BMW 5-Series Sedans

Replying to: shipo (Jun 01, 2006 8:36 pm)

Have you considered a BMW 325?
 
My wife and I recently drove a new A3, though and both of us remarked it was a heckuv a lot closer to an A4 (until you looked over your shoulder) -- we were driving the 2.0T version with a stick shift.
 
We did not drive but did get into a new 325xi (which, for reasons I cannot remember at this time, seemed to be about the same "lease price" -- as the A3 -- this, of course given your situation may or may not translate into a real number that make $ense at this time.)
 
With respect to leasing, BMW makes it pretty "interesting" to lease their cars and run over the miles.
 
Make your deal, make your deal at 45,000 miles for 3 years.
 
Within 39 months, e.g., you can -- at $.16 mile -- buy more miles, and ONCE you can spread those miles out over the lease payment; subsequent adjustments will be billed 30 days after the fact. You can keep the full maint and full warranty alive beyond 50K if you want.
 
If you go used (but NOT CPO'd?) your up front cost (in cash or on a monthly basis) will theoretically be lower, but of course the chances of repair costs sooner rather than later will be out there and, unless the car IS CPO'd, your wallet runs the financial risk.
 
The outlay on a newer car -- if leased with the above considerations of prepayment of overages -- may or may not be less, but the risk for at least 50K miles is nil and you will likely be able to delay the cost of brakes and tires and belts, etc. that may crop up sooner on the used vehicle.
 
The NEW 3's seem, interior wise, to "feel" no smaller than the USED 5's (that you have described.) If you are in the north eastern part of the US, winter is certainly an issue and the new 325xi copes very well with that.
 
Of course, here in SW Ohio as the 2007's loom on the near horizon, the prices and subventing seem very attractive -- but but but, the number of cars on any dealer's lot that are manual transmissions continues to shrink (from small to darn near nil.)
 
I don't know if you could actually order a new one as you want and get the kind of subventing that is being offered on in stock and "last year's" models.
 
A3 2.0T's are FWD -- but often have the manual transmissions.
 
The A3's, mostly, will have the full maint or at least it can be elected for $500. Audi does not offer the, "I changed my mind" on miles option either.
 
But a free of cost (besides gas, more or less) DGC is attractive and I can relate to the needs of the biz when in startup mode. Been there, done that, and doing it again in the IT world -- well, here we go again.
 
Makes me muse, "I remember what it was like to be rich."
 
Keep us posted.

Replying to: shipo (Jun 01, 2006 8:36 pm)

designman
 
"The price seems to be a typo. Retail on such a car (MY 2000) is around $22K. I would look into it further."
 
I looked. It is being offered by a dealer and he has two other 528i offerings both in the high twenties, and both have more miles. Geez, I could have kept my 530i for only $28,000!
 
"Maybe you could broaden the possibilities by being less demanding with the options. Aren't the stick and SP what you really want?"
 
Well, yes, and the Sport Seats (which typically means PP as well). I had the same non-Sport Seats in my 328i that are in the standard 528i and while they were nice, the Sport Seats in my 530i were soooo much better. Given the time I'm going to be spending in whatever I drive, a happy butt equates to a much happier me.
 
markcincinnati
 
"Have you considered a BMW 325?"
 
Yeah, I've considered 3ers in virtually every E46 and E90 guise. I had an E46 before my 530i, and while it was a good and competent car, there were certain little things that made the 5er just that much more enjoyable of a driving experience.
 
Regarding leasing. I'm thinking that is rather impractical given that I'm already driving some 30,000 miles per year. Assuming that I stay on the current contract, that will jump to somewhere north of 45,000 miles next year. If that scenario does in fact come to pass, I could easily see a total of 120,000 miles over the next three years. Even at $0.16 per mile I'd need to cough up $12,000 in excess mileage charges.
 
As far as the full maintenance/warranty/CPO warranty issues go, I turn a pretty fair wrench and about the only thing I shy away from are transmission overhauls. As such, general maintenance items and such really aren't an issue for me, and even the odd major job is something that I kind of look forward to in a cathartic kind of way.
 
Regarding the AWD issue. Personally I much prefer RWD and a good set of winter skins as opposed to AWD. With a set of Michelin Arctic-Alpin tires on my 530i I drove it through three winters up here in New Hampshire, and two of those three featured total snowfall numbers of well in excess of 100". Through it all it never put a foot wrong and proved to be the best winter car I've ever had, and I have no doubt that a well maintained 528i will be just as capable.
 
Regarding the A3, wow, what a fun and practical car, and if it was available with the 2.0T, a 6-Speed and RWD, the combination might just be too much for me to pass up. Alas, RWD isn't an option at any price, and to get the engine and tranny of my choice I'd have to opt for FWD.
 
Makes me muse, "I remember what it was like to be rich."
 
Hey! I resemble that remark!
 
bdkinnh
 
"Why not just combine options 1 and 2 and drive the DGC until the right 5er comes along?"
 
I strongly suspect that is exactly what I will end up doing. I sure hope it doesn't take a year or more to find the perfect car.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

Replies to this message:
• bdkinnh (Jun 02, 2006 8:04 am)
  • shipo (Jun 02, 2006 8:47 am)
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• shipo (Jun 02, 2006 6:59 am)

Replying to: erickpl (Jun 02, 2006 6:58 am)

I'm all ears.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

Replying to: shipo (Jun 02, 2006 6:53 am)

>"I sure hope it doesn't take a year or more to find the perfect car."
 
Patience, young padwan. I've been looking for a house in Windham for three years; I hope your luck is better than mine.

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• shipo (Jun 02, 2006 8:47 am)
  • bdkinnh (Jun 02, 2006 9:06 am)
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Replying to: bdkinnh (Jun 02, 2006 8:04 am)

"Patience, young padwan. I've been looking for a house in Windham for three years; I hope your luck is better than mine."
 
Really? I mean, are you yanking my leg about Windhan because I live there or are you really looking to move to our fair town?
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

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• bdkinnh (Jun 02, 2006 9:06 am)
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Replying to: shipo (Jun 02, 2006 8:47 am)

I had no idea you were in Windham; I figured somewhere in the area due to the Exit 3 comment a while back, but that could also be Pelham, Hudson, Londonderry....
 
Really looking to move there - I grew up in Nashua and I'm renting in Salem (I just had to get out of MA).
 
I saw a place I liked in Londonderry, but the taxes there are about 50% higher than anywhere else. Not married and no kids, so a good school system isn't a priority right now. It did, however, have a good sized garage that I could probably fit a lift into.

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• shipo (Jun 02, 2006 9:34 am)
  • bdkinnh (Jun 02, 2006 10:41 am)
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Replying to: bdkinnh (Jun 02, 2006 9:06 am)

"I saw a place I liked in Londonderry, but the taxes there are about 50% higher than anywhere else. Not married and no kids, so a good school system isn't a priority right now. It did, however, have a good sized garage that I could probably fit a lift into."
 
Hmmm, are you aware that Salem booted our kids out of their high school a couple of years back? Last year the Windham voters approved the building of a new high school (scheduled to open in August of 2008) by a "Yes" vote of 79%. We are breaking ground in the next week or so and since we are going it alone on this school (at least until the state condemns the school in Pelham), it is very much a certainty that our taxes will GO UP.
 
Good luck in your search.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

Replies to this message:
• bdkinnh (Jun 02, 2006 10:41 am)
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Replying to: shipo (Jun 02, 2006 9:34 am)

>"Hmmm, are you aware that Salem booted our kids out of their high school a couple of years back?"
 
Yep - knew all about it. I know they will go up, but I doubt they'll go up 50% (fingers crossed). Plus, once Windham has it's own high school, I imagine property values will go up as well.
 
IMHO, Pelham really goofed by voting down a co-op. A friend of mine that lives in Pelham felt that Windham would have controlled everything, and they (Pelham) were just wanted for the funding. Could be, but I doubt that Pelham has the tax base to support a state-of-the-art new high school on their own.
 
Oh well... it will be that much sweeter to watch the Windham kids kick the stuffing out of the Pelham kids at high school football.

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• shipo (Jun 02, 2006 11:25 am)
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