335i is a car with zero personality. It is a highway cruiser. Put your foot down, go forward really fast. Just a car that doesn't appeal to me at all.

None of us have driven an FRS yet, but it's going to be a much more involving experience. It will be more sensitive to driver inputs, you will feel the road and what's going on, and I think it will bring you into the experience of driving and having fun while driving much more.

Of course maintenance costs and the worry free ownership experience is just the icing on the cake.

Stepping down based on what, brand snobbery? BMW lost the plot years ago as pure drivers cars. The 335i is a nice insulated GT, but if the OP wants something legit involving, then he'd be stepping up in terms of driver/machine oneness.

If you need to buy a recent BMW that's interesting to drive, you need a facelifted 1st-gen Z4, E46 ZHP, Z4//M Coupe. I haven't driven a 1/M, but if it resembles the feeling of a 135i, it'd be a mess.

Brand snobbery, "I know it all what car is fun to drive" snobbery, what's the difference?

E90 owner here, interested in both models but more BRZ due to standard HIDs.

Sadly this is true. They just don't make them like they used to, and with "ultimate service" (aka extended intervals) many are neglected. Often I see E46's leather interiors that are more worn and tattered than an E30 some twenty years older!

Having said that, I don't see it as a move down -- perhaps just in a different direction. Neither is better or worse, just fills a different space.

The FRS/BRZ is slower, gets about the same mileage, has less space, uses crappier materials, and has less options.

I'd definitely get the FRS!

You sir should get a FORD mustang 5.0 and be on your merry way.
:thanks:

It's a preference thing but personally I would go for the 86. I autocrossed an E90 for a season and I just couldn't stand how it felt compared to my other options at the time (stock MR-2 and STS prepped 240SX). The BMW felt too big and numb for my liking. Consider the other factors mentioned like repair costs and I think the 86 is a reasonable choice but definitely give it a test drive if/when possible and see how you feel about it.

I really like my e92 and that it has a bit more power than the 86 - so ill probably we keeping it for a bit and seeing if they sneak a FI version out - or what cosworth come up with

I'd keep the 335i for a while. The Zx6 is a nice car for the car enthusiasts, but, having seen it and tried it, it is a bad car if you want a in general nice car. The car feels very cheap, though it is not that cheap at 30.000 €. If you go to track, do races, then yes get it, if you still need comfort, and gadgets, good interior quality, keep the 335i. Till then you may think about an some other new BMW like the 2 Series.

sell sell sell!

You comparing a $50k car to a $25k car. You're likely to be disappointed when you step down.

Brett