $38k and after his 24 months and about 25,000 miles later he was offered the buyout for the car.... $21,000. THAT IS FRICKING SCARY. You wont find a 2 yr old 335 for that much... i've looked

actually the scary part was that after all of that, he didn't even want the car anymore because it was in the shop constantly for this or that so... personal experience is everything. no need to attack my bias of not liking american cars... and trust me, i'm not the only one who feels/buys that way either.

Moog-Type-S

Keep your TSX

jwood_06TSX

I have an 06 TSX that i have thought about trading multiple times and my three picks were:
08 TL-S
08 G37
08 G8 GT
Or wait for the G* GXP cause that car will be sick.

I test drove the TL-S and loved it. Then test drove the G8 and the torque is just awesome and fiance was said she loved it too! I didn't test drive the G37 cause i was scared i would love it too much and spend more than i should. However, i got a job transfer and got engaged and i am now commuting 125 miles a day roundtrip. SO, i kept my TSX, bought a 93 honda civic EX with only 55k original miles for $3500 and i am saving money to buy a house. I'll trade the TSX in the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010 IF i can afford it and most likely will go for the G8 GXP I was impressed with myself for not upgrading cars out of the desire for more power but a lot of friends and God helped me out on that one.

charliemike

NJSGTI

Hey everyone, I am about to make a purchase in the next few weeks and I was going to get a G37 Journey. I was looking through BMW Certified Pre-Owned inventory trying to find a 335i and I came across this car. I have always liked these and have only seen two on the road before. It is a 2007 BMW Z4 Coupe 3.0si with sport package. It only has 5,900 miles and they are asking only $29,995. I looked up the blue book value and it says it is worth anywhere from $36,000-$38,000. It is the pefect color combo, silver on red interior. It also gets better gas mileage than the G37.

Do you think this is a good deal? Here are some pictures of it.

Acuraluvr

iTrader: (2)

looks nice. but it, sell it for 8K profit. but whatever you want.

jkjk if you plan on doing some sport drive alot, i would be all over this. but with road near me the way they are, i wouldnt get this. might be different for you

Moog-Type-S

Do it!