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Comments
Thanks!
brightness - yes, it would be smart to include the opportunity cost of money for fine-tuning. My numbers did not do that. Bottom line is, you should take the difference in price between the two cars and figure out based on YOUR opportunity cost of money how much that translates into on monthly basis. In my case, I should've used a difference of 16 grand (21 for the new car - 6 for the old one) and calculate based on my rate of return how much I could've earned with the 15 grand savings on monthly basis. Maybe $50 safe bucks a month but that's something to consider. This analysis holds true regardless of whether you have invested the 15 grand or borrowed it or both (as in my case) - the only thing that changes is the opportunity cost of the money. One more thing (minor) to consider is that used cars are generally financed at higher rates than new cars. A major thing would also be the risk involved in buying a used car. That Nissan 240SX that we had bought for 5-6 grand for my wife way back when - well, we had to junk in two years b/c it had an engine problem and would have been more expensive to fix it than take the big loss.
div2 - wrong! Your used Bimmer would likely cost a lot less than 15 grand to maintain over an equivalent period but what makes you think it will depreciate by MUCH less? So you bought a 20-grand 3-year old Bimmer for 15 grand less that what it cost new. How much do you think it will be worth in another 3 years? Probably 10 grand less - unless you think you can get more than 10 grand for a 6-year old Bimmer with some 100K miles on it. Is it likely that you'd have to spend 5 grand on repairing it? I bet it is. That would bring you to 10 depr. + 5 repairs = 15 total cost, or about the same as the depreciation on a new one. Difference is your ownership has a lot more risk to it and a lot more hassle repairing the car. There is no straightforward answer to new vs. old - it all depends on your assumptions. All I'm saying is don't assume that a used car will end up costing you less than a new car over equivalent ownership periods. And even if it does end up costing less - you get what you paid for - a used car.
"monster grin plastered on my mug as I downshift" - lol..........
I would be shocked if there was really a .8 second difference between the two. In fact, 6.7 is substantially (.3 seconds) slower than BWM actually has rated the 330i.
Thoughts? I guess I should check the different weights for the 330i and 330Ci to get a feel for what might explain this huge time difference.
The BMW CPO program is very, very thorough. I had an earlier brief post about my CPO experience, and I'd be happy to share more info with anybody interested.
Edmunds has the 330i listed at 3318 lbs, and the 330Ci at 3351 lbs. That's right, the Ci is 33 lbs heavier.
Edmunds has the 330Ci listed at 5.9 second in the 0-60, and 120 feet stopping distance 60-0. Meanwhile it lists the LIGHTER 330i with a 0-60 time of 6.7, and 126 feet stopping distance 60-0.
Am I the only one who thinks Edmunds didn't do a great job conducting these tests? Both cars have the same motor, the same gearing, the same drive train. What am I missing here???
And has anybody taken delivery in South Carolina? Do you recommend it?
Thanks.
The biggest difference is in the looks: the A4 has a more voluptuous, rounder shape; all the details are very stylish but cuter. Case in point: look at the cute, roundish side blinker on the A4 and the narrow, long side blinker in the 3-series. There are a lot of subtle differences like this if you look more closely. The interior is a little more elegant, definitely more luxurious IMO but even most controls are smaller size. Just compare the door handle - both inside and outside - the BMW's are sized for a larger person. The doors are also much heavier in the BMW. We parked them both next to each other once and went over the differences - I had not realized how feminine the Audi looks until I compared it to the 3-series.
330Ci 5-speed: 5.9 sec
328i 5-speed: 6.3 sec
328Ci 5-speed: 6.5 sec
328i step: 6.9 sec
323Cic 5-speed: 7.9 sec
323iT step: 8.8 sec
I saw the specs in the car-specific areas, and they are obviously inaccurate. 5.9 sec. for the 330Cic is absurd! I conclude that if looking at Edmunds data, only the road and comparison tests are accurate.
As for the pedals and shifter, I seem to recall they were about the same, maybe the clutch pedal was a bit heavier in the Bimmer, but both cars have very smooth shifters. I honestly don't remember what the steering on the Bimmer felt like, so I won't comment on that. The interior controls are different on the 2001 A4's than on the one you own. They are not small, petite buttons anymore (they're not big, plasticky GM buttons, either).
So you're trying to say that only big, brawny men drive Bimmers and only pretty little ladies drive A4's? I'd be willing to bet you that as a percentage, just as many 3 series Bimmers are driven by women as are A4's.
The cars are very similar in their approach. You'd have us believe that they are worlds apart. They're not...
As platypus says, take this for what it is - some guy on the Internet...We do own and love both cars. As a matter of fact, I liked the A4 so much after we bought it that I was almost ready to forget my dreams for a BMW and run buy one for myself too. We do swap cars on regular basis for various reasons and I thoroughly enjoy driving both, OK? They are very similar in their approach and that's why I love both.
Peter is just trying to buy a car. I'm sure he would have rather heard you say how you love driving both than saying how much of a girlie car you think the A4 is.
It took you 3 posts of saying how feminine the A4 before you actually said you like (actually you said love) it.
It's surprising that discounts are growing at the same time that sales are booming. BMW has been setting all kinds of sales records monthly with the 3-series leading the way (for understandable reasons ;-))
http://www.autonews.com/html/main/stories0604/sales604.htm
mmcbride1 - is the RS4 available in the land down under?
Unfortunately we here in the states are not privileged enough to even have the opportunity to own one. Audi doesn't see a market for it.
This could be my dream car:
- 380hp
- 0-100 km/h in 4.9 sec
- AWD
- 6-speed manual tranny
- 18" wheels
- 14" brakes in the front and 12" in the rear
- wagon utility
- German craftsmanship
- impeccable Audi interior
Imagine this: Pull up to a stoplight with your family in the car. Corvette driver with trophy girlfriend pulls up next to you. Looks at you and smirks. Revs engine. You return the glance. You, wife, and two kids in back don racing helmets and four-point harnesses. Light turns green. Quattro gives you virtually no slippage and you're off to the races. Corvette is left behind in a cloud of smoke enveloped with the smell of burnt rubber from excessive wheel spin. Trophy wife gives Corvette driver a slap in the face. Family enjoys a good hearty laugh while removing helmets. We're goin' to Disneyland!
Not that I would ever do this, but it would sure be fun. (BTW, credit goes to another source for this story.)
Anyway, it's just a pipe dream for now, although I have heard that there is a slight chance that Audi is contemplating bringing the RS6 to the US. And that BMW is rumored to have an M3 Touring in the works...
great link - there's a lot you can read into it
I think the explanation is two-fold; 1) a great car and 2) a lot of people are financially secure enough to spend the necessary money for #1.
And braveheart, I know you're crazy and hard-headed and that you'll never back down from anything...cause you've always got to be right.
max93 posed the questions about gender specific colors and I gave him my opinions, donned my flamesuit, and was prepared to defend myself. No one seemed to disagree or attack me though.
Little did I know it would start a war between the US and Australia.
I guess it's all in the delivery... ;-)
I would even do it!!! (if such a vehicle was available)
veekay1
platypus, thank you for being diplomatic and especially being the one that always has his sense of humor around. I fight enough battles around me during the day that exhaust my diplomatic skills and I feel like taking some liberties on the Net helps me blow steam off. It's fine if the steam goes both ways - makes for more interesting discussions.
Peace - I'm going to see how the Shtroumpf is doing.
very interesting indeed.hmmmm...
My dream car: The M3 running gear in a 3-wagon body. Then I could run with my buddy's S4 and still have space for luggage.
My personal bias, though, is that even with all the sports modifications the S4 carries, I feel that the 325i with SP is still sharper and flatter in transition and in sweepers. The shorter Audi chassis makes it feel a bit darty in comparison.
But more feminine or masculine? That, I would think, is in the eye of the beholder, whatever statistics may be.
CONFIGURATION
325/330Cic (non SP)
325/330Ci (non SP)
325/330i (non SP)
325/330Cic (SP)
325/330Ci (SP)
325i (SP)
330i (SP)
Notice that, TO ME (note pseudo-disclaimer in CAPS), the SP carries a heavier weighting toward the masculine than does body configuration. Further, the ultimately intimidating looks of the 330i SP, with its M-style alloys, staggered, wide tires, and oval fog lights (some may say borders on cheesy, but nevertheless) says "don't mess with me" like nothing except the M3. I think it's all in the wheel design, and the 325i SP's are a close second due to the large diameter and strength that the design conveys.
While we're on the topic, while I do find the design of the A4 very attractive, I've NEVER looked at one and thought, "don't mess with that," and that goes for the S4 as well. Interested to see what the 2002 design does for the masculine/feminine connotations...