Does 320i + ZPP + ZSP + ZMT Really = Fun ?

"N51fanatic" (n51fanatic)
04/25/2016 at 21:59 • Filed to: None

So I am in need of a bigger car. My beloved 128i 6 speed can not handle growing family duty, thus the need for something “bigger”.

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I barely drive, i do about 3k miles a year. I work from home and commute via mass transit. So the idea of spending big $$$$ (Im looking at you e90 M3) on a car isnt making much financial sense to me right now.

A more practical man would probably buy a Corolla or Civic etc and call it a day. And as much as that makes sense, i cant drive a washing machine (appliance). I have found a few 320i’s with sport packages, manual and RWD for low 20k asking prices, with little to no mileage.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Or should i just but a new Accord Sport/Mazda6 Touring and call it a day?

Here’s what Chris Harris thought, in case you missed it

DISCUSSION (22)

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > N51fanatic
04/25/2016 at 22:24

If you can find a low miles CPO model for mid-20s, go for that. Otherwise, I'm gonna have to be boring and say get a manual Accord Sport.

NET625 > N51fanatic
04/25/2016 at 22:28

The Accord and 6 are going to be a bit more fun to drive. Also I would look at the Mazda 3 because a Grand Touring with a manual can be had for 18 used. The F30 is a nice car with a great chassis and nice enough interior. My issue with the F30 is the steering has no weight or feedback, which kills most of the fun. I would get a Mazda 3 or 6 but you should test drive a few and go from there.

pjhusa > N51fanatic
04/25/2016 at 22:29

Go with the Bimmer, especially since those are priced so well. Economy is not bad either, and maintenance will almost certainly be covered under the new car warranty. Plus it's fun!

Also,

“YER + MUM = fun”

Just kidding, but I couldn’t resist :p

N51fanatic > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
04/25/2016 at 22:33

CPO’s are going for high $20's ($27k/$28k asks). All the non-CPO cars are still under the 4/50k warranty. Im thinking a 2 year old non-cpo still under factor warranty for 2 years with a pre purchase inspection would be a pretty safe bet.

Tom McParland > N51fanatic
04/25/2016 at 22:33

I was really set on getting one of these for awhile...like had my build picked out and was ready to order...I just couldn’t do it.

Granted I was going to get a new one, so it was really the price/performance ratio that killed it for me. It is a very nice car, just not quite exciting enough to really love it. Considering the Accord Sport will do 85% of the performance at about 10 grand less. Also I much preferred Honda’s gearbox.

Now if you can find on CPO for under 30k that would be a nice buy. Even still, drive the Accord and the Mazda to really see if the BMW feels worth it.

N51fanatic > Tom McParland
04/25/2016 at 22:38

I agree with you Tom. I also looked at a NEW 320i when i got my CPO 128 3 years ago. Much like you, i ultimately didn’t think spending 35k+ for a 180 hp BMW was a value play. I got my 128 for much much much less.

That being said, getting a 2 year old 320 Sport with 6sp man for $21K is now to me anyway, a prime value play right now. Accord Sport and Mazda6 Touring are prob in the 23k range right now new. I’m probably going to have to drive all three. Problem is, going used you have to usually act fast. However, i think a 320i 6 speed may linger on this lot for a while.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > N51fanatic
04/25/2016 at 22:39

I thought the same way but the problem is a Cadillac ATS can be found sometimes even cheaper in 2.0T guise with the manual. Better chassis and 90 more hp!

Of course I’m assuming you live in the US. If you live in Europe, get the BMW

N51fanatic > NET625
04/25/2016 at 22:40

Mazda3 is too small for what i need. But i agree, a drive of the 6 and Accord are probably in order.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > N51fanatic
04/25/2016 at 22:43

In that case, listen to what everyone else is saying and drive all three to see which you prefer.

NET625 > N51fanatic
04/25/2016 at 23:13

The six is literally a larger 3 same engines and platform. I loved the manual in the Accord but I liked the options and pricing on the Mazda 6 way better. Also the ATS is basically an e90 but with a caddy badge and interior.

E90M3 > N51fanatic
04/25/2016 at 23:29

Back in early 2015, I took my E90 M3 to get serviced and requested a loaner. Right as they were about to give me one, the service guy looks at me and goes, “you want the stick loaner.” That was a no brainer, of course I wanted the loaner with a stick, I was actually very surprised that the dealer actually had a loaner with a stick. The loaner with a stick was no other than a 2015 320i. While I liked driving it, there are no other words for it, it was slow. (In addition to the M3, I also have a 128i, so my point of view isn’t completely skewed.) It really needed a few more horses, it still might be a decent driving car, but if it were my money I’d spend a littler more and at least get a 328i, unless you can get the 320i for a super low price.

N51fanatic > E90M3
04/26/2016 at 06:54

they both put out the same amount of torque, did it really feel that much slower? (i dont have time to compare curb weights)

N51fanatic > NET625
04/26/2016 at 06:56

I thought the ATS was pretty much thought of as being subpar to the F30?

TylerJ > N51fanatic
04/26/2016 at 10:21

I thought the 320i had 200 lb-ft and the 328i had 255 lb-ft?

http://www.bimmerfest.com/news/670647/f3…

E90M3 > N51fanatic
04/26/2016 at 10:37

It really did feel that much slower, I just remember thinking damn this thing is slow. The 1 does have 50 more hp, which is not an insignificant number. But here are the numbers (I’m going to use whatever I find on the internet, so there might be some discrepancies):

128i; curb weight:3,252 lbs, bhp: 230, torque: 200, quoted 0-60: 6.5-6.7 (depending on where you look)

320i; curb weight: 3320 lbs, bhp: 180, torque: 200, quoted 0-60: 7.1 (all these numbers are straight from BMW http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte… )

That said, if you get one cheap you could always get a Dinan tune for it, which if I remember correctly does not void the factory warranty if you have a Dinan authorized dealer install it. It seems to bring the power to the same level as the 1 plus more torque.

N51fanatic > E90M3
04/26/2016 at 11:16

The tunes are doing about 45 whp and 60tq which would bring it to 225/260 which would be better than my n51. Only $380 for the burger tune vs $1500 for Dinan, GTFOH.

Man the accord sport and mazda6 touring have literally zero options. I'm thinking the 320 is the way to go, on paper anyway.

N51fanatic > TylerJ
04/26/2016 at 11:17

I was comparing the n52 which puts out 200 tq vs the N20 which also puts out 200tq

E90M3 > N51fanatic
04/26/2016 at 11:22

Stick, RWD, enough power with a cheap tune, I say go for it, unless you’ve had a terrible experience with your 1. I’ve put about 16k on the M3 in the almost 2 years I’ve had it and other than it eating a $1100 engine sensor, it’s been trouble free.

N51fanatic > E90M3
04/26/2016 at 12:23

My only unscheduled incident was a cylinder 5 misfire that BMW came out and towed me to dealer to replace free of charge.

NET625 > N51fanatic
04/26/2016 at 14:01

The ats is the most fun to drive of any sports sedan today. But the interior isn’t great and some people have taken issue with the fact that its a four cylander turbo instead of a 6. Also both the non turbo 4 engines in this thing kinda suck.

N51fanatic > NET625
04/26/2016 at 14:24

Do you own an ATS??

NET625 > N51fanatic
04/26/2016 at 14:33

E90, but I had the opportunity to drive a manual 2.0t ats and f30 with both of the turbo 4s. The e90 is the best but the ats is the only other car I’ve driven that comes clos to having as much steering feedback and chassis ridgidity. The f30 also has a great chassis but the steering has no weight or feedback which kills any sense of fun for me. Its fine when Hyundai has no feedback in their cars became they don’t know better. I expected BMW to not run after Lexus and Mercedes customers as hard as they did.