[newoldbeemer]

Please help me choose my next car. My 328i coupe is quite nice but I feel like its a bit slow and I can afford a small upgrade.

Main factor is it should be fast and feel good to drive.

Basic requirements:
- Four doors and seats four
- Automatic transmission
- Hatchback or sedan
- Small, nimble, handles well (handling more important than ride)
- Fast (faster than 328i, GTI etc), at least around 300hp.
- Preferably 8 cyl or turbo six
- Somewhat exclusive. Not super exclusive but it shouldn't be every other car
- RWD or good AWD
- New or 2012+. CPO if German
- Fairly loaded (nav, leather etc)
- Gas
- Under 40K
- Should have fair resale value

I had shortlisted:

- Golf R but looks like those are in super high demand and selling with a good margin, also they get lapped up like hot cakes. People are ordering those with advance payments without taking test drives, looks like impossible to get a test drive. I think the R at MSRP is good value but its jacked up several thousand because of demand, so I no longer think its a good value proposition.

- Used 335i (~ 3 year old) with around 30k miles sportline/msport, nav, hud, sport auto, comfort access, leather, harmon kardon

- Used S4 (~ 3 year old) with around 30k miles. I have zero knowledge about Audi packages, need to study this

- I see a few Mercedes CLS550's and BMW 550i's for around 42K (~ 3 year old with 35k miles). And an Audi A8. Though these don't fit the "small, nimble, agile" factor I am looking for, these are still tempting.


I considered but not really:
- Used or even new Infinity G37. It technically fits the bill other than the exclusivity/vanity factor. Somehow I am finding it difficult to convince myself to trade in my 328i for one of these.

- Dodge Charger. Naah. I find myself saying naah every time I say Dodge Charger. Also its not really small/nimble.

- WRX CVT. But who would buy a WRX without stick? If I get this, I will end up regretting the fact that its not a stick and not an STI every time I drive this. So I'd rather not.


Mustang/STI/370Z/BRZ etc are all out because it needs to be 4 door, sedan or hatch, automatic.


A bit of background:
First I used to own an old 2008 E90 335i sedan, sold it because of many issues and it kept going back to the shop, bought a brand new base 2012 F30 328i (big mistake), laterally exchanged it earlier this year for a 2012 E92 328i coupe (mistake again, should've gone 335i), happy with the tech and steering feel and handling but miss more power. I want something that goes when the pedal is pressed at the same time it should handle great. The hatch/sedan, automatic and four door requirements are from the wife. Dividing into two cars is not an option (I already explored getting a $5K corolla and a Z4 or something, doesn't work for us). Has to be one car.


Thoughts?

What packages should I be looking for in a used Audi S4?

At this point it sounds to me like its a question of having the check book ready and watching those 335i and S4 ads, wait for the right car with the right packages and maybe get my tradein appraisal in place. Unless I'm missing something. What do you think?

[Zer0Cool92]

I have an 11' 550i, beast of a car. Slap it in sport more and you'll never want to drive it in comfort. I'd recommend test driving one and also test driving the Audi s4. The s4 being smaller of the two. Both rocket ships.

[metrickid]

The new R is a awesome car for the price its at, I would say it is one of the best cars per dollar you can get these days. I would try to get one at MSRP somehow.

[....,,,,..,,..]

When is the Focus RS launched over there?

Fast, chuckable, and importantly for a hatch a manual.

IF you go for a hatch try the manual, more engaging (I know you said auto).

What about RS3.

[Game]

S4 would get my vote.

[RABAUKE]

I'd say Audi, not as common as the MB and what I mean by that is where I live you see MB all day long, Audi not so much. I had an A4 years ago, great car, fun to drive handled and rode great.

[sladjanagavrilovic]

335

[doe]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/5123278793.html

[newoldbeemer]

Thanks! Focus RS doesn't work because it isn't auto.

M3 doesn't work because it's not cpo.

That 550i has me thinking. I definitely want the small, nimble feeing of a smaller car (since I drive e92 coupe now) but v8 is tempting.

Looks like cpo 335i, cpo S4 and Golf R are at the top of my shopping list like I'd thought.

Is the S4 that much faster than 335i? I find comparably equipped and aged 335i's and s4's listed at an 8k to 10k difference (cpo cars). 2012 with around 30k miles:
- s4 is 42k
- 335i is 32k

Worth the difference? I will drive and decide but want to get perspective so that I don't get carried away by test drive.

Also will that difference carry forward when I resell, or will I take the hit? For eg I keep the cars 3 more years, they'll be six year old cars out of warranty with 60k miles. At that point are the 335i and s4 likely to sell around the same ballpark or will they sell at a good difference like now?

[einbruch10]

The new dodge charger scat pack comes with most of your basic requirments. Add beats audio pack and alcantara/leather interior for an extra 1,800. So right at 41k for full size sedan 485hp and 475lb ft tq 392 hemi and 8 speed zf trans it shares with the SRT, itll be ny next car.

[E90Flossin]

Stretch the budget a bit and get a c63 amg!

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

Thanks! Focus RS doesn't work because it isn't auto.

M3 doesn't work because it's not cpo.

That 550i has me thinking. I definitely want the small, nimble feeing of a smaller car (since I drive e92 coupe now) but v8 is tempting.

Looks like cpo 335i, cpo S4 and Golf R are at the top of my shopping list like I'd thought.

Is the S4 that much faster than 335i? I find comparably equipped and aged 335i's and s4's listed at an 8k to 10k difference (cpo cars). 2012 with around 30k miles:
- s4 is 42k
- 335i is 32k

Worth the difference? I will drive and decide but want to get perspective so that I don't get carried away by test drive.

Also will that difference carry forward when I resell, or will I take the hit? For eg I keep the cars 3 more years, they'll be six year old cars out of warranty with 60k miles. At that point are the 335i and s4 likely to sell around the same ballpark or will they sell at a good difference like now?

Why does it have to be auto?

The vast majority of autos are rather boring, soulless and don't need much thinking.

Manual is more engaging.


If the car has something as good as an 8AT, then yes in manual mode it's great.

[NoSHAM3]

Originally Posted by E90Flossin

Stretch the budget a bit and get a c63 amg!

I agree with this. Also should be able to find a c63 around 40ish

[newoldbeemer]

Originally Posted by NoSHAM3

I agree with this. Also should be able to find a c63 around 40ish

Again not CPO

Test drove a 2013 S4. Its quick, but not as quick as I'd thought it would be. Maybe I was expecting too much.

Looks good and handles great though. Threw it around a few bends, though it felt like a heavy car it handled them pretty well. Feels almost like a muscle car, only smaller.

Also test drove an E92 335i, felt as quick as the S4. Not sure why, I remember it feeling much faster a couple of years back. Maybe my expectations are too high.

[fw_fw]

2015 Lexus IS350 F Sport, should be able to get a used one right at 40K....

[Transfer]

Chevy SS? There's a lot to like with mag ride and a 415HP Corvette engine but I haven't seen one in person let alone driven one. 2013 S4 gets my vote. If it's not fast enough just go APR stage 2 and it will blow your socks off, but you'll lose drivetrain/powertrain warranty.

[dsad1]

I quickly skimmed through the post. But how about a 650 Gran Coupe? I don't know if you could find a 2013 under $40K, but I have seen some right around $40k.

[kprocivic]

x1 xdrive35i end thread.

[askjeeves]

anybody say cts-v?

[newoldbeemer]

Originally Posted by djsaad1

I quickly skimmed through the post. But how about a 650 Gran Coupe? I don't know if you could find a 2013 under $40K, but I have seen some right around $40k.

I'm actually keeping a look out for one of these. Didn't find any CPO around 40K, saw one thats not with a BMW dealer but a different dealer.

Originally Posted by kprocivic

x1 xdrive35i end thread.

Er no thanks. I'm looking for something small, nimble. The X1 gave me more of an SUV feel than a hatchback feel when driving it.

Originally Posted by Transfer

Chevy SS? There's a lot to like with mag ride and a 415HP Corvette engine but I haven't seen one in person let alone driven one. 2013 S4 gets my vote. If it's not fast enough just go APR stage 2 and it will blow your socks off, but you'll lose drivetrain/powertrain warranty.

Hmm big car otherwise ticks all the boxes. How does it handle? I'm not considering Charger/Taurus for the same reason.

Originally Posted by askjeeves

anybody say cts-v?

Thanks! I actually forgot this one,I will be careful since I am buying and not leasing, about reliability, resale value etc.

[fw_fw]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

Er no thanks. I'm looking for something small, nimble. The X1 gave me more of an SUV feel than a hatchback feel when driving it.

As an owner of a X1 xDrive35i MSport I can both agree and disagree with the SUV versus Hatchback statement. I agree with it before I had the H&R Springs installed, and disagree with it after. They make a big change in the car.

Still, if I were looking for a recent model sport sedan I would look hard at the latest Lexus IS350 FSport. There is a reason that car won a C&D comparison, if one can get past the looks of the front grille.....

[Supra2k6]

My friend just got a loaded s4 2-3 years old interior and electronics are super nice. not there yet on performance and handling. 335i or benz gets my vote