Time to buy, but

[landshark]

Thanks for all the opinions on the 0-60 times on the 3-Series, and the importance and/or validity of such a metric.

I was ready to make a decision between the 330i and the new 530i until yesterday afternoon. My plans regarding the car will have to change. My wife's pregnancy test is positive.

That means we need to move and allocate less money to the car purchase. Now I'm looking at either a 325i sedan or a 325i sport wagon. I'll be going to a dealer tonight to test drive.

Any opinions on current lease or purchase deals on these cars?
What are the discounts on 2003 v. 2004?
Would you lease a 2003 over a 2004?

Thanks again for reading and answering.

 

[Kirby]

Congratulations! Kids are a lot of work but also a lot of fun!

Having toted around 2 kids over the years, I can tell you that while they are in car seats, a 4 door is MUCH easier to deal with than a 2 door, so the sedan/wagon thing makes sense. After they can climb in and out on their own, a coupe is OK.

I have not looked current discounts, but I do have an opinion on leasing - leasing is good for about 3 things:
1. You have no trade or money for a down payment.
2. You want or need a new car every 3 - 4 years.
3. You own the dealership.

Leasing always makes more money for the dealer and leaves you with nothing to show for your hard earned $$$ at the end of the lease. I believe in buying exactly what you want and driving it for 10 - 15 years. That's the best way to minimize your cost of ownership for any vehicle. I have a 15 year old Volvo with 200K on it that my daughter is now learning to drive.

Friends of mine say that a BMW is to expensive, and then I ask them how many cars they have had in the past 15 years. Invariably, it is 2 or 3 cars. I then ask them what those cars cost total and typically it is $40K - $60K for 2 cars, $60K - $90K for 3 cars.

So my $.02 worth is to buy.

Good luck with the car and residence hunting!

 

[Unit74]

I say go for the wagon. You'll need the extra room. The cool factor goes down a bit, but oh well.

 

[landshark]

I actually think wagons are cooler than sedans. Unless it's a new 5.

Any ideas on deals dealers are willing to make to unload 2003s?

 

[bahnstormer]

i'd go for a certified preowned 5 series wagon. no need to get a brand new car is there? unless u just want it nice n shiny =]
but for a similar price, you have a bigger, and might i add safer car in teh 5 series than teh 3
wtf y can't i spell the correctly lol

 

[codex57]

There are rebates on remaining 2003s (if you can find them). I know Nick Alexander has been advertising them on the radio. Might be worth checking out. Crevier (in Santa Ana) is the #1 selling BMW dealer in the US and they're generally regarded as having really nice staff in both sales and service. Whatever you do, don't go to McKenna in Norwalk. That's like trying to deal with the devil. Check autospies.com for current rebate situations.

 

[codex57]

There are rebates on remaining 2003s (if you can find them). I know Nick Alexander has been advertising them on the radio. Might be worth checking out. Crevier (in Santa Ana) is the #1 selling BMW dealer in the US and they're generally regarded as having really nice staff in both sales and service. Whatever you do, don't go to McKenna in Norwalk. That's like trying to deal with the devil. Check autospies.com for current rebate situations.

oh yeah, I happen to think the 3 series wagon looks pretty cool. I won't think of you as any less cool if you got that over the sedan.

 

[MrElussive]

Oh dear, not a wagon debate. Yes, wagons have gotten much better lately, but I cannot possibly understand owning one. I would easily take a X5 4.4i over a 540i Sport Wagon, for example. Station wagons just scream "lame", in my opinion. Do yourself a favor and stick with a sedan....easier to drive and easier to look at. And there is no way that you absolutely need a wagon for a baby on the way. Folding rear seats will help you out on those few times that you absolutely must have maximum cargo space.
Or at least, if it must be a wagon, check out what Audi has to offer. Audi wagons (A4 Avant, allroad quattro, A6 Avant, S6 Avant, etc.) are much more pleasing to the eyes, and just pull off the sporty-wagon look better than BMW.

 

[codex57]

SUVs scream lame to me since almost all of them never see the offroad and really have little cargo space compared to minivans. Why else have the high center of gravity unless you routinely have a driveway covered in a foot of snow. And folding seats don't help that much when you have a huge baby seat blocking the way. That and sedan trunks may not be high enough for all the crap parents carry along with babies such as big strollers or big boxes of diapers from Costco. Plus, it's a lot easier getting a baby in and out of a car seat when it's low like in a wagon or sedan than up in an SUV (unless you're sized like a pro basketball player).

 

[flashinthepan]

I actually think wagons are cooler than sedans

That may not be the popular vote, but wagons are great utility.

Above all, congrats on the new family memeber to be.

All the best !!

 

[landshark]

Thanks for all the feedback so far.

RECAP
Wagon v. SUV - I had no idea wagons would be considered unpopular to SUVs or sedans. I've always considered a wagon easier to live with than a SUV. My wife and I were experimenting with my brother's Volvo XC90 over the weekend. Because of our (lack of) height, we had a more difficult time getting his kid out of the car seat. Too much tippy-toeing and stretching when the kid is in the middle. I will consider the Audi A4 avant wagon, though. It seems there's more cargo space with the rear seats up. But it's not a BMW.

Dealerships
Crevier and Nick Alexander in the L.A. area may have deals. Don't deal with McKenna. Autospies.com may list rebates.

New v. Used - may make more sense for used because of the depreciation. However, in my situation, I tend to lease because I own my own business and use the auto expense deduction.

Thanks guys. I hope I can start contributing once I become an owner.

Any opinions on what to consider a "typical" or "good" discount on a 3-Series?

 

[MyHarley]

This is strictly my two cents worth......the first BMW loaner car I got was a wagon.....when I walked to the parking lot to get it, I said "who the hell would buy this thing, people pay that kind of money for this?" The attendant said, "well it is still a BMW." You couldnt of given me the thing free......people at my office were laughing, my customers said, lord help you.....the second day, one of the girls in the office brought a beach ball and a sticker about some school and gave it to me to get in the mood of the car...........it did change my personality, I went below the speed limit, was in slow mode all day, called the dealership and told them I was bringing it back and wanted something else, that the joke must of been on me........my salesman came out and was laughing, laughing, he said, I saw you leave the parking lot yesterday and I figured you were going to e-mail me and cuss me out about this loaner car.....save yourself and your wife and get a sedan or SUV...............congrats on the baby......

[:X]

 

[Average Jae]

x3!!

http://www.edmunds.com/future/2004/bmw/x3/100158414/preview.html

nuff said.. think the dealers should be getting their copies in for test drivers, and will start getting delivery in jan. the wagons will be replaced by the x3. well unless you dun need the awd capability.

i hate the suvs, but i'm a fan of more car like suvs.. better gas milage, higher seating. and from the sounds of it, the x3 rides pretty damn fine too. hopefully pricing meets your needs, at least keep that option open and most imporantly..

CONGRATZ on the BABY!!!

 

[landshark]

Thanks for all the congratulatory words on the baby. I'm pretty excited--and nervous. Perhaps a bit too sensitive about budget since I hear all these parents talk about the increased expenses with having children.

Jae -- I originally considered the X3 because of its utility and size. I also read the edmunds review and was impressed with their first drive. But I think the car will be above my currently allocated car allowance in my budget. (I'm a bit of an anal-retentive geek when it comes to home finances.)

Given the discounts happening on the 2003s, I think I'll opt to save some money now with the bambino on the way.

I was on carsdirect.com and saw that there is special pricing on the 2003 3-Series sedans and wagons. And the discounts are quite substantial. Does anyone know how accurate the carsdirect.com price is compared to what I'd get at a dealer? Would I save more from getting the car from the dealer? Where else can I look online for rebates/incentives/discounts?

Thanks again.

 

[codex57]

Here's what I did. I used carsdirect.com for my price. My mom happened to check what AAA (the roadside service people) had for their price. It was cheaper than carsdirect.com. So, we went to the dealer using the AAA price and negotiated down from there. Got it for a little cheaper. Prolly could have gotten it a little cheaper had I been willing to walk away but I wanted a certain option combo and color and I was only seeing loaded ones on the lot. If you're not as picky, you should be able to get a good deal right now with what 03s they have left.

 

[Wadula]

i am a friend of the 5 series wagon. the old one of course not that ugly piece of metal they call a 5er since some weeks. i think it is a beautiful car and has no reasonable disadvantage compared to the sedan. as fast, as agil, as nice. of course that is up to each on its own, but this is my post right?
especially with a growing family you can't have enough cargo space and think about safety. lot's of metal and good crash results should be an argument, too. the wagon delivers all that too.

 

[SFCA-325i]

Go with the wagon.

The main difference in utility will be room to tote around the stroller and, when needed, room to store the baby seat.